Chapter 8: CHAPTER EIGHT

TWO DAYS had passed since Sapphire and Hapi made a deal. She waited for his orders, but there was none. She called Hapi yesterday, asking if there is something that he wanted. But he just hung up on her and told her through a text message that he was busy. Sapphire suddenly found it boring. She thought if she became Hapi’s slave, she would have the chance to be with him. So much for her fantasy.

But then, Sapphire knew that she must do something. She may be dreaming of being close to Hapi, but she still has a debt to pay. Whether Hapi needs her or not, she went to his house. It was Sunday that morning, she was sure that he was home because there were no classes.

Sapphire rang his doorbell confidently. It took him a couple of minutes before he could open the gate for him. And God, she almost melted when a half-naked Hapi greeted her. He was only wearing pink boxer shorts. His hair was a mess, but it only added some points to his sexy aura.

Hotness overload!

“G-good morning.” She did not even know why she had to stutter. Was she that weak?

“Good morning to you too, Sapphire,” Hapi greeted back. He yawned and brushed his eyes with his hand. “It’s only six in the morning. What are you doing here?”

“Six in the morning is already late in my clock. Why ask me what I am doing here? Did you forget that I am your slave? I came here to serve you.” Sapphire even made a curtsy in front of him.

He laughed at that. She pushed him to the side so that she could pass.

“I usually leave the bed late when it’s Sunday. This is the only day that I am free.” He closed the gate and ushered her inside his house.

“Then you should have stayed your bed.”

“If I did that, who would open the gate for you?” Hapi laughed.

“Go ahead and go back to sleep,” she told him with a smile.

Sapphire’s eyes roamed around the house. Aside from the essential furniture, there was nothing but his massive collection of anime figures and a glass cabinet, where he kept his medals and trophies. But she could not help but wonder why there was no picture of him or his family in his house?

“Hapi—” But there was no Hapi beside her anymore. “Ah, I should start working now.”

HIS HAND reached for his phone on the bedside table and checked the time. It was already past twelve in the afternoon. Hapi still wants to stay in bed, but then he remembered that Sapphire was downstairs.

He left the bed and fixed himself before heading down to see Sapphire.

“Sapphire!” he called as he went down the staircase.

But Hapi did not get any response from her.

He looked for Sapphire around the house, but he could not find her. However, Hapi was sure that she hadn’t left yet because he saw the stove open when he went to the kitchen.

Then he heard a singing voice coming from the laundry area.

“I can’t see me loving nobody but you for all my life. When you’re with me, baby, the skies would be blue for all my life…Me and you, and you and me, no matter how they tossed the dice, it had to be…The only one for me is you and you for me…So happy together…”

His feet seemed to have their own mind; they instantly went to the laundry area. He found Sapphire singing as she hanged the clothes to dry.

“You sing really well,” he complimented as he leaned to the door frame.

Sapphire flinched, and the pail she was holding fell on the floor.

“Gosh, you startled me!” she yelled at him. Sapphire picked the pail and pretended to hit him with that.

“Whoa!” He ducked and laughed.

She put the pail back in its place and headed to the kitchen. Hapi followed.

He found it fascinating how Sapphire moved on his house as if she had been there for a long time.

Sapphire opened the casserole and mixed whatever she was cooking. His stomach rumbled when he smelled its delicious scent. So, he walked and stood behind her, peeking. Sapphire must have noticed his presence. She turned to him with a knotted forehead.

But he was not prepared for her sudden attack. Sapphire hit his forehead with the hot ladle.

“Aww! Why did you do that?” He caressed his forehead. “That ladle was hot. What will you do if it burned my skin?”

“Why are you standing behind me?” she countered.

“What’s wrong with that?” He scratched the side of his neck. “Why are you suddenly acting weird?”

She narrowed her eyes on him.

“You—”

“Wait a minute,” he cut her sentence. “Why are you acting that way towards your master?” Hapi crossed his arms above his chest and stared at her with an arched brow.

Sapphire opened her mouth and closed it again. It looked like she decided to keep it to herself.

“Sapphire, are you mad at me?”

She just shook her head and pointed at the table.

“I’ll prepare for your lunch.”

Hapi did what he was told and watched Sapphire as she prepares his lunch. But he could not take the sudden silence between them. He had to break it.

“How’s your mother, Sapphire?”

She filled his plate with rice. “She’s doing fine now.”

Sapphire sat across him and helped herself with the food. He watched her eat with so much gusto. She was far from her cousins Ruby and Amethyst. Maybe because she grew up far from the Laurels. She may not be classy, but her casualness made her looked charming in his eyes.

“Sapphire, do you have a boyfriend?” he asked.

She halted from eating and gaped at him.

“W-why? I-I don’t have one.” She swallowed her food and took a gulp of water.

“Have you ever had one?” Hapi cocked his head.

“Never. Boys ignore girls like me. As you can see, I am mediocre—”

“You’re beautiful, Sapphire. And I think I like you.”

Her eyes widened, and her cheeks blushed.