Can We Exchange Numbers?

After the incident in the outdoor shower, it was awkward for both of them; at least for Helena, Arthur was cool with it. She passed by Arthur sitting on the sofa as she went to her room to change clothes. Thankfully Arthur was all eyes on his laptop, editing his photos.

"How were things when I left?" Arthur asked as he saw Helena come out of her room.

"As you can see, just the same," she answered.

"Anything worth telling when I left?" Arthur asked, having the good vibes he could be. He wanted Helena to engage in a conversation.

"No. Same old routines here. How about you?"

"Well, I have a lot of things to say if you have time to listen," he said. He tapped the cushion beside him, showing he was ready to tell.

"I don't have a choice; I am in this conversation now. And it would be a good chance for you to tell if there were wild animals who tried to knock you down."

Arthur burst out laughing as he heard Helena.

"Don't laugh at me, mister."

"Helena, it's not amazon that you'll be afraid of wild beasts lurking around. Only birds, owls, and beautiful nature are so inviting to stay in."

"Just so you know, someone is right here waiting to confirm if you're alive and not eaten by wild animals. And you should have consulted me before going out camping in the wild.

"Thanks for your concern…."

"Let me make this clear. This isn't about you," she cut Arthur off. "I was thinking about my own welfare here. Who would the authority ask if anything bad happened to you, whether you went missing or were eaten by wild animals? Me," she said, pointing at herself. "I might be the number one suspect, just in case," she added.

"I know, I get it. I'm sorry about that. You're right. I should have discussed this with you before leaving."

Arthur made Helena feel better by apologizing. He knew owning his mistake would ease Helena's anger toward him. He made up for her and volunteered to cook dinner, which Helena didn't refuse.

"What did you have for dinner last night?" she asked, not even looking at Arthur while they were eating.

"Just the egg and sandwiches I got from your pantry," though it was pretty surprising for Helena to break the silence, Arthur answered her calmly.

"Actually, I was thinking of calling you last night, but I realized I didn't have your number yet," he didn't hear more from Helena, so he thought of opening up a topic. Helena looked at him briefly.

"We can exchange numbers later on," she said finally.

"That would be great, easier communication for us if I am not around here, so you don't have to worry about me," he said to piss her off. He knew it worked when Helena glared at him.

"It's for emergency use only," she said. "We never know what might happen while you're in the wild."

Arthur chuckled. "Alright, for an emergency then. And the place I went to couldn't be considered wild. I'll prove it to you when you visit the campsite."

"I'm not sure about that."

Arthur shook his head but was still hopeful that the woman before him would eventually give in to his invitation.

"I'll wash the dishes," he said when they were done eating. Arthur quickly took the plates to the kitchen sink as they had no dishwasher.

"Let me. You've been washing the dishes all the time and cooking dinner for tonight. This time, let me do this," she said as she stared into Arthur's eyes. And she made an impression she was serious about it, so Arthur let her do it.

Arthur continued editing his photos while the dishwasher thing bothered him. "Why don't you have a dishwasher?" Arthur couldn't help but ask.

"I bought this house with no dishwasher. The owners told me they had one before, but it was broken a few months before selling the house. I chose not to buy one since I live alone."

"Yeah, but there will be a time when you'll have plenty of dishes to wash. Whenever you bake cookies, you'll have to use tools for baking, and dishes will accumulate."

"They do, but I don't have the budget for a new dishwasher now, maybe in the future."

"I will pay half of my rent if you need to buy a dishwasher," Arthur offered. He had paid half of the rent and will pay the other half before leaving.

Arthur swiveled in Helena's direction while patiently waiting for her to speak, but she was quiet while staring at the dishes she was washing.

"I don't think I need it now. Besides, I'll use the money for my monthly supplies," she answered as she looked at Arthur.

Arthur nodded at her. "I see," he didn't object, and he went on cleaning his camera and laptop.

Helena was yet to be earning on her new book. Although she continuously makes revenue from her previous books, more is needed for her monthly needs and amortization. She loaned money just to get the beach she had been dreaming of.

When she was done washing the dishes, she passed by the back of Arthur, where she was drawn to the incredible images he captured. "Are those taken from the forest here in San Antonio?"

Arthur jolted as he turned in Helena's direction, who was looking down at the screen of his laptop. Helena didn't even blink to look at Arthur's face; she ignored him. She was drawn to the photo of green trees with an owl sitting at the tree branch.

"Yes, I used a specific camera lens that would capture the owl beautifully. This creature was lovely, right?" Arthur said, pointing the photo to the laptop screen.

"Absolutely. This place is a hidden paradise for me. I wonder why people left San Antonio and lived in the chaotic city. I will never trade this place in a million."

"Those people might want more opportunities in the city they couldn't find here. Some want to expand their horizons and expose their kids to a different environment for their growth and development. Some want more fun in a city setting, not in a secluded area like San Antonio. But I have to agree with you as a photographer. This place is priceless."

"What you've mentioned was correct. Maybe I just can't relate since I am an introvert and have been having a hard time living in a chaotic big city. The place drains my energy that I need to isolate myself in a room to be able to write. Here I can simply write under the tree, in the backyard, wherever and whenever I want to."

"Yeah, I can tell this is the place for you."

The next moment was awkward, as Helena suddenly realized how close she was to Arthur. She could feel his body's heat and the cologne's smell. She could feel Arthur's breath on her cheeks, and her heart raced as she met his gaze.

They were lost in each other's eyes for a moment, neither moving nor speaking. She tried to move away, but Arthur gently grabbed her arm and pulled her closer.

"What?" she asked. Her face was a few inches away from him.

"Nothing, sorry," Arthur removed his hand immediately.

"Good night, I have to go to my room," she walked fast and didn't wait for Arthur's response.

"Helena," Arthur stopped Helena as she was about to get in her room.

Helena turned back, narrowing her eyebrows as she looked at Arthur. "What?"

"Have you decided to explore San Antonio before?"

"Not yet. It's been just over a month since I moved here, and most of my time was spent writing and cleaning the house. As you can see, this is an old beach house with too many to fix and clean. If I'm not cleaning and working on my novel, I walk on the shore, swim, and go to the town center for my grocery supplies. Why are you asking?" She narrated.

"Uhm, have you decided to join me camping?" Arthur was hesitant to ask.

"You'll get the answer tomorrow," she said as she opened her room door.

"Great," Arthur said as Helena got into her room. A small smile played in the corners of his mouth. He was hopeful Helena would answer positively about his invitation.