CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: A Peculiar Man “That man?” She can’t help but echo his words, her heart thumping loudly, almost deafening her. Does he know? It sounds like he knows about him. “...” She paused, then thought how embarrassing her thoughts were. Of course, he knows him, he is his friend after all. He knew Leon more than she knows him. They probably spent more time together with him, and he saw Leon when he was still a teen. She and Leon just met. Leon exited before they met. He met more people before they laid their eyes on each other. Somehow, the thought made her sad. Like a cold gust of wind blowing inside her, it was freezing. Thinking up to here, her eyes were cast downwards. Agnes thinks that the man noticed the air around her was different. She can feel him, peer, at her curiously. She also took a secretive glance. His eyes were squinted, something swimming in them, but before she can notice it, his emotions were covered as soon as his lips met the cup of tea. “Yes,”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: A Seed of Doubt --- Agnes started avoiding him after that because they haven’t crossed paths even for once---except for breakfasts, lunch, and dinners---she thought that she finally mastered the art of ninjas. She told this to Leon, only to be laughed at by him. “What are you laughing at?” She asked, her cheeks puffed with airs. They were already in their room, preparing to retire for the night when she remembered those thoughts. So, she shared it with him, she thought her would praise her, but the man laughed at her instead. She doesn’t even know what was funny. “My wife is adorable.” He suddenly stated, wrecking her brain. “W-what are you even saying…” She can feel her face heating up, she slid down to the covers. “Now, now.” Her husband tried fishing her up again. “Don’t hide. Let me see your face.” “No!” She refused, gripping the sheets tighter. “You will only laugh at me…” “I won’t.” He suddenly stopped pulling, instead, he was caressing her head, sooth
CHAPTER NINETEEN:We’ve been told to notBelieve the words of a serpent.But are all the words theySay are lies?…Who is lying?---A maid approached them and laid down the snack and drinks on the table between them, her movements were fast, almost pouring everything on the table, and left the area as if her butt was on fire.As soon as she left, Agnes began to think about what Robert said to him, and they were shrouded in silence. Robert did not say anything and just took a glass of juice as if he was giving her permission to think.Agnes ignored him and began thinking.Fake?The word echoed inside her mind, bouncing in her ear canals. She could not understand his words. What is he talking about? What thing? What was fake?Is he perhaps talking about…?“Yes,” as if to confirm her thoughts, Robert’s
CHAPTER TWENTY:Getting The CourageTo Face a Sleeping Tiger---“Leon!” Agnes greeted happily to her husband that just gotten off from his car. She bobbed up and down as she descends the stairs, eager to arrive by his side immediately.Every maid she passes by bows their head before her, Agnes ignored them all and pounced at her husband. The man did not fail to catch her, holding her waist for a better grasp, not letting her fall to the ground. Like they were in an open sea, she grasps his arms tightly, holding to them as if she was about to drown.“Welcome back!” She cast a wide, bright smile at the man, staring deeply at his big, black eyes.Leon stared back, his eyes curving into small crescent slits, his orbs almost hidden behind that warm smile. He spoke, his voice still low as ever, like a breeze of winter. “Good evening to you too, my wife. I’
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONETest the WatersTo Test the Waters---He stared at her for the longest time he had ever done. His black eyes stared at her like forever. Agnes felt her heart thumping fast, wondering what she did wrong…Time had slowed down as if the clock deliberately dragged its hands snail-paced.Agnes pinched her fingers, waiting for his answer nervously. Robert glanced at the two secretly before hiding his smile with a cup of coffee. It was silent, the maids were not accustomed to this silence since days ago, so they can’t help their eyes but also took a secretive peek at the two.“… Why?” Finally, words came out of his mouth, like a sharp knife cutting through a thick blanket of awkward silence. At his voice, some people that stood in the corners flinched, but they were quick in hiding their emotions, keeping them in check.“Why? Uh…” Agnes reached a dead end, forgetting that he might ask why would she like to call them. Typically, you would not ask why your partner wants to
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO:Curiosity and Suspicions---“Mom!” She chirped as soon as the call was picked up. “I haven’t talked to you for a long time!”[“Agnes, my daughter!”] She heard her mother call her affectionately, the next sounds were her virtual kisses. Agnes giggled, missing the voice of her mom for a very long time. [“How is your daughter there?”]“I’m fine,” she closed her eyes as the gentle breeze passed her face, she glanced at her side, overlooking the large lawn and the seemingly unending trees of the forest that surrounds their mansion. The blades of grass swayed at the wind as if they choreograph a dance to offer at the blue sky heavenwards. She tucked the loose strand of her red hair behind her ears. She continued to converse with her mother with a visible vibrant smile on her lips. “Everything is going well here. How about you? And where’s dad?”[“He is here! Right beside me!”] Her mother replied enthusiastically. Her voice went far for a second, and she can hear her fai
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE:A closed-off mind---“Hi!” She greeted the cook that was just preparing their dinner. The cook was startled, swinging herself to face Agnes, the knife in her hand was threateningly shiny. Agnes stepped back, glancing awkwardly at the tip of the knife.The cook noticed it and quickly hid the knife behind her in panic. Agnes was alarmed. “Ah, be careful! You’ll hurt yourself!”Watching her act like that stressed Agnes. Why does it look like the chef was looking at a ghost? Why was she so startled that she pointed a knife at her? I mean, who would point a knife at someone just because they are startled? At a normal occurrence, one won’t…Anyway, Agnes forced herself to forget what just happened and smiled at the cook. “Hey! I have a favor to ask…”“Uhm,” the cook was looking at her, her eyes guarded. She had a frown forming on her face, and Agnes looked at her curiously. It was the first time she saw someone with emotion here. Everyone here looks stoic; they all ha
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: Out of Sight, Out of Mind --- That was disappointing. Agnes thought she finally found a friend in this house but it seems like she’s mistaken. She really liked the cook. She was thorough while teaching her and had very long patience even after Agnes made a mistake countless times. Agnes really thought that the cook will be her friend in that house full of stoic people aside from her husband… And, uh, her husband’s friend; Robert. Anyway, Agnes was hyped and she managed to learn quickly contrary to her normal self who would probably learn it longer than she did. Agnes was disappointed. She stomped her feet while walking away from the kitchen, a deep frown etched on her face. The other maids saw her like that but none commented. They just bowed their head respectfully to her to greet the madam of the house before going back to their own works. Agnes ignored them and ascended the stairs; she wants to stay in her room in the meantime because of what happened in t
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN:---“Pardon, uh, you want to go out?” Her assistant almost stuttered, her eyes darting almost everywhere. “Did I hear right?”Not caring about her uncanny behavior, Agnes shrugged her shoulder. “Yep! I want to go out. Can you connect me to my husband, please?”Even though Agnes had permission to contact her parents, Agnes still had to go through Leon and wait for his approval before anything else. Agnes didn’t even have her phone with her and all of her phone calls are monitored. Yet, she didn’t voice out any complains and obediently follows his will.She’s like an obedient puppy with a little will that Leon lets her have.But giving that much will seems to lead her into thinking that she’s already free to do what she wants even if she needs to ask permission first.Watching how her face looks like she won’t be dropping the topic, the assistant hesitatingly withdraws, telling her that she’ll get the phone from Margaret. Seeing her approaching, Margaret raised her
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX:---Night fell before she knew it. When she looked outside the window and saw that everything was painted black, she almost spilled the soup that she was carrying to taste test. Fortunately, she was supported by the person Margaret left to assist her. “Thank you,” the person only nodded her head and went back to the corner immediately. She let go of her hand as if Agnes had some disease on her, making her slightly upset.But she doesn’t want that emotion to spoil the foods she’s preparing for her yet-to-come-home husband. Agnes expelled the thoughts from her mind and went to the table to place the pipping soup. She looked at it and can’t help but reveal a smug smile. It was a clear chicken soup, a simple dish, but she was proud of it. After her ‘training’ with that cook, she can finally cook on her own, and now, she’s readying to serve this to her husband. Agnes is nervous, but also excited. She contained it before reaching for the spoon to give it a taste. Sl
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE:Out of Sight, Out of Mind (02)--Agnes was giddy. She can’t wait for what to cook for Leon for dinner. There are many recipes in her mind that she was struggling to decide which one to cook. Not just that, because her experience was lacking, she can’t really choose whatever comes to her mind. The clock’s hand was slowly ticking down, and the noise of its every movement was heard inside the silent room. Agnes was the only one who was inside, making the room small yet wide. Agnes tossed and turned on the bed, wondering what will happen later in the evening.Her heart thundered in her chest, almost bursting with anticipation and excitement. “There’s no use in staying in the bed and daydreaming all day,” Agnes suddenly stopped and sat up. “The day will be gone before I knew it, so I have to think fast.”Thinking that Agnes gets up on her feet and heads to the door. They say that if you’re happy, time clicks faster than normal. But if you’re excited about somethin
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: Out of Sight, Out of Mind --- That was disappointing. Agnes thought she finally found a friend in this house but it seems like she’s mistaken. She really liked the cook. She was thorough while teaching her and had very long patience even after Agnes made a mistake countless times. Agnes really thought that the cook will be her friend in that house full of stoic people aside from her husband… And, uh, her husband’s friend; Robert. Anyway, Agnes was hyped and she managed to learn quickly contrary to her normal self who would probably learn it longer than she did. Agnes was disappointed. She stomped her feet while walking away from the kitchen, a deep frown etched on her face. The other maids saw her like that but none commented. They just bowed their head respectfully to her to greet the madam of the house before going back to their own works. Agnes ignored them and ascended the stairs; she wants to stay in her room in the meantime because of what happened in t
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE:A closed-off mind---“Hi!” She greeted the cook that was just preparing their dinner. The cook was startled, swinging herself to face Agnes, the knife in her hand was threateningly shiny. Agnes stepped back, glancing awkwardly at the tip of the knife.The cook noticed it and quickly hid the knife behind her in panic. Agnes was alarmed. “Ah, be careful! You’ll hurt yourself!”Watching her act like that stressed Agnes. Why does it look like the chef was looking at a ghost? Why was she so startled that she pointed a knife at her? I mean, who would point a knife at someone just because they are startled? At a normal occurrence, one won’t…Anyway, Agnes forced herself to forget what just happened and smiled at the cook. “Hey! I have a favor to ask…”“Uhm,” the cook was looking at her, her eyes guarded. She had a frown forming on her face, and Agnes looked at her curiously. It was the first time she saw someone with emotion here. Everyone here looks stoic; they all ha
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO:Curiosity and Suspicions---“Mom!” She chirped as soon as the call was picked up. “I haven’t talked to you for a long time!”[“Agnes, my daughter!”] She heard her mother call her affectionately, the next sounds were her virtual kisses. Agnes giggled, missing the voice of her mom for a very long time. [“How is your daughter there?”]“I’m fine,” she closed her eyes as the gentle breeze passed her face, she glanced at her side, overlooking the large lawn and the seemingly unending trees of the forest that surrounds their mansion. The blades of grass swayed at the wind as if they choreograph a dance to offer at the blue sky heavenwards. She tucked the loose strand of her red hair behind her ears. She continued to converse with her mother with a visible vibrant smile on her lips. “Everything is going well here. How about you? And where’s dad?”[“He is here! Right beside me!”] Her mother replied enthusiastically. Her voice went far for a second, and she can hear her fai
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONETest the WatersTo Test the Waters---He stared at her for the longest time he had ever done. His black eyes stared at her like forever. Agnes felt her heart thumping fast, wondering what she did wrong…Time had slowed down as if the clock deliberately dragged its hands snail-paced.Agnes pinched her fingers, waiting for his answer nervously. Robert glanced at the two secretly before hiding his smile with a cup of coffee. It was silent, the maids were not accustomed to this silence since days ago, so they can’t help their eyes but also took a secretive peek at the two.“… Why?” Finally, words came out of his mouth, like a sharp knife cutting through a thick blanket of awkward silence. At his voice, some people that stood in the corners flinched, but they were quick in hiding their emotions, keeping them in check.“Why? Uh…” Agnes reached a dead end, forgetting that he might ask why would she like to call them. Typically, you would not ask why your partner wants to
CHAPTER TWENTY:Getting The CourageTo Face a Sleeping Tiger---“Leon!” Agnes greeted happily to her husband that just gotten off from his car. She bobbed up and down as she descends the stairs, eager to arrive by his side immediately.Every maid she passes by bows their head before her, Agnes ignored them all and pounced at her husband. The man did not fail to catch her, holding her waist for a better grasp, not letting her fall to the ground. Like they were in an open sea, she grasps his arms tightly, holding to them as if she was about to drown.“Welcome back!” She cast a wide, bright smile at the man, staring deeply at his big, black eyes.Leon stared back, his eyes curving into small crescent slits, his orbs almost hidden behind that warm smile. He spoke, his voice still low as ever, like a breeze of winter. “Good evening to you too, my wife. I’
CHAPTER NINETEEN:We’ve been told to notBelieve the words of a serpent.But are all the words theySay are lies?…Who is lying?---A maid approached them and laid down the snack and drinks on the table between them, her movements were fast, almost pouring everything on the table, and left the area as if her butt was on fire.As soon as she left, Agnes began to think about what Robert said to him, and they were shrouded in silence. Robert did not say anything and just took a glass of juice as if he was giving her permission to think.Agnes ignored him and began thinking.Fake?The word echoed inside her mind, bouncing in her ear canals. She could not understand his words. What is he talking about? What thing? What was fake?Is he perhaps talking about…?“Yes,” as if to confirm her thoughts, Robert’s