Open House: For Sale

Is It Insane?

We both love Chinese food, so we immediately agree on having that. We also agree on eating at home and not outside. I don't know why he suggested it, but I accepted because what I wanted to say to him would be better said in private. So, I make our order before leaving the office, so it's ready to take it when we're at the restaurant.

"God, I haven't had Chinese in so long!" I say after I have the first bite, after having settled in my house

"Really? I have it at least once every couple of weeks! I think it's showing..." he says and then touches his belly, making me laugh

"U're fine! I just wanted to fit in my clothes for the competition. I was in no position to tailor new ones!"

"U have to tailor them? U can't just buy them?"

"Well, I can...I can also rent them, but 1.who knows when I might need them again, so why buy something I may not wear in years or may not even fit when I have to wear them again, and 2.what if something happens and have to actually buy them because I can't return them? So u either buy something once and pray u can fit in it when u have to or u tailor one every time u need it. Thankfully, I don't need them often, so no one knew I wore the same thing a second time! And in order to fit in it, I almost starved myself for the past month..."

"That's harsh...u shouldn't starve yourself in any way for anything! I swear, if at any point I cause u not to eat, I want u to shame me for that!"

"Please, working with u doesn't even feel like working!"

"I'm glad u feel that way. And, for whatever it's worth, I'm sorry for being like that today when u came in. We just left things a little awkwardly yesterday and I didn't want to bring it to work, so I just decided to stick to work stuff and be the stuck-up boss everyone has known and hated!" he explains and I chuckle

"I don't know about the others, but u're not stuck-up while we work together..."

"And I have u to thank for!" he says smiling

"Since we're talking about yesterday, I have an answer to your offer..."

"U do?"

"I do, yes...that's why I agreed on eating inside, because I wanted to talk to u with no distractions and people hearing or something"

"So, I guess u have conditions, right? Because either just accepting or declining, wouldn't need privacy..."

"My God, u're so smart...Yes, I do have conditions"

"I'm all ears!"

"I'll accept, but the minute we sign the marriage certificate, we stop having sex; of course, u can say that u don't accept that condition. I'm just telling u that I'll only accept if we stop being...involved"

"Penny, I told u: I care about u...I won't take my offer back just to keep having sex with u! It's a solid, fair request and I accept it. I admit it would be weird to be married for the loan and keep having sex..."

"I know, right? If we're married and have sex, we're practically a real couple! Insane!"

"Is it?"

"What? Insane?"

"Yes..."

"Well, yeah! We're getting married just to get a good interest rate for me to buy a house. If we seal the deal, then it becomes real!"

"I get that, I'm asking about us being a couple...is that idea insane?"

"Why do u ask? U want us to be a couple?"

"I'm just asking if the idea of it is insane, Penny, that's all!"

"Well, we have a significant age difference, u're my boss..."

"Are these the only obstacles u can think of?" he asks and as I open my mouth, trying to find what to say, my phone rings

"Leave it..." he says, looking into my eyes seriously

"I-I can't..."

"Then answer quickly..." he says, and I just jump up and go pick up my phone

"Hello?" I ask when I pick up

"Hey, it's Malcolm!"

"Oh, yeah, hi!"

"Is it a good time?" he asks and I turn to look at Carlos who stares at me

"Good enough. What's up?" I answer, turning my back to him again

"Well, I know it's very soon to call, but I don't want to lose any time, I might not have a chance tomorrow..."

"What are u saying exactly?"

"I suck at this, God! Well, I was very happy to see u today and I was thinking if u wanted to grab dinner later?"

"Oh...um,well, I'm having Chinese now, so I don't think I'll be able to eat anything for the rest of the day...how about tomorrow?"

"U have 2 lessons tomorrow, Penny..." Carlos says from behind me and I hope Malcolm didn't hear it

"Actually, not tomorrow, sorry, I have 2 lessons. How about Friday?"

"Friday sounds good, yeah!"

"Great! Wanna meet outside the coffee shop?"

"Or I can pick u up?"

"Oh, sure, yeah! Is 8 ok? U know, so I have time to come home and get ready..."

"8 is great!"

"Ok, so, see u then. I gotta go now..."

"Of course! Say sorry to your boss for distracting u again!" he says and I chuckle. Then, we hang up and I turn around slowly

"Let me guess; the acquaintance u saw today asked u on a date?"

"Yeah..."

"Of course he did, why wouldn't he? I'm the idiot who waited too long..." he says, putting his food down and getting up

"Carlos-"

"No, no, I get it. It's ok! I guess it's the perfect timing to stop having sex" he says, cutting me off, lowering his sleeves from his elbows where he had rolled them

"Carlos, please...let me explain!"

"There's nothing to explain, Penny. I told u, I get it! U deserve someone who doesn't just wait. U need someone who knows that wants u and isn't afraid to tell u...someone who doesn't just do all the things in between instead of just telling u how he feels! I just hope he appreciates u, that's all..." he replies, putting his coat on. I feel rage filling me, making me walk up to him

"No! U're not gonna leave like that! This is your chance! U say the word and I cancel the date!" I say, looking him in the eyes, while mine are filled with tears

"I'm not gonna do that, Penny..."

"Why?"

"Because I can't promise u that I won't make u regret it...I can't have that burden in my consciousness!"

"How?"

"How what?"

"How do u get anything done with all that cowardness? How do u make decisions when u think into things that much? How do u live your life afraid to show emotions and admit what u feel?" I ask from in between my teeth, not able to control my tears from falling. That's when his eyes water too. He puts his hand on my cheek and wipes my tears with his thumb

"U have no idea how hard this is for me...but I can't be selfish and make u turn down an opportunity to have a healthy relationship, just because I just now decided to tell u how I feel. Especially when I don't know if I'll be able to live up to the expectations my confession will create. I'm old enough to handle the consequences of my cowardness, but u're too young to get sucked in. Please, though, promise me u will let him see u. Don't hide your true self just because u're afraid he won't accept u, like u did with your ex. If u're too much for him, tell him to go find less... " he says, looking me deep in the eyes. At the end, he presses his lips against mine softly, takes his briefcase and leaves