Janessa walked to the dining table leaning on the wall and sat down. She heard that Armando was talking to someone on the phone when he was cooking.
He said, "Okay. I'll go tomorrow. Thank you."
After a while, he took out the dishes he cooked and fetched two bowls of rice.
What Janessa ate in the hospital was prepared for patients, which was either tasteless or bland. She had been eating porridge for so long so she missed beer and grilled meat, especially grilled crayfish. She thought that Armando would only order takeaways when she was discharged from the hospital. However, Armando cooked himself and the food he prepared was Janessa's favorite.
Janessa was a tour guide so she had got used to different dishes from all over the country. But when she came back home, she loved the sour and spicy shredded potatoes and sauteed potato, green pepper, and eggplant the housekeeper cooked for her. Every time she came back, Benson would ask the kitchen to cook them for her. Over time, as long as Janessa came back, the cook would cook the two dishes without being informed.
Nowadays, it was uncommon for men to cook. And Armando didn't not only know how to cook but also knew how to cook her favorite dishes...
Armando didn't tell Janessa where they were going tomorrow when they finished their meal. Janessa thought that he would live with her today because it was not convenient for her to live alone now. She was still injured, though Armando had told her that he was not living with her.
"I found a housekeeper for you. She will live with you tonight. If you need anything, she can buy it for you. Or you can call me," Armando said while he was washing the dishes.
Janessa was stunned and said, "What about you?"
"I can live in my shop," he said.
Janessa nodded.
Then they became silent.
Armando was washing the dishes and Janessa was sitting beside the dining table. After Armando came out of the kitchen, he dried his hand and walked to the dining table. He hugged Janessa from behind and kissed her neck.
Janessa dared not move.
Then Armando walked toward the door and said, "I am leaving."
The door was snapped closed. Janessa recovered and touched her neck where Armando just kissed. Her skin there was burning.
...
Collin didn't feel good when he was taking a shower after getting drenched in the rain that day. Then he had a fever and he slept a day after taking some medicine. The second morning, he felt much better though his voice was hoarse.
He had a simple meal and then received a call from Cora who hung up immediately after fishing her words, "Don't forget to pack the things in the house."
Then Collin realized that someone wanted to rent his house, which Cora bought for his wedding.
The female tenant's voice sounded like a comedian.
Thinking of what he had said to Cora, he laughed out when he was shaving, nearly hurting himself. He put on shirt and khaki trousers and went out. It was sunny outside while Collin was in a bad mood.
He drove to the appointed place and the security guard told him that the miss had arrived early. She got bored so she went to the coffee shop nearby. Collin nodded and said, "When she comes back, you can tell her that I am waiting for her in the house."
The security guard nodded.
Collin took the key from the project management office and waited for the elevator. Few people lived here so the elevator was empty. He stood there and could see his pale face through the mental on the door.
He thought of Roxy when they were standing at the door of her house, who put her slim arms around his waist and kissed...
The elevator arrived.
He lowered his eyes and went in. He pressed the button for the 16th floor. After the elevator door closed, he took out the buzzing phone in his pocket and answered it. He said, "I'm already here. I saw her. Her voice is good but she looked normal."
Cora gave up, so, she said, "Forget it. If she still wants to rent it, you two could sign a contract. Or, you can leave."
Collin agreed.
He put away his phone. He could not understand why the girl would want to rent his house.
He had seen the house even if he didn't move in. Cora didn't turn it into a sweet home for couples but prepared two study rooms and one room with computers. There was also a room for babies. But after Collin put his bicycle in, it became a sports room.
The furniture in the living room was white. There were no pink or other golden colors that girls liked. Cora decorated it in Collin's style but then she thought that her daughter-in-law in the future would not like it. So, she decided to rent it to someone else.
But Cora was picky. She would not rent it to couples or people with dogs or cats. She didn't want to see couples cuddling because her son was single now. So, the house was still empty until the girl called. Cora thought that the girl could meet her standards so she wanted to rent it to her.
Collin looked around when he opened the door. The bedroom was painted with white color which most girls didn't like.. It felt lonely and cold.