Chapter 6: Payment and Return

Stupid, reckless, and lack of sanity.

Those words were like a cycle in my mind as the water came running all of my skin along with the moon's faint light. As bright as the night light, it was my own doom. I had to be out of my mind as soon as I dived into the unknown water without second thoughts. I was sure one had to be insane between the both of us. I wondered if it would be me who dared to save a suicidal person or a suicidal person who did not think at all while I was by his side? 

I didn't want to know the answer.

The moment I was able to grab the hem of his shirt, I dragged all his weight to the shore with my weightless arms. He was heavy, for heaven's sake, and I had no doubt my adrenaline rush made all this impossible carrying happen. This saving wouldn't even do me anything. No hero, nothing. I could have laughed at this sight if I weren't myself.

I aggressively dropped his barely breathing body into the shore with hands shaking. Anyone would shudder at this sight. For one, the only human interaction I am good at is punching hard in the face. I was aware that this was not how to handle someone on the brink of death, but I knew he would live. I was sure of it. 

I'll kill him with my own hands if he tries to die on my watch.

Now that he lay beside me, still unconscious, I immediately performed CPR to knock some consciousness off him. I wouldn't deny how he took my breath away as I stared at his pale white face in the faint moonlight. One word - beautiful. It was a once-in-a-blue-moon compliment for someone like me who rarely appreciates looks. 

I noted that he would have been perfect if only he had some decent brain cells.

Still panting from the stunt, I weakly laid down beside him as he coughed a handful of water. 

 "Y-you..." His breathing ragged like he had not believed he was still alive. 

I immediately grabbed my last pack of cigarettes in my pocket. I never forget to put one just in case everything went wrong, and luckily, it did. After realizing it was wet, I furiously threw it out in the water and closed my eyes instead. It should have been able to calm me down. 

"I know you are grateful. Shut it, mad man." I turned my head to his opposite side as I waved off what I thought was his attempt at gratitude.

"...are a piece of shit," he continued.

I froze in my seat. I was taken aback by his sudden reply; I turned to him with my raised eyebrow and a glare one would die if looks could kill. "Excuse me? What did you just say?"

"Don't make me repeat what I said," his voice was cold and outrageous. As if the person I had a conversation with a while ago was not the one in front of me.

I was about to punch the ungrateful human being in front of me if I hadn't seen his eyes full of grief and nothingness. For someone looking wealthy, it was ironic.

I withdraw my fist mid-air. I couldn't stop staring at his mussed hair, the suggestion of staring eyes, the crest-moon on his sweater. His shoulders were soaked, and the rest of his clothing water spattered from a storm that had happened just a while ago. He was fine-boned and a little fragile-looking, with blue eyes pretty enough for a man.

"Your staring does not change anything, stupid woman."

I was brought back to reality when I realized I had been looking at him for too long. Not in admiration, but the curiosity of a privileged human being I envy. 

I rolled my eyes as a reply, brushing my face hard for him to not notice the blush on my face. 

"Then what changes things, the princeling of God knows where?"

He looks at me with annoyance. "Excuse me?"

"Oh? I thought you must be some runaway prince attempting to kill yourself because you have been in an arranged marriage with a princess you don't love."

I silently laughed at my thought. Life isn't that boring if you indulge in cliche romance books you can read in an old library for free. I wasn't that lonely and deprived of reality trends. 

"You're not funny," he said like it was a matter of fact.

"Oh, I'm not known for that. Try to ask people about a stray girl who steals things in your reach. They would recognize."

I sensed his slight twitch. 

"Why did you do that?" a genuine question.

I let out a deep breath, contemplating whether I would tell it was nothing or make up an excuse. "Because you look like you need to be saved."

It was better this way, I guess. 

He stared straight into my hazel brown eyes, and I swore I could have melted into the ground for nothing. I was taken aback by the tension in his eyes when it was not the usual way people look at me when they hear a slight description of my horrific life. Not the pity, emptiness, and sympathy. Something... different. Like he was assessing what could have been broken inside of me to understand that he was, too.

"I don't need help from you."

What I thought was something has been immediately cut off because of his dominant arrogance. 

"You are very welcome, and I hope to never see and save you again." 

I stood from the ground and brushed off the dirt on my lap. I figured it was pointless to have a conversation with someone not clearly up for it, so I left. Without saying a word, I started walking away from the not-so-memorable event that happened and try to forget it since I'm so good at forgetting everything.

"You have to pay the price for saving me, Miss Swimmer."

I stopped in my tracks and gave him a confused look. Surprisingly, he showed a mischievous smile that annoyed me even more. It was maddening.

"I owe you my life, but I did not ask you to make me live."

I cursed under my breath. He can't be serious, right?

"Here's the deal. Make me want to live, and I'll give you anything worthy of my life," he made it sound convincing, and I was too caught up with what nonsense he was blurting.

"And what, you make me your wife or something? To hell with you."

"I have plenty of women for that role. I have something else in mind, but if you insist on that, I'm sure we could talk about it with a bottle of wine." He shook his head and sheepishly laughed.  

"You. Are. Impossible," I slowly emphasized each word with feelings of utter weirdness. I continued to walk on my way and never mind looking back or hearing a thing that a crazy man would say. 

And through the darkness, I didn't expect he would see it.

"Nice scar, by the way."

I stopped in my tracks and felt a surging heat on my body. I could have cussed all the bad words I knew even when I didn’t have to. I closed my eyes and remained as calm as possible.

Why did he have to notice the only thing I was so good at hiding?

“So, what’s the deal?” I arrogantly asked, confident that I would regret this one impulsive decision later. 

He smiled as I changed my mind and accepted his offer.

"Be my servant." 

I was left dumbfounded by the words he let out. Was I hearing things right? Or did he just say something out of his mind?

With a high-pitched voice, I exclaimed. "What?!"

He slowly stood up from the ground and fixed his crumpled sleeves. Though it was useless with everything wet, I realized he was now covered in dirt. 

"Why? Is something wrong with serving me?" he asked innocently, like it was an insult absolutely inappropriate for him.

Now that we are standing in front of each other, I have come to acknowledge our great indifference.

The moonlit night revealed his razor sharp nose, fixed to a broad, sparsely wrinkling emotionless face. Eyes with a grilling gaze, enough to freeze even the warmest of hearts at a glance. He stood tall, like the sarcastic monstrosity, he utters with every word he speaks. I was wearing my usual vintage 1970's shirt I stole from the old woman I owe my life for and a faded jeans that has been with me  for years. 

I shudder at the thought of existing with him under the same roof.

"Look, it's not what you think it is," he stated after noticing my long silence. 

I did not respond and let him continue what he had to say. I would be lying if I denied I wasn't too stunned to speak.

"I-I... lost one of our house maids just yesterday," his stone-cold eyes started to become soft with his voice of sadness... and what I assume grief.  "A replacement would be fine, I guess."

"I'm sorry for your... loss," I immediately said without hesitation as I stared at my feet. I couldn't manage to stare right into his eyes if he were to be this emotional. Undoubtedly, I wasn't expecting this from someone looking so vicious.

He turned his back at me to see the flowing river that almost took his life a while ago. "I'm not giving you a lot of options, honestly. Unless you're still interested in being my lover."

I take back what I said.

I rolled my eyes and gathered myself together. "Can I ask you a question?" 

"Like you aren't asking already, lady."

"Why have you decided to do that?"

It may seem like I'm crossing the line but I couldn't help myself but think about it. 

He went still but avoided looking at me. I could understand if he wouldn't answer me. Of course, it was none of my business and I shouldn't be minding it if he were to be my employer soon.

Yet, he talked.

"I haven't fulfilled my promise to her when she passed away," he muttered in a whisper while not looking at me.

I cursed under my breath at how unbelievable he was.

How come he could go through such lengths  just to vent out his frustration? It's weird enough for someone like him to be attached to a mere servant. But who was I to judge, anyway?

I shut my mouth and decided to not talk anymore.

"How about you?" he turned around to catch my eyes, this time. 

I swallowed and tried to find where my voice was. "I-I've had amnesia but I'm not telling you the whole story," I reminded. 

He smirked that I bet he used on thousands of girls to have fallen into his trap. 

"It's not like I'm so interested in you," he started to fix his hair with his wet fingers. "I'm just returning you the favor of asking since I'm a very decent human for one," feeling contented with his look, he faced me with a smile.

"You'll just do the usual chores. I wouldn't expect anything more."

I clenched my fist as I now felt annoyed by his abrupt change of character. 

What a jerk. Is this really what I'm signing up for?

He grabbed something in his pocket as I blushed in rage. "Here, this is my address," he handed me a calling card as I read the name that took my breath away. I swore I could have collapsed on the ground if it wasn't so embarrassing.

"Go there to settle what needs to be settled. I'm not really known for mistreating my employees. See you later," he winked and immediately ran in the opposite direction. 

I cannot be mistaken. There is only one Zion Hudson in the business world, the youngest billionaire among all. 

By some fate or coincidence, I just saved his life and hired to be his maid.