Calix

I knock for the fifth time, not receiving any response from the woman who has locked herself inside the bathroom for the past twelve minutes. None but trembling sobs of Isha can be heard from inside.

"Isha. I am sorry," I say softly, my heart clenching at the sounds of her snivels. She is embarrassed, and I want to embrace the girl and tell her that there is nothing to feel chagrined about. But I cannot do that if Isha doesn't speak to me. However, I am willing to give her the space she requires to collect her composure.

"I didn't know that you were on your periods." I continue apologetically. "Isha, don't feel humiliated. So please. Please don't cry thinking I feel appalled or anything because I don't."

"I am not crying over you." Her muffled voice comes at last. She sniffles, before adding, "It's because...it's because..."

"Because?" I ask tenderly, urging her to continue.

"I don't have pads at home."

"You don't have pads at home. That's alright." Wait, what?

"Come again?" I question, thinking if I've heard wrong the first time.

"I don't have pads at home. I forgot to buy some, last month." Isha answers, but her voice tone suggests she is close to tears again.

"Wait, wait, don't cry." I hurriedly say. "I'll do something. I'll go and buy some pads now."

I am scared and nervous. I have never bought pads. I don't even know how pads' packets look. Do I need to know the measurement of Isha's vagina? Or perhaps the size of her underwear to determine the pad size I need to bring.

I'll go there and see for myself. There's no way I am going to ask Isha for the size of her panties or vagina's measurement. She will probably block me everywhere, refuse to ever talk to me, and give me a black eye if I ask her such a question.

"Are you sure you can do that?" Isha's unsure voice asks.

"Of course." Although I answer confidently, only I know how bad my strained smile is trembling. "I'll be right back."

"Wait!"

I halt, hearing Isha's steps. She soon speaks up, however, "There are some spare clothes of my previous roommate's fiancé, in the room across the living room. You might want to change your shirt."

"Oh, that won't be necessary." Saying that, I turn around to come face to face with my reflection in the mirror in the room. And when I do, my confident smile takes a fraction of second to die down.

I am so drenched that my chest is visible through my white shirt. And to think Isha got to see me in such a state, that I didn't even know I was in, is even more mortifying.

"Or perhaps I should change." I mumble, exiting the room.

I regret sneaking away from Kev's eyes to the nearby supermarket. At least I wouldn't have felt so on edge while purchasing sanitary pads, even though I have a baby's knowledge when it comes to understanding pads. I do have the basic comprehension about women's anatomy and menstrual cycle for instance, but I have never really been in a situation where I had to buy pads for a woman. Not even during my previous two relationships.

Fortunately, I have my face covered up with a mask, sunglass, and a cap which is perhaps known as a beanie. I didn't even bring my driver because of the symbol of the Royal Family engraved on the car that it would have immediately given my identity away.

"Sir, do you want to enter or not?" The guard standing outside the supermarket brings me out of my contemplating thoughts.

"Yeah, sorry," I quickly utter, entering through the automatic door.

"Here we go." I murmur to myself as my eyes move over the several sign boards and the arrows pointing to the designated aisles. I keep roaming around here and there, bumping occasionally once in a while due to being highly timorous (this is my first time buying something at a supermarket after all). I do receive some glares and low curses when I crash and result in canned food falling over a couple, who were in the middle of a heated make-out session. That was pretty awkward, to say the least.

After minutes of simply roaming around and asking strangers for directions to the pharmaceutical section, I finally find myself at the very back of the supermarket. It doesn't take me long to find the aisle loaded with sanitary pads from different brands.

"Let's see now," I mumble to myself as I keep looking through the packets. I do notice that there are sections for regular, large and extra large. So, does that determine the different lengths of women's vaginas? Perhaps that should be the deal. But, I do not know Isha's size, however.

My eyes move over to the two women looking for pads, not far away from me. Maybe I could clear my doubts from them. There are two or three men buying pads as well, but it would be better to get a woman's opinion than a man's, in this circumstance, perhaps.

"Excuse me, I apologize for the sudden disturbance." I begin hesitantly, catching the two females' attention.

They stare at me with unwavering eyes, and curiously as to what I may be inquiring.

"I was wondering, if you could tell me about the different lengths of women's vaginas-"

A sharp, stinging pain courses through my right cheek and then another on my left cheek.

"What a pervert." "Be glad we aren't handing you over to the security, asshole."

After receiving slaps on both of my cheeks from the two women, they walk away, not forgetting to harshly bump against my shoulders.

"Perhaps I shouldn't have asked them, after all." I mumble dejectedly, feeling confused as to which size might be better for Isha. At last, I decide to simply buy three packets, one each from a regular, large and extra large.

As I finish my work at the pharmaceutical section, I notice the snacks section.

"Hm. Maybe I should buy some snacks which helps in reducing period cramps."

However this time, I do not make the mistake of asking anyone again and put my faith on Google.

"Would you like to pay in cash or card, Sir?" the cashier asks when my turn to pay comes.

"Card please." I reply as I fish through my pant pockets to bring out the card. Unfortunately, a thought strikes me like a thunder and my entire stature freezes. I have the Golden Black card, exclusive for the members of Royal Family of Syncitia. It even has the seal of Nirvana on it, like Goddamn, what am I supposed to do now. I do not even have any cash on me.

Is this what it feels like to be a broke zillionaire?

"Sir, you are holding up the line." The cashier prompts me further to fasten up with the payment. I am pretty sure the people behind me are quite displeased with my behaviour, right now.

"Uhm, I am sorry, I think I have forgotten my wallet-"

"I'll pay for him." A woman, who appears to be in her mid to late fifties, generously walks up to the front and offers me a smile.

"No please, it is completely fine."

"Oh hush dear. You might want to take those things as fast as you can. Women tend to get seriously moody during the dreadful time of the month." She says laughing with me, and by the time I know, she is already done paying.

The two of us move aside from the counter and exit from the store together, when I turn around to her to say, "Ma'am, may I have your number so that I can repay you soon?"

"Don't bother, dear." She says, patting my shoulder. "I just did the same thing that a decent human being would do. I should go now. My husband and kids are expecting to have my freshly baked cookies tonight, you see."

"Please don't have me keep you waiting, and I can't thank you enough, Ma'am," I grin at the generous lady, who like an angel soon fades away amongst the hustling, bustling crowd. I will still somehow find a way to pay her back.

Angels do exist in the human realm, it seems.