If Things Should Stay the Same

Chapter 7: Inner

With a heavy sigh, he tossed himself to the edge of the bed, slightly rebounding off the fairly brand-new innersprings of the mattress. Exhaustion was slowly taking over his body after the last seven days of nonstop orientation and lessons in the massive mansion his friends called a "home".

Sure, it was as luxurious as he had dreamed it to be. Spacious hallways decorated with various antique furniture and ornaments, the many staircases of marble, metal or wood bearing meticulously-crafted designs on the banisters, large rooms either replicated from one of the many previous art movements in the past eras or dictated by popular themes of contemporary architecture. Many of these rooms were like miniaturized facilities people frequented in popular districts of any country – including but limited to saunas, fitness clubs, sports centers, recreational areas, spas, cinemas, art galleries, concert theaters, rehearsal studios.

Then there were the decors which he thought he would only see in museums or exhibits in malls. Glass cases that displayed artifacts from forgotten cultures and ancient civilizations, suits of armor that had seen many skirmishes in the battlefield, towering bookshelves containing large collections of literature. Hedges arranged into maze-like walls, shrubberies of exotic plant species he had never seen before, sculptures of historical figures from former empires as well as presumed deities from long-lost religions. Carpets and curtains woven from the highest-quality fabrics, stainless steel countertops in the kitchen where only the finest selection of foods were prepared for consumption.

And he could just imagine himself getting used to living there, finally knowing what it was like to live in a house again like he used to a few years ago.

However, he felt what he was expected to do in return for such was a little too ridiculous. On paper, doing household chores plus any of the homeowner's occasional yet odd requests did sound easy. He initially assumed he probably could fare better doing it than his failed attempt at doing an ESP act for a high school talent show, his assigned role of the deuteragonist in a play during his university days for Literature class, or even his dance number for the Christmas party at work.

Only until he actually started training into the role, he had no idea what he was getting himself into when he accepted his boss's offer to live in with them. Sir Percival as he would address him with utmost respect, as if he owed his very existence this moment to him. Even more than he considered his own parents.

For the wage he was earning per hour and the shifts he was doing which spanned the entire week with a nonexistent day-off, he was able to sustain his daily expenses of basic necessities while keeping himself occupied most of the time. The firm's office building situated in a block surrounded by many cafes allowed him access to affordably-priced food from various cuisines as well as the nearby motel's showers to freshen up and change into another identical suit for no charge.

He was practically living at work in the very sense of the expression. The two duffel bags he often lugged around contained a week's worth of clothing which he washed and hung to dry at night on the windowsill of his private workspace. It was surprising that no one – not even his coworkers at the firm – picked up what he had been doing for five years until he was caught one day by Sir Percival who happened to stay in the premises afterhours without him knowing.

All those excuses to work overtime, telling others to leave the keys to the building with him and that he would be the one to close building himself after he finished his work. All those reasons why he was surprisingly so early at his desk when he had been sleeping on it and never left work in the first place. All those lies he made up to keep staying back for work which some spread rumors about him trying to brownnose Sir Percival himself for promotions and extra favors.

Thankful that only a select few believed them, he would still choose to endure to keep his job.

Although the pay was part of the reason why he would not give it up so easily, he actually enjoyed the nature of his work. Spending long hours to do the auditing and sort the accounts in front of his desk, assisting in the management of human resources and rostering of shifts, facing both prospective and current clientele's enquiries and concerns.