Somewhat Necessary

EPISODE 2

Lily felt embarrassed.

Instead of allowing Manuel to savour the moment to cajol her, she defended, “Is that how you treat your visitors? You didn't even knock before coming in. What if I was…”

“Do you know how much trouble it costs me to keep you here? Manuel interrupted.

"And…” he continued.

“You don't know how much it also cost me to sleep here. Besides, anyone can make mistakes. Don't pretend like you don't salivate while sleeping”. Lily interrupted in defense.

"Well I don't, bunkhead! Come off it. It's daybreak already and…"

“I can see its daybreak”, Lily chirped again.

"Can you allow me to finish my statement and not interrupt me again?"

"Whatever…"

"You have a serious problem. How ungrateful! Get out of here, will you? I don't have all the time."

“I need to take a bath and at least rinse my mouth”, Lily contested.

“Seriously? Hey, if you don't leave this place now, I'll lock you up inside here and no one will ever know that a human is here, no matter how much you scream. "Why are you making things difficult?” he threatened, pointing angrily at her.

“Look who's talking, ha! I didn't ask for your help, remember? You offered it willingly. So get ready to keep offering that help till the end,” Lily said with a smirk at the corner of her mouth.

“You must be insane. I know your kind, and I'm going to treat you like the deranged person that you are,” Manuel said calmly and went out.

He came back with a long whip, used to motion horses to action, and without forewarning, he lashed her five strokes.

“Oh my God! What is wrong with you? Are you insane? Don't try that ag....” Before she could complete her statement, another round of three came on her.

“Jeez!!! What do you want from me? You are really dealing with the wrong person!” She shouted, writhing in pain.

As Manuel lifted the whip for the third round, Lily attacked him. After they struggled for a while on the floor, Lily gave up and started crying.

“Why did you lash me? I understand that you want me to go, but I don't want to go. There's no ray of hope in my house. Everyone behaves and treats me like a brute beast. I had the full of it yesterday and I swore not to go back there. Please!" Lily pleaded in tears.

“What's going on here, Manuel?” Manuel's father asked with a long stern on his face as he approached the door to the room.

“Everything is under control dad”, Manuel replied, running out towards the door to prevent his dad from coming inside the room.

"But I heard screams and lashes. What's going on?"

“It can't be more than this radio box, always making noise”, Manuel responded, his breathing pace faster.

“Then lower it. I don't understand why you're inside there”, his dad said in awe and walked out.

“Okay dad. I will”. Manuel responded.

He turned to face the crybaby.

“You were saying?” he asked with a raised brow.

“I said I didn't want to go back to my house. Everyone dislikes me. There's no thriving atmosphere there. Everyone's at my neck."

“So how does that relate to me? How is it my business? This is Chicago, girl! You can't expect me to believe you. I'm already tired of seeing you here. I also can't keep hiding you inside here. I can't risk it, especially not for you. You have to leave, and that, immediately!” Manuel blasted.

"I'll leave, but that will be with a ransom..."

"You must be really crazy", he gritted and raised his whip to lash her again.

"Alright!" Lily shouted while escaping for her life.

“I'm only looking for a place where I can stay. Away from my people and away from the society. And this place, this room precisely, seems like the best fit for me. So please, I know I've given you a headache these past hours. But can you accommodate me for three days? You can feed me once in a day and I'll be okay. I also promise to be nice from henceforth”, Lily said in her most sincere tone.

"Can you listen to yourself? Do you really think there'll be a chance?" Come off it, you silly sly. Manuel said disdainfully.

“There might be if you permit it. I'll leave in three days, but please promise not to shut your door on me after then.” Lily said emphatically.

"I can't believe you can be this calm while talking. And in case you care, you are not welcomed here.

"In the meantime..." Lily said, smiling mischievously and grabbed her purse, standing to leave.

Manuel followed suit, locking the door behind him. He made sure he followed her to the gate with his whip, in order to prevent further drama.

“Thank you Manuel, see you next time!” Lily said and blew kisses in the air.

Manuel didn't respond a word to her. He was marveled and exhausted, wondering how a girl could be this stubborn and soft inside still. He secured the gate with its lock and went inside to tidy up the room where Lily stayed.

What an experience! He exhaled.

“Maybe next time, I'd mind my business and not offer help to anyone again. This can't repeat itself. How terrific!”

He went back to Jude's room to tidy it up. He threw the bed spread over and dusted the bed, scrubbing off Lily's map of saliva. Afterward, he changed the bedspread, aligning the foam with the bed stand. He sprayed a nice perfume on the bed spread and meticulously spread it on the already waiting foam. He tucked in its excesses and straightened the douvey on it. He arranged the floor rugs and was diligent in sweeping the floor. Finally, he sprayed the perfume into the air and locked the room, leaving it as perfect as it has always been.

He went off to prepare for work. He boiled water for tea and reached for some bread in the pan baked by his mom

the previous night. Everything seemed so perfect until his mother came in.