Chapter 8

Ellie's POV

We were already in the middle of a meal and I was still continuing to steal a look at him secretly. He doesn't catch me because his focus is on the food in front of him. Even with food, does he still look serious? 

He's kind when he is sleeping, that's the only time he will look kind and approachable.

"Are you done staring at me?" His previously bowed head now rises once looking at me. He filled me with sharp eyesight.

I was swallowed when my heart beats faster.

Did he know I was looking at him? How? His attention is on his food! 

"What are you saying?"

I stared at him then turned my gaze to the toasted bread I was eating. I was just eating calmly but deep inside, I was almost sweating because of the shame I was hiding.

He just smirked.

He didn't pay any attention to me anymore. Until I caught his eye but only for a moment. He no longer moves his food. I'm the only one eating here. It's just the two of us here at the long table. All the helpers are on their housework already. Keeion sent the two nurses to the living room to wait for us to finish eating.

Looks like he's done eating. While I am, I'm still enjoying my food.

I just hurried to eat so that he wouldn't give me a break. Even though he was reading the newspaper, I was still uncomfortable because of the thought that the two of us were here in the dining area.

After sipping the milk, I stared at him. I wanted to ask him something. I will take this as an opportunity to ask. There's no other person here so if ever I was ignored by him, then the shame is in myself only.

"By the way…" I started to get his attention.

I was not disappointed because he took down the newspaper he was reading. I swallowed again because our eyes met.

Why does he have this attractive face? Even though he is a snob, I still couldn't help but adore him. Just one look, you'll really stare at him. The feeling that you are scared but at the same time, you are still unable to praise his handsomeness.

“What? Will you just stare at me? ” he said while raising his thick eyebrow.

The second time, he caught me staring at him again. I was about to be stunned in embarrassment. Do I have a hobby of dropping and embarrassing myself?

I removed my gaze from its face to concentrate. I turned my gaze to the newspaper he was holding.

I sneezed. “What were you doing in my bedroom last night? I found you sleeping there. ”

He did not immediately answer. He first took his cup and then sipped it. Then he put it back on the table and that’s when he answered me. "I entered the wrong room," he said calmly.

I waited a few more seconds, pretending that his answer had a sequel but I didn't wait any longer. It has no intention of convincing me that I should believe his answer. Does he think I will immediately believe such a simple answer to it?

He entered the wrong room? That’s it?

“But it's not believable! Seriously? Why didn't you leave the room last night? Are you sure you saw me sleeping there in bed? It looks like you intentionally went straight to the sofa and just slept there,” I said.

I'm not convinced by his answer. He could have left last night, couldn't he? But he didn't. He even slept on the sofa.

"This is our own house, in the first place." His threatening voice returned. "It's my choice where I want to sleep and I also have the right to kick you out of that room last night if I want to and now, I realized that I should do that last night."

I was blown away by his answer. I regretted asking him more questions. 

And in the end, I still have nothing against it. Did I make him mad again? I'm just asking. Another thing, can’t he answer me without including what he is in this household?

“Okay, I'm just asking. You're so serious Senyorito. Even if you sleep next to me in bed, it's okay. Just don't kick me out.”

He tilted his head slightly to look me in the eye. I saw his two eyes glow and draw a stingy grin on his lips. “Really? Will you let me sleep next to you? ”

His cold voice disgusted me. It was only then that I realized what I had told him.

Bitch, Ellie! Wrong move.

I almost hugged my whole body. "Hey! What are you thinking, huh? Don’t be malicious about what I said. That's not what I want to convey.”

He laughed softly which sounded like good music to my ear. I just now saw him and heard him laugh. I can’t imagine that even his laughter was that handsome to listen to.

Almost everything in him is perfect.

“Who among us is giving malice? I said nothing else. I just asked you if you were sure you really wanted me to sleep next to you. You are the one who has a dirty mind."

My eyes widened.

I even wanted to clear my name when he preceded me to speak.

“When you're done with that, follow me outside. Don't waste my time on useless conversations.” At the same time, he stood up and passed me. 

He walked out of the dining area.

I was left alone there, annoyed.

"Don't waste my time on useless conversations, nye nye." I repeated what he said and even tried to imitate his facial expression.

I stared at my clean plate in front of me. I've run out of what I'm eating. Even my milk I drank as well.

I didn't have to call the two nurses because they entered the dining area on their own. Maybe they saw their Senyorito Keeion come out in a rage.

They immediately gave me the medicine I was taking at this time. Then they took me out to the dining area. Nurse Hans is pushing my wheelchair.

We exited the spacious living room. We got no one there. The house is spacious but there are very few people here. Couldn't this mansion be possessed by ghosts?

"Where will we go?" I asked when I noticed that we were now going out through a large wooden door.

The whole house is made of wood. It will be noted that it was inspired by houses in ancient times. The only difference is, the materials used here in the mansion are more durable. Almost all of the equipment is antique and obviously even purchased overseas. You will be really embarrassed to touch them because you're afraid to make it dirty. It is obvious that those things are very expensive.

"Senyorito Keeion is waiting for you outside," nurse Ria uttered.

My forehead wrinkled. “Huh? Why?"

They didn't answer me until we were now in front of the man who was currently sitting in a chair.

Nurse Hans adjusted my position. He put me next to the seated Keeion. He confronted me with the vast land surrounding the mansion.

Even though it was only nine o'clock in the morning, regardless of the heat coming from the sun because of the large trees lined up on the apparent road to the mansion. Trees with lush leaves serve as a cover from the sun's rays.

I can really feel the provincial life in the scene I see now.

It is nice to live in this kind of place. Away from the chaotic and noisy life in the cities. Living in the province is simple and quiet, giving peaceful life.

"Let's go." Keeion stood up from sitting.

The two nurses next to me immediately complied.

He started to walk.

We are now walking the paved road. I don't know where it's going because I can't see the end of it because it's so wide. Trees are also an obstacle to my view of the landscape.

“Every morning, take her around the whole hacienda so she can breathe fresh air. Don't let her stay in the mansion all day.”

"Yes, sir."

Even if I didn't ask, I knew I was the person they were talking about. I am the only one who is not able to travel alone because of my condition. Without the two nurses, I would probably have just been in bed all day.

We stopped at a cottage that was there. Everyone was busy with their own work but they immediately stopped what they were doing when they saw their Senyorito. Everyone greeted us good morning. I returned them with a sweet smile.

"Are you done harvesting, Manong Eduardo?" Keeion asked an old man near him.

“Our workers are moving fast, Senyorito, so tomorrow we will finish the harvest. We will also prepare the vegetables to go to Manila tomorrow.”

Keeion nodded. "It's good," he said. “Arya and Tedson will meet you in Manila. After you deliver everything, you can go home with Arya and Tedson.”

We toured the entire vegetable garden. It is rich in various types of vegetables that can be mentioned in the song bahay-kubo. The song is even more accurate in this area because the big hut is in the middle of a row of vegetables. That's what the workers' rest house looks like. The cottage had only food and drink. Everyone here will not go hungry.

Next, we visited the flower plantation. There are all kinds of flowers there. Most are roses of various colors. It's amazing because they are able to liven up the variety of flowers here even though the climate is a bit hot.

Obviously they really take care of them because the others are still inside the virtual box made of glass. There are people assigned to each type of flower. They seem to be experts at what they do.

I can't understand the comfortable emotion I feel from what I see now. I can’t explain why I seem to have a connection to the flower plantation. It seems like it’s been a while since I’ve seen it and I feel like I had a fun experience with it. But that was impossible because I had only just seen it now.

“Ellie…” Keeion mentioned my name.

He stopped walking so nurses Hans and Ria also stopped us.

"W-What?"

I didn’t hear very well what it said. I only heard my name because my whole attention was all around, on the colorful flowers planted here.

“As I said, I want you to be my personal assistant here at the hacienda once you recover. This flower plantation I want to hold on to you. Arya is with you in managing every plantation here so no worries, she will guide you.”

Seriously? I'm not well yet but he has an order right away. But it's okay. I am happy that this plantation is the one I will handle.

I just wonder, why of the many things I can manage, the plantation of flowers is the one he chose?

"I want you to manage this plantation because you really love flowers, especially the white rose."

After mentioning this, he glanced at me with a frequent smile that made my heart beat faster.

How did he know?