CHAPTER 33: MAIDS

Quietly sitting in the garden, Chelsea watched as the two housemaids kept an eye on her. They had been following her all day, as if she were a prisoner with two police officers tailing her. She couldn't do what she wanted, such as leaving the mansion, because according to them, Red had strictly forbidden it.

Chelsea

What kind of life is this? I've been in the garden for a while now, and I've done almost everything I can to pass the time. Now I'm entertaining myself by designing what I'm going to show Kent at his upcoming music concert in the Philippines. I've managed to make some sketches, but I don't know if he'll like them. I slightly tilted my head to look at the two housemaids who were keeping an eye on me. They seem busy gossiping, so I stealthily picked up a piece of paper and stood up slowly. I planned to pretend to throw away the trash, and if they didn't notice me, I would run out of the mansion. They didn't notice me standing up, so I took the opportunity and walked away. All my good plans went out the window when Blaze suddenly jumped in front of me, as if it wanted to play with me. I turned to the two housemaids and was surprised to see that they were behind me.

"Madam, where are you going?" the two asked in unison. I just smiled and showed them the crumpled piece of paper I had in my hand. They looked at each other, as if wondering what I wanted to say.

"Ahh ... Are you going to throw away the paper, madam? Don't worry about it. We'll throw it away for you. That's why we're here, to do things like that for you." One of the housemaids said with a smile, reaching out his hand to take the paper from me. I had no choice but to give it to him.

"Are you hungry? I'm sure Manang Fe is finished preparing your lunch. Let's go in so you can eat." The other one asked.

Are they treating me like a child? I can take care of myself. What do they think? That I'll escape when they're not looking? Well... Kind of, but I'll still come back. I don't know what they're afraid of that I won't come back. I blew out a breath at what I was thinking. I don't know how to act anymore if every time I move, there's someone watching me. Maybe they'll even follow me into the shower. I don't know anymore.

"I'm getting a little hungry. Are you guys hungry?" I asked, pretending to be oblivious to the situation.

Suddenly, their expressions changed and they gave each other a furtive look. "Ahh... We're fine, madam... We'll eat after you eat and when we're done with our shift..." The one said awkwardly.

"Do you really plan to watch me all day? You don't have to do that..." I said to them.

"We would prefer not to watch you, madam, but... Maybe tomorrow we'll be out of a job..."

I giggled at what he said. I mean, if I escape them, they'll follow the example of the guard whom Redemon immediately fired from his job. When Redemon and I talk, I'll try to get him to return the guard to his job. He's innocent, after all.

"If you just follow me all day, it's better to do something. I've been bored in this mansion since this morning. But before that, let's eat together!" I immediately pulled them in and we all went into the mansion and headed straight for the dining room. It was just in time because Manang Fe seemed to have just finished preparing the food. There was so much that it looked like enough to feed a whole village.

"Manang Fe... Do we have guests?" I asked in surprise when I saw the table filled with so much food.

"Ma'am? Oh ma'am, no. Sir ordered me to prepare a lot of food for you because I mentioned to him this morning that you didn't touch the food I prepared for you. He told me to prepare more food so you have more choices and regain your appetite." Manang Fe said.

I was speechless at what she said, "Manang, with this much food, I might lose my appetite even more. I won't be able to finish all of this and it would be a waste if it doesn't get eaten. Let's do this... Call everyone in the mansion, including Kuya Roy outside. Let's eat lunch together."

She looked at me in surprise. I just smiled and looked at her expectantly. She blew out a breath, "okay, follow the orders of Ma'am Chelsea. Call everyone and stop working for a while. Tell them we'll eat together." Manang Fe ordered the two housemaids who were with me.

I smiled and went to the end of the dining table. In a little while, everyone arrived. They looked like they were pushing each other to be first. "Don't be shy. Sit down. I'm sure all the food will be enough for all of us. Come on, sit down so we can start. I'm getting a little hungry..."

They immediately followed and almost couldn't look at me. The dining table fell silent. No one dared to speak. It was only broken when Manang Fe suddenly spoke, "Let's start with a prayer..." Manang Fe said and she led the prayer. When it was finished, I invited them to start eating. Some of them were still shy while Kuya Roy quickly gobbled up the porkchop. I smiled at what he did and began to eat as well.

It's really nice to feel this way when there are a lot of people at the dining table. It feels like we're a whole family. It's been so long since I've experienced eating at the dining table with papa and mama. I was still very young when that happened... Since I had a stepmother, I stopped eating with papa. I usually ate alone. I didn't know what this feeling was anymore. It feels good to eat with people who are becoming a part of your life.

After we finished eating, they all thanked me at the same time. It's heartwarming to be able to give them a smile because of such small things. Some of them left to continue their work while others stayed to help clean up the dining area. I tried to help, but they stopped me, so I excused myself to go upstairs and take a shower.

The two housemaids still followed me, but they didn't enter the room and stood outside. I left the door open before I went into the bathroom.

When I finished, I put on a white dress because I was only at home and didn't have much to do. It's fresher to wear this especially during this hot season. When I sat in front of my mirror, the two housemaids approached me. They wanted to fix my hair themselves. They asked me what I wanted done. I'm not an expert on that because I usually just let it be so I let them decide. While one was fixing my hair, the other offered to apply makeup on me. I agreed and let them do what they wanted. I felt like a doll for the two of them but I don't know why I felt happy with the simple things they were doing.

It felt like I was a child again, playing with them. Suddenly, memories of when I was a child came to mind. A time when there was no tension between Maxine and I. I couldn't accept the fact that she was gone...

It seems like I am back to being a kid and playing with them. Suddenly, memories of when I was a child came to mind. A time when there was no tension between Maxine and I. I can't deny that I really miss those times. Back then, we were each other's support. We were even bestfriends if you could call it that. We used to do things like fix each other's hair, put on makeup, play dress-up, read books, sing along to our favorite Disney princesses, and many more. If we didn't grow up and everything didn't change, we would be happy now. There wouldn't have been any fights and we would be content with each other. Why does everything have to change? Why does someone have to change for us? Why can't fate be kind and let us be happy without everything that happened happening? Do we really have to change and forget the past? Is that really how life is?

"Done!" said the one fixing my hair with a smile. I was immediately stopped from thinking and immediately went to the mirror. It's so beautiful... She braided some of my hair and fixed it like a princess's hair. I also noticed the simple makeup one of them did. It gave my face a glow. It really looks fresh. I immediately hugged them and thanked them. They nodded with smiles.

I took out my phone and saw that Angel had replied to my texts from earlier this morning.

[Yes, you idiot! I looked for you last night but I couldn't find you. Do you know that I almost called the police when you were missing for over an hour?]

[It's good that someone approached me. Ms. Dein, was it? Not sure ahh, I had a hangover so I'm not sure. She said she's the secretary of your Mr. Buenavista. She said they took you home to the mansion so they offered to bring me here to the condo.]

[Because your grandma was drunk, I didn't argue and just went with them in case I got into an accident on the way if I insisted.]

[Hey, we have more to talk about. Call me when you read this reply. Okay?]

It's good that Angel is safe. I thought he followed my example because of that mokong Ares! I almost got kidnapped by that animal!

As per Angel's instruction, I immediately called him.

[Hello beshy? Hey, why did you leave me at the club last night ha! It feels like we didn't have any fun ahh!]

"Sorry... Something happened last night, it was very complicated and scary. Anyways, how are you feeling now? Do you still have a hangover?"

"It's good that it turned out okay. Did you eat lunch yet?"

"Yeah, I just finished eating. Where are you now? Why don't you visit me here at the condo, I'm feeling homesick without you."

"I'm sorry but I don't think I'll be able to come there. Red has forbidden me to leave the mansion. I had someone following me all morning. Can't you come here instead?"

"Well that’s good! Yeah, I'd like that. That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me since we became friends. Just let me get ready. I should look presentable when I visit the Buenavista mansion. This might be the only chance in my life for me to look good and have something for Instagram later!"

"You're really silly. Oh, I'll just chat you the address. Be careful, ok? And bring my suitcase too. It has some of my important stuff in it. Is that ok?"

"That's how it is with us. You're sending me on errands, not because you want me to visit. Geez, alright, I'll bring it. It would be embarrassing for you, Madam Buenavista."

"You're silly! Oh, alright, be careful! Bye---"

I hung up the call. Thank goodness nothing bad happened to Angel. I really couldn't forgive myself if something happened to her like what happened to me last night. I sent her the address of the mansion. It probably took her more than half an hour to get here.

"Beshy!" she exclaimed excitedly while dragging my suitcase. The house staff took it and I asked them to bring it to the bedroom.

I led Angel into the mansion and she even requested that I give her a tour of the place. I did, and to avoid getting bored, I told her about everything that happened last night. It was an event that scared me.

"Wtf? Really? Are you okay? Were you hit? That guy Ares is really dumb! He even looks like a good guy, but he's really a pervert!" She said angrily while checking my whole body.

"I wasn't hurt and I'm okay. I'm worried about you, what if something like that happened to you last night?"

She hesitated before speaking, "they can just try to do that to me and there will be a war in the Philippines."

Our conversation continued until it became dark as we chatted. We also did a lot of things like watching a movie and she helped me with the designs I was making for Kent's upcoming concert. She said she would take care of checking the design. I was happy because Angel is really good at things like that and I'm sure the outcome will be better if she helps me. We just had dinner before she decided to go home. She had a client to meet tomorrow so she needed to get some beauty rest early.

I couldn't do anything and let her go. Ten minutes after Angel left, Red arrived. I'm here in the living room watching a Kdrama so I saw her arrival clearly. She just stared at me with a blank expression on her face. I stood up and approached her. I don't know what came over me but I couldn't stop myself from hugging her tightly.