[13] Vandalism rather than cleaning

Maze changed into a cleaning suit and prepared to clean her house. She felt a slap of humiliation by the thought that it was already a year since she last cleaned her own house. 

She sighed heavily. Even before starting she commenced to feel exhausted. 

She picked up a mopper and began to sweep the floor very slowly like an old woman. 

Imogen was interestingly following her every move wondering about 'how can a young and enthusiastic girl like her be this lazy'. He couldn't stop himself from gawking at her.

Somehow she finished sweeping the floor and brought a bucket filled with water and a mopping cloth. She took a piece of dry cloth and handed it to Imogen who was busy watching her.

Seeing the cloth, being confused he narrowed his eyes at Maze, "What?!" 

"You...Go over there and start cleaning" she ordered pointing towards the bookshelf and started to soak the cloth in the bucket.

"Why?! How?!" He almost raised his voice but not in anger. It was due to pure trauma by the way of her treating him. This was the first time someone dared to order him. But anyhow it didn't feel bad to him. 

She caught his dilemma," Humm... We both are going to live under the same roof from now on. So we should take part together in every task starting from cooking to cleaning, laundering to gardening" She scratched the back of her neck trying to persuade him. But his tranquil expression was tough for her to decipher.

Assuming she may not have been able to convince him yet, she continued with her preachings, " Hey, Come on... Clean there... Hurry up before I smack your head... We yet have other things to clean. Just wipe the dust off from each object and book and rearrange them on the shelf" She asked in a somewhat uncertain tone showing her both thumb, "Okay?!"

He didn't answer but quietly picked up the cloth piece and moved towards the shelf. 

She sighed in relief holding her chest and started to mop the floor. After working about 

In about four hours of long work, they were able to clean the whole house, after smashing various things at the speed of the terrible storm and shedding countless sweat. The way they cleaned looked like they were competing for vandalism rather than cleaning.

Both of them were too tired to even move. 

When the work was finished, she lay down on the ground with her arms and legs spread as far as possible like a bird, letting out a loud contented moan, "Ummmm Ahhhh"

 Imogen sat on a couch beside her staring at her with wonder. 

She noticed his gawking and shifted her neck towards him, "What?! You too lay down. Come on... You worked hard too. This will release your muscle pain. See stretch like me" She gave him another demonstration of body stretching, spreading her arms and legs farther away from one another and groan in satisfaction, "Ummmmm" 

 He inclined beside her on the ground like an innocent child and did as per her instruction. He too let out a contented moan, "Ummmmmmm"

 "See, Isn't it refreshing?!" Maze asked with a smiling face

 Imogen nodded in agreement while a subtle smile bloomed at the corner of his slightly raised lips. 

This was the first time he was doing all these ridiculous things. Though it sounded absurd yet it was trailing in his mind stuffing him with pure gratification. 

He too was stunned by his behavior. He actually did what she was directing him to do. 

Staring at her ear to ear reaching beaming face, he felt contented somewhere deep in his mind. He thought there was nothing left in him called "HEART". But the warmth of her smile was reaching his soul breaking the rock border encompassing it. He didn't realize he was staring at her for too long, and when she fell asleep.

Unintentionally the corner of his lips curved up forming a tiny smile that wasn't ready to vanish. He touched the corner of his smiling lips in surprise at his own behavior and looked back at the asleep girl in front of him. 

He forgot when was the last time he smiled, yet this girl has made the impossible possible. Though it was involuntary yet she was the reason behind it.

It was almost afternoon, and the growl of her abdomen reminded him that both of them haven't had their lunch yet. She was mumbling something squeezing her face and grasping her grumbling stomach.

"Ummm I want chicken" She was whimpering in sleep.

He jeered at her whining "Maybe she is dreaming of having something delicious in her dream" But in reality, he was envying seeing her having a sound dream. 

He never dreamed of anything better. Whenever he dreamed, the horrible past of his life floated before his eyes. 

As if the dream was a means to go back to his past. The dream was a mirror of going back to his past which he hates the most. For this reason, many nights he had to pass without even having an ounce of sleep.

But a normal lowly girl like her is having a cheerful life, scar free dream which forced him to begrudge her more. Her stomach again growls which evoked the bizarre taste of the food she cooked in the morning. Her cooking really sucks.

Unbeknownst to him, he gave a small smile again which surprised him again. 

He hurriedly moved away from her perhaps she turned him into something which he didn't wish to be. He hated girls. His past experience with girls was something he despises the most. They are money-sucking bitch. Yet she was something else. 

Whatever it was he doesn't wish to think about it anymore. 

He entered the kitchen intending to prepare something better than her tasteless invented recipe.

He rummaged throughout the refrigerator and brought out all the ingredients planning to cook a feast. 

Soon one more hour passed and his cooking was almost done. Meanwhile, she woke up rubbing the sleep off her eyes. She scratched her head and looked around but nowhere did she see her unwanted guest.

"What the hell !! Where did he go now?!" She mumbled and get up from the ground. 

Slowly the whole day passed, after completing everything she was too tired. But she had to cook the meal for dinner. As she moved downstairs a sweet delightful scent hit her nostrils. The sweet aroma was making her mouth watery.

 As she followed the trails of the aroma her eyes wide opened.

The small white table was full of delicious food items, starring from Sweet sour ribbed pork, pasta, flatbread, and salad. It smelt yummy.

Her forced guest at last did something good. She got happy as really she likes to eat. It was like a blessing for her...

She couldn’t help but let her nose feel the delicious aroma of this palatable food.

“Come Tinker bell, eat” Imogen called her as soon as he noticed her to stare at the food like a greedy kid salivating over the neighbor's feast.

She hurriedly sat across the table to taste that yummy food.

As soon as she reached out for the dish of Sweet sour ribbed pork, Imogen gently flogged her hand with a wooden spatula.

She looked at him confusedly grimacing her face with irritation.

Imogen queried her creasing his nose in disgust, “Did you wash your hands?” She lowered her eyes in humiliation affirming, 'NO'. 

"Go wash it." He ordered her raising his voice.

Despite being unwilling, Maze got up from her chair and moved towards the washbasin.

 Imogen followed her as he suspected she might not clean her hands. He stood beside her and made her properly washed her hand under his strict observation.

Finally, when he got satisfied with her hand being cleaned, he let her touch the food.

Coincidently even Ryan does the same thing to her whenever she tried to eat anything without washing her hands.

‘They have one thing in similar..’ She thought to herself. And she now hates Imogen for this reason as well.

While eating she managed to persuade him to let her continue to go to her work. But he warned her not to do anything foolish, otherwise, she would have to pay for it.

After finishing eating, Imogen helped her to do the dishes.

His few behaviors were an exact copy of Ryan. Though she was comparing them but in reality, she was missing Ryan.

As she was heading upstairs, to her surprise behind her Imogen was walking upstairs too.

“Where do you think you are going?” she asked him being inquisitive.

“To my room,” he replied nonchalantly.

“But the guest room is downstairs,” she said confusedly.

“I know,” He responded narrowing his eyes into a slit. 

He shoved her lightly with his shoulder and made his way towards her bedroom.

“AAAARGHHH” she gave a light scream in frustration as she already understood she has to stay in the guest room. That too in her own freaking house. Now in her own house, she has to stay in the guestroom…

’Why god?!’ A storm of anger and frustration was running inside her.

“Calm down Maze. Don’t be angry. He would leave soon" She comforted herself through her dramatical sobbing voice. 

"Besides he is the mafia leader. If you try to scold him he will directly cut off your lifeline and bury you somewhere without letting anyone know…” She murmured to herself and took a few deep breaths to release her anguish.

She went to the guest room and laid on the hard bed there. The bed was hard as a rock. Now she took back her word.

This man is far away from Ryan. "Why the hell did I compare them?! What's wrong with me?!" She cursed herself rolling on her stone-like bed.

 "He would have never let her sleep on the hard bed like this." She whined like a puppy.

“Ryan where are you? I miss you” She sighed reviving her bestie. she tried to sleep and eventually fall asleep.

She couldn't sleep well because of the solid bed and ended up waking late. Large shopping bags like dark circles were popped up under her eyes. Now she has to use concealer to hide those shopping bags under her eyes.

As she got downstairs she got puzzled.

To her surprise, Imogen again prepared the meal, he actually did lessen her task. she looked at the scary man out of gratitude, he was looking more charming in his morning messy hair.

Her cheek heated up as she was caught on the act while staring at him more than usual. She felt ashamed and without talking much she had her breakfast and left for work.