The Educator

Elliot and I had a heavy Italian dinner. After which, we started searching for movies we could binge watch. The beginning of classes were close and I wanted to relax as much as I can. Elliot bought me a new laptop as another gift.

"Okay!" he starts to say whilst he browsed the movies files, "do we want chick flicks or do we want a really bad thriller franchise?" he asks me.

I click my tongue, "I think I want the last one" I tell him. "I'll go make popcorn, okay?"

"Alright. I'll take a shower then we'll start the movie together. Grab a can of Coke, okay?"

I walk downstairs and grab a really deep bowl. This bowl was about three times the size of a regular bowl. I started to pull out the box of popcorn kernels. I stuffed one pack at a time in the microwave. I rest my back on the side of the ceramic counter. I started tapping my feet and looked around the condo unit. I breathed out a happy breath.

Damn. This is it. This is really it.

As of now, I could not imagine my life any better than this. I have a good life, a wonderful husband, but you know this is something that I need to keep confirming every day. Elliot's been really surprising. To be honest, I know I expected the worst out of this arranged marriage. I expected to be an oppressed and battered wife.

But no.

Elliot has been nothing but gentle, warm, kind, giving and patient with me. No amount of stress or problem could ever take Elliot down. I walk over to the floor-to-ceiling windows and take a good look at the view. The city was so busy, like my mind, it may rest but it never stops. Some lights are out but tomorrow is another day for them. Some lights are lit until dawn but by day, they will rest.

Rest. That's a luxury that I have not felt in so many years. From the day my parents broke the news of the possibility of bankruptcy and an arranged marriage. The microwave dings and I take the first packet out and place another one inside the microwave pour in the popped corn in the big bowl and wait for the second packet to finish. I open the fridge and only then did I realize that whatever it was inside the fridge, it was all for me. There were so many candy bars and chocolates. There were several rows of Yakult inside. There was even a cheeseboard and with all my favorite cheese. Being married, I never realized how important it was that you make your spouse feel as if you grew up together, getting to know everything, every mannerism, every change of mood. In a marriage, it's important that everyday must feel like the very first time you said your vows. In my and Elliot's case, it must always feel like we were on our honeymoon. That was when I really got to know Elliot.

Everything.

That's what Elliot was doing. Getting to know me. He embraced me into the family that I knew over signed papers and business meetings. Elliot, I could not say it every but I'm lucky that my marriage was arranged to him.

I sigh with gratitude. Elliot, you are one different bastard. My phone suddenly chimes and the name reads "Mr. Roommate". I roll my eyes and swipe to see his message.

"You coming up anytime soon?" he asks

I type "Just one more pack of

popcorn to pop. I'll be up" I text back. When the second bag finishes, I pop the last bag in and wit for a couple of minutes. I walk up and I see Elliot just scrolling on his phone. When he looks up, he then plays the movie.