Maxwell was on his phone later that night after dropping off Ricky at his place. He suddenly saw Ricky's social media message.
"Mr Kant, this is Ricky. Did you get home safely?"
As he had the habit of ignoring people's messages, he dropped the phone without any reply to Ricky.
The next morning was packed full with a tight schedule for Maxwell from meetings with clients to meetings with his board of director and his research group. After his morning meetings ended he took a look at his phone and found several messages from Ricky.
Morning Mr Kant. I baked some cookies this morning and had them delivered to your company's front desk. I wasn't sure which flavor you like so I made the original ones. I hope you don't mind and enjoy them.
Maxwell smiled like fool at his phone making his secretary stare at him in bewilderment.
"Go pick up some cookies from the front desk" He said to Edwin. "Someone sent them to me"
"Cookies?" Edwin was surprised.
"Hm" Maxwell answered staring at his phone.
"But don't you usually avoid sweets?" Edwin was concerned.
"Its fine to have a couple every now and then" Maxwell beamed.
"Alright. I'll bring them to your office shortly" Edwin said.
Maxwell opened the cookie box and found a note. "Why does he like to leave notes? Am I a trash can to accommodate papers?" He mumbled.
Here's today's second home made cookies. The first batch burned a bit from temp control issues. But I didn't waste them. I ate them all.
Maxwell took a bite and it tasted awesome,he smiled sheepishly savouring the sweetness. He then took his phone and messaged Ricky.
Burnt cookies aren't good to eat. They're carcinogenic.
Ricky immediately replied as though he had anticipated his message.
No worries. I made sure to spit out all the really burnt bits.
Some say human affection is like muscle both can be trained into existence. The method is pushing boundaries relentlessly then offer sweetness. When someone who despises sweets begins to tolerate sweetness for you. That is love's first tremor.
Weeks after weeks Ricky made sure to send boxes of cookies to Maxwell. Maxwell grew expectant of it every day,he became accustomed to it. He didn't know how he began to fall in love with Ricky,always wanting to check his posts and social media moments. He felt the need to communicate with him daily as if it were a normal routine just like going to work everyday. Before he knew it,he was hooked and couldn't think of anything in his spare time except Ricky, then he found out he had fallen in love.
Help,I set the alarm wrong,overslept,took the wrong subway line and exactly one minute late. Bye to my attendance bonus.
Visited my sister today, she's Much better after the surgery. Hope she recovers quickly.
His mouth is sharp,but his heart is softer than clouds. Thank you my Mr X.
Maxwell went through all Ricky's posts every single day and smirked at them always.
"Why does he post everything on social media? Idiot. What is he? First year in school?"
After a few weeks of the cookies madness.The week that followed the last that Maxwell received cookies. Edwin came in to give him tea as usual in the morning. Looking at the serving tray Maxwell's face dropped. Where was his daily supply of cookies? He looked up at his secretary "No cookies?" Edwin shook his head and walked out the office leaving Maxwell with his thoughts on his cookie starvation that early in the morning.
"No cookies for a whole week. Has student Ricky Brown gotten too much homework?" Maxwell asked pouting. He took his phone and messaged Ricky.
Cookie attendance rate is dangerously low. Did the flour factory shut down?
Ricky who had deliberately cut him off his supply of cookies only replied his message after twenty four hours.
Good morning,Mr Kant. Sorry I was really tired yesterday and fell asleep early. Been a bit busy,working overtime and trying to move. What about you,Mr Kant? Are you on the way to work now?
Maxwell's problem was the cookie life support that had been cut from him. Ricky did know how to get him to crack.
Why haven't you been baking cookies lately?
Mr Kant,I'm preparing to move. Might crash at a friend's place temporarily. It won't be convenient to use their kitchen to make cookies. So no cookies for a while maybe.
Maxwell's face darkened not liking Ricky's idea of staying with someone else.
Which friend?
Maxwell felt uneasy. Without waiting for a reply he immediately called Ricky.
Ricky beamed seeing the call. He hastily picked it. Maxwell's uneasy tone rang out.
"Why are you moving?"
"Oh,my old neighborhood is getting demolished. My landlord gave me three days to move out" Ricky lied. It was his long term tactics to appear vulnerable in front of Maxwell.
"When did this happen?" Maxwell was worried.
"Last week"
"Where are you right now?" He asked. He was obviously worried sick as he stood up from his chair.
"At my friend's apartment. Housing in the city center is hard to find. I've been looking at places with an agent but nothing suitable yet. The landlord already changed the locks. Said whenever I can move. She'll come and unlock the door. I'm sorry Mr Kant. I guess you'll have to wait for your cookies until I'm settled" Ricky explained with insincere sincerity.
"Ricky?" Maxwell called
"Hm" Ricky answered
"How can you let people walk all over you like this?" Maxwell scolded. "You're never like this with me. If your landlord won't open the door,you just give up? What? Have all the locksmiths in the state disappeared? Huh?"
"Mr Kant. He didn't give permission. I can't just break in with a locksmith. Don't teach a little pumpkin like me such bad things" Ricky said softly.
Maxwell smiled. "Then, my little pumpkin,what about your lease?"
"Its expired,the landlord doesn't have to renew it and she stopped taking rent,my deposit is still with her. Since I didn't move out on time,I probably won't get it back" Ricky said.
"Forget the deposit,I've got a vacant apartment near your company. Do you want to rent it?" Maxwell was serious.
"Your apartment must be super expensive" Ricky said
"Not really. Its just sitting empty anyway. I'll only charge you thirty thousand. Four bedrooms,includes maintenance fees and two parking lots,Ricky? Interested?" Maxwell offered.
"Mr Kant,thats way too expensive, I can't afford it"
"What's your budget?"
"Two thousand"
"Per week?"
"No, per month"
Maxwell shook his head thinking,is he really that poor? "Okay,deal then" Maxwell said. "I'll send you the address and door code later. You're moving in after work today. I'll pick you up"
"Ahh,that's not really okay" Ricky said.
"Don't worry" Maxwell comforted him.
"Thirty thousand to two thousand is too big a difference,isn't it?" Ricky asked shakily.
Maxwell ignored his comment. "I hire a cleaner every month. You can move in and take over the cleaning. Consider it rent"
"That's still not enough"
"Our cooperate hub's nearby,when I work late you'd cook midnight snacks to offset the rest of your rent" Maxwell said.
"This feels inappropriate" Ricky complained.
"Why? Don't trust me alone with you?" Maxwell teased.
"Its not that,I trust you,Mr Kant. I just hate owing more favors. Feeling not that well" Ricky replied.
"Nothing" Maxwell mused. "Debts weigh nothing when piled up high. Just accept it. Ricky,need it or not? You owe favors to friends anyway. Might as well owe them to me. I wouldn't want a pupil getting confused with keeping accounts" Maxwell persuaded.
"Thank you,Mr Kant" Ricky smiled.
"No worries. I'll send the address and door code soon and pick you up after work"
"Okay"
The call ended.