“WE WENT to the grocery to fill the cupboard,” Tamara explained to Mark when he arrived at her house and didn’t find them there. “We didn’t take long. When you called me, we’re just starting to get what’s on the list.”
“Really, huh?” Mark asked sarcastically and lowered his eyes on the large grocery plastics on their feet. “Do you have speed skills, new roommate? Because a normal human being couldn’t get all those groceries in just a few minutes.”
Tamara looked at Thaddeus and prayed that he wouldn’t give him a sarcastic answer. But the man just looked at her too. His eyes were like asking him if he really has to explain to this guy.
Tamara laughed awkwardly to release the tension that has started to generate between them. “Ah, by the way, Thaddeus, this is Mark. He’s my former colleague at the hospital where I used to work,” she said to Thaddeus, then looked at Mark. “He’s Thaddeus, my new roommate. He’s a… He’s gay.”
Thaddeus looked at him in furrowed. “I’m what?”
“You’re gay, right? That’s why it’s okay with you to stay here even all the things are customized for women?” she said and smiled at him meaningfully. Come on, bite it!
“Oh…” He nodded and looked at Mark again. “Hi, there,” he greeted Mark then winked at him.
Tamara wanted to laugh but contained herself. When she looked at Mark, her friend was already frowning. “Let’s go inside.”
She took the plastics, but Thaddeus stopped her hand. “I will take care of this. You should rest your feet on the couch. I know you’re tired of walking around the supermarket.”
Tamara widened her eyes at him as a warning, but Thaddeus didn’t get it. “Ah, okay…” When she turned around, Mark is narrowing his eyes at her. “He’s kind.”
Mark pursed his lips. “He’s too much gentleman too.”
When they were all inside, Mark invited Thaddeus to sit in the living room with them because he wanted to talk to her. Tamara sat beside Mark while Thaddeus sat in front of them.
“Where are you going to sleep? There’s only one room here,” Mark started.
“I sleep on the couch,” Thaddeus said without hesitation. “That’s what we agreed for.”
“And it’s okay with you? Did you also buy all those groceries, because as far as I know, Tamara is running out of budget?”
Tamara frowned as she glanced at Mark, who was currently giving Thaddeus a scrutinizing look from head to toe. She nudged him in the waist to break his gaze at Thaddeus, who was just looking at Mark casually.
“It’s okay with me to sleep on the couch. It wasn’t really a big as long as the couch is comfortable,” Thaddeus replied slowly without looking away from Mark. “And, about the groceries…” He looked at her. She motioned her crossed fingers to him. “I paid for it because she said that she’s going to pay when she gets a new job.”
Mark shot her a look. “I couldn’t believe that you used you’re scamming skills at your new roommate,” he said in between his teeth. “How will you pay him? You don’t have a job—”
“She’ll be hired next week,” Thaddeus butt in.
Tamara suddenly became excited. “Really?”
Mark laughed and put his arm around her. “You’re really desperate now, huh?” he told her and pulled her closer to him. “With a single word, your hopes went high.”
“Are you best friends?” Thaddeus suddenly asked. His eyes were focused on Mark’s hands on her shoulders. “Are you really that touchy to her?”
“Yes, I’m her best friend,” Mark answered and scowled at Thaddeus. “Do you have a problem with that?”
Tamara’s chest started to hammer. “Mark, do you want to eat ramen?”
“You’re asking him to eat ramen?” Thaddeus countered. His expression was a mix of shock and protest.
“We always eat ramen together.” Mark arched a brow to him. “Why do you sound like a straight guy?”
“No, he’s gay!” Tamara replied immediately. “He just sounded like a real man sometimes, but he likes men too, right, Thaddeus?”
But Thaddeus didn’t answer. He just looked at him with furrowed brows, and Tamara doesn’t like what could happen if he’ll continue to act like normal. Mark thought that he’s gay, and he should act like one!
“May I speak with you in private, Sasa?” Thaddeus told her and raised from his seat. “I’ll wait for you in the kitchen.”
Tamara’s mouth fell open as her eyes followed Thaddeus walked out from the living. This is going to be hard for her.
“What did he call you?” Mark asked in a knotted forehead. “And why he talks like that? Tamara, I don’t like him. I have a feeling that he’s just pretending to be gay.”
“No. He’s a transgender person. He just dressed and acted like a real man sometimes to avoid stereotyping. I’m sure you’re aware of that, right?” Tamara desperately explained as she glanced at the kitchen. Thaddeus was standing in front of the dinner table where all the groceries were placed. “What is he thinking?”
“Why are you sure about his sexuality? You have met him, Tamara. You really don’t know him.”
Tamara scratched the corner of her cheek. “I’ll speak to him first, okay?”
As soon as she reached the kitchen, Thaddeus spoke to her. “Why are you asking him to eat ramen?”
“Wait, did you call me here just to ask me about the ramen?” She caught her forehead. “Don’t tell me there’s also something shamanic factor in ramen?”
Thaddeus’s lips quirked. “It’s not about shamanism,” he said, then heaved a sigh. “But, it’s about love symbolism.”
“L-Love symbolism?”
Thaddeus nodded. “In Korean culture, if a woman gave ramen noodles to a man, it means that she’s giving her heart to him. Just like how the Roman women threw apples to the man that they wanted to marry.”
“What?” Tamara was dumbfounded. “But it doesn’t mean—”
“I heard it all,” Mark shouted from the living room. “I will accept your heart, Tamara,” he said and winked at her. “Serve it to me now.”
Before Tamara could answer, Thaddeus stood in between them. “Tamara will not serve the ramen, nor throw apples at you,” he said, then turned to her. “There's a bad spirit is following him.”
***