I anxiously waited for Rozzean's response. He still had a stern look on his face. I am fckng scared and nervous. When I glanced at Manang, hoping for some help, she came closer and held my hand. Oh, Manang!
Then I turned my gaze back to Rozzean.
"S-Sir... i-is it... a-ahm, d-does it hurt?"
He didn't answer. But of course it hurts! it bleed! He turned away from me, but he hadn't gone far or started up the stairs yet when I heard his loud scream.
"In my room, Tali!"
Holysht. I am dead. Is he gonna kill me? what is he going to do? hang me on the ceiling?
I gasped and looked at Manang. I held her by the shoulders, and my eyes were filled with emotion. My heart was beating really fast. I didn't know what Rozzean would do to me, but I was sure it was the end for me.
I think I might get kicked out.
"Manang, I think this is my last day in this house. We need to say goodbye to each other," I told Manang Selya. I felt the weight of my words due to the nervousness I was feeling.
I'm sure Rozzean won't let what I did to him slide. His maid even threw a shoe at him, and his forehead started bleeding. Who would let it pass?
"No, dear. Don't say that. Just try talking to sir. Who knows, he might forgive you? Besides, no one else is applying to work for him again, so you can't just leave this house right now. He'll also have a hard time without you, I noticed how he's being comfortable with you."
Okay, Manang is on my side. but I hope Rozzean would be easy on me!
"Thank you so much, Manang."
"But why did you do that, anyway? What came over you? He's our boss, after all. He's not a thief. And thieves can't easily get into this house with all the guards outside."
It would be embarrassing if I told Manang that I had a wet dream with our boss and imagined Rozzean nearby, seducing me. She might not support me anymore if she found out. She might think I have feelings for Rozzean and fantasize about our boss.
"M-My vision just got blurry, Manang. And I think I got carried away with the novel I was reading. Our boss is annoying s-sometimes for me, and I was shocked by his sudden arrival t-that's why," I said.
Sorry, Manang, I lied.
"Oh, is that so? Alright, Tali, if sir decides to let kick you out, I'll try totalk to him. Maybe I can convince him to keep you and give you a second chance. The truth is, you've been the only big help in this house since sir moved here. You quickly learned everything about the house. You're good at cleaning, doing the laundry, and you're a great cook too."
"I didn't really expect Sir to eat here all the time. He often dines out, especially for dinner but he changed when he tasted the food you cooked," Manang explained.
Oh... really?
My heart suddenly beat faster. I felt a strange feeling when I heard what Manang said. If that's the case, maybe, just maybe, Rozzean will give me a second chance. But before that happens, I'm afraid he might give me a lecture.
"Sir still looks like he's gonna hit me when he's angry. I'm really scared, Manang," I said.
Suddenly, I remembered my dream. He literally devoured. Oh gosh, I bit my lips hard. I might not see the same Rozzean later. It's as if I don't want to go up to his room now.
"What are you thinking? Don't think like that. Our boss doesn't harm his misbehaving maids. She'll just talk to you about what you did," Manang replied.
That's not what I meant, Manang, hehe.
"Alright, Manang. If I can't fix it, I'll--
"Tali, are you coming to my room, or are you going straight to your quarters to pack your things?"
I looked up in surprise when I heard Sir's voice. Damn, where is that coming from? His voice echoed throughout the entire house. What the hell?
When I glanced at Manang, I saw her pointing upward. It was only then that I noticed the speakers up there. Darn it. My fear grew even more when I heard Rozzean's tone and what he said. Lord, am I going to be kicked out now? I've been here for less than half a month.
"Come on, dear! Go on!" Manang urged me.
I frowned and pouted, turning away from her. I looked back at her and made a pleading expression. She gestured for me to hurry upstairs because our boss was already angry. So I didn't just walk; I ran towards Rozzean's room.
If I were to be fired, as I feared, I could always come up with an excuse. Plus, I had Manang on my side. It seemed like she had the power to talk to Rozzean and change his mind. Manang also mentioned that this house couldn't afford to lose a helper right now because no one had applied yet. And I think I already convinced Rozzean that he is not my type. That's a plus point because he don't accept flirty helpers who entered his house to be his btch but not a maid.
Moreover, it turned out that I was the only normal here except for Manang of course.
Normal? I just throw my shoes on him--my boss!
I felt like slapping myself.
Is it really a sign of being a responsible person to answer back to your boss? And now, to throw a shoe at him and hit him on the forehead? You're really disgraceful, Thaliana Tangi.
This is what my dad and my siblings used to tell me. My tendency to be aggressive. Back then, when I got annoyed and frustrated, I would throw whatever I could find at my older brothers. Being the only girl, I was often their target.
I didn't know how many times I took a deep breath before reaching Rozzean's door. I raised my hand, about to knock, but I took another deep breath first.
"I am ready to face the monster," I whispered.
I knocked three times.
"S-Sir?"
"Come in," he said in a cold tone.
I gulped and turned the doorknob. I entered with my head down and didn't lift my gaze. Of course, I was nervous, and I didn't have the courage to look at him. I was also embarrassed about what I had done. Damn this is my imagination's fault.
"Look at me and tell me why you threw your shoes at me, Tali."
I winced and slowly lifted my face. When I saw him, there was still a trace of blood on his forehead. I suddenly felt a sense of guilt when I saw his wound. I had hurt him, and what I did was wrong. That's why he's angry now, because of my misbehavior.
Any employer, if thrown at with a shoe by their maid, might retaliate and fired them with no question or explanation.
"I'm sorry, s-sir," I said and bowed my head again. "I'm s-sorry, sir."
"I don't feel sincerity in your words. You're asking for forgiveness, but you won't even look at me?" he asked.
I feel bad. I really do. This feeling right now isn't just about the fear of being fired. I hurt him, and I must be held accountable for my actions. If he decides to fire me, maybe I shouldn't resist it. Because in my emotional state, I might hurt him again in the future. I don't want that to happen, though.
I raised my gaze to him, removed my glasses, wiped the tears from my eyes and both cheeks. Why the hell am I doing right now in front of him? I'm the one who hurt him, and now, I'm the one crying.
"I-I'm sorry, sir. My emotions got the best of me... I really didn't mean to h-hurt you."
I genuinely thought it was just my imagination; I didn't expect it to be real.
I just looked at him, waiting for his anger and for him to fire me. But he didn't say anything; he just sighed.
"Get the first aid kit from the drawer nearby, then come over and treat what you did."
My lips parted in surprise when I heard what he said. I was shocked. I didn't expect that response.
Is that it? Is he not going to fire me?
"Tali, did you hear what I said?"
I immediately complied, as he instructed. I got the first aid kit from the drawer beside me, but I hesitated to approach him. Is he for real? just this after what I did to him?
"Tali."
I saw the seriousness on Rozzean's face. I slowly approached him. When I was right in front of him, he moved to the long sofa. He sat there with his arms crossed, looking at me as I stood in front of him.
"You won't clean this up if you just stand there holding the first aid kit," he said, pointing at his wound.
I felt guilty for what I had done, and I didn't expect his response. I really thought I would be fired. That's what he should have done because of what I did. But here he was, instructing me to treat the wound that I caused.
I sat down beside him as he wanted. I placed the first aid kit on the table in front of us and opened it. I got some betadine, a gauze pad, cotton, and alcohol. When I looked at Rozzean, he leaned in closer to me. Because he was taller, he had to bend slightly for me to reach his forehead.
This is... unexpected.
"S-sir," I said, gently applying betadine to his forehead. He had his eyes closed while I did that. I could see the length of his eyelashes. I could clearly see his face and I didn't even realize I was holding my breath!
"Hmm?"
"I-I thought you'd fire me. I should be kicked out because of what I did."
I looked into his eyes, and he suddenly opened them that made me stilled. Darn. He is so close and his eyes went straight to meet mine.
"I need a maid, Tali."
My heart started beating faster. I couldn't handle the way he was looking at me, so I looked away. I put down the cotton with betadine and quickly picked up the alcohol.
"But even so, what I did was wrong. You are my boss, and I hurt you. Any boss would get angry and fire me for this."
As I was about to dab the cotton on his forehead, he spoke. His eyes were serious as they looked at me.
"I make decisions differently from them. So don't compare how I run things here to how others do it."
Before I could respond, he added, leaving me stunned by his final words.
"I need you in my house."