Chapter 6 Play Time

"You should know how to draw all the standard geometrical shapes, you will use this later for facade and planar studies."

He said as he was looking intently on my work.

"And also, it will help you get proportions right for all your designs."

He lowered the sketch book he was holding that he had examined earlier and looked back at me.

"Those are the basics."

I’m here now and sitting in my favorite spot in the garden. He was giving me some lectures about architectural terms and I'm definitely rooting for this. I just smiled sweetly at him and nodded. It was early in the morning when he saw me sitting here and doing some artwork and drop by, I woke up first to him so I had breakfast first and maybe when he got his attention here he noticed me.

"I do that once in a few of my works, but with this pencil and paper there is only a limited amount of what I can do. Next time I'll borrow it from my classmate and I'll show you if it's right."

He frowned for a moment as he stared at me. He gave me a slight smile when his phone rang and he answered.

"Yes ?,"

I turned my attention away from him because I didn't want to look like I was listening to what they were talking about.

"No. I don't want to see Eduardo. Just drop by the plans here we'll discuss more of that."

Maybe it's about his work again. I don’t know exactly what kind of work he does here in Mar De Vena, a few days without the Solidads coming home so I don’t know what exactly are the events in this mansion. I'm also not in the habit of interfering so I don't want to ask Sir Levi about his stay here at the Solidads mansion or what his connection is with them. After some few words from his call he excused himself and I was left at peace.

I don’t know if I’m breathing more loosely or I’d rather hold my breath longer. Being around him suffocates me but this suffocation makes me high and I'm not sure if I'm buyin 'it or I want to stay out of it. In a few days, I will be able to go back to school, I will no longer be wearing a cast that supports my arm, and the wounds and bruises on my face will not be obvious if I don't pay attention to it.

Today I decided to go downtown, I’m not sure but this is the only opportunity I see to do so. Because I will be busy again in three days because of my admission. I've been saying goodbye to the Solidads for a long time but I still can't control my anxiety because I'm afraid that something bad might happen to me that will bother the Solidads.

The sun was high as I went inside to tidy myself up and prepare to leave. I was wearing a jeans and a simple polo shirt that Ate Celest gave me, I wore a simple white rubber shoes and a simple baseball cap for the high sunshine. I tied my long black hair up and I'm good to go.

Carrying the envelope in my hand I slowly walked out of my room, my eye hitting the office door and its small crack. I can't help but wonder what time Sir Levi will be there again because lately I can hardly feel him in the mansion.

Only the helpers know how he is because he is just delivering food tooffice. I'm in a hurry down the stairs because I'm chasing time, I look at my watch and It's past 11 AM already. I’m about to catch up on Lunch break so I need to hurry.

Maybe I'll just ride a tricycle, even if it's expensive so as not to get caught up in the scheduled time. I used to walk going there but it won't be a help now. I hurried down the garden aisle to the gate and stopped when I saw the same visitor the other day whom Sir Levi was now meeting.

It was the woman last time but she was alone, she no longer with the man in the past was rude to me without my knowledge. I could not escape Sir Levi's support behind the woman and the woman's greeting to kiss him. I stepped aside as the two of them passed so as not to be an obstacle to them. There were talking about something and I tried to avoid my gaze so they wouldn’t notice me yet.

"Wait.", I nodded as I noticed the two of them stopping in front of me. "Aren't you that maid last time--"

I looked up at her when she said that.

"Carmela, let's go."

Sir Levi told him emphatically. I was just stoned to my feet and I saw the disgust that the two of them looked at me from head to toe.

"No, I'm sure you're that maid--"

He insisted.

"Carmela It's none of your business."

Authoritatively Sir Levi said to him. I just swallowed and wanted to just eat the ground because of the attention the two of them were giving me. I don’t know if I should be offended by the contempt it does to me because whatever I do is true what he says. Whether I was rude or whatever, I was just this "maid" in their eyes.

They just passed me because of the authority that Sir Levi told him. Such are the times I realize that no matter when I should know where I should place myself, because no matter when, the heavens will not adjust to hit the ground.

"Miss, five minutes seems to be Sir."

I just nodded and smiled in return for him. He seems to be one of those who work here because he wears a uniform that shouts the name of this caffe. I was surprised when he pulled up the chair in front of me and sat there. I was taken back a little because of what he did.

"What are you going to do here?"

I pulled myself away a bit and adjusted the seat because he became aggressive as he removed his apron and while tracing the big smile on his lips. I gave an awkward smile,

"Waitress sana. Part time Job."

"Huh? Waitress? -"

Her round eyes widened and she covered her mouth because maybe of the noise she created. She first turned to the door where she came from earlier and came even closer to me while fixing her bouncy curly hair.

"Are you a student?"

She curiously ask. I nodded in response to him.

"You don't look like a student. Besides, waitress? You're so smooth and you're so beautiful, you look like a model."

She was spiting all those words in a tone as if she was accusing me of something.

"Marie,"

She offered her hand and I accepted.

"I'm also a waitress here, but it seems like we're all around. Are you sure you're going to work here?"

Her personality can be seen based on how she talk to me and tapped my shoulder as if we've known each other for a long time. I would have answered him ng suddenly someone touched her man who was wearing the same thing and if I'm not mistaken he was also one of the people working in this caffe.

"Hey wait? I still have a job, just wait for Sir, he'll come out too. I hope you'll be accepted. Bye."

He said next and I could do nothing but follow him as he stood up quickly. Just a few minutes and the so -called boss came out of this caffe, after a few interviews and certaain conditions he told me that I can start whenever I want.

The salary isn't that high because I won't be working full time but that's better than nothing. I just don’t want to rely on all the Solities for my needs enough for them to settle me there.

Solidad doesn't complain about all my school needs and whatever, but I'd better learn to work hard for myself, I would have liked to stand out if I could save for this job. I will only repay them for everything they have done to me when I graduate from college. It was past 1 in the afternoon and I was still here in the caffe because they were explaining to me all my jobs and my future roles here and much more. A few words and a program he handed me over to the counter where Marie was. My boss just introduced me and he left me here.

"I told you you will be accepted."

She exclaimed. I laughed at his very enthusiastic voice. It's also good and I won't have a hard time because somehow I already know someone here, I'm just not used to talking to someone like this. They are both the same as Oli. I also learned that Marie lives near the town and has been working here for a long time.

He showed me the things I needed to do and the rules here in the cafe, as our boss had instructed him. It was already past 5 in the afternoon and close to nightfall, this is also the time when the schedule given to me will end so I went home now. Marie, on the other hand, was left behind because she was there full time.

"Thank you very much Oli, I'll just give it back to you on campus."

It was already dark out of my sight, I first went to Oli's house to borrow the remaining lectures that he hadn't delivered before for some reason, it's also embarrassing that I insisted on delivering it even though I was the one who needed it, so even at night I thought of passing here for a while from town just to be easy for him.

"I'll take you Cy, maybe something else will happen to you tonight."

We exchanged words a few more times because of my prejudice and his insistence. And in the end I just let him go because Aling Rona, his mother, also insisted on taking me. Oli's house is only a few feet away from the Solidads' house, so while we were walking, Oli asked me what I had done in town and I spent the night, I also couldn't make him treat him so intimately. he is my friend.

"Why do you still have to work Cy? You can afford to study Solidads. Besides, don't you think that something else might happen to you? You're still very approachable. From town, you're going to travel in the sky. time what if there isbad things will happen to you again? "

He said with mixed apprehension. In fact, I still think about it. I don't know if I stayed in the mansion for so long to rest so I still can't get rid of the fear. My mind could not bear the fear and fear that it would happen to me again even though I was about to enter a more wrong world. It is no longer just the book and plants that are with me and I will focus on.

When the wind wheeze, the ocean caugh my eyes. I don't know, it seems like the ocean will always be my calm in the chaos. I just looked at it, it seemed like everything was okay. I just smiled,

"Don't worry Oli. I'll be careful."

He looked at me badly as if what I said didn't make him feel better. I laughed to annoy him even more. I had already seen the bright mansion of the Solidads, I no longer realized that we were already at the entrance.

"Oli! Don't worry! I promise I'll set you free when I get paid at that coffee shop, don't you want that?"

I persuaded him because he ignored me after what I said and couldn’t draw a face. I don't want him to go home because he is angry with me. He bent down as he raised his head and I was almost overwhelmed with shock as he bowed and hugged me.

"Cy! I can't stand when something bad happens to you!"

I was shocked and couldn't move his posture, I was used to Oli but now he looks like a kidnapped toy that I don't know. I just laughed and stroked his hair, just to assure him with all his worries.

"I'll be careful. Promise."

Oli and I have been friends for a long time, I consider him a brother or family. I understand where he's coming from, even if I worry about him if something happens to him, especially if I'm also involved. He let go of his embrace and I could still see his wrinkled face, he turned his back on me when he was still not ready and left. I still can't stop laughing,

"Be careful!"

I just shouted and he raised his hand in response. He really looks like a child. I entered the gate smiling in the thought of Oli's face when,

"Do the Solidad's know that you come home this late at night?"

I don't know how shocked I was when I heard the depth of that voice where the silence enveloped it outside. I followed that voice with my gaze and saw him sitting at the table I would often hang out at outside.

He was sitting with his both hands clasped near into his mouth almost touching his lips while his phone is lighted on the table in front of him. It was so dark there because the light didn't reach it very well I probably didn't notice him earlier when I passed it. I can't even move because of the shockness with my thumping heart, so when he stood up and picked up his cellphone and only then did I wake up to the truth. He didn't leave that place and when our eyes met I couldn't look at him, like a child who stole a peso when his parents caught him. He tilted his head mockingly and raised an eyebrow.

"Y-yes .-- No!" I didn't know what to say to him because the Solidads didn't really know that I was coming home at this time. There is no case against me if they know but noi know why now i'm nervous while i seem to be punished because i did something wrong. I heard him chuckle with a hint of irritation.

"Get in. You're play time with your boy is over." He passed me and went straight to the door to enter while I still couldn’t process what he said.