“And who is this idiot?” the man at the centre of the room demeaned, his eyes glaring and trailing Damien from head to toeDamien was calm. This was not the first time someone was insulting him openly. After all, they do not know him and have nothing to use on him. “Someone more real than you” Damien fired back calmlyThe man wanted to approach as he folded his fist in anger but a lady held him back. Then the lady spoke, “There is no need to insult anyone here. We are only trying to have fun. Moreover, Joanna is our friend. We want to carry her along” she explained“If she is your friend, why force her if she does not want to play the” he gestured an invisible quotation with his fingers as he said the last word “game?”“Joanna hates doing stuff. It’s just a way to lighten her up a little” the lady responded“So what do you want her to do in this game? Because if she says she does not want to do, I believe she is just uncomfortable with the game unless you all are bad friends” Damien m
Another month came to an end quickly. Damien and Jonna have been able to build a decent life with each other. Sometimes they tend to forget that they were boss and employee. For a few weeks, they were flatmates who were sincere and close to each other.Other times, they seemed like a couple who were ready to make things work between themselves. Sometimes they acknowledge this act and other times they do not. Damien got his increased pay, and he was so happy he prepared a nice meal for the both of them.No has given him so much respect as much as Joanna had given to him. At his last job, he was making a penny and still had so much bills to pay. Only working for Joanna for two months and he had more than enough money to help him for another two months even if he chose to stay on his own.Once the table was set, he admired the table, rubbing his both hands together as he did so before he finally took off his apron and went up to call her for dinner. He did not even have to get to her roo
Damien could only stare at her, dumbfounded. He was making money. He had three thousand dollars in his account and he could not even get himself things that could only cost five hundred dollars, if not less. These things were even as little as deodorants, soups and things he could afford.After staring at her for a long time, he took a seat beside her. “What do you expect me to use the money you give to me every month to do? I need to help myself. I do not want to be dependent on you. You have done more than enough for me,” he explained calmly“Have I acted like it bothered me? Joanna asked himShe does not know why, but buying those things for him was an indirect way of telling him how much she loves him even though he had no money of his own. Yes, he was working, and he deserved a reasonable pay, but she wants to get him things.She has the money, and that was how she wanted to show him she loved him. If he got things for himself, how could she possibly show him she loves him? It wa
Mrs. Alfredo kept glancing at her husband, who sat at her side at the head of the table. She has been worried for months now and her husband looked unbothered and relaxed. She did not know what worried her most, the fact that her only son was out there somewhere and none of them knew of his whereabouts or the fact that her husband was not moved to even search for his son.His eyes were on the newspaper in his hand while he sipped his coffee, but he could feel the stares of his wife on him. For the first few minutes, he chose to ignore it and just focus his mind on the news that was on the paper he held.When it got too much, he had to ask. “Is there a valid reason why you have been staring at me for so long?” “Yes,” she replied to her husband“I’m open to hearing it”“I’m worried, John”He raised his head to look at his wife. “What worries you?” he asked, paying attention to her“It’s about our son” she said and Mr. Alfredo quickly lost interest, dropping gaze back to his newspaper,
The sound of his phone ringing made Damien groan in irritation. He had stayed up late the previous day trying to finish up some things he had planned for the day. It was not up to three hours since he laid down and the call was interrupting his sleep.Angrily, he slapped the phone out of the bedside drawer and brought the screen to his face to take a look. It was his uncle. He sighed, turned around properly and picked up the phone. “Damy” his uncle said the moment he placed the phone on his ears“Good day, Uncle” he greeted with a froggy voice“You sound dull. Are you okay?” “Yes”“I’m sorry that I cannot help you. It's not my intention to make you suffer. You know how your father can be” the man said“I understand”“But are you sure you are okay? You don't sound-”“I was asleep” he cut his uncle offHe was fine. What else did he want? “That’s good to know” and his uncle ended the callDamien stared at the phone for only a minute before throwing the phone to the side of the bed and h
“I do not have!” Rebecca's voice could be heard around the apartment building as she came down the stairs to the living room “I know you do!” Justin yelled as Rebecca plopped on the couch “You made my girlfriend breakup with me so you better give me that money or else?”Rebecca jumped up. “Or else what? You'd beat me? You'll strangle me? What will you do?”Rebecca's face was red with anger. She was tired. She was very tired. Every day she worked. If it were not as a cashier in a supermarket, she would be working as a waitress in a small restaurant. It might be shifts but it was exhausting.Justin does not put all this into consideration and keeps demanding money after money like she plucks it in a tree somewhere. “I won't give you two thousand dollars even if you have cancer” Rebecca said with gritted teethJustin was about to make a jab at her when Angela decided to step in. “What is it? Why do you two want to pull the house down?” She asked“Rebecca does not want to give me the mon
Joanna was busy in her study with some work. She had been on it for days now and had informed Damien that she would be busy and might miss a few meals with him. He had objected but she said it was important so he let her do as she wanted.He had prepared lunch but since she was not going to be coming down to the dining table, he chose to go up to her study to give her the meal. With two knocks, he walked into the room. Joanna glanced at him before returning her gaze to the laptop.Gently, he placed the tray down before her. “You always love it when I eat, don’t you?” she asked him“Food is good” was all he said with a smile“I am hundred percent sure I will be fat soon”“It’ll be healthy fat”“I doubt there is anything like that”“But I’m telling you. You need to trust me”“With my life, yes but with my fat, no”Damien shook his head. “Just eat okay? I would not want to get back and you haven’t eaten”“Are you going somewhere?” she asked him“No, I just have a few things to do around
Joanna walked over to him. It was then Damien noticed her. He smiled immediately as she walked over to him. “On a break?” He askedJoanna would have been fooled if she had not stood there long enough watching him. He knew how to conceal his emotions and sometimes she wondered why he did that. She stood staring at him as she nodded.Damien smiled. “That’s good” before resuming his work, glancing at Joanna who stood like a statue at his side“Are you okay?” She asked himDamien took some time before nodding with a hum. “I’m fine,” he said“Why do you like it when I request that you tell me a couple of times before you do?”He paused and glanced at her with a confused look before resuming his job. “I don't really know what you are saying”“You look gloomy,” she said then had to add “Or you looked gloomy. Now, you are smiling like nothing is wrong”“Because nothing is wrong” he chuckled“You’re lying. I thought we've built trust here”“And we have” Damien stared at her for a minute before