Unexpectedly Married

Visiting and Bowling

I had no idea what had gotten into Forth, but I was really hoping it had managed to leave just as quickly. We hadn't really spoken since the previous night, if you could even call it talking with just a couple of grumbled sentences. He had a couple of beers for dinner and then went straight to bed. By the time I slipped in beside him, he was already fast asleep, with one arm lazily draped above his head.

I was pretty sure his bed wasn't meant for sharing. Even though it was technically a queen-sized bed, Forth's large frame took up a significant portion of it, making it feel much smaller. But at least it was warm. The man was like a human furnace, radiating heat in his super air-conditioned apartment. That part was actually quite nice.

It was Tuesday already, and since neither of us had come up with a better plan, we had decided to go bowling. Or so I thought. I hadn't received any messages from him all day. The hours at work seemed to drag on forever, giving me plenty of time to text Forth repeatedly, but unfortunately, I didn't receive any response.

Sure, things were a bit awkward between us. I had never shared living space with someone else before, so it felt a little like being an unwelcome guest at a relative's house. I sensed that he wasn't thrilled about me being there, but he was too polite to mention it. To be honest, it wasn't exactly a walk in the park for me either. I didn't expect to feel so confined living with another person. But hey, we had only been living together for a few days. I'm sure things will improve.

Lots of people had roommates, and a multitude of people were married. They managed to make it work, and I could do the same.

I punched out and glanced at my phone, but there was still no message from Forth. It was almost eight when he had arrived home last night, and I couldn't help but wonder if tonight would be another late one. Are we still planning to go out?

I walked towards my car, and as I hopped in, I made the bold choice to drive by Kalayaan and check if he had finished.

Upon my arrival, the parking lot appeared quite vacant, with only his worn-out truck parked nearest to the building. I entered through the side door and found the warehouse to be tranquil and motionless. It seemed that everyone had already departed. Initially, I assumed Forth was in his office, but my perception changed when I witnessed a burst of sparks illuminating the floor.

As I made my way towards it, I focused my gaze on Forth instead of the dazzling white light emanating from his activity. I had no clue about the nature of his work, but I vaguely remembered being cautioned against staring at the light. However, as I got closer, I noticed that Forth was wearing safety goggles, although they didn't seem to have any tint.

I had visited Kalayaan previously, but each time I arrived, Forth was busy in his office, handling paperwork or other administrative tasks. He appeared... different. More rugged. His face was marked with dirt or grease, I couldn't tell which, and his hairline was moist with sweat. And let's not forget how dirty his hands were. He had removed his coveralls and fastened them around his waist, his white T-shirt clinging to his chest as he skillfully operated the grinder. I had never paid attention to how his veins protruded against the strong muscles of his arms.