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15
Ethan
Malaysia stepped past me, plopping on the couch. “Just because we’re fucking, doesn’t make me your responsibility! Occasional hook-ups don’t do that,” she hissed.
“If I remember correctly, I told you I wanted you to be mine.”
Her eyes dropped to her lap.
My brow wrinkled. “Why does it feel like I’m standing outside, Malaysia?”
This beautiful woman lived off the bare necessities. I hated she lived like this. She didn’t deserve to. I grabbed a chair from the kitchen, then sat inches away from her. I watched her trembling under the blanket. I swear I was about to lose it.
She sighed. “I came home from work Friday night. There was a note on the front door informing the tenants the water was shut off. Then yesterday morning, the heat wouldn’t turn on.”
Malaysia wouldn’t look me in the eye.
My leg shook profusely. I was becoming unhinged. I opened and closed my fist over and over again. I wanted to strangle the person responsible for this heinous act of indecency. How could someone allow their tenants to live like this for days on end? Especially around the holidays.
“I told the super he needed to hurry up and fix the problems. We argued. He said the water should be on by Tuesday. I thought the heat might’ve worked today.”
Her sad teary eyes slowly looked into mine.
I dropped my head in my hands. My body heated up.
I sat up, back straight, raising my eyebrows and shoulders, turning my hands outwards. “Malaysia, why would you stay here in these conditions?”
“I bathed at my parents’ yesterday. Ethan, I like living on my own. I don’t like my parents in my business. It’s bad enough my mother asked who was paying for the car service.”
“Malaysia, why didn’t you ask if you could stay with me? Were you afraid I would press you for sex? If that is the problem, you can talk to me. I can refrain from having sex with you. I don’t want you to ever feel you can’t come to me.”
She placed her hand over my fist. “Thank you. I admit I was a little worried you’d expect sex if I stayed at your place. There’s so much more I haven’t told you.” She sobbed.
I hopped out of the chair, stepping into the bathroom, grabbing tissue. I returned, placing the tissue in her hand. She wiped the tears from her face. Staring into her red eyes sent my anger flaring through the roof.
“Take me to the super’s apartment!”
“No, Ethan.”
“Now, Malaysia!”
Malaysia dropped the blanket on the couch. She stormed out of the apartment wearing her winter flannel pink snowflake pjs and fluffy blue socks. I followed at a distance, glancing down the hall to my left then right. One tenant walked into their apartment two doors down from Malaysia. The coast was clear.
Malaysia knocked on the super’s door. I removed my Glock from the small of my back.
Her eyes widened. “Ethan?” she whispered.
I stood to the right of the door, placing one finger over my lips.
The super swung the door open. “It’s you again!” He grimaced.
I stepped forward, pointing the Glock in his face. “Don’t forget me, fuck-face.” I stalked toward him, forcing the super to walk backwards.
“What the fuck? Who the fuck are you?”
Malaysia followed me into the apartment, shutting the door behind us.
“I’m her boyfriend. You think it is ok to let people go without water and freeze to death?! Huh?”
