From Comfortable to Love

Chapter 18 - Beef Steak

Many days have passed since that night. But Tania kept thinking and thinking. He was ashamed, ashamed of himself and of Rakha. The more he tried to forget, the stronger he remembered. How not? Every day he met the man, making it even harder to forget what happened that night.

The clock almost showed at 12 noon, but Rakha did not come down. This is a normal day, not a Sunday. Or maybe he took a vacation?

***

"Tania!" Can Tania hear from here the cry of Rakha calling her name. He hurried out of the kitchen to the origin of the sound.

Rakha was sitting leisurely in the living room, while enjoying the television show.

"Yes, Sir?" Tania said when she was not far from Rakha.

"Are you cooking?" Rakha asked without even glancing at it. His eyes were still focused on the television.

"Yes, Sir."

"Good, I'm hungry."

"Why didn't you leave today?" Tania's question made Rakha turn towards her.

"Go? Don't you like me being home?"

Tania was down, and not feeling well. That sentence could have been spoken from his lips. "That's not what I mean, sir,"

"Then?"

"Didn't you work?"

"The time is now, work can be done from home, Tania. There's an internet network."

Tania scratched her head. He won't understand technology. He was ashamed of himself.

"But until when? A-anu, ma-I mean..." Tania trembled, and could only bite her lips as Rakha watched her.

"It's like you don't like me being home, Tania?"

"H-yes! Uh, mom-no! It's not so, sir!" Tania's getting excited. But it is true, he prefers Rakha to go to his office, rather than working from home.

"I'll keep working from home until I'm bored myself." Rakha left the living room. He went to the dinner table, because he said he was hungry.

***

Tania snatched the recipe book she was still putting on the table not far from the stove and started reading the dishes she had made. Speaking English, he had a hard time mentioning it.

"bef cuttings, same blek paper bef." Tania replied very confidently while serving the results of her cooking.

The instant Rakha's laughter broke, he laughed out loud and for a very long time. Tania's getting the wrong way. He wondered, is there something wrong?

"Jeez, Tania. You mean beef steak, same black pepper beef?" Rakha said in between her laughter.

Tania's face was now a dead red, as the unceasing Rakha laughed at her. He wanted to run away to hide his shame, but he couldn't. He could only smile bitterly. His face was very hot.

*****

Nights,

"Gentleman where are you going?" Tania asked Rakha who had just passed through the main door.

"Well, would you ask that, Tania? I told you, never mess with my privacy." Rakha replied back to his main-settling attitude.

"Sorry sir" said Tania bowed.

"You mind opening the door when I get home?"

Tania slightly glanced, "Because Master usually comes home so late, and that's when I'm sleeping soundly." Tania said heartily.

"Not to worry. You sleep, I have a spare key to open the door."

"Why should I go?" Tania looked up at Rakha's eyes. Tania knows, and knows the purpose of her master that must be the wrong place. Because every time he comes home late, he must come home drunk. And Tania really doesn't like that.

"It's none of your business, Tania!" Snap Rakha, then it passes.

Tania can see slowly Rakha's car starts to leave the yard, and is lost in the night.