"Ignore her," Chase said as she was about to go back in there and teach the woman a good lesson."Why? Why is it okay for her to say those demeaning words to you, to us? Why do we have to ignore her? Who does she think she is? She's probably no better than us, acting all high and mighty like that," Evelyn couldn't control her anger but more than anything, she couldn't understand why Chase looked calm. Was this a normal thing for him? Being insulted? Degraded?Instead of replying, Chase held a smile on his face. The thought of little Evelyn fighting someone was funny to him although he was happy that she would actually fight someone because the person insulted him."You were just insulted and you're laughing. What's funny huh? Did I miss something?" She didn't understand the man."You're cute," he blurted out and she turned around so he wouldn't see her red her cheeks had gotten."Don't call me cute," she scolded but her anger was now replaced with a smile."Hey, it's true," he insiste
"Don't you like the food?" Chase pointed at her almost untouched food. The thought of her mother always left a bitter taste in her mouth.Seeing his worry, she plastered the biggest smile that she could muster. "I like watching you eat," she said jokingly although it wasn't far from the truth. The fact that he had a girlfriend kept nagging at the back of her mind but she ignored it. It wasn't like they were married or anything right?"Hey, that's cheesy," he scolded but couldn't stop the grin that escaped and spread across his lips."You know, since we're friends, I should invite you to my house for dinner sometime. I can't cook as good as this but trust me, I'm decent," she offered with a smile and Chase rapidly nodded his head.He couldn't say no to home-cooked food, especially when she asked so nicely and besides, he felt safe with her. A sense of security that he didn't even get from being with his supposed girlfriend. "Eat your food," he said sternly this time.Evelyn knew she ha
"This is me," Evelyn said when they stopped in front of her house.Chase nodded impressively at the neat environment. The house was a single storey building and the driveway was well kept, same as the flowers that had now withered due to the cold. He could bet anything that it was a beautiful sight during spring. He wondered how she was able to afford the house, given it was in a good neighborhood."Wanna come in?" She pointed her thumb towards the house."No, I should get going. Next time," he said. It was late already and he knew she needed to rest for the next day's work."Wait here," she said and went into the house, taking the steps two at at time and entering a room she hadn't been in for the longest time.She opened the door and dust mixed with nostalgia filled her nose but she wasn't there to dwell on the memories, besides, he would be home in a couple of months. Her brother had been sentenced to a year in prison for "trespassing on private property," and he would be out soon.
After the morning rounds, they went back to the office and Alice went about for office gossip."I'm beat,"Chase said as he landed in the chair with a thud. One of the rooms he cleaned, a woman made him tear the whole place upside down, twice, in search for her ring which at the end, was sitting pretty inside her purse. He pulled out the two hundred dollar bills which she had tipped him afterward and sniffed it. "Nice reward," he said and pocketed the money back."Tell me about it," Evelyn grumbled, also sounding tired from her rounds."You know what would make us better? He asked and his eyes twinkled in amusement."Coffee!" They both said in unison."Don't worry, I got it," he said and stood up when she made a move to get the coffee started.That had become their daily routine. Morning rounds, coffee afterwards, more rounds, lunch at the cafeteria, more rounds, then final round and close. Usually, Evelyn was the one that made the coffee but that day, he wanted to do something for her
"I thought I'd missed you," she said, trying to catch her breath. She had ran a flight of stairs because the elevator left before she could reach it."What's wrong?" Chase asked, looking behind her at the open door to know what she was running for or from.She held up a finger for him to hold on while she took in air properly. "I want to come with you," she finally said when her breathing was back to normal."What?!" He asked. That was the last thing he expected to hear."I want to come with you. You're going to give your girlfriend her gift right?" She asked and he looked at her warily but nodded."Why?" He didn't mean to come off as rude but he was genuinely surprised."Um, I just want to be out for a while. My place can get pretty lonely," she said. Although it was true, it wasn't the entire truth. She wanted to walk under the starry sky with him. She was already attracted to him and she couldn't help it."I…actually she's busy with her studies so I just wanted to drop the gift and
Just like a déja-vu, Laura was bent over her reading table, receiving back shots from a man whose face he hadn't seen yet. Just like last time, blood drained from his face and he stood rooted on his feet."Laura," just like last time, he could only manage a croaked whisper. They hadn't even heard him come in amidst their intense love-making till the wind carried her name to their ears.Laura turned around, shocked at first but the look of shock soon turned to irritation when she saw who it was.The man also turned around and it was none other than Patrick. Chase felt like a complete fool. He should have known all along. The reason why she had been acting up for the last couple of weeks and it all started after that day on the road."What?" Laura snapped at him, pulling him out of his reverie."I….I came to give you your gift," he found himself saying, looking everywhere but at them. When he caught himself, he immediately scolded himself. They should be the ones ashamed. Why was he th
Chase walked back to the bus stop but made a quick stop to buy alcohol before reaching his house. As much as he hated to admit it, he wanted to keep hearing Evelyn talk. Her soft buttery voice was like a healing balm to his broken heart and soul and her soft palm in his was the only thing that kept him sane throughout the ride from Laura's house.He shook his head, willing himself not to dwell in the thought. He had just been betrayed for the second time and he definitely didn't want to put himself in the position to get hurt again.He picked the bottle of black jack and once he was sitting on his squeaky bed, popped the lid open and brought the liquor to his lips, throwing his head back and taking a long swig.It wasn't until his eyes began to water and his chest felt constricted before he brought the bottle down. The hot liquid traveled fast throughout his chest and distracted him momentarily from where it actually hurt the most."Rag." He took a swig."Garbage." Another swig."Wor
"Wait," Evelyn stopped him just as he was about to make a beeline for the elevator."What?" He nearly groaned in frustration. He just wanted to be away from there and in the comfort of the bleach-filled air in their office.She pulled his body away from the swarming bodies that passed. "We're going to serve in the gala," she said, eyes sparkling."In the what now?" Chase asked confused and she looked at him pointedly."The gala. The anniversary gala," she said slowly like she was speaking to a 4 year old child.Chase scrunched up his nose and one word that came to Evelyn's mind was "cute". She wanted to pinch his cheeks but she had to stay focused."Why would we do that?" He asked. He didn't see any reason why he had to attend the gala, talk more of serving there."Because we'll get more money, plus the bonus," she almost squealed, getting the attention of some people who were also waiting to write their names down. She was so happy because more money meant having a go at saving her m