ELLAINA’S POV
I jolted awake as I caught my breath. I felt a sickening feeling.
A werd feeling, and I could not remember what my dream was….
Father is gone…
What do I do now? I do not have the energy to go back, and I know that even if my sister and mother did not say this, they need me here.
Father’s lawyer came here to settle father’s will. I got most of the shares as her eldest, but then I also got to see his debts, which I was still trying hard to pay after all of these years of working.
The interest just keeps on going and I still lack the billions….
Ramirez tech was under my name now…while Elyana got 20% shares of it.
Just then, I looked around the whole house. It looked empty, dusty, and dirty.
Seems that we have to clean this.
I looked for Elyana and saw her going to our mother’s room with a bowl of porridge in her hands.
After she returned, I asked, “What happened?”
“Mother fell ill.”
I blinked, oh….that’s natural. we were crying the whole day yesterday under the heavy rain so it would be natural that one of us might catch a cold.
I suddenly grabbed a broom and some featherduster and Elyana frowned, “No, just rest for today. I’ll be the one cleaning-”
I shook my head, “No, just take care of the mother.”
“But-”
“Just do as I say…I have to make it up to you. I wasn’t able to take care of father…so this is the least that I could do.”
Elyana sighed, but finally giving up, she let me on my own. I put on an apron just to avoid my clothes from getting firty and started scrubbing the floors. I started in the kitchen, to the living room, to the rooms, and outside. where there was finally bright light from the sun.
“Ellaina? Is that you?” I heard an old man ask from the yard and when I turned, I smiled as I could see our old caretaker, UncleTomas!
“Uncle Tomas!” I yelled, rushing to hug him, “I missed you!” When my father was out for business meetings, he was the one who taught me things and acted as my father…and seeing him now, looking older than ever is a bit heartbreaking.
He smiled, “I missed you too, dear.”
He then grabbed the broom from my hand, “Give me that, a top model like you should not get some irt on her nails, just rest dear.”
I chuckled, he was the only one who believe in me and that I could do it. And I was able to do it thanks to him.
“No, I am perfectly fine. I could clean, Mang Tomas.”
He shook his head, “No dear.”
We fought over the broomstick for a bit until I finally decided to let him win, only if he let me cook lunch. He agreed to it and I was back in the kitchen, looking for the ingredient and deciidng what dish to cook.
I can’t help but look at my reflection in the mirror. With the dirty apron, the coal on my cheek, the messy bun on my head, and my dirty cloth, one might think I was a slave.
And Manager Smith might have panicked now if he sees me, I chuckled at the thought.
But then again, it’s nice for a sudden change in the environment. I a right here in the province, away form the bustling streets, the busy crows, form the glamorous buildings, and the pretentious shows.
I am back here like a simple girl, the past me.
“Ellaina!”
I suddenly heard someone calling me.
“Ellaina! It’s me!”
I blinked, hearing it again. It sounded familiar….
Rushing outside, I looked at the sight of Mang Tomas driving out a familiar man.
“Are you Ellaina’s stalker? Leave or I’ll cut your throat open!” I could hear Mang Tomas threatening the poor man and I chuckled, realizing who it is.
It was Ajax.
He paused and looked at me, his eyes brighted up, “Ellaina!”
I walked towards then and raised my eyeyrbows at him, “What are you doing here?”
He breathed deeply. “Looking for you, I was looking for you evewyehe. I thought someone killed you.”
“Oh, no one is going to get killed here except you if you don’t stop pushing yourself here, boy.” Said Mang Tomas with menace in his tone.
“Drop the broomstick, Uncle. He’s someone I know.”
He scoffed, “Are you sure? This man might look handsome but he looks suspicious.”
Ajax was looking at me, and I know that he was itching to hug me.
I crossed my arms in front of me, “Why? I thought you stopped chasing me.”
“You know how I love you Ellaina. I could chase you in the whole world if I could.”
I snorted, “Fine. If you came all the way here just for me, then I’ll give you a chance to prove it to me.”
He smiled, eyes twinkling with so much hope, “Really?”
“Yes.”
I let him in the house. I wanted to see him getting tested and would be ready to sacrifice anything for me.
“See this house? You can see how we don’t have anything now. I just lost my father, Ajax.”
He gasped, “I apologize. I wish you my deep condolences.”
I just smiled bitterly. He tried to hug me but I dodged him, “Ah, no touching please.” I could see the disapoointed look on his face.
“Now here’s your place…for now before I decide to let you out.”
I let him rest in his temporary room. I even assigned Unlce Tomas to make sure he was challenged. We had our dinner after that and I introduced him to his mother and sister first.
My sister was just smiring at me, “What is your relationship with him, ate?”
Mother was raising her eyebrows, waiting for my answer.
I breathed deeply, “Well, he’s my uhm…
“Friend. And I am counting her, maam. I love her with all of my heart.” Ajax smiled at them.
I could see Elyana’s cheeks flushing red as she giggled at me while her mother just nodded.
Ajax then turned to me, winking at me as he finished his dinner.
I gave him a look that says, “We need to talk later.” and he nodded.
As soon as I let mother and sister retire to their rooms, I cleaned the tables first and saw Ajax washing the dishes.
I cleared my throat, “Let me wash it.”
He shook his head, “No, it’s fine.”
“But-”
“I wanted to stay too. You said you want to talk to me?” He raised his eyebrows at me and I nodded.
I breathed deeply, “Tell me Aajx, you saw me at my worst, and you’re willing to take me?”
He nodded, “Yes, why not? I love you.”
“But that is not enough reason for you to drop all your responsibilities there and go here in the tiny little province and let me enslave you.”
He chuckled, “Enslave me? No, you’re not, I am doing it willingly, courting you….and no one forced me here alright? IT is purely my decision. Letting you order me around is alright for me, as long as I prove my love to you. I am a slave for your love afterall.”
I rolled my eyes and instanlty, he pulled me into an embrace and looked into my eyes, “I missed you.”
“You did?” I asked.
He nodded, drawing his face closer to me as he looked at my lips, “Yes..so much that I could die.”
“No, you’re not.” I denied and I instantly felt his ahnds snaking on my arm, followed by his lips slammisng against mine.
I tried to push him away but he was stronger, and before long I felt myself melting in his touch.
The same lips I missed. The same lingering feeling.
He took my breath away and when he pulled away, I was panting.
He smirked, “I know you missed that just as I do…” He then walked away and headed to his room, “And I’ll make sure you’ll be asking me for more than that soon enough.” And with that, he closed the door behind him, leaving me dumbfounded.