Chapter 4 4

Cordaphia's Point of View

(Seniorito)

I felt embarrassed as I lowered what I was holding, meeting Cobra's gaze directly. I couldn't help but look away due to the sudden shyness that enveloped me. Why did he come back?

"What are you doing?" he asked again, repeating what he said earlier.

I forced a smile as our eyes met. "I'm just checking if the stitches are neat. I think this outfit looks good..." His eyebrow quickly rose, seemingly unconvinced by my excuse.

"I forgot my watch..." he said, his face not looking right. "Can you look for it for me?"

I sighed, realizing that this might be my role for the year – babysitting the young master.

"Where is it?"

"Cabinet..." he answered seriously, lacking any joy in facing me.

Ignoring his tone, I turned away and quickly approached the cabinet. Upon opening one, there were his watches, numerous and quite expensive.

"I want the black one..." I said and paused in handling his belongings, taking the black one he desired and presenting it to him.

"Put it on me..."

My lips quivered, tempted to complain, but I refrained. No use protesting; I received an advance payment today, so I should serve Cobra properly.

I smiled as I put it on his wrist, white and smooth. Perhaps, it was well taken care of with lotion since his childhood.

"Wash my clothes after you clean my room..." he straightened his long sleeve while saying that. I nodded. It's part of my job, his personal maid, as he mentioned earlier.

I won't complain anymore because of the substantial advance payment he gave me.

"I want to see you after my office work..." he turned away. Despite his cold demeanor, I felt slightly touched. Does Cobra really want to see me after his work?

Is Cobra attracted to me?

I cleaned his room after he left completely. I brought the scattered clothes in the bathroom downstairs to wash.

I headed to the back with a large basket, catching the fairy godmother hanging clothes. Luckily, she had already done her laundry, though Cobra's clothes were still pending.

"What will you do with that?"

She looked at what I was holding. I wanted to say I would throw them away, but I hesitated. She's old, and I shouldn't act that way towards elderly figures like the fairy godmother.

"I'm washing Mr. Stevan's clothes..."

She nodded, slightly furrowing her brows before turning off the tap on the side. "I washed his clothes yesterday. Is it dirty again so soon?"

"I don't know, maybe about five times changing clothes..."

Again, he nodded, took what I was carrying, and I easily resisted.

"I'll do the laundry, grandma..."

"Mercy is my name, dear." I shyly scratched my head.

"I'll be the one to wash her clothes, Aunt Mercy."

"Do you know how to do laundry?"

"Oh, yes, even with my eyes closed!"

"How can you see dirt if your eyes are closed?"

"I'm that skilled, Aunt Mercy. So, Cobra's clothes are mine to wash."

She looked at me, puzzled. "What did you say?"

"I mean, I'll take care of his clothes since there are only a few pieces." I took the basket again, she handed it to me, and I walked easily toward the washing area.

I felt her presence not leaving my side, as if she was watching, but I paid it no attention.

"What's your name?" I looked at her after putting the clothes inside; she was waiting for my answer.

"Daphia."

"You don't seem like you're from here."

"I'm from Bicol." I looked down; there's probably nothing wrong with telling her the truth. She doesn't seem like she'll gossip to Cobra.

"I won't be surprised if Señorito liked you..."

"What do you mean?"

"He looks so much like you; he captured your face."

I couldn't understand what Aunt Mercy meant. Who looks like me?

"I think Señorito Stuart will come now; maybe he'll join us for a snack."

Her words diverted my thoughts. Stuart is coming? I don't know why I suddenly felt happy; maybe he's just that kind, that's why I'm delighted now.

"Start working so you can do what you want later." I nodded to Aunt Mercy; after she finished her work, she left her post.

I continued working alone, and some maids passing by my station almost glared at me. I have no idea what their problem is with me; maybe Aunt Mercy is the only one I can get along with here.

"Manang is looking for you, Mercy..." a maid spoke beside me; I finished my work. I was hanging my last long-sleeve shirt for the day.

"Wait, I'm almost done..."

"Tsk, you're so slow at work; you've been doing laundry since earlier!"

I wondered as I looked at her, furrowing my brow and raising my eyebrows. "How did you know it's been a while?"

"I've been passing by here, and you're not done yet!"

"At least, I finished something. What about you? You're just walking around here. Are you a supervisor?"

Her eyes widened, but I didn't back down, and I better enlarged my own. In the end, she left, doing nothing but sneering.

What does she think, that I won't fight back!

Her hair looks like a broom anyway!

You placed the basket on the side and immediately headed to the kitchen to find Mrs. Mercy. It's already three o'clock, and she's preparing snacks in the kitchen. She looked at me as I approached, my clothes slightly damp but okay.

"Do you need help?" she asked, smiling.

"I just wanted to put this in the water," I said, handing her a large plastic bag. It contains water and some colorful fish, quite cute.

"That's for Señorito Stuart. He just got home and is resting in his room."

I nodded. "Should I put this in the water?"

"Yes, please. Señorito Stevan is also there, and he might be hungry."

I glanced at Mrs. Mercy. Cobra is back home? Why wasn't I informed? I thought he wanted to see me after work.

"Go ahead and release them; Señorito Stevan might call for you."

With the bag of fish in hand, I left the kitchen, unsure where to take it. Mrs. Mercy said to release it in the water.

Where's the water here?

I headed to the living room, my eyes wandering, thinking about what Cobra might be doing. Is he really home this early? Is he excited to see me?

But why would he be excited?

He's wealthy, able to have beautiful girlfriends. Meanwhile, I'm just a maid, remembering the pleasant scent of his boxers. I'll buy that scent once I leave the mansion.

But how can I leave if he's already here?

I walked to the side and saw an exit. I smiled as the refreshing pool welcomed me. It's beautiful, though some leaves have fallen into the water. But Cobra really has a pool here. Is this where I release the fish?

Approaching, I knelt by the water, releasing the fish. Perhaps Stuart wants them to be free, enjoying the pool whenever they want.

I let the fish go, and they swam easily underwater, disappearing from my view. Lucky for them, they can swim. Even though I want to bathe, I'm not skilled at swimming. Despite being by the sea, I never learned to swim.

"You're here again!" I turned to the familiar voice, the maid with corn silk hair. She raised an eyebrow, hands posed on her waist.

"Do you need something?" I raised an eyebrow back.

"Señorito Stevan is on the stairs; he wants to see you."

I wrinkled my nose at her words. Cobra wants to see me? Is my suspicion correct that he's excited to see me?

"If you hadn't come, I'd be serving Señorito Stevan now!"

I smirked at the girl. "You can serve him if you want, but it's up to him if he desires it." I walked past her, swaying my hair to ensure it hit her.

"She's angry with me because I serve Cobra? She's just jealous!

'Where have you been?' Cobra greeted me as I saw him on the stairs, still in office attire. He would be handsome if he wasn't so grumpy.

'I washed your clothes, and Aling Mercy gave me some tasks.'

'Did you go to the pool area?' he asked again, unfriendly.

'Yes.'

'Is it clean?' I shook my head. 'There are a lot of leaves in the pool.'

'Remove the leaves and prepare a clean towel for me,' he said and walked away. I thought he wanted to see me, but he just wanted to give me orders.

I turned and went back to the pool, cleaning the leaves. I knocked on Cobra's door twice before he opened it, looking for his pants.

'I can't find my pants...' I apologized and offered to prepare his clothes. 'Next time, just call me, sir.'

'You're cleaning the pool area, and you're too slow,' he complained. He couldn't find his pants, and I found them right in front of him.

'I'm going to visit my mom today, I want a plain t-shirt and simple pants,' he said and left. I wondered who the older one is between him and Seniorito Stevan and Stuart.

I placed the clothes for Cobra, avoiding his messy room. He was still by the pool, looking at the water.

'Where's my towel?' he suddenly asked, surprising me. I handed it to him as he went into the water. Cobra behaved today; he wasn't angry."

"But one after another, he cursed as he reached his final position. From where I was sitting, I could observe the intense frown on his face.

I ran towards him, holding the towel and quickly handed it to him.

"What is that f*cking thing!" I flinched at his shout; he pointed at the water, and I had no idea what his problem was.

"W-what happened?"

"I saw a sh*t of fish, woman!" I nodded at what he said, realizing it was just fish. I thought he was pointing at something else.

"That's what I meant when Aling Mercy told me to put the fish in the water."

"What the f*ck!" I felt surprised again; he walked around in front of me before giving me a stern look.

"Remove all that fish, and refill the water again!"

"I-I don't know how to swim!"

"I want to see it cleared after a minute, Daphia!" He still had a harsh look as he left, and I was flustered because Cobra's appearance was a bit intimidating.

Even when he's angry, he's still handsome. But how do I get those fish?

My fairy godmother told me to put them in the water. Doesn't Cobra want to bond with the fish?

I closed my eyes before approaching the water. I saw the fish, so I quickly grabbed the net with a long handle. The fish were in the middle.

I moved closer to the pool, planning to catch them. Unfortunately, I slipped, and I fell into the water, deeper than my height.

I gasped for air while waving my hands. I couldn't place my feet, and I was running out of breath.

In my thoughts of drowning, I cursed Cobra several times. All because of fish, it seemed like I might die.

I was losing hope and struggling to breathe. My vision darkened as I sank into the water."