15

After the bandage's episode Helen stopped appearing at the building's elevator or the halls. There would be no time nor place she was seen by Octavian. He would go to the nearby market, or to work by foot, or stop and have little talks with the doorman. Her absence felt like something. It was as though she had abandoned him. Worse of all, he had nobody to share his thoughts with as Janes would think he was crazy, caring this much about some lesbian. "And ugly"- Janes would say- "besides lesbian, she is ugly."

Even hockey was not as interesting. Silly game, it was, just a bunch of muscled men going after a cookie like famine gorillas in a zoo. What is the point of watching sports on TV, anyways? They are literally a waste of productive time, people could gain so much more playing a sport with real people or even cooking a healthier dinner. Sports are lame. Sports are so lame... his eyelids began closing in front of the luminous screen. The cheering sounds seemed so distant...

Out of a sudden he realized he actually missed the cold talks and the company of Helen. Absurd as it seemed, he had enjoyed all emotions she had given him, including the shame and stress. But her disappearance came so unexpectedly he had no time to say goodbye. And for the first time he realized with appalling clarity what destructive hold that ugly lesbian had over him.

🚪🏺🚪

Two weeks later Octavian was washing the green plant which decorated the end of their hall, texting something useless on his phone, when Helen finally reappeared holding three bags and a red Canadian touque. It was winter.

"Good morning." She said.

"Good morning."

He wondered where she was in the past two weeks. He wondered what type of things she was doing in this period of time and what type of people she met, and the songs she might have danced, and the women she slept with, prettier or uglier than herself?

"Where have you been, woman?"

She turned 180 degrees east. "Not your business, bae." - she forced the bae part, imitating the way he used to flirt with his victims. Minutes ago in the elevator, with the loud advertisements playing through the cheap speakers, Helen searched in her purse and pulled out a paste of documents. In this bunk was gathered the papers she had spent so much time and brain cells to get. That was what she needed to leave Ap2 and go to a new apartment with the minimal salary from Logan, which she would use as an extra help. She thought how happy her life would be from that moment on, without husbands, noise, or jerks. Speaking of jerks, she also thought about Octavian. What would be like facing him after so much disasters?

"You are leaving, aren't you?" He asked, staring at her hands.

She moved the papers away from his view. "Told you it is not your business, but yes, I am."

"Why?"

She looked at him angrily. He put the watering can on the floor, making a low pock! - "Okay, okay, I'm out; this is not my business. But do you know what my real business is?" He paused, crossing his arms. "I own Purdy's, the best chocolate factory in Canada."

"You do not own Purdy's." She said matter of factly.

"I have part of the actions."

"Big deal."

"Before you judge me, be sure you are perfect, please." He looked away the same time she was turning to face him.

"You are so..." Helen began.

"Would stop being rude? I'm trying to help!"

"Goodbye, Mr Gardner."

But she didn't go very far, Octavian grabbed her arm and forced her to stay, she tried to squeeze out but he kept firm. "You won't lock yourself in there the rest of the day. I will pay you a chocolate. Right now or never."

"I don't want a chocolate. Even if I wanted, would never go with you."

"Yeah, keep thinking you don't want chocolate. You need it, that's the truth. And you would do anything to have one for free, am I wrong?"