Maria

A loud knock at the door woke me up. I lazily got off the bed, wore my flip-flops, and walked to the door with both eyes still closed. I stood for a while, stretching and straightening my back to my satisfaction.

"Coming." I yelled at the person who knocked once again. The snapping and breaking of my bones brought relief to me because I could feel a lot lighter than when I had just woken up.

I held the door's knob and pulled the brown door open.

The moment I did that, the bright morning sunlight flooded into the room, causing me to squint. I rubbed my eyes, trying to fugure who the person was, who looked like she flodded with the sunlight, which looked so bright until it looked like clouds.

“What is it?“ I asked the figure I thought it was Maria who had come to wake me up because she had done it since the day I arrived at Alpha Maseno's kingdom, but I was mistaken. I had almost forgotten that she was no longer nice to me.

The girl, who I recognized as a maid because of the blue short dress, a white blouse that was tucked inside, white shoes, and knee-length white socks, smiled at me and then responded, “Doctor Maria wants to see you.“ She bowed slightly, her ponytails falling on both sides of her shoulders and hitting her face.

"Oh, I see." I mumbled, feeling my lips curl upwards for an uncontrollable smile. "Maybe I was just mistaken. She isn't angry with me. She was just tired." I whispered to my wolf, who remained silent. She did so whenever she doubted what I was saying.

"I'll be going back to my duties, Miss Maria. Have a good day." The girl bowed again and turned to leave the room, her ponytails swaying with each step she took forward. I stepped out of the door because I was still standing inside while talking to her, and I listened as her footsteps faded away down the hallway.

“Hold on." I called her back when something flashed through my mind. She stood, and I quickly ran after her, my eyes now fully open. I caught up to her just as she reached the end of the hallway and placed a hand on her shoulder to get her attention. "I apologize for forgetting to mention," I said, my voice filled with urgency.

“Yes Maria. What did you forget to mention?“ She turned to face me, her eyes full of confusion.

"Actually, it's a question." She nodded, urging me to continue speaking. "Where is Doctor Maria?" I asked after catching my breath.

"Oh." She smiled, looking at me up and down. I felt her eyes sweep all over my body and then settle on my face. "She is at her office. She did say that you should take your time, though. There is no hurry. She just wanted me to wake you up.“ She paused, looking at me as if waiting for the words she had just said to sink into my head.

"Okay." I smiled back, relieved that there was no urgency. "Can you do me a favor, please?" I am sure that at this point, my eyes twinkled with excitement.

"Of course, Miss Maria. Anything for you." The girl smiled, flashing a set of milky white teeth.

"Okay. Can you let her know that I'll be there as soon as I can? I don't want her to think I'm taking too long." I asked her with a hopeful tone, hoping that she would understand the importance of my request.

The girl nodded eagerly and said, "Of course, Miss Maria. I'll deliver your message."

After her assurance that she'd deliver the message, I walked back to my room to start my daily routine.

I started removing the misquito net and tied up a clean one. The one I was using wasn't dirty, but I liked changing my bedsheets every two weeks. I spread the sheets, vacuumed them, and folded the quilts. I stepped back, happy about my arrangement.

"Oops, my pillows." I gasped, a smile spreading on my lips, when I saw them still lying on the couch. I grabbed all six of them, arranged them, and walked to the bathroom for a shower.

"Maria wasn't angry with me, buddy." I told my wolf. I couldn't believe that Maria had asked that maid to come and wake me up. I had missed her like crazy. I spent the entire night praying that when the sun shines, Maria will no longer be mad at me or will at least tell me what I did that made her stop being sweet toward me.

I rejected the idea of going into the bathtub and stepped under the shower instead. I turned it on, shivering as the cold water cascaded down my body, washing away the remnants of sleep and worry.

"I hope Maria will be honest with me. This way, I can understand where I went wrong and make amends if needed. It's important for me to have a clear understanding of what caused the change in her behavior so that I can work towards resolving any issues between us." I said to myself, stepped out of the shower, and stretched my hand to grab two towels from the rack.

I used one to dry my body, tossed it in the laundry basket, and used the dry one to cover my body.

Retreating back to my room, I went straight to the walk-in closet and selected the outfit of the day. A pair of pink jean trousers, a white long-sleeved shirt since it was a cold morning, and white sneakers since I had no plans of going outdoors today.

“Goodmorning.“ I greeted the chef once I walked into the kitchen. She was a middle-aged woman of about fifty and had a few gray hairs pricking out of her head.

She smiled warmly, her eyes crinkling at the corners. Her smile always reminded me of my mom. "May his soul rest in peace." I prayed inwardly.

“Good Morning. You are early today. Did you have a good night's sleep?" She returned the greetings while stretching her hand to pull on my cheeks.

"Jeez, Miss Olivia. I am not five.“ I playfully slapped her hand away and giggled. “To answer your question, yes. I had a good night's sleep.“

“There is no doubt.“ She smiled and went back to her business. I admired her playful nature. She always had a way of making me feel at ease, like I had known her for a really long time.

“What do you mean? Is it written on my forehead that I had a goodnight sleep?“ I chuckled, following her behind.

She turned around and gave me a mischievous grin. "Well, maybe it is," she teased, raising an eyebrow playfully. "But I can always tell by the twinkle in your eyes." I blushed at her compliment.

"How?" I asked again, stopping at the counter to grab an apple.

“It's evident on your face, sweetheart. Like I said, your eyes are twinkling. You are wearing makeup today, and let me not mention the way you are dressed. Are you pleasing someone?“ She winked suggestively, making me blush even more.

“You don't need to be shy, my dear." Her voice jarred me from my embarrassment. "I also went through that stage. Just be careful, okay?" She smiled and then turned to stir the soup cooking in the pot.

"Yes, Miss Olivia.“ I nodded and walked to the fridge to grab a bottle of water. Her words really shocked me. I looked at my reflection on the glass table and was amazed by the girl looking at me.

I looked beautiful in the light makeup. I had applied to my lips a nude pink lipstick and a lipshiner on top. I had won jewelry, something I never did, and then there were the clothes.

Normally, I roam around the house wearing large, extra-sized dresses that would leave anyone thinking I was a ghost if they were to catch me standing in the darkness.

My hair used to be left freely, all tangled as if the house lacked a blow dryer and combs. I used not to care about wearing shoes because, after all, the maid was cleaning the house twenty-four-seven, and I never went out unless Beta Sony asked me to.

“Did I dress up for Maria?“ I gasped at my own question because, after I heard she was calling me, I put on those clothes. I left the bottle lying on the table and ran upstairs. I pulled the band off my head and let my hair fall free on my back.

I had washed, combed, blow-dried, and tied it into a high ponytail. “Are you pleasing someone?“ Miss Olivi's words came again and again, making me groan. I fell back on my bed and blocked my ears with both hands.

“It's normal. Jeez, Kiara.“ My wolf giggled.

“It's not. Since when did I start dressing up for someone? And is it normal?“ I asked her while taking deep breaths.

“How can it not be normal, Kiara? It is normal.“ She said back, and I sat up and went to look at myself in the mirror again.

"But she is a girl. Is it normal to please your fellow girl?“ I asked back.

“That, I don't know.“ She whispered and then stirred back at my head. I sighed, contemplating whether I should go back to my walk-in closet and wear my usual clothes.

I took one step, but I never reached it because a knock sounded at my door.

“Coming.“ I yelled when the person continued knocking.

“Is there anything I can do for..." I trailed when my eyes caught the figure. “M-maria?“ I stuttered, rubbing my eyes.

“I thought I sent someone to come and call you.“ She said.

“Uh, yes, I was about to come.“ I lied and stepped back to make a space for her in case she wanted to come in.

“I am not coming in, Maria. We need to start the process of getting you pregnant as soon as possible, or have you forgotten?" She asked. I raised my head to look at her face, but then I realized she wasn't looking at me.

Her eyes were glued to the phone in her hands. A notification dinged, and she hurriedly swiped down to read it. A wide smile that reached her ears was plastered across her face.

“Who are you talking to?“ I asked, shocked at the harsh tone pressing on my voice. She tore her gaze from her phone and looked at me.

“Why would I tell you? Since when did I start reporting to you about who I talk to?“ She smirked and went back to looking at her phone.

“Is it a guy?“ I asked, feeling a tinge of pain pricking my heart. Tears stung my eyes, but I blinked them away.

“What's wrong with you, Maria?“ She pocketed her phone and turned to face me.

“I asked, is it a guy?“ I yelled at her, the tears I was holding finally streaming down my eyes. “Do you love him?“ I hiccuped.

“Maria, what's wrong with you?“ She asked in shock, her eyes widening. I could see that she had no idea how to deal with a crying person. “Do you want some water?“ She asked, stepped into my room, walked to the bedside table, and grabbed a bottle of water.

“I don't want water, Maria. I want an answer!" I demanded. More tears streamed down my cheeks, soaking the front of my blouse. “I dressed for you, yet you are busy talking to another man.“

“What? What are you saying, Maria? Are you okay?“ She touched my shoulder and lifted my head so that I could look at her in the eye.

“I..“ I turned my back on her. “I-I am sorry. I didn't mean to say that. I don't know what's wrong with me.“ I closed my eyes and clenched my fists on my sides. “I really don't know why I said that.“ I said it again, hoping that she would believe me.

“Are you in love with me, Maria?“ She asked, and my heart skipped a beat.

“I..“ I trailed, not knowing what to say.

“I what? Are you in love with me?“ She grabbed my shoulder and turned me around so that I could face her.

''I don't know how to explain this feeling, Maria. What I know is that I want to please you, and I want to be the one who brings that smile to your face. I want to be beside you twenty-four seven, and it hurts when you don't talk to me. I have never felt this way, Maria. At least not with anyone," I admitted.

“It's love, Maria. You love me, Maria.“ She smiled and pulled me into a tight embrace.

“Aren't you angry with me?“ I asked her in a shaky voice.

“No, Maria. I am not angry with you. Do you know for how long I have been waiting to hear these words from you? I love you too, Maria. It was love at first sight for me.“ She admitted.

“What?“ I asked in disbelief, broke the hug, and stepped back. I looked her in the eye, seeing the sincerity in her eyes. I hugged her back, tightening my arms around her and inhaling her blackberry scent.

“Are you okay, Miss Maria?“ A voice different from Maria's forced me to open my eyes.

“uh?“ I looked at the person standing at my door.

“Ma'am Olivia said that your breakfast is ready.“ The person looked at me in confusion. “But, are you okay?“ She then asked, pointing toward me. I was hugging the air.

I blushed, bowed my head in embarrassment, and responded, "Uh, yes. Tell her I'll be there in a minute.“ I slammed the door shut.

“What the hell was I daydreaming about?" I slapped my cheeks and sat on the bed.