Chapter 2
I wiped my face with the back of my hand and changed my shoes to a pair of comfy slippers that had long bunny ears. My mom got me that on my last birthday, and it was super cute.
This den I'm supposed to be staying in didn't have a bathroom, which means that I had to make do with the guest bathroom and just keep hoping that we won't have any guests that would stay for a night or else I'll be sharing a bathroom with a total stranger.
I trudged to the dining room, not sure if I wanted to eat, but if I didn't, I don't know if I'll ever have the opportunity to do so again, judging from the way Aunt Bianca sees me.
They had already started eating before I got there, seeing how irrelevant my presence was. I started to miss my parents all over again.
"When you're done eating, clear this table and do the dishes."
"You can't sit around doing nothing while I do the dishes for you."
"Yes, auntie," I replied, my mouth half full of the samosas I was having.
That wasn't actually my problem for now. Something else was bothering me. I had been thinking about this ever since, and what I couldn't come to a conclusion with was how to ask my uncle.
"What's the matter, young lady?"
He asked like he knew what I was thinking.
"Uhhhm... I've been thinking, uncle, and I've... I need to go back to school. So I was wondering if it'll be possible to get enrolled in Pearl's school and... "
"Anna, why on earth have you decided to not listen to me? I don't want you anywhere near my daughter, don't you understand? First you wanted to share her room; now you want to share her school. What's next, her life?"
I bowed my head and squinted my eyes, trying so hard not to cry, at least not in front of them.
"That's enough, Bianca. Look, Anna, it's not like I don't want the best for you, but the thing is that there's no money to send you to school. So for now, school is out of the question, but I have a better idea for you, and it'll benefit all of us."
"But uncle, I thought the rest of my parent's wealth was given to you for me? Where did all that money go?" I asked, disgusted at the fact that he could talk about not being financially balanced to send me to school when Pearl changes her wardrobe literally every time she feels like it, he even got a new not-so-impressive car for himself, and he has the urge to say there's no money for me?
"How much do you think your parents left for you?" Don't question me in my house, young lady; do you understand?"
I nodded, still trying to blink away the tears that wanted to flow.
"Now back to what I was saying, there's this affluent CEO in Cielville; matter of fact, he's the richest CEO there." A friend of mine tipped me off to some information about him needing a maid, so you'll be going to his house to apply for a maid. That way you can start earning your own money," The tears started to drop, and I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"And probably when you have enough for yourself, you can start thinking about going back to school."
like that's possible.
"Now I want you to understand that I'm not asking for your approval in this matter, I'm only telling you my decision, and it's final." "Do you understand?"
I could feel my butt soak with my own sweat. Even my palms were sweaty, and beads of it dropped from my forehead, yet I felt as cold as ever. Nothing sounded correct in my ears, and I wanted to argue with my uncle about his decision, but it didn't look like I had a say here.
After all, I'm still under his care. I took one quick glance at Pearl with pleading eyes, trying to solicit her help in this, but she immediately looked away and focused on her food.
Wow!
"He asked a question, Anna, do you understand?" Aunt Bianca asked.
This woman wasn't even helping matters at all, and I noticed she was enjoying this show.
"Yes, I understand," I stuttered.
The rest of the meal was eaten in silence. I didn't even finish mine, and when they were all done and left for their rooms, I cleared the table and went to the kitchen to do the dishes. A pile of unwashed plates and some pans welcomed me, and I got even more tired.
"They probably planned this whole maid thing a long time ago because they're obviously training me for the job."
I sighed heavily, but this wasn't a sigh of relief. It was a sigh of frustration. But what else can a poor orphan do at this point?
"Get to work, Anna; those plates aren't going to wash themselves." Aunt Bianca said as she strolled past the kitchen to the living room.
"Yes Auntie".....