Muffin

“Finally!” Andrew says as I walk in, sweeping the snow off my boots and putting them away.

He’s in his bathrobe, his hair wet from his shower.

“How are you? It was high time you came home, I’m starving, sweetheart! Did you get the beef?”

The beef? What beef…? And then I remember, he asked me to cook his favorite minced beef! I take off my coat, grab my slippers and head to the kitchen, checking what’s inside the fridge.

“I’m alright… Well, we don’t have beef, but we can do that tomorrow? How about… curry chicken tonight?”

“Curry chicken? How come you didn't get the beef? I thought you’d go out to buy some during lunch.”

“No,” I sigh. “Lunchtime ended up being very busy, and I didn’t even think of doing grocery shopping.”

“What about tonight? You should have told me, I would have gone to buy some!”

I sigh.

“Well, I was sure you would finish later than me, so I didn’t think of asking you...”

“Oh, right, how did you end up leaving so late? Secretaries are usually all out by five!”

What five o’clock, I didn’t stop until six… Moreover, we aren’t out, we only don’t receive calls because we already have plenty of tasks to finish before clocking out. I don’t like Andrew saying this as if all my colleagues were lazy or something. We work hard to support all of the departments, yet everyone thinks we have it easy somehow. At least, he makes it sound like we do. Maybe I am a bit cranky because I walked in the snow while he was taking a hot shower… Calm down, Ophie. I take a deep breath and close the fridge door, a bit annoyed at his attitude.

“Andrew, it’s a busy week for us, too! I just got home, I didn’t have time for groceries.”

He rolls his eyes.

“Oh, come on, you don’t…”

“What time did you finish, anyway?”

He hesitates, looking at the clock.

“I’m not sure. maybe at six o’clock.”

“I texted you at six!”

“Well, maybe I was driving, then! Come on, what are you mad at me about?”

I know all too well he checks his texts inside his car, but he only replied half an hour later! I sigh, too exhausted to fight now. I don’t have the energy to fight, and I don’t want to be mad either.

“Well, there is no beef, I’m sorry. I’m tired, and cold, so I’ll just take a shower for now, and cook after that.”

“But…”

Before he can add anything, I grab my bag and coat to hang in the wardrobe and head to the bathroom, closing the door behind me. I let out a long sigh. I’m so tired, and this is too much for me. I really like Andrew, but he can be so insensitive sometimes…

I keep remembering Mr. Hansel’s words, how unusually nice he was. I really didn’t expect our boss to be like that, kind enough to bring me all the way back home. I exit the shower, drying my hair with a towel, and face my reflection in the mirror.

Did he mean it when he called me cute? I blush a bit. It was nice… I never expected to receive a compliment from a man other than Andrew. Certainly not someone like Mr. Hansel.

“Sweetie, don’t sulk! I ordered some food!”

I frown. I wasn’t sulking… I put my pajamas on and leave the bathroom, wrapping my hair with the towel.

Andrew waves at me from the couch, visibly proud of himself.

“Neither of us feels like cooking, so I just ordered food. It’s better this way, isn’t it?”

“I didn’t say I didn’t feel like cooking, I just didn’t have your beef…”

“No, no, it’s fine. I can tell you didn’t want to. I get it, you’re tired, so I’m being a good boyfriend! Aren’t you happy?”

I nod and go to the bedroom so I don’t have to answer him. I get my laptop.

…Am I happy? His sudden question startled me. Of course, I am happy. I should be. What’s wrong with you, Ophie? I’m living in a lovely apartment, I have a boyfriend, a job I love… Why am I feeling like this all of a sudden? Maybe I’m being a bit more bitter than usual. Probably the build-up from a long day?

I decide to read my favorite cooking blog while waiting for the food, just to focus my mind on something simple and heart-warming. A bundle of fur suddenly appears from under the desk, and my cat hops on my lap, purring.

“Hello, Muffin… Have you been a good boy today?”

I keep petting him while reading. There’s a new recipe published! It looks so yummy… I go through the comments section, happy to share other people’s enthusiasm. This is the highlight of my day. I’ve even made some online friends who are food and cooking lovers like me. Some have such creative ideas! I grab my notebook to write some thoughts down. I should submit some of these to our company’s creative department…

“Why is that thing still here!”

Andrew just walked into the bedroom, and immediately, Muffin starts hissing at him. My boyfriend hates cats, or any kind of pet, and obviously, my cat hates him back.

“It’s okay, he’s just resting!”

“I told you I’m allergic! Why did you adopt him when I said I didn’t want to!” He keeps yelling.

I can’t help but put the pen down and turn to him while I pacify Muffin.

“First, Andrew, you’re not allergic, you just hate cats. He is very well-behaved, too. Also, it’s freezing outside, I didn’t want Muffin out in this weather. He’s not doing anything wrong!”

He rolls his eyes.

“Who cares about some stray cat! He’s going to be fine even if you throw him out, Ophelia, he’s a cat!”

I frown, unhappy. How could he be so heartless as to put any animal outside in this cold weather? There are inches of snow! Moreover, this is my apartment! I grab Muffin, still hissing at my boyfriend, and take him with me to the kitchen, giving him some tuna on a little plate.

“I told you to stop feeding him, too! He will get used to it and think he lives here!”

“Well, maybe he does. I’ve always wanted a cat, and Muffin is well-behaved!”

“Cats are not well-behaved. They scratch things, break stuff, and are noisy and smelly!”

I sigh. Muffin is nothing like that, he’s a very good boy. Since I found him alone and freezing in the cold of the residence’s parking lot three weeks ago, he’s been nothing but adorable. He hasn’t broken anything and only uses his claws on the little scratchboard I got him. Still, I knew Andrew hated cats, but I hoped he’d make an effort once he saw Muffin was good… Well, Muffin just doesn’t like him either, so there’s nothing to do. Just let it go, Ophie. I decide not to answer, there is just no use in arguing.

I’m about to cook, but I remember he ordered something… Oh, that’s too bad. I decide to drink some water, while he keeps grumbling and goes back to the couch to watch TV. I should just change the subject, or we’re both going to stay upset…

“By the way, the boss drove me home today.”

“Which boss?”

“Mr. Hansel, our CEO.”

“Why did he drive you home?” He asks, finally glancing over his shoulder.

“Well, I met him by the coffee machine, and when I said I had to walk to the subway station, he offered to drive me home… I couldn’t refuse.”

For a second, I wonder if he could be jealous, but to my surprise, he raises both eyebrows, and goes back to watching his show.

“Oh well, he’s nicer than I thought!”

“Do you know where he lives?”

“No idea. It was probably on his way home.”

“Maybe…”

I didn’t think of that… I keep replaying the scene in my mind. Maybe Andrew is right, Mr. Hansel probably felt bad about letting one of his female employees walk alone in the cold after all. His remarks were probably innocent, even if he called me cute. He was a bit odd, too, maybe he’s awkward at making conversation?

After thinking about all this, I’m suddenly feeling a bit happy that Andrew trusts me so much.

“You know, Ophie, it’s good that you’re meeting with more people. You must be bored at the secretaries’ office.”

“Oh, no, not at all. A lot of people come to see us, especially today!”

“Oh, really?”

I go on to tell him about my day, the few requests I had, but he doesn’t ask much. I doubt Andrew really cares about what’s going on at the secretaries’ office…

“What about you?”

“What?”

“How was your day? The financial department must be busy. How come you managed to get off work early?”

“We were not that busy, you know.”

“But, at lunch you said…”

“Oh, that. Just something to do with my boss. You know how he is. To be honest, I think he wants to consider me for a promotion!”

“That would be great!”

“I know, right? Two years in this company and I might get promoted soon. Or at least a good raise! By the way, I’m having dinner with him tomorrow night. I probably won’t come here after, so don’t wait up for me.”

“Oh, okay. Well, I hope you’ll have good news.”

“Of course!”

He’s more enthusiastic, talking about his ambitions and plans to climb up the company’s ladder. Andrew’s always dreamed of having a good position, with a large income and people working under him. For now, though, he’s only a financial officer, and his assistant is a nice young intern.

The food arrives, and he keeps talking while we eat. Once again, he’s only ordered some soup and rice for me… I wish he’d ordered me some dumplings, or a few fried bites. I don’t dare to say a thing since he paid for it, though. When we are done eating, he puts a football game on TV, and I sit beside him, grabbing my favorite dark chocolate bar to have a piece.

However, Andrew takes it from me.

“No, no, sweetie, no chocolate! You know how bad it is for you!”

“I just want a piece after dinner!”

“I’m doing this for you, you know,” he says, putting my chocolate in the cupboard. “You’d be so pretty if you lost a few pounds, I know you can do it! I fully support you!”

I don’t even know what to reply to that. I’m not trying to lose weight, I don’t want to lose weight, and I never said I did! I may be a bit chubby, but I’m not overweight, and even my doctor says I’m healthy! I don’t even drink alcohol or smoke! I sigh, disheartened, and get up to go into the bedroom instead. Muffin immediately follows me.

“Don’t be sad, Ophie!” I hear him shout from the living room. “I know it’s harder on some people than others, but you can beat genetics! I bet you’ll lose weight in no time if you just focus! Also, you should cut down the snacking at work too! All this sugar is probably why you’re so upset…”

I’m upset because he’s not letting me do what I want! So what if I have a little piece of dark chocolate after dinner? So what if I’m a bit chubby, or if I like snacking? What does he mean, I’d be pretty if I lost a few pounds? Aren’t I pretty as I am now?

After brushing my teeth, I go into the bedroom, but I don’t even feel like reading my favorite blog anymore. His comment made me feel bad… I get in my bed, and grab the little cushion I began knitting for Muffin just a few days before. I try to focus on my needles and the chocolate-colored yarn, and unwind from my day. I’m drained, and now, I can’t even relax properly. Muffin jumps up to curl up right next to me, already making me feel a lot better… I smile. Well, it wasn’t such a bad day. I had a good time with my colleagues, ate excellent food, did a good job at work, and it turns out Mr. Hansel is very nice, too. I reminisce about his strange questions, and him staring at the hot pumpkin spice latte… Who knew our boss liked such sweet things, or that he could be so polite and kind?

Hearing Andrew laugh by himself in the living room, I know he won’t be coming to bed until late. I don’t want to hear him talking about my diet again when he does come to bed, so I just quietly turn off the lights, and let Muffin sneak under the covers to curl up with me. At least when I’m at work Andrew can’t watch what I eat…

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*Author Note: Everybody needs a Muffin! ;) Leave your comments, see you next update!! <3