Chapter 29: Why have you suddenly...
Chapter 29: Why have you suddenly...
"H-huh? What? No, Kiro! This is just how my cheeks are when I wake up, I blush," I reasoned. He nodded and started walking down the stairs, so I followed him. I really needed to ask him and get rid of my thoughts. "Good morning, Senyorito Kiro!" Miss Linda greeted us, clearly just waking up. She turned to me and her smile disappeared when she saw Kiro and I walking together down the stairs. I was taken aback as Miss Linda seemed to avoid my gaze. I suddenly felt nervous. Why was she acting like that towards me? Why did she seem unwilling to interact with me all of a sudden? We hadn't talked since Joday and I left the maid's quarter last night. What was their real problem? "G-good morning, Miss Linda?" I tried to greet her, but it came out more as a question in my tone. She quickly responded, forcing a smile. "Oh, Lyka! Good morning, Lyka," she replied before returning to her own cooking. I just smiled back, knowing that Kiro was already heading towards the garden. I still needed to ask him about something. He walked towards the garden area of the mansion, and I followed him. "Kiro!" I called out to him when I saw him watering my plants with a hose. Kiro looked surprisingly good while watering the plants. Despite the simplicity of the task, there was something about the way he held the hose and tended to the greenery that caught my attention. He just had a fever! "Y-you had a fever yesterday... Let me water the plants, instead!" I said, approaching him and reaching for the hose, but he pulled back. "Well, it's fine, Lyka," he said, even laughing as he spoke. "Get rest, Kiro or else I'll report this to Madam! You've just recovered from a fever, y-you should be resting in your room now!" I scolded, but the smirk on his face only grew wider. "Damn, you talk like my mom, Lyka," he remarked, laughing, but his laughter quickly faded as he realized that I wasn't finding it amusing. We locked eyes for a moment, but I quickly looked away, unable to maintain the gaze. "It's my task, my work! I'll just water them, so you sit there... After all, I'll ask you something later," I
promised, reaching for the hose, but I was startled when I felt water being sprayed in my face. The water from the hose suddenly sprayed onto my face, catching me by surprise. It felt cool and refreshing as it wet my cheeks and made my hair cling to my forehead. I blinked my eyes to clear the water and wiped my face with my hand, feeling the wetness on my skin. The unexpected shower left me momentarily disoriented. What the heck? "Sorry! I didn't mean to, Lyka!" he apologized, but I stared at him sternly. He just wanted to play, huh? Well, if he wanted to play, then I would play with him too. I couldn't help but let out a small laugh, finding the situation playful and amusing. The water droplets ran down my face. I snatched the hose from him and turned it towards his face. I didn't care that he had just recovered from a fever; I sprayed him with water. I smirked at him. "Oh, what's the matter? Wet chick," I taunted, pointing the hose at him. He looked at me seriously, and I felt a twinge of nervousness. As I expected, he tried to take the hose from me again, and I was caught off guard. Confused, I tried to run, but I slipped and closed my eyes, preparing myself to fall on the grass. I thought I was going to land on the garden lawn, but I suddenly felt a hand wrap around my waist. He caught me. Time seemed to stand still as I found myself locked in a gaze with Kiro. His eyes, filled with concern, held mine with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine. In that moment, everything else faded away, and it was as if it was just the two of us in the world. His touch brought a sense of safety and security, a fleeting connection that sparked a rush of emotions within me. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as I took in his close proximity, his steady grip keeping me upright. We continued to gaze at each other, and in that moment, I could feel my heart beating faster, as if filled with nervous anticipation. "K-Kiro..." "Senyorito Kiro? Lyka? What's happening here?!?" Kiro and I quickly let go of each other when we heard Miss Linda's voice, with Joday wearing a smirk on her face.
"Haist! You had a fever yesterday and now you're playing with water outside, Senyorito? What were you thinking?" Miss Linda scolded Kiro as we sat on the sofa in the living room. I knew that scolding was also directed at me because Miss Linda turned her gaze towards me. "Hmm, playing with water, maybe they were also ‘playing with fire’, Miss Linda HAHA!" Joday jokes. She let out that joke with a teasing tone, and I could tell she was listening closely. Miss Linda gave her a stern look. "Joday, can you please continue your work in the kitchen?" Miss Linda ordered her. Joday complied, but she left me with a lingering teasing smile. I secretly observed Kiro's reaction to Joday's words. He remained silent, turning to Miss Linda with a serious expression. "It's not Lyka's fault. I was just being childish... Sorry, Miss Linda," he said, standing up. "Apologies for causing trouble, Miss... Lyka..." he added before making his way up the stairs to his room. I continued to dry my hair with a towel, feeling a sense of sadness in Miss Linda's words. I turned to her, expecting her to say something as she would usually do. However, her next words only deepened my sorrow. "I'm going back to my duties, Lyka... You should do the same," she said abruptly, leaving the room in front of me. What had happened to Miss Linda? She had suddenly changed, not like the Miss Linda I knew. If it were the old Miss Linda, she would have surely asked me what happened and wanted me to share my thoughts. The old Miss Linda would have surely told me to dress up in new clothes immediately because I might catch a cold from wearing wet clothes. I forced myself to carry on and focus on my work for the rest of the day. Miss Linda continued to treat me distantly, while Joday kept teasing me. Wonderful. Just great. Adding sarcasm to the mix. In the evening, I decided to go to the maid's quarter and speak with Miss Linda, as Joday stayed in the kitchen to wash the dishes. Despite feeling nervous about how she would respond, I approached her. "M-miss Linda..." I began, swallowing nervously when she avoided me and pretended not to hear.
"Miss Linda!" I called out weakly. She turned to me, but I couldn't discern the emotion in her eyes. What had happened? We were fine last night, right? Why had things suddenly changed like this? "Oh, Lyka?..." she simply uttered. I sat on my bed, still staring intently at Miss Linda. "Miss... What's the matter? Why have you suddenly..." "I'm sorry, Lyka, but I need to help Joday with the dishes in the kitchen," she interrupted me, swiftly leaving without even waiting for my response. It felt as if the world was closing in on me due to her sudden leaving . I couldn't believe she was going to Joday. I knew it was all intentional, she deliberately made excuses to avoid my questions. What had I done? What had I done that made so many people distance themselves from me? At first, Joday and I were fine, but then things suddenly changed and we ended up like this... Doday had left abruptly after we had been supporting each other. Was it really so difficult to stay by my side? And now, my second mother was avoiding me without any apparent reason. Why had all of this happened so suddenly? It felt absurd. My heart ached. It hurt to see the person I had grown close to suddenly treat me with indifference. I felt a sense of loss and confusion, wondering what had caused this sudden change in her behavior towards me. The questions weighed heavily on my heart, intensifying the ache inside. Her eyes, once warm and caring, now seemed distant and evasive. It felt like a barrier had been erected, keeping me at arm's length. I longed for the genuine connection we used to have, but now it felt like I was being shut out.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.