I'm Not My Boss' Storage
Guests Not Invited
ARRIVE Agni and Ishaan in the last destination city on their business trip. Barcelona´s.
Like Rome and Milan, Barcelona greeted Agni with a warmth that instantly reminded him of home. Babbles in different languages overlap along the way to the apartment. Traditional architectural style buildings are also in harmony with modern buildings.
“This apartment has Uncle Albert's brother. Smaller than our place in Paris, but,” Ishaan opens a wooden door connected to the balcony, “we can see the Mediterranean Sea from here.”
Agni walked closer to witness the beauty of the sea. The name of the sea that he heard more often from the name of food and interior design. As Ishaan advances their departure into Sunday afternoon, they can still witness the orange tinge of the sunsets that span the ocean.
Agni became curious, would they take the time to take a walk to deserve so complete all the meetings in this city?
“Weekend later we play there, yes?” Ishaan's apology shocked Agni, as if the man could read her thoughts. “Your room is near the kitchen. Make it easy to make breakfast or dinner. We also still have food stock, so no need to shop first.”
“Good, Mr.” Agni pulled her suitcase, wanting to immediately rest in the room. But before he could open the door, his stomach suddenly heartburn. Not stomach pain due to food.
His eyes widened. Quickly, Agni ran towards the bathroom to make sure her guess was right.
“Agni, you why?” Ishaan's voice sounded anxious. Waduh, he must have seen the strange change in his attitude earlier. “Do I need to call a doctor?”
“Ti—no need. I,” Agni was sitting limp in the toilet as soon as I saw ***********, “I came month.”
Long silence filled the gap between them. Outside, there was a mutter before Ishaan asked, “You... You need something?”.
“I can take care of myself, Sir. Please if you want to rest.”
When she opens the bathroom, Agni finds Ishaan's door closed. In previous months, Agni had never told Ishaan her menstrual schedule. For whatever, anyway he is used to working even though the first two days are always ‘banjir’.
This time the situation is different. The moment in Uncle Albert's pavilion could be repeated, even more intense. That means, Ishaan needs to know his menstrual schedule, right? Unless Ishaan likes weird things that Agni doesn't want to imagine.
Agni grimaced as her stomach cramps felt again. He had to wear a sanitary pad he brought from Indonesia, then brew tea to relieve his pain. Thank goodness he can rest first today before starting the busy tomorrow morning.
*
An hour later, Agni came out to prepare dinner. It's a little late than usual, but he needs protein. Surprisingly, there has been no order from Ishaan. Let's not let him fall asleep, his mind.
Pestering Ishaan's break, Agni chooses to cook for one serving. A simple omelette is enough, accompanied by makeshift fries. As Agni was about to light the stove, Ishaan's room door opened.
“Night, Sir. Want me dinner?”
“Who told you to cook?” Ishaan rushed to open the door as the bell rang. “I order fast food for both of us.”
There was a short conversation at the front followed by the sound of the door closing. Agni, who was gawking beside the stove, directly put the omelette ingredients into the refrigerator, then tidied the table so Ishaan could put food.
“To order from restaurant, but definitely long.” Two large bags of food from well-known fast food brands fill the middle of the table. “There are fried chicken, chicken nuggets, french fries, equal soda and milkshakes. Just take what you want. If you have excess, save for breakfast.”
Agni was glued to observe the two bags of food. “Master first take.”
“You first,” pinta Ishaan. “My sister eats a lot every month come. Quick suffocation, he said, because of the blood or something like that. I don't understand. Anyway you eat. Don't let you pass out tomorrow morning.”
Rather than getting scammed, Agni chose obedience. He took them out one by one a box of food that ignited his hunger. As soon as he opened the box of fried chicken and scrambled egg, Agni ate it voraciously without bothering Ishaan who also ate with him.
**
“Ishaan, just a moment you meet Mama, yes?”
“Yep, next week, Ma'am. What else are you going to do besides miss greetings?”
Tanisha chuckles at the end of the phone. “Pengin see photos of lodging that Mama takes care of. Send it, yeah. Who knew I was there for babymoon.”
As the conversation ended, the clock on Ishaan's phone screen showed at two in the morning. Tanisha often contacts her without checking the time difference and Ishaan must always lift up to avoid the fussiness of the older brother. As a result, he had difficulty sleeping, while there was a meeting at nine in the morning that must be attended.
Then, Ishaan left the room, looking for a supply of milk or leftover chamomile tea that Agni had brewed. His steps stopped when Agni opened the room door. They exchanged a glance, and Agni continued her affairs in the bathroom.
Ishaan, who initially wanted to drink milk, deliberately replaced it with tea to buy time. He boiled water to prepare tea while occasionally stealing glances at the bathroom door.
“Have you felt better?” Ishaan throws a small talk to hold Agni.
“Ya, just a bit hard to sleep.”
“You want me to set aside tea?”
Agni seemed worried to decide. “By,” the answer is spelled out.
At the table, Ishaan poured two cups of chamomnil tea for her and Agni. The two waited until the tea warmed up and sipped it slowly. The girl beside him was about to bring the drink to the room, but lost quickly to Ishaan's hand holding it back.
“Agni, can I still touch you?”
Agni gawking. “Master, I—”
“Not now, I'm also less comfortable if—” Ishaan is beating hard. “I mean, after the schedule is finished.”
“Itu—ya. I don't mind.”
Another green light Ishaan had hoped for.
“Tuan.” Agni sounded even more nervous. “When we are in the pavilion, when Mr... Master does it, are there any red or tanned spots that come out?”
Enveloped in adrenaline and passion, Ishaan may have captured those details at the time. “Sorry, I pay less attention. Is the tick dangerous?”
The girl shook her head. “It was spotting ahead of menstruation. It's usually seen, but yesterday it hasn't shown up. Fear comes out when Mr...”.
Ishaan understands. “No problems. Thank you for telling me.”
“Master doesn't feel disgusted?”
“Agni,” Ishaan leaned his body until their forehead touched, “I have done things that might make you shudder to hear it. Nothing to sorry about, okay? You can continue your sleep. We meet again tomorrow at breakfast.”
Stealing the opportunity, Ishaan tilted his head to kiss Agni's lips. Not two days yet, she misses wanting ‘play’ with her. Too bad, Ishaan needs to control himself for the next few days.
*
The visit to Barcelona was one that Ishaan had been waiting for. Modern Catalan* design elements have long been the hallmark of the city. Natural touch on the facade to the mural. Stained glass in windows and doors. Then, one element Ishaan likes most, the mosaic floor that forms various objects, from flowers, animals, and geometric patterns.
For this reason, Ishaan maximizes his meetings with potential clients on the first day. He wants his project to be able to showcase the design with a strong Catalan touch.
“Palace of Catalan Music. This building discussed with our client earlier.” While looking for a place to eat lunch, Ishaan invites Agni to take a walk to tenpat-place that his client makes reference. “I once went in to watch a concert, but my attention was even severed by the glass patrinya. Fantastic.”
“What concerts Can I watch?”
“Orchestra. My mother who—hei, be careful if you walk!” Someone hit Agni from behind. The girl bared to the side, but Ishaan swiftly caught her. “Are you okay?”
Agni nodded quickly. “Why is he impressed in a hurry, huh?”
“Commonly, this tourist area—” Sekonyong-konyong, Ishaan's facial expression hardened. How could he possibly forget such important information. His eyes were then fixed on the bag that Agni was carrying.
Zipper open.
“Agni, check your bag,” urgently. “Is there any lost item?”
As if realizing the urgency in Ishaan's orders, Agni checked the items inside the bag. Once, twice. On the fifth examination, Agni looked at him in panic.
“Master, my phone is missing.”
**