"Ma, it's not what your thinking…I-"
Slap!
"You think I'm stupid?! It's so obvious that you're one of…"
I couldn't remember anything after that.
*
I staggered to his house and took off my shoes.
"Hey…I thought you had work-"
I leaned in and kissed him. Our tongues interlaced, our breaths collided and my body heated up. He pulled away, a devastatingly beautiful look in his eyes, the ones that begged for love.
"Fuck…"
I pulled my jacket off my body and kissed him again. While we made out, I pushed him to the bed and slid my hand up his stomach.
"You never initiate it…so…why-"
"I want to."
I breathed in.
"I want you. I want to taste every part of you, so you'll never let me go. I need you…I…"
His fingers slipped inside my mouth. I trembled and sucked at them. He slipped them out.
"You're rambling."
I chuckled.
"Then shut me up with your cock."
His hand stroked my chin.
"As you wish, my love."
*
After long audacious intimacy with Antoine, he fell asleep in the bed we made love in.
I went outside and relaxed in the hammock. I was taking this better than I expected. I even feel way better now.
My phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Kavya, what the fuck happened?"
"Dude, it's the middle of the night. I'm trying to sleep."
"Sleep?! Fuck, mom's taking it out on me now."
I rubbed my forehead.
"So that's what you care about."
"What, no! We need to talk Kavya, I-"
I hung up on him and laughed under my breath. What a weirdo.
I feel great.
My eyes slowly closed.
*
The phone rang.
"Hello? ___ enterpises. How can I help you?"
Another phone on my desk rang.
"Please hold."
Beep.
"Hello? ____ enterprises. How can I help you?"
"How do I log into my bank account?"
"Hah…hold on, I'll transfer your call, sir."
I switched to the other phone.
"Yes, I was wondering if-"
The other phone rang and I didn't hear a word of anything she said.
"Sorry, mam, I'll be back in just a second."
I switched the phone.
"Hello? ____ enterprises. How can I help you?"
"I was wondering how I can transfer money to PayPal."
"Hah…I'm transferring you to the right number."
Beep.
"Hello, mam. Sorry about the inconvenience, how may I-"
"You put me on hold two times and I couldn't say a single sentence!" she yelled.
"Again, sorry for the inconvenience."
"Hmph. First your website doesn't work, and now this. When will you people get your work straight!"
"Ha…mam. If you're asking about the website, that's another facility of ours to call. The number is _____"
I hung up and sighed. My head throbbed.
"I'll take over," Jacob said, "you didn't even take lunch break."
"Thanks."
I'm tired…
But it's fine.
*
"Hey, how was your day?"
"Okay."
I hugged him.
"How…come you're coming here more often?"
"Because I love you. Duh."
He flushed and looked away. I laughed.
"Still getting flustered at the most outrageous things, huh?"
"…maybe."
I laughed and kissed him on the cheek.
"I'll make something."
"Okay…"
I took the chicken breasts out of the oven and served them to Antoine with a side of rice. The meaty aroma filled the air.
I settled down the platter. I approached the stabbed chicken to my mouth. As my teeth suck into the chicken, the juices flowed on my tongue along with the delicious umami flavour. Antoine took a bite and his face lit up.
"Wow…this is is really good."
"I've improved, huh? Remember the first time I cooked for you. That was horrible, haha!"
"Thank god the house didn't burn down!" he laughed.
"Hm. But, I still continued after that. You know why?"
"Why?"
"Because I know you love delicious things, like pastries. Even if I don't know how to make them, I'll still try my best to make good food for you."
"Ah…"
"Because I love you."
He beamed and shoved the food into his mouth. He gulped loudly. I snickered.
"You know what. I'm going to do this everyday."
His eyes widened. He smiled and I blushed. Fuck, he was so cute. My hands cupped his face.
"Uhm…"
I kissed him on the lips and licked the sauce off.
"Haha…you taste amazing."
"That's the…chicken…"
"Hm? Really? Then I want more. Can I?"
His lips curved upwards.
"Of course."
*
Most of our days continued like that. I would cook food for him, intensely make out, and then get ready for bed. Even with the constant phone calls from my brother, and the absence of my mother, it was so carefree. I never felt better.
"Alfredo pasta!"
"Homemade KFC!"
"Lao min!"
"Some French hot chocolate for dessert!"
All the different dishes I made that week I presented to Antoine. It was probably the most I'd have done for him.
*
"Alright, I'm gonna wash the dishes now." I said.
"Huh? But it's usually me, since you're the cook."
"Don't worry! You're probably tired, but the food gave me energy," I said, "just relax over there and I'll be right to you!"
"Uh…okay then."
I beamed and squeezed the soap on the sponge. I picked up the plate and scrubbed it clean. My hand turned the tap on. The water rushed out and I rinsed the glass. The glass slipped from my fingertips.
It shattered on the ground. I stared at the broken glass on the floor.
"Oh my god!"
Antoine slipped on his slippers and rushed to the kitchen.
"Are you okay—Kavya?…"
Tears streamed down my face and my trembling hands clenched my chest. I sobbed silently.
"Kavya?…"
His eyes looked into mine. His face was blurry, but I could make out a concerned look plastered on his face. I fell to my knees and covered my face.
"Kavya! The glass on the floor!"
He walked me carefully out of the kitchen and sat me down on the sofa. I continued to sob uncontrollably. My breath quickened and I looked up at the ceiling, not daring to look in his eyes.
"I'm a…freak. I'm a freak…They all hate me. Everyone hates me."
"No…"
"I'm a horrible fucking person…I can't do this anymore I-"
I wheezed and caught my breath.
"I'm so tired. I want to go home. I want to go home."
"You are home."
"Ma…why did you leave…"
"Kavya…what's going on?"
"I hate them. I hate them…I'm going to fucking kill everyone. I-"
He covered my mouth.
"Breathe…"
I huffed and squeezed my eyes closed.
"I'm right here…okay?…"
I gasped for breath and sniffed.
"It's okay…"
His arms wrapped around me.
"It's okay…"
His warm voice tickled my ears. My eyes lids drooped and I collapsed on his shoulder.