Her Redemption

3 – Domicile

FROM inside the car, Malakai watch her housemate as she talks with Mrs. Dela Cruz. The conversation ended quickly but she saw the dejection on Amari’s face when she walks away from the land lady.

Amari is living with her for about five days now. She was easy to live with. She was not a messy person. She picks up things herself. She cleaned up after she was done with anything she used. In such a short time, Amari can keep with how she organized the things around her.

Since there was only one room in the unit they decided to sleep in the same room. Her bed is enough for two anyways.

One thing she noticed about Amari, she never talks unless you speak with her. Her housemate never opens about herself. And since Malakai never forced anyone to open up, she let the brunette to herself.

She made her way to her unit after she gets the messenger bag with the laptop. She also have the box in both of her hands. It contains the answer sheets of all the sections she handles. She binds the papers with different colors of rubber bands.

She decided to take home some of her work since it’s the weekends. She likes to have her work done comes Monday. Well, suffice it to say, it is clear that she is a single woman on how she spent the weekends. A single woman that has no girlfriend that she has to spend the weekends with work.

“I’m home.” She declared when she closed the front door.

She put the box on the floor beside the chaise. She placed the messenger bag on top of the bag.

“Hey.”

She smiled at Amari who just came out of the bedroom. She changed into shorts and a racer back top. It emphasized her lean arms.

“Pizza okay with you for dinner?”

“I’m cooking tonight.”

Her eyes widen in delight. “Really? What’s on the menu?”

“I asked Mrs. Dela Cruz on how to make that adobo. I hope I can make it right.”

Her mouth made an O shaped when she heard the dish. It has been one of her favorite food ever since she tasted it.

It was through Mrs. Dela Cruz the first time she experienced eating the savory food. The landlady gave her a food container one time when she was late coming home from work. The middle age woman told her that it was a spare from the birthday party of one of her three kids.

It was not until the next morning when she saw the pack of food she hastily put in the fridge. Having no choice since she have no more groceries left, she heat the said food.

The saltiness and the tang of sweetness played in her tongue.

She told the landlady that the food was delicious. She learned that it was called adobo and it was a dish from the Philippines loved by the Filipinos. By the good of her heart, the middle aged woman sent her adobo every time she cooked for the family. That happens, on every other week.

Suffice it to say, on the second day that Amira stayed with her, Mrs. Dela Cruz sent her the dish. Even her new found friend finds the food mouth-watering.

“I’ll go wash up.”

“Alright.”

Coming out from the bathroom, the smell of cooking sailed into her nose. Her smile widens.

She frowns when she smelled another. “You’re cooking rice, too?”

“Yes. Mrs. Dela Cruz said that adobo is better with steamed rice.”

“Deliciouso.” She made a kissing sound with her fingers. “Thank you, Amari.”

“We’ll see if you’ll be telling me the same thing when this is done.”

Malakai is almost half way done checking with the papers of one class when she noticed Amari setting the table. She stood up from the floor.

She did her work in the living room using the coffee table since her housemate is cooking and occupying the island counter.

“Sit.”

Like an obedient child, she did what she was told. Amari did all the works as she waits for her to take the other chair.

Her eyes stare at her favorite dish as Amari put it on the table. She placed the hot rice beside the bowl of adobo.

“Fire away.”

Without waiting for another invitation, she gets herself a share of the mouth-watering food and eats with gusto. She did not utter any word but kept on putting food on her mouth.

The dish was not cooked the same like How Mrs. Dela Cruz did. Amari made an alteration but it was also delicious. Her version has pineapples on it but it was tasty and savory, too.

She put the empty glass of water down before turning to Amari. She smiled at her gratefully.

“Thank you. That was a very delicious meal.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Your version was great.”

“Mrs. Dela Cruz told me to use pineapple instead of vinegar to avoid the disaster of a first timer.” The cook said with a smile.

“Good call.”

“I’ll do the dishes. Good job, chef.”

She found Amari looking at the papers she left on the coffee table when she was done with washing the dishes.

“Those were the kids’. I had to bring them home.”

Amari nods. “Need help? I have too much time on my hand.”

She grins at the woman. “Are you sure?” Her housemate nods again. “I’ll have the coffee ready.”

On the second cup of coffee and the last set of papers, Malakai found Amari frowning while holding a paper.

“What’s the matter?”

“I noticed that the students were fascinated with war.”

“They are.”

“No one wins in a war.”

“That’s true. No matter who declares the winner, they lost some part of themselves. Somehow, a part of their soul was left behind.”

Malakai caught Amari staring at her but the woman has this faraway look in her eyes.

Most of the time, she found Amari in deep thoughts. Her minds seem to be far away. Her sad eyes speak volumes. It was also the reason why she felt glad whenever she found Amari smiling or laughing at her by being silly.

“Are you tired yet? I’ll finish this myself.”

Amari blinks her eyes. She put the paper down. She put it on top of the other papers that were already checked.

The long-haired woman stood up. “It’s been a long day.”

“Goodnight. Thank you for your help.”

Amari nods at her before leaving. Her eyes followed her until she enters the restroom. Not less than five minutes, the woman exits the washroom but entered the confinement of the bedroom.

Though she and Amari has been in the same roof for five days, the woman never said anything about the accident with regards to how she found her in the road side.

Malakai only have snippets of who she is. She does not have a concrete idea about the woman who stayed with her in the same roof. But if there is one thing that she is certain, Amari will not harm her on personal level.

She glanced at the closed door of the bedroom. The wooden door created a great wall between her and the woman. Somehow it adds another notch of protective shield over Amari.

When she thought that Amari is opening up to her, she found herself alone and thinking where she has done wrong. Tonight was one of them.

She stood up. She gathered the papers. She is done checking the papers. She will take note of the scores by tomorrow.

She picked up the cups and washed them in the sink.

With as less noise as possible, she opens the bedroom door. Amari is already lying on her side of the bed. The light from the reading lamp on top of the study table was the only thing that illuminates the small bedroom.

She gently pulled the comforter and slides herself in bed.

She knew that the woman beside her is not sleep yet. She released a heavy sigh slowly.

“Goodnight, Amari.” She whispered before turning her back from her.

She closed her eyes and hopes that tomorrow will be better.