My first instinct was to say no, but I typed out a reply and deleted it. The thought of that one month of free rent changed my mind.
If I didn't take good care of Elise's son, I'd feel guilty about getting free rent.
I held back. How could I let pride get in the way of saving money?
[Alright, come over for dinner every night this week. What do you want to eat tomorrow?]
[Thanks, Angie. I'd like spaghetti, pizza, and maybe some barbecue ribs. But go easy on the sugar. I'm not a fan of sweet dishes.]
"This kid sure knows how to pick his meals! He's treating me like a master chef."
[Alright, as long as you like what I cook! You're at the age where you need to grow, after all.]
Even though my reply was so ingratiating, I swear, only my body bowed down. My spirit will always stand tall.
During work today, I was a bit distracted. I was afraid that a sudden task would prevent me from getting home on time.
If I worked late and didn't get back in time, I wondered if he would be disappointed.
As soon as it hit five o'clock and I confirmed there was nothing else to do, I quickly greeted my colleagues and clocked out.
While shopping at the supermarket downstairs, my phone rang again. It was a message from Vin, asking why I hadn't gone back yet.
I replied, a bit annoyed. I said that I was at the supermarket downstairs buying groceries.
What a life! I worked hard all day just to pay rent to the landlord. After work, I still had to cook for the landlord's son.
Thinking about how bleak my life was, I decided to buy some snacks and reward myself after sending Vin off.
Ideal plans are always full, but life is complicated. Faced with a row of different flavored chips, I was torn. My empty wallet didn't allow me to grab everything, so I had to choose a few based on a moment's impulse.
Suddenly, someone appeared behind me. An arm brushed past my cheek and swept five or six bags of chips into my cart. Just as I was about to get angry, I heard a familiar male voice from behind.
"If you want to eat them, just buy them. I've seen you standing here for a long time," said Vin.
Hearing this made me even angrier. He was just a senior-year student who hadn't faced the harsh realities of life. He had no idea that snack freedom was a luxury in the world of low-wage workers.
Noticing that I didn't respond, Vin seemed to pick up on my mood.