The Dog Sitter

02 Kept- Part 2

"What? Stay?" I ask, confused. Is he talking to me or his dogs?

"Yes. I have decided to hire you as my dog sitter. You get along well with Angel, Mis, and Axel, and you have demonstrated that I can trust you," he explains. Talum continues, "The job requires you to live here and take care of my dogs while I am at work. I will provide meals and housing, and pay you twice what your current job pays. Will you accept?"

I don't know how to react. Being far from campus might be inconvenient, but financially this would be a miracle. No more rent, grocery expenses, gross roomates, or waiting tables. How could I refuse? This has to be too good to be true.

"I don't know. We just met. I think you should consider this carefully before formally making such a generous offer," I say, turning towards him. Maybe he thinks he can trust me, but I am still wary about him. Some random rich guy happens to find me by a creek late at night, takes me home and to the doctor, carries me everywhere, then asks me to stay? I'm having trouble gauging his intentions, but at the same time, I can't even think that he could be a bad person. Everything he has done so far indicates that he is kind-hearted. Maybe my skeptical nature has turned me paranoid.

"I would not have offered you a job to take care of my dogs and my home if I had not seriously considered it first," he says. Talum looks in my eyes, seeing straight through the carefully posed facial expression I always wear. I shift in my seat uncomfortably, causing Angel to rise and leave the couch. "You seem uncomfortable," he observes, prompting me to explain.

I guess now is the time to provide some transparency with what I have been feeling. I guess I should dispel this tension, but I don't know how he is going to respond.

"I-" I begin, "I just feel that you're being hasty." Wow. I could not have worded that any worse. There goes clearing our misunderstandings, I think frustratedly.

Before Talum gets a chance to respond, I continue. "After saving me on Friday, you took me to your house, trusting me alone in your bathroom and even your bed. You have helped me with anything I have needed," I blush, remembering the bathroom incident, "and we've only met yesterday. Can't you see that this is abnormal? Anyone else would have driven me back to my car and forgotten me afterwards, but you take me to the hospital. And now," I rant, my voice steadily rising, "Now you offer me a job to stay in your house, this time alone?"

I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself. "I guess what I am wondering is, what is your motivation?" I raise my head, finally meeting his gaze. "Why are you helping me so much? Until I understand that, I don't know if I can take your offer seriously or continue to trust your good intentions." I look away, ashamed of myself.

I'm criticizing him so much over nothing, and I haven't even properly thanked him yet for being such a good person. How did I get so lucky to find someone like Talum in this cruel world? Most people suck, so excuse me for being skeptical despite his actions, I think to myself. On the other hand, if his motivation was anything but good he would have shown it already, I argue with myself. I don't know what to do.

My mind is engrossed in my internal conflict, so much so that I have ignored reality. I look back at Talum, realizing there has been a long silence between us. He probably hasn't responded since I have been so unfairly presumptuous. This guy really brings out my immaturity somehow. Looking at his face, now turned away from me, I can see an expression he hasn't worn yet. He looks... hurt? Oh no. Me being my skeptical/untrustworthy self, I have hurt the feelings of the only person to ever show me unconditional kindness. I messed up.

"Um, I'm sorry," I blurt, panicking. "I mean, um, thank you so much for helping me so far. You've been everything but untrustworthy, yet I still find myself stuck in my ways. I guess it's not your fault," I admit, now blushing deeper. Somehow I've found a way to speak like a fourteen-year-old girl. Fantastic.