As Zaria made her way to the kitchen, she saw the kitchen maids hurriedly working like machines. She was baffled.
It was not like that the maids slacked off usually, but it was strange today.
What was going on?
"Hey, Felicia, what's going on?" She asked another maid who she considered her friend, but Zaria's relation with her was not that strong as that of hers with Lisa as they were bosom friends.
Felicia, a sweet little girl with bright orange hair and chubby cheeks full of freckles, was seventeen years old, working as a part-time servant at Anderson's mansion to unhinged the economic burden of her parents. She was a high school student, but her hard work still could not be compared with most people. She worked hard to earn with good and fair means.
Felicia was startled to see the young miss up so close. Not that her young miss looked like a creep who was smiling so big at her, but rather she was nervous to face people from her childhood.
"Y-young miss, you should've called me. I could have come to y-you." Felicia looked down. Zaria smiled and shook her head.
Did Felicia know how adorable she looked right now? She had an obsession with cute things. How could someone of age 17 be so sweet?
"No need, Felicia. I was just asking which important guest is coming today? So much preparation has been done for that guest." Zaria looked around enviously. She was feeling jealous. Such special treatment!
Guess she was wrong considering the guest as random.
Even the kitchen seemed new. She did not need to ask about the living hall as it could be seen how the whole hall was decorated with beautiful curtains. Sofas were new. The table set was new, too. The white tiles were shimmering like diamonds.
The staircase also was polished. Just how many hours of sleep had she gotten to see this big of a difference around her surroundings?
It was four hours, or six hours, was it?
Now, Zaria wanted to know who was so important to the Anderson couple that they even changed their decoration of years for him.
"Young miss, t-that-" Felicia was cut off by Madam Anderson's arrival, Zaria's aunt, Mia Anderson.
"My dear, you're awake!" Aunt Mia looked so energetic today like she had become as young as she used to be when her son, Elian Anderson was present here with them around. She was wearing a decent and graceful light purple dress which gave her a beautiful glow.
How much time had passed since he went abroad for his studies? Zaria had heard that now he was handling the business branch of Anderson's there. His studies were almost completed, but she did not know when he would come back.
In some years, the whole business would belong to him as there were no other Anderson heirs. Elian was the sole heir.
How much he had grown up now? Was he still that playful and sweet boy of her memories who used to tease her when she wore pigtails and run away after he was done comforting her? Who would ask her to tidy up his room for him?
Aunt Mia and Uncle John teased her one time saying she looked more like a wife than a helper. At that time, even young Elian had said that anyone would be lucky to have a little wife like her.
At that time, Zaria was new to the idea of being a wife, she knew this word's meaning but she never had heard anyone saying that to her.
Only Elian said that.
Lord, she became so embarrassed that she did not let anyone see her blushing face for days, and that anyone was Elian Anderson, himself.
She did not want to be teased by that playful troublemaker anymore!
Little Zaria did not know when he came to knock on the door of her heart. From her childhood, she seemed to love only one male who was him, Elian Anderson who was six years her senior, other than her father and her uncle John.
Her father Alexander Smith and her Uncle John were the people she looked up to.
Her Elian was someone she looked forward to spending the rest of her life with. She hoped he could accept her.
Solely, these three males were the most significant in her life. The rest of them in the world was not as important or the least bit concern to her.
Zaria did not realize that she was smiling when thought about her love of life. Just the mere thought of Elian made her smile involuntarily. It happened every time.
He was always good to her, cared for her, protected her, cheered for her, and encouraged her in what she wanted to do.
Every girl wants these qualities in her knight in shining armour, and Zaria Smith was no exception.
She seemed to be awakened from her reverie when she sensed her aunt looking at her with a warm smile.
Her aunt always smiled at her and would tell her that she was as beautiful and sweet as her mother.
"You look so much beautiful, honey. May you always be happy forever." Aunt Mia squeezed Zaria's hand.
Where Aunt Mia looked so enthusiastic about work this day, she also appeared quite soft and emotional. She seemed to be wearing her emotions on sleeves today.
Zaria Smith was confused.
What was happening with everyone? Such change was making her disturbed.
Zaria offered her aunt a smile and asked, "Aunt, why everyone is working extra hard today? Is it because of that guest?" She wanted to ask who that highly valued person was.
As for him, the whole place seemed renovated. Even she, the person living in the mansion did not get such treatment like this!
Her jealousy meter was high now!
Aunt Mia did not reply but her eyes said it all.
Her eyes were twinkling with pure delight, laughter and playfulness.
Was her aunt playing with her and treating her like a child again?
'Figure it out on your own, child. You will be so much excited later than anyone.'
"How about you find that out?" With a warm pat on her head, Madam Anderson left with a smile on her face.
'Let us wait till she finds out!'
'Oh, the fun.' Zaria silently groaned.
When Aunt Mia refused to tell her anything with a smile, Zaria guessed that the person coming at the Anderson mansion was not that much of a significant figure in Mia Anderson's eyes. After all, only some people could catch her aunt's eyes. In her mind, Zaria simply just did not want to pay attention to that stranger because she was growing green with envy as she kept looking around. She could not bear anyone receiving the treatment as her. Because of that person, everyone was playing riddles with her! She hated riddles. She liked everything easygoing. That was one of the qualities of her Elian. He was easygoing, so she also loved easygoing things. Easy to have her hands-on, easy to read, easy to understand, easy to see, and easy to get along with. 'If that whosoever guest were to be a pers
She reached the man in no time. Hell hath no fury as a woman scorned. She now believed it was all true. What she felt right at this moment was like a mother whose child was being bullied by the big wicked monster! "What a daring person you are! You, strange guy, what have you done to my baby!? Don't you know you can't touch someone's possessions? I must say you dare to do this. Wait, just let me call someone here." The man was flabbergasted to see a girl dashing toward him with puffed cheeks. It was normal for him to receive proposals from the foreign girls whether the adults or younger ones when he was abroad studying and would be approached with peculiar strategies which could make any male have shivers, but this time this girl's eyes had nothing but wrath for him. He felt addled for a moment, but then he realized the little flower pot in his h
He stood there, dazed. He did not expect the spoilt girl he thought would apologize to him this easily. No girl could ask for forgiveness this easily, or admit that she was at fault. He could proudly say that he was experienced in this department. Seeing her embarrassed expression was an amusement for him. He wanted to see that more often in the future. Would that be called bullying? He realized he was still grinning. Perhaps, that was because he had come back after so many years? He shook his head and took steps near to his haven. Thousands of memories came by in his mind about this place. Nothing had changed. It was all the same. The familiar air, the familiar feeling. It was the place where he took his first steps, the place where he learnt to go to school from; th
Was he her Elian? Her Elian Anderson? Were uncle and aunt joking? She flipped her head right and left to see some kind of a hidden camera, but found none. So, it was true. It was her Elian. She was floating in the air in her mind. Now that she knew it was him, she found this man more charming than before. It would not be called cheating anymore. Because this man was her knight. Not only his face she was attracted to, but also to his aura. An easygoing, understanding, and calm aura which she adored most in people around her. All the menacing intentions she had for him, turned into a pure blissful smile, bringing the angel in her out. She still remembered how scared she was when she entered here, and how he teased her calling her a crybaby.
Madam Anderson took both her son and future daughter-in-law's hands in her own and pulled them together to sit with her on different sofas. Elian alone, and Zaria with her. As usual, her husband gladly followed her and sat on another sofa. For Zaria, it was surely awkward. How could she not feel restless when Elian Anderson was sitting right in front of her? From time to time, their eyes met and Elian would smile at her and she would avert her eyes with her scarlet hot cheeks. She still could not look at him in the eyes! Why did he get so handsome? It was his fault! Madam Anderson since forever, wanted this. She resembled an excited child who had been given candy for her accomplishment and hard work after the exams. She wanted a great result. She cleared h
When Elian just left for his room, the shyness of Zaria started to fly away. But still the thought of seeing and having Elian up so near her, her cheeks heated again, so she put her hands to cool them.Foo. Foo.You are an adult, Ria. Act like one.Excusing herself to her room, a minute passed or two, she was found squealing and jumping on the bed.Elian came back.Elian talked to her.Elian smiled at her.Elian teased her.Exhausted, she finally threw herself on her bed. She grabbed a pillow and hugged it closely to her chest, biting her lips in utter exhilaration. Her eyes, glimmering with her pure, innocent dreams and hope.She still could not believe that he was here."Don't be sad. I'll be back again to you, little lady Ria." She could hear his words in her ears.It was the time he
The faster she ran upstairs in her sandals with a tray in her hands, the more sound she produced. Now, everyone in the Anderson mansion knew she was holding a tray. Not looking into their prying eyes, she kept walking forward and forward. Knocking gently on the door, she expected Elian to be awakened by now, but who would have thought that he was still sleeping like there was no tomorrow. Oh, she forgot. He was a heavy sleeper. "Elian, are you awake?" Zaria's voice was gentle and soft as a feather. Very gentle which was a little incredulous. If someone on her campus were to watch her like this gentle, they would feel dizzy. Gentle Ria was totally different from the Indifferent Bossy Ria. Everyone remembered how she beat a boy when she was in her sixth grade and
Zaria was still in the clutches of her memories when someone broke her out from her reverie. "It's amazing, right?" A low and hoarse voice entered her ear. "Yes, it is... very amazing." She was still picturing Elian. Elian, laughing with her. Elian, smiling at her. Elian, holding her hands. Elian's face getting closer to her. But other than herself, who could talk with her in her fantasies? Hold on. The revelation dawned on her suddenly. She was crouching down on the floor, face to face to his level. Amidst lost in the memories of past, she did not even realize she was on the floor at this moment and he was leaning down. He was smiling at her with half-lidded eyes indicating that he had awoken just now.