WORK

WORK

~~ALICIA~~

Well, this class was a complete waste of time, because tell me why the lecturer kept reading a textbook for us, a textbook that we have to buy to pass the course. I guess I’m never attending this class again then, I stepped out of the class and headed straight to work at the library. I greeted Mrs Pat [she insisted I call her that], headed to the back office, dropped my bag on the shelf and pinned my tag on my shirt. Heading to the new books that arrived today, I went to sack them in their respective shelves, ranging from horror to education, to all sorts of topics. When I was done I went behind the counter to input the books into the system, by the time I was done inputting over two-hundred books, I noticed it was already getting dark, I closed up the account for today, which was very easy after Mrs Pat’s surprisingly great teachings. I was about to log out of the system and switch it off when a boy barged in through the doors letting in a gust of wind, “Hi, I am so sorry, please I need to borrow a book, I won’t take time because I know where the book is, thank you”, he said wheezing through the shelves. He picked out a book form the shelf at the extreme end then ran straight up to the counter while breathing heavily, I couldn’t help but laugh at his apparent state of fatigue. He looked at me with a smirk then leaned close, too close for comfort, I immediately stepped back letting out a little cough to clear the air and not show my obvious discomfort. He let me know we would be seeing each other more often, which made a chill run through my spine because he was acting really creepy. I closed the account for today before another person comes in, logged out of the system, switched it off, locked the door to the back room and the library and started walking to the school gate, when I felt someone behind me, I didn’t look back like all those girls in horror movies, nope, I ran as fast as my short legs could carry me. I got to the school gate and was struggling to breathe, handed the key to the security men and headed home, thank God the street to the house was lined with street lights, I hated the dark, still do. I got in to see that my roommate wasn’t back yet, my stomach let out a loud growl letting me know I hadn’t fed her for like eleven hours. I headed into the kitchen to start my meal, I’ve been craving mom’s spaghetti and meatballs, but no one makes it like her. I put the pot of water on the gas, then started prepping the things I needed to make this meal a bomb. By the time the water had boiled, I was done prepping everything, I did my thing and the aroma of the food was making my mouth water. I took my bath and went to divide my food when I heard someone come in, I knew who it was before even seeing the person. I heard him take a long sniff of the air and heard him grunt a sound that I knew meant he was impressed. “Welcome back, there is food in the kitchen if you want some”.

~~XAVIER~~

Work was so stressful today, customers kept pouring in every minute, once someone stands up, another customer replaces them. My shoulders are so sore, I step down from my bike while hanging my bag on my back. On getting to the door, I perceived a very sweet aroma which made my stomach rumble, I quickly coughed to mask it in case anyone heard it. I step into the house only to be hit with that same aroma that had me salivating while I was parking my bike, I let out an impressed sound because I haven’t met anyone that cooks like this, it smells so much like my mum’s, I suddenly feel like going home. I wish I could have a taste of the food and I really need to discuss the use of her pots with her so I can cook for myself too and not end up dead, “Welcome back, there is food in the kitchen if you want some”, she said in a muffled voice, I smiled inside and turned around to see some sauce on her cheeks and her mouth stuffed full, making her look like a chipmunk with its mouth full with nuts.

“I thought you don’t like your things being touched, are you sure you want me to touch your food?”, I said, meanwhile, in my mind, my insides were dancing for joy about the fact that I will be able to eat her food. She gave me a confused look then shrugged her shoulders while saying “I wouldn’t tell you to eat if I didn’t trust you, yes, I don’t like my things being touched but only when my permission hasn’t been given”. I nodded in understanding and sat opposite her on my bed “Remember I told you I wanted to speak to you later today, well it was about the pots and other things you bought, I wanted to tell you thank you, they were so thoughtful and made the room feel more like home. I want to ask if I can pay you back fifty percent of all the things you bought, I don’t like being indebted or feeling like I owe someone anything, then I wanted to ask for your infinite permission to use any utensil that is at the time, not in use by you?”. She stared at me then picked up the last meatball on her plate, chewed, swallowed her cup of water slowly, let out a satisfied smile before turning to me. “You have my full permission to use any utensil you like as far as you always wash them well and don’t, I mean do not, spoil anything, because then I will be forced to wring your neck and use your spinal cord for a necklace because I care deeply for all my things. Then as for the issue concerning the money, I don’t really need you to pay me, but if you feel like you owe me, then sure you can pay me back”, she said with a sickly-sweet smile, that made me shudder. I asked for her account and sent the money immediately, then went to have a shower. The hot scalding water flowed down my back leaving a satisfying sting behind, relaxing my tense muscles, I picked up my body wash and scrubbed all the sweat and grime of the day off me, rinsed off, stepped out of the shower and took one of my clean towels from the tiny cupboard in the bathroom. After wearing some sweats and a free cotton top, I went to dish my food, the moment I put the first spoon in my mouth, I didn’t realise I let out a low satisfying grunt until I looked up to see her smirking. And damn it, that shouldn’t be so hot coming from someone as cute as her.