Every Kind of Way

Confusing

While we waited for the taxi, I took a small nap on the couch. Mon kept caressing my hair and every once in a while, I could hear her muttering under her breath.

"I can't believe this..." I know right. "How can someone be so beautiful?" Have you looked at yourself in a mirror, Mon? The notification on my cellphone startled me awake. I opened my eyes and remembered where I was, regaining my composure. "I'm sorry for the loud noise. The taxi is outside waiting for us."

We headed downstairs after making sure everything was locked. Mon helped me get into the taxi first and then she got in herself. I laid my head back against the seat. My house was 15 minutes away.

I don't know when it happened but when I opened my eyes, my head was on Mon's shoulder while she patted my head gently.

"Lady Boss, we have arrived." She got out of the taxi swiftly and helped me out. "Be careful, please." We walked towards the entrance and reached the small gate that was for visitor's access. I held onto the wall. I stood up straight as if the symptoms had subsided, and Mon stopped holding on to me.

"You can leave." I could feel her looking between me and my house.

"Is this your place?" If it were anyone else, I would have reacted much worse.

"Does it look like a temple to you?" That was a dumb question, Mon.

"I thought you lived at the palace." I'm so tired, can't even think straight.

"Leave." Mon nodded. "And let me know when you arrive home. Don't make me wait like last time."

"Yes, ma'am." The formality again.

"And stop being so formal."

"Understood." Did you? I opened the gate and walked inside. As soon as I locked the door, I checked if Mon and the taxi were still outside. She was gone already. I laid down in the living room couch with my cellphone on top of my chest waiting for Mon's text. An hour later I received it with the message 'Lady Sam, I've arrived at home.'

I missed her voice for some reason, so I sent her a text saying 'Why did you text? Why didn't you call me? My head hurts. My eyes hurt. I don't want to read'. I had the perfect excuse. Why not use it? A few seconds later the phone was ringing.

"Lady Sam, I've arrived at home."

"Why did you call? I have a headache." I loved teasing her.

"Um... I'll hang up then." Not what I meant.

"Wait...why must you hurry and hang up?! Did it not cross your mind that you should ask about my condition?" I just wanted to stay on the phone longer.

"Are you feeling better, Lady Sam?" She's just asking because I told her. I was getting frustrated.

"You had to wait for me to tell you that huh. If it doesn't come from your heart, I don't need it. Also, I'm suffering from a headache, not memory loss. I still remember telling you not to act like we are close." Why wasn't she saying anything back? Did she hang up? I checked the phone, and the call was still there. "Why are you so quiet? I don't like it. Talk."

"I don't understand what you want from me exactly, Lady Boss." Oh no, she's crying. "Whatever I ask is wrong. Whatever I say is wrong. I text you, I'm wrong. I call you, I'm wrong." You still don't understand me. "My work hasn't been approved. Please tell me what I should do, Lady Boss." It was like a gunshot went off in my head. She doesn't care about me, she only helped me because she wants her work to be approved.

"Ah, I see. Was that the reason why you took care of me? To get your work approved?"

"I really am worried about you. Is this how you treat a person who worries about you?" She sounded upset and maybe a little disappointed.

"Sweet dreams." I hung up. I couldn't handle it. I messed up, big time. What can I do? I was too harsh. She did care. All I did was give her mixed signals. I went to bed and barely slept because I was thinking about Mon.

When I woke up early in the morning, I called Kirk.

"Good morning, Sam. How are you?"

"Fine. I need you to buy sweets and coffees for the office workers. I want them to know their work is appreciated."

"Who are you and what have you done with Sam? Did someone kidnap you, point a gun to your head and make you say this?"

"Kirk, stop messing around and do as I say." I hung up the call.

I arrive at work and head immediately into my office before anyone sees me. Everyone arrives around 9am. I try to work, but I can't concentrate. Like a common gossiper, I press my ear to the door and listen to the conversations outside. I hear Kirk arrive with the sweets. I fix my clothes before leaving the office.

"The snacks have been arrived, right?" Everyone stops talking. I walk towards the treats. "Consider this a reward for the hard work you've done." I grab a bag and try to give it to Mon. I hope that she can see in my eyes how sorry I am.

"I'm full. Please save it for yourself, Lady Boss." She's not going to make this easy, is she? Noi walks towards her looking scared.

"Mon, why did you refuse her offer like that?"

"It's fine. I'll take it back to my office." What should I do now?