Chapter 31 Chapter 16 (i)
FAE
The next day, I woke up to a new ceiling, which would have a new fan to be installed until later in the day. I took a deep breath and surveyed my surroundings. The noise was different here, but so was the silence in the unit. It was a different day, a different place, and the scent of Jigo on my pillows... And I was newly minted. Brand new.
In that moment, I felt a flutter in my chest, a mix of sadness and joy. I could bid farewell to the sadness now. I got out of bed to start my new day.
I had my breakfast outside. I couldn't forget Jigo's instructions before he left last night and the chat message alert that woke me up. He told me to eat on time. I craved pancakes from the Pancake House so I quickly showered and on denim shorts, cotton t-shirt and running shoes drove and ate there. And I ate well.
I went to the mall again to buy the basic items for redecorating. I even bought small, blank and framed canvases and acrylic paint tubes to create small paintings for my new condo. I bought flowers before heading home. I chose different kinds in vibrant colors for the different rooms in my unit. The flower shop owner suggested sunflowers for a new house. I added orchids, stargazer lilies, roses, and anthuriums. I also bought new pots for some house plants I brought from my old house. Some of those plants were ones my Daddy took care of when he was still alive. And chocolate cake and ice cream, I brought those home, too.
I spent the whole day organizing my belongings in their proper places. The TV was installed last night before Jigo left. The internet provider came and installed the internet and phone. A technician installed the ceiling fans, and a handyman connected the washing machine to the water and plumbing system in the laundry room.
In the kitchen, I placed my glassware, utensils, pots and pans, and cooking equipment in the cupboards. I left the old ones in the old condo, the ones I used when Sarah still lived with me. I didn’t want anything to easily remind me of that part of my past. The staff would probably take them as they were all in good condition. I hoped they wouldn't carry negative energies to their houses, though.
Jigo called. "How is everything going? Have you eaten?"
"Yes." I rolled my eyes then smiled. "I really appreciate you checking on me even though I know you're really busy because you didn't go to work yesterday," I said. I heard him instruct Maria to reschedule all his appointments yesterday to tomorrow because he couldn't postpone whatever he needed to do in Cebu City today. So, I definitely disrupted his work. I hesitated to chat with him this morning to ask about his flight because of it. Also, it felt almost like... girlfriend-ish?
We were okay when we were together, but maybe this was a different boundary that I shouldn't cross right now.
"I just want to know if you're taking care of yourself even when I'm not around. I know. Positively evil of me."
My lips twitched. So he felt it, too. The reluctance to overstep. But I already knew it was okay for him to ask questions I knew he would always ask, anyway. "Yes, I'm eating. With all the food in my fridge now, I have no excuse not to eat." I didn't mention that my appetite had returned since he brought me take-out. Before that, nothing tasted good enough, not even my favorite pizza. I was too depressed to fill my stomach. But voila, it wasn't like that anymore.
"Do you need anything else? Do you want me to send an interior decorator to help with the design in your new condo?" he asked.
"Jigo... I can take care of all that on my own. I don't have a job anymore and I don't have anything else to do right now except find something to do with my free time. I can manage."
"Hmm. Are you breaking up with your rebound this early?"
I laughed. Loudly.
"You sound really happy. Does it mean this isn't a breakup? I can still come over when I get back...?" he asked, clearly smiling on the other end of the line.
Oh, the super confident brute. Even though we worried about boundaries, he still didn't stop testing the limits. "Of course. Please come over when you have time."
I heard his slow breath on the other end of the line. It sounded like it was held until after my reply. "That's good. I do want to come over and... spend time with you."
"Okay," I said, while a mantra marched in my mind. Don't overthink. Don't overthink. Don't overthink.
"Okay," he repeated, and I knew he was smiling on the other end because of the sound of his voice.
We said our goodbyes, then I unpacked the boxes and cleaned up the mess. I sat on a chair at the dining table, making a list of other things I wanted to buy for the unit. New curtains. And other colors. I wanted a new rug for the living room and another colorful rug next to my bed because all the furniture there was in a subdued shade of blue.
For the two extra rooms smaller than my bedroom, I thought of turning one into a home office and the other into a guest room. I planned the decor for the two rooms. I would make it a project for the next few weeks to decorate them. I wanted this to be a safe and comfortable haven. Whatever happened outside, I knew I had a place to come home to and everything would be alright as long as I was inside.