Unit 201B

She sneezed. She immediately blurted out an “Excuse me” out of habit while making a mental note to buy a face mask for the next time she did a deep clean. Apparently, she was allergic to cleaning – and the supplies necessary for it. She sneezed again, and excused herself once again.

Leaning back, she grabbed a paper towel and blew her nose. It had been a long afternoon, what with her dusting and changing the sheets and scrubbing the bathroom floor. All she needed to do was scrub the mirror clean, do a quick check of all the rooms, leave a nice welcome note for the incoming tenant, and she’d be done.

She stared at her reflection in the mirror. She rubbed at what seemed to be a developing pimple on her nose, and sighed. It had been stressful for her lately, especially with continuously preparing the apartment for renting it out short-term to guests.

Just then, the mirror turned dark, and a red-skinned elf appeared on its surface. “Maayong buntag. I apologize if I’m interrupting anything, but I just wanted to ask if an early check-in were possible, maybe 2 hours before?”

His dark yellow eyes were focused on hers, and she could detect a sense of hurry in him. She sat up straight and, as discretely as she could, dropped all her used tissues and cleaning supplies into her basket and pushed it out of the mirror’s view.

“We have a rule about early check-ins. You should have let us know at least 12 hours in advance,” she said to the elf, matter-of-factly. A low growl came from the mirror, and she could see the tips of her guest’s ears move up in a panic.

“But,” she said with a smile and in her most congenial voice, “you’re lucky today, since we may be able to have the place ready at the time you mentioned.”

A smile appeared on the elf’s face, though she could still see the nervousness in his eyes. “Wonderful. Please just let me know the fee for the inconvenience. Salamat kaayo.”

And with that, the elf disappeared, and she was left staring at her reflection again.

She clucked her tongue and shook her head. “These guests and their requests,” she murmured to herself. “Good thing I cleaned up early.”

Mumbling obscenities under her breath, she finished wiping off the mirror and picked up her basket. She sneezed one more time, excused herself to the wind, and went back upstairs to do her inventory.

–
Image source: deviantart.com/keiross/art/sketchbook-airbnb-in-la-717256364
First written February 6, 2018.
#127