Building My Life

Chapter 37 - A Master in Self-Control

Josias went up to his room and closed the door tightly. The indignation he felt for what he had just witnessed was immense. He left the balcony door open, as was his habit, and undressed for bed with a deep frown. The image of that girl crying, trembling with fear and despair, would be burned into his mind for days.

If he hadn’t interfered, she would have been r***d! Jeremiah was cunning; he wasn’t nearly as drunk as she was. He must have planned it: ply her with drink while maintaining enough sobriety to stay in control. He could claim he was drunk too, but the girl had been far gone.

Lying under the sheets, Josias forced himself to meditate on other things; otherwise, his revolt would keep him awake all night. He shifted his thoughts to his meeting with Melissa. At the thought of her, his frown finally softened into a smile, and he drifted off to sleep.

***

The next morning, he woke again to the sun’s rays streaming in from the balcony. As he rubbed his eyes, he wondered how he’d manage when daylight saving time kicked in. He’d be waking up an hour earlier if he didn’t get an alarm clock soon. He checked his dresser drawer, counting his bills to see if he had enough to buy one.

Dressed and ready, Josias headed down to the bathroom to brush his teeth. For once, the showers were empty, not even Jeremiah was there. Josias smiled, figuring Jeremiah was lying low to avoid more accusations.

However, just as Josias leaned over the sink to rinse his mouth, the door was opened and slammed shut. The sharp noise made Josias straighten up instantly.

Jeremiah stood there, pinning him with a murderous glare. Josias didn’t flinch. After narrowly escaping death at the hands of loan shark henchmen, a schoolyard bully like Jeremiah didn’t frighten him anymore.

“We need to have a chat!” Jeremiah growled, clearly feeling he was the one with a grievance.

“If it’s about last night, forget it,” Josias said indifferently, turning back to the mirror. “We agreed not to mention it. Not a word to Seu Teodoro, right?”

Josias wiped his face with a towel and turned to face him, exuding a quiet confidence.

“Don’t play games with me,” Jeremiah tried to tower over him. “We aren’t talking to Teodoro, but we’re talking to each other. Do you realize you’ve marked me as a predator in this building?”

“Me? You made that pathetic choice all on your own,” Josias said with a dry laugh. “What did you expect to happen? What would have happened if I hadn’t shown up?”

“I had everything under control!” Jeremiah justified. “I was trying to calm her down. We were getting along.”

“Then why was she terrified?” Josias asked surgically. “If everything was ‘under control,’ she shouldn’t have been screaming for help.”

Jeremiah opened his mouth to lie but found no words. Josias offered a wry, knowing smile.

“It seems,” Josias continued, “that you aren’t as skilled with women as you think. You put your hands where they weren’t wanted, she got scared, and she wanted out.”

“And what do you know about women?” Lacking an argument, Jeremiah resorted to insults. “Always so fussy, complaining about sharing a bathroom... I could’ve sworn you were gay!”

“Didn’t your father teach you how to treat a woman?” Josias countered bravely. “Or is he as much of a scoundrel as you are?”

Blind with rage, Jeremiah lunged, slamming Josias against the wall. The impact made the mirror rattle. Jeremiah pinned Josias by the shoulder with his left hand, his right fist clenched and c****d back, ready to strike...

...But the door swung open. Another tenant walked in, towel draped over his shoulder, ready for a shower. He stopped dead, taking in the scene with disgust.

“Hey! What’s this? If you’re going to scrap, take it outside! This is a place for hygiene, you savage ones!”

Frustrated by the interruption, Jeremiah released his grip. Josias didn’t look the least bit rattled. Jeremiah stared at him, genuinely unnerved by how this younger, thinner man could maintain such tranquility and self-control under pressure.

Josias flashed a small, lopsided smile, gathered his things, and walked out. The tenant began undressing, glancing back at Jeremiah.

“Well? You just going to stand there, comrade?”

Jeremiah shot the man a look and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

***

Later, Teodoro watched Josias at the breakfast table, puzzled by the young man’s sudden high spirits. Josias was grinning into his coffee, occasionally chuckling to himself as he remembered Jeremiah’s failed attempt at intimidation.

“What’s so funny, young man?” Teodoro finally asked.

Josias took a sip of coffee and replied playfully, “It’s just that I have a date at nine o’clock.”

Teodoro chuckled, assuming that was the sole reason for the chuckles. He leaned in, sharing the good mood.

“Moving fast, aren’t we?” He poured himself a cup and sat down. “Soon you’ll be meeting the father.”

“Actually, I’m meeting him today. I called yesterday and he answered. He was already worried, thinking I was some other guy. He thought I was much older because of how I talk.”

“Of course, Josias,” Teodoro laughed. “You’ve got an old soul. You’re more mature than you look.”

Josias shrugged. “Maybe. But I could tell he was curious. So, I promised to walk Melissa all the way to her door today.”

“Smart move. It’ll be much easier for him to give his blessing later if you face him now,” Teodoro joked.

“That’s the plan!” Josias grinned, and the two men clinked their coffee mugs together in a mock toast.