14

Helen woke suddenly with knocks on wood. They were constant and insistent, and were coming from the front door.

She peeked through the magic eye.

"Open this door, woman!"

She got stuck. Was she dreaming? Unlocked the key in a hurry and pulled the door almost hitting on her own nose. There was her neighbor, with his hair dropping water and his clothes all wrinkled and wet!

"Hi???"

"Hi", he said; and showed her his arm. "You are a nurse, aren't you?"

Helen almost lost balance of her own feet, and asked how he was gifted with such information.

"You told me. Remember?"

She didn't answer. Maybe, yes, she might had said something about it at the pub... "I am not a real nurse, I said I started the course."

"Yeah, a course, I don't care. Help me with this." Octavian said.

"Why would I do that?"

"Why!", he almost stabbed her eyes with his arm. "Isn't this clear enough?"

Lowering her eyes Helen saw the ugly, doughy thing that was Octavian's bandage. "Oh, it is wet."

"Oh! Really??" He practically shouted, his brows curving down together in the center.

Helen crossed her arms. That was the worst, arrogant, impolite and self-centered neighbor she ever had. He was not a man, he was a bugaboo!

There he was, waiting, his foot tapping impatiently on the floor. It was bare, by the way. No shoes, and his feet was big but not long, his fingers were kind of chubby and his nails were cut badly...

"Come in, Octavian. Let's see this injury."

He passed by without "thanks", walked heavily to the middle of the room alone, got lost, and had to turn around and face her again, waiting for orders.

Helen felt like laughing right on his face. Idiot.
She went to the bathroom. "Sit down at the couch, and do not touch anything." She came back with the emergency kit. Then, sitting next to him, got his arm and placed carefully at the pillow that was on her lap. "I told you not to touch anything. Leave my pillow. Thanks."

"How can this pink hairy thing be a pillow? My nose itches by only looking at this."

"It is not yours, is it? Stop touching!"

"Why?"

"Because you ruin everything you put your hands on. Look at your arm's state. Would you stop practicing swimming tasks in the middle of night while having a bandage?"

"I am not going to answer that." He reached for the pillow, holding it against his cheek and smiling mischievously at her.

"You're so disgusting. I shouldn't be helping such..."

"An asshole?"

"Yeah."

Octavian put his tongue out, pretending to lick her cushion. "That is your problem."

Helen squeezed the gauze and scratched deep into the bruise. He shouted with pain and let go of what was holding. She gave him a cold look. "Why are you so rude?"

"Why did you do that?"

"Because you don't deserve to be treated like a person, Octavian Gardner. Unfortunately you are one, and my consciente doesn't allow to leave this grouse cloth hurt you. Excuse me, I need to kill the bacteria."

"Stop cleaning with this stupid liquid it stinks! Just make a new bandage and I'll set off!"

"I am the one with knowledge, here!"

"You are a lesbian you know nothing, leave my arm alone!"

Slap!

Octavian suddenly went quiet. She had just slapped him, and was now cleaning the injury with even more force. It was hurting, a lot, and his cheek was also paining, but Helen had the hot airs of someone who would finish the work despite complains. He'd been harsh on her and knew it. Of course, nothing would make him apologize anyways.

🚪💉🚪

He touched the white covering part of his arm. It was so soft. Helen was tired, had her eyelids heavy as Titanic. Time to say goodbye, neighbor tongue-of-rudeness!

"Thank you."

Don't you dare being polite right now!

"Really, I am sorry about the way I called you lesbian."

What??

"Do you forgive me?" Octavian got her hand between his. Instantly she pulled away, telling him to leave. She had enough.