Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Just Another Day ❯ Volume Seven, Chapter Forty: Living Quarters ( Chapter 40 )

Living Quarters

The kids were gone all weekend. Soon and Mai-Pai had the house to themselves. What to do now? Soon looked at the ceiling.

“Have you thought of making any changes around the house?” he asked. Mai-Pai turned her head.

“Hm?” she asked. She looked up at the ceiling.

“Have you thought of making any changes around the house?” he asked. Mai-Pai turned her head.

“Hm?” she asked. She looked up at the ceiling.

“Not really,” Mai-Pai said. Still, she couldn't help but notice.

“How old is this house?” Soon asked. Mai-Pai counted up in her head.

“I don't know,” she said. “About twenty years? Maybe?” The couple looked at each other. Only one thing to do.

“Where do you want to start?” Soon asked. Mai-Pai perked up at that question.

So much had to be done. The couple sat down to plan.

“Let's see,” Soon said. “What do you want?” Mai-Pai took a moment to think.

“The walls could use some new paint.” Mai-Pai looked around the living room. She nervously chuckled.

“I might need to clean out some of the rooms,” she said. Soon wrote everything down.

“Okay,” he said. “Anything else?” Mai-Pai took a moment to think.

“I don't know,” she said. Her boyfriend looked up.

“You sure?” he asked.

“I think so,” Mai-Pai said. “We could clean the house too. What do you think?” Soon took a moment to think.

“I think we could fix some things,” he said. Another thought crossed his mind.

“Think we can afford it?” he asked. Mai-Pai frowned in thought.

“Let's work on one thing at a time,” she said.

“Right,” Soon said. “Want to get started now?”

“Sure,” Mai-Pai said.

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They started with the den.

“We use this place as storage,” Mai-Pai said. “Let's start in the closets.”

“Right,” Soon said. Cleaning wasn't going to take a day. The couple knew that. But look at everything they found. Most of it belonged to Mai-Pai's later husband. Her heart sank.

“Oh…” she said. Soon pulled her into his arms.

“It's okay,” he whispered. “It's okay.” She didn't cry.

“What do you want to do?” Soon asked. Mai-Pai pressed her lips together.

“We'll donate his clothes,” she said. “Same with everything else.”

“Okay,” her boyfriend said. Mai-Pai bowed her head.

“Thank you,” she said. Her late husband's things were boxed up. They would go away to charity. Soon rested his hand on Mai-Pai's shoulder. She looked over at him.

“Need a moment?” he asked. Mai-Pai nodded.

“Okay,” Soon said.

That afternoon was spent cleaning the den. The big closet was cleaned out. Soon and Mai-Pai slumped down onto the couch. He looked over at her.

“What are you going to do with all that space?” Soon asked.

“I don't know,” Mai-Pai said. The couple smiled at each other.

“I have a couple of ideas,” he said. His girlfriend tilted her head.

“Oh really?” she asked. “Will they break the bank?”

“Maybe,” Soon said. Mai-Pai playfully hit him on the arm.

“Ow,” he whispered. She stuck out her tongue.

“I didn't hit you that hard,” she said. The couple broke into laughter. They would have the next few weeks to have the whole house in order.

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