WHAT'S ONE THING that never fails to bring a smile to people's faces? Money.

And when do most people receive money?

On their paydays.

This day is a significant day for me as it would be the first well-deserved salary I will get for the first time in six years. I started working jobs such as event crew and cashier as soon as I was 16- the legal age for Panjillians to work- but did things half-heartedly. I never put on a smile and just did the bare necessities to ensure that I will get paid. I never got glowing resumes from my previous bosses; in fact, I can sum up what four of them wrote in one sentence. 'Irina Pan is an average worker and gets the job done'.

Sounds callous, right? It is. Personally though I never gave a crap about it. I didn't care about what people's impression of me was- my only worry was putting in money in my bank account to pay off my family's debts and hire a private investigator to find my mother. In all honesty, I'm still engaging in the private investigator's services.Don't get me wrong; I have no intention to reunite or do sappy things with her. My life is not those fairytale-like Kdramas, and nor is it a soap opera. My only goal in finding her is to basically confront her and get closure.

Maybe it's because of the time I've spent with Pat, and maybe it's because of my job. I sincerely think that I've become a more responsible and amicable person because of these two factors. I'm starting to let my frozen walls melt down, albeit at a snail's pace, but at least I'm being proactive and letting them fall bit by bit. Admittedly, I've been taking Pat's advice and finally let myself live on a fresh, new page.

There's something healing about Libby's Bath. Could it be that essential oils really do have healing properties? The fresh, camphor-like aroma of tea tree oil always wafts and lingers in the air, and has become a typical, invisible presence in the quaint store. Whenever Libby lights a candle with the scent of tea tree oil, I feel very comfortable. It's as if the scent is an impenetrable barrier that my inner demons dare not cross or disturb my dovish self.

Whenever I'm in Libby's Bath, I feel like a new person and defined by only the deeds that I do there. There, I'm like a clean, unpainted canvas that is not tainted by my history or the appalling acts I've seen in my youthful life. At Libby's, I'm like a phoenix reborn out of the ashes, ready to flap my wings and soar in the infinite horizon.

As a person, I've turned over a new leaf, and I'm excited to feel again. Since it'll be my first time acquiring such a large sum, Pat was resolute to celebrate this properly. And in Pat's language, that basically meant that a party must be held.

It's a no-brainer on who's not on the guest list right? My dad, my brother aren't invited. Those that are are Joaq, Pat (duh) and surprisingly, the boss herself. Pat had originally wanted to expand the social circle to my other co-workers like Anne, Shirley and Gilbert- all who are fantastic people- but I shot that idea down rather swiftly.

I wanted a small, wholesome gathering instead of a real, full-blown party. Plus, I wasn't super close to them and if you think from those piteous souls' perspective, receiving a party invitation from someone you're not super close to would be really awkward. Hell, they might even feel obligated to attend it- and that's the last thing I wanted.

So it was just us- the queer bunch- hanging out.

___

"Hey, Iri, what's your opinion of Joaquim?" Pat asked while we grocery shopped for party 'must-haves' at a fancier supermarket, FairTC. Unlike local marts, FairTC sold more premium fruits like durian, rambutan and dragon fruit as well as more exotic delicacies like caviar at a costly price. Since our budget was $30k, we chose to shop at FairTC.

"Hmm," I hummed thoughtfully as I wheeled the heavy cart around. Since my salary is a generous sum of thirty thousand, I was just purchasing whatever caught my fancy.

Fresh wild salmon straight out of the waters of Alaska? Yes.

Noxious smelling yet incredibly creamy Mao Shan Wang from Singapore? Baby, in the basket you go. 

Caviar from Russia? Yesss I mean like, why not? I have $30k to spend.

"Must you buy that foul creature? It smells like rotten socks." In spite of herself, Pat neared the spiky fruit and took another whiff. I snorted when her tan face became white as a sheet a nanosecond later.

"You have no common sense, do you?" I shook my head and as passer-bys stared at Pat, I strolled past Pat, pretending that I had never met this weirdo in my life.

What a fruitful grocery shopping experience...

___

"I finally understand why in any drama the chefs eat the least while their customers eat the most."

"Roger that." Spatters of saliva and water fell on me the moment Pat agreed. She had unintentionally splattered them on me while she gulped down water like a woman who's been dehydrated for a century.

"You're getting a shower this way- don't complain."

My nose automatically crinkled in disgust the moment I glanced at my shirt, which was soaked in my sweat. Cooking's no joke guys. The amount of effort that goes into creating a menu worthy of a Michelin star as well as ensuring that it tastes divine is beyond what one can imagine.

Even Pat, who is one of the most patient people I've ever met and rarely loses her charming demeanour and decorous mien, started cursing under her breath every now and then halfway through our meal prep.

"Madame Claudette will use corporal punishments on me if she catches me in this disgraceful state." Pat winces and shakes her head solemnly as she says this.

"What the hell are corporal punishments? Sounds like something prison guards will use on prisoners."

"Well, you're not far off. Things like judicial corporal punishments do exist in this world, you know. I think 26 or 28 countries use this only when necessary. I think some of those countries are Singapore and Malaysia." Pat guessed while she washed the cooking utensils thoroughly. "Search it up."

"Hey, you're right except for the number. It's 33 countries, not 28, that use this to punish prisoners who have committed grave offences." I scrolled up the Wikipedia page and read aloud, "In Singapore, for certain specified offences, males are routinely sentenced to caning in addition to a prison term. Gosh, no wonder Singapore has a low crime rate."

"We have this in finishing school too. I got caned daily when I was sixteen because I didn't use the correct fork and spoon and failed to dance the fouette and Viennese waltz properly. I could have accomplished that in maybe four months, not four weeks. I'm glad I forced my mother to let me quit finishing school. Screw gracefulness and propriety- this is the 21st century after all." Pat beams as she reminisces the day she left her barbaric finishing school.

For those of you who aren't aware of Pat's harsh past at finishing school, let me explain. Though Pat and I were both enrolled in the same secondary school, Pat's mother- a distinguished and renowned Panjillian minister's wife- felt the baffling need for her daughter to learn etiquette befitting a lady from the Victorian Era. Yup, Pat is born into a moneyed class too, and the only reason she was entered into a humble and simple school like mine was for her prominent family to have a humble reputation.

I'm the reason why Pat's the girl she is today. If it weren't for me insisting that such a school was extremely irrelevant in the age of modernity, Pat would have never graduated from secondary school, let alone attend the U of O (University of Orina) now. That's probably the main reason why I have never met her family.

Pat glanced at me and enveloped me in a tender embrace and kissed me on the chin. "Thank you for convincing me to change my mind back then babe!"

"Haha, it's nothing. Anything for you babe."

I'm not sure if you can tell or not but I struggled with this chapter as I wasn't sure what to write for this... I hope you weren't too disappointed with me though. 🙁

I'm likely to re-edit this part in the future.

But still I'm curious what you think of Pat. Please let me know by commenting! 

Also though some of you may find Pat and Iri addressing each other as 'babe' annoying, please bear in mind that this their affectionate term for each other. I will create another one for them soon 😄