Make Your Move Katherine

He Pitied the Queen

Eric

Back in Katherine’s apartment, Eric paced the floor. It was morning and neither the king nor queen were back. “This is so bad,” Eric mumbled to himself as he did the tenth pushup on her living room floor.

Yesterday afternoon- well nightfall here- he had gone to get something to eat last night after Oscar had stepped out and returned with clothing for him. The King had dressed himself in the queen’s tiny robe leaving to go to his own floor, for Eric told him it was disrespectful for him to wear the queen’s robe.

Truth be told he didn’t feel like wearing the female tiny looking thing. He was not taking the chance of being seen by anyone, even if it was just one elevator button away. There could be people on the elevator. It was fine for Oscar because they were married anyway- although they both wanted the other to die but hey who was he to judge. Besides, Oscar’s condo was just above this one- lucky him.

The King, dressed casually in an ink blue jeans pant and a grey color t-shirt, to fit in like a commoner- so Oscar, had looked at the coat on the bed upon his return and Eric saw his clenched jaw. He should have hidden it he felt but he didn’t want to hide anything from his King. Although here, he was just plain old bestie Oscar and Katherine is just- he had to ask permission first. He was not granted dropping honorifics with her name by the king yet. He should wait for that.

Oscar and his wife.

Friends or not, dropped honorifics or not, Oscar was still his king and he had to obey his king. Hiding things would cost him his life- friends or not Oscar was and always would be King first above all else.

“Stay here in case she returns,” Oscar had hissed out before he disappeared out the door.

Eric had raced out behind him for he had no idea when Oscar would return and truth be told he was starving at the moment, “I need food.”

He would have to obey his king’s command to not leave the apartment and he doubted the queen’s kitchen had anything edible right now. Oscar had turned around and frowned at him but walked back to him and opened the wallet he normally used when he was here.

He handed over a few notes and replied, “Go now for she won’t be back just yet. Eric, I mean it when I say do not leave after you return. Go back and get the key and hurry back.”

As if he had more options than the convenience store just two buildings away Eric had grimaced for his options were limited as it was night-time here. He disliked food like that. His diet was always healthy- despite being called unfit just hours back. He was not accustomed to running up and downstairs for his job was in a lab. He basically moved in steps hence why he had a clean diet as he didn’t get out much.

That was hours ago. According to his calculations back home he would be going to bed now. But it was morning here.

Eric raided her cupboard for coffee and found none. Just what kind of life did she lead coffee-less? He knew Oscar’s place had coffee but he couldn’t go for it. What would his day be like without caffeine? By 10 am he was so bored, he did a light dusting of her place and cleaned out the refrigerator. He placed the garbage that included two sets of burnt clothing, by the door on the inside for he was forbidden to leave.

Next, he did another set of thirty pushups wishing he had his phone but what good was a charred cell if he had brought it? He had remembered to remove it from his pocket this time, unlike last time- thank goodness Oscar had replaced it for him when they arrived back home. They all had local cellphones here which they used only when they were here, but back at Oscar’s condo.

He released a pent-up breath, everything he needed was back at Oscar’s condo above.

Eric sighed and stared at the coat on the bed- definitely a man’s. He could tell that Oscar knew it was male too by the way he stared at it too. But which man could it have been, for her father is now dead unless he came here before he died which is impossible for he was bedridden. Did the queen have a boyfriend that Oscar had ignored? Did they break up or was the man just left clean out of everything- in which case explained the coat being here.

It could be a neighbor but which neighbor had your condo code? Security? They won’t leave a coat behind. He shrugged into it- the man was tall. Sizable too and great taste in cologne, Eric thought as he caught the scent on the material.

Eric glanced at the cupboards and dug into them. Nope, no man’s clothes. He searched the large walk-in closet and saw only female accessories. Bags, shoes, coats, dresses…everything was girly. So, he knew she didn’t live with any man.

Hmm, interesting.

Oscar will murder him- or them- no he’ll spare her… for the time being. Oscar might be a just King but he was ruthless when he needed to be. And he took betrayal very seriously if he had issued a warning before. He shrugged his body into the coat and glanced into the mirror- huh. The man had to be huge for the jacket to fit his body like his own.

He sympathized with the queen’s predicament, she who had to have dropped her entire life for Oscar and without any choice too. Nobody deserved that type of life. He had seen her a couple of times and she always looked sad and …depressed. He pitied her.

He clearly had too much free time to be coming up with these things. He took the coat off and did another set of push-ups; Ju on his mind. She was older than him but still, he crushed on her. Nothing about her was soft- she was gruff through and through and treated him like a child most times and definitely not in the maternal way where she would always get him food or make sure he was warm. But more in an annoying neighbor’s child way- not that he minded, for he was sure pretty soon she would invite him over to her place and boom- he would show her he’s not a kid.

In the meantime, he was free to play around with anyone he wanted that came his way- more experience for him. Not once had he tried to test her jealousy level for the timing wasn’t right for them. He figured maybe in five years from now? She’ll see him as an older person then, as a man, he was certain. Was he in love? No, but he knew she was the one for him and he was confident that love would come after marriage.

He stared at the television screen and tried to pay attention to it but truthfully, he wasn’t a tv type of guy. Neither a theater kind either- unless it is live. He didn’t like movies on screen for he preferred plays. Even if it was a ballet, he still preferred that. There was just something about a live performance that captivated his attention.

Beginning to feel hunger pangs, he opened up the laptop he saw on the dining area table and plugged it on. He gave a sigh of resignment when it came on; password protected. “Argh,” he mumbled and pulled his hair before going to attack the ice-cream he saw in the freezer- chocolate, his favorite next to guava.

An hour later he figured out the password and shook his head. How typical- Katherine_1998. Weren’t people warned about a password this simple? He ordered fried chicken and a beef sandwich and went to take a quick rinse off for he was sweaty by the fourth set of pushups. He only had two hundred remaining from the money that Oscar had left him with after he paid for this meal, he hoped he returned by then.

Two days later, Eric heard the beeping of the keypad and sat up from on the sofa, knowing it wasn’t Oscar by the way the person walked lightly and without calling him. Eric wasn’t sure what he should do now- was he supposed to jump her? Tie her up? How to prevent her from leaving? This was kidn*pping actually and he could be locked up for it here if someone came in and found him- that was breaking and entering.

Oh God, the coat man! Should he hide for his own safety?

But the queen walked in alone and stared at Eric, who had decided to face whomever head-on with a look of boredom, etched across his face. It was best to always look void of emotions.