The Day He Matured

“I won’t bother you two anymore. Please allow me to leave first.”

Richard smiled lightly and quickly passed us. I could feel the sadness on his handsome face. As for Brian, he went back to his old place, sat down, and continued to finish his meal.

Leaving the restaurant, Brian drove me to the gate of the villa. During the time just now, he didn’t say anything, making me assume that he didn’t care that I knew Richard.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

But when I was just about to open the car door to get out, he grabbed my hand and pulled me back.

“How did you get to know Richard? From when?”

His voice was serious, his eyes slowly moving from the road in front of him to me. Apparently, I was constantly misreading this man’s mind.

Brian’s mood is not good, so I don’t want to talk nonsense to make him angry, so I only say what needs to be said, just enough to explain the relationship between me and the director of MK company.

“Is it just that?” Brian asked when he heard me say that Richard used to be an upperclassman and we happened to meet again at Mango Tree Bangkok Eatery.

“Right.” I nodded, confirming.

“Go inside the house. Whatever your doctor tells you to abstain, you should not eat. The disease comes from the mouth.”

He stopped looking at me and continued to stare at the text messages that had just been sent to his phone.

I nodded even though I knew he couldn’t see and got out of the car and headed for the gate.

It wasn’t until I heard the smooth sound of the engine go by that I turned my head to watch. I guess he’ll go back to the bank.

I was so tired that I went to my room, set the alarm, and fell on the bed, and fell into a deep sleep.

At four o’clock in the afternoon, I was startled awake. Looking out the window, I was startled because I realized it was already late afternoon.

My poor phone still hasn’t been repaired so sometimes it rings, sometimes it doesn’t so I don’t hear the alarm and just keep sleeping.

I quickly ran out of the room, sweeping, mopping, sweeping the yard, and then going to the kitchen to cook, and then take a shower.

When everything was done, I looked at the clock and I felt like I was Superman, faster than I could have imagined, it was only 5:30 in the afternoon.

Mrs. Alina and Brian returned in turn. Every day, he came home earlier than his mother, but today, he returned fifteen minutes later than her. Both of their faces showed a tired look after a busy day of making money.

I feel that they have to work harder than a maid like me. However, they see the way in the future, but I don’t see anything, I do not know where I will go after the end of the ten-year contract.

I can’t be a maid forever. And maybe in less than ten years, I had to leave here. If Brian gets married to Hellen, she’ll probably talk to Mrs. Alina to let me quit my job.

Brian is Alina’s only son, so he could not leave his mother and move out to live with his wife.

“These days, Bella eats too little. Much less than usual. Aren’t you well?” Mrs. Alina asked when she saw me put down my chopsticks and was about to stand up.

“Yes, I guess it’s because I often eat snacks in the afternoon, so…” I quickly lied because I didn’t want the mistress to know that I was sick.

“Just like children, you have to eat rice and then eat snacks.” Mrs. Alina frowned, but her mouth was smiling brightly.

As usual, I took out some fruit from the fridge, washed it, and put it on a plate.

The meal of the rich is very formal. In the past, although my family was also well off, after eating the meal, there was no dessert. If someone in the family likes to eat, they can take their own fruit and sweets to eat.

My family does not hire a maid, my mother and I work together and then I will study, and she continues the unfinished work at the company, and so on until the fateful wind makes me lose my parents forever.

After cleaning things up, I went to Mrs. Alina’s room and helped her with a shoulder and neck massage.

To be honest, when I saw her happily chatting and caring about Hellen, I was jealous of the supermodel, I did not expect that I was so selfish.

“Poor Brian, it’s the end of the year and he can’t even be happy to prepare for the New Year.” She suddenly sighed and said while her eyes were still closed.

“What’s wrong with his job?” I asked bewildered.

“Don’t you read the newspaper? Sunshine Bank is in a mess these days.”

She asked me, making me feel uneasy. The truth is that I was lazy to surf the net after my phone screen cracked.

I just surfed the internet this morning because I was looking for a hospital. Suddenly I feel like a heartless person.

“Hana Corporation got into some controversies. Although the group’s headquarters in the US is trying to fix it and Sunshine Bank also held a press conference to reassure customers, they still rushed to withdraw money.”

My hand rested on her shoulder for a long moment before continuing. No wonder Brian was beside me for a few hours, I saw him constantly frowning and wincing every time he looked at his phone.

He’s in big trouble and still makes time for me. He’s hard to understand.

Leaving the mistress’s room, I trudged forward in contemplation. In the dim light emanating from the yellow electric bulbs along the corridor, I leaned against the wall, reading the news about Sunshine Bank.

The sight of people crammed in front of the bank’s branches and headquarters gave me shivers. If I were him, I’d have a mental breakdown.

When the clock struck ten o’clock, I made a glass of milk and brought the cakes to him as usual.

I suddenly thought and wondered if he was fed up with these cakes.

Three years, almost three years to be exact, I didn’t change the dish for him, and he did not ask for anything, still ate all the cake and drank the whole glass of milk.

Suddenly, I wanted to bring them down, but after a long delay, I decided to push the door in.

“You eat late at night and then continue to work.”

I put them on the table and glanced at the handsome face that was staring at the jumble of documents.

It could also be that Brian is approving them in sequence but because I don’t understand anything, I feel like he is messing them up.

“Uh. Leave it there, I’ll eat it later.”

Looking out the window, feeling the cold wind blowing in, I immediately went over and closed the window. When I turned my head and looked at his back, I suddenly felt pity.

Because I couldn’t bear to leave him alone, I took a small chair and sat right next to him, staring at him with wide eyes.

“What’s up? Why don’t you go back to your bedroom?” Brian turned to me in surprise and asked.

“Bank… ah… I mean… will everything be okay? I saw the news in the newspaper…”

“All will be fine. What do you read the newspaper for while the chairman of Sunshine Bank is sitting here? They will hype and exaggerate.”

His face and his calm voice reassured me. This is called the bravery of a leader, right?

He reminds me of the woman in the village that year. She was insolvent, but because of her sober face and convincing words, people believed her and eagerly enrolled to participate in a tontine.

As a result, she disappeared, leaving no trace.

That’s when people panicked and found out that half of the people who joined a tontine but were always absent were fake names. All those people were fabricated by her to withdraw money in their name.

“Brian, please make fun of me.” I looked him straight in the eye and suggested.

“What’s wrong with you? Stomach affects nerves?” Brian showed a surprised expression.

“Ah… didn’t you say you were happy when you made fun of me? Today, I allow you to tease me and say crap, I won’t answer and I won’t be angry.”

“Then nothing interesting.”

He burst out laughing, making me laugh too. That’s right, it wouldn’t be interesting if he already knew.

Well, he’s smiling anyway, maybe this fleeting smile will lighten his mood a bit.

“Can you allow me to lean on you for a moment? I needed a shoulder.” Brian suddenly stood up and spoke when I was just on tiptoe.

I could see that there was no lust in his eyes. If it was before, I would probably glare at him and run back to my room, but at this moment, I can’t do that.

He is facing heavy pressure and moreover, he took the time to take care of me today. I would agree as a way to repay his kindness.

“Okay.”

With my permission, Brian gradually stepped forward, his steady arms quickly wrapped around me and hugged me tightly. This is a hug, right? It’s not like he’s borrowing my shoulder.

Never mind, we’re both standing, he’s tall and I’m short, how can he lean on my shoulder?

I don’t give a damn about him, it’s just a hug anyway, I didn’t lose a single piece of skin or meat.

My favorite mint scent enveloped me, his warmth slowly spreading to me.

I don’t know if I’m crazy but I feel so comfortable and want to be held by him like this forever.

I raised my arms, intending to hug his back to comfort him but then stopped. I’m still not brave enough.

“Has your leg healed yet?” I asked softly.

“It’s about to heal.”

After answering, Brian’s arms tightened, making my body close to him. I can hear his heart pounding in his chest, through his white Gucci T-shirt.

He lowers his head slightly and his masculine breath blows into my ear, making me immobilized. This feeling is so strange.