Open House: For Sale

Malcolm

When I get in the house I run to my room, ignoring Carla calling my name.

"Sweetie, what happened? Are u ok?" she asks from the door, while I'm face down in my pillow

"He's such a coward! He'd rather die than tell me how he feels directly! I care about u, let's get married, we got carried away from the moment...Bullshit!" I yell, raising my head to talk and then I throw it back on the pillow

"Penny u're not making any sense. Who asked u to get married? Carlos?"

"Yes! Who else?"

"Wanna explain? I'm confused..." she says and I turn around, sitting up on the bed, hugging my knees, and I explain to her what happened

"I swear, men...But u're also stupid; U had the chance to tell him how u feel!"

"Now u sound like the stupid one. How can I say it to someone who can that easily lie to my face about what our night meant to him?"

"I told u, u have to see behind the words and observe what they do!"

"Well, yeah, but I'd like to hear it too, u know? It's nice to hear that u're loved and not just wanted..."

"Do u even want a relationship?"

"I don't know...all I know is that I feel nice and free when I'm with him. I can be myself. I swear, I almost forgot who I am while I was with Leo"

"Look, sweetie, u can't force him to admit his love to u...u can either wait or let it go. And if I were u, I wouldn't keep having sex with him..."

"Yeah, I thought about that too, but then I told him about what I want..."

"U can always take it back"

"Well, that's the least of our problems now...what do I do with the house?"

"Are u really considering his offer?"

"I am, yeah. It's such a nice house, Carla. And at such a good price! And so close to work!"

"Why don't u go ask about the loan yourself? I mean, u might be able to get it alone..."

"I doubt it...my finances are crap, no bank will trust me with a loan at a reasonable interest rate"

"Wanna know what I would do?"

"Yes, please!"

~~~

The next morning, I go to work with practically no sleep; I was tossing and turning all night, thinking about everything that happened for the past 3 days. After much thought, I decided to go with Carla's advice...

"Morning" I say when I walk in the office, with my sunglasses still on

"Morning..." he says, barely raising his eyes at me. As I settle, getting ready to start work, my phone chimes

"I sent u an email with some contracts. File them, please, and when u're done *another email comes* cross-reference buyers with houses. I think u should be done by break time" he says flatly

"Yes, boss" I say at the same tone and get right to work

On my break, I don't really have the appetite to eat anything, so I just go get a coffee. As I'm sitting on a table, sipping on my coffee, having a few cigarettes, and scrolling through social media to pass the time, I feel a presence above me

"Can I help u?" I ask, looking at the guy that hovers over me

"I'm so sorry for staring, I just wanted to make sure it's u"