Chapter 5

• "This is your quarter, Mrs. Mendeleev."
• "Ibixa. Just call me by my name. I'm not comfortable with the way you're addressing me." She halts her step and faces me with an apologetic smile. She gulps and looks at the closed door of the quarter where I will be staying until I die, I guess.
• It was such a relief for me after I heard that I'd be staying in a different room. Because, let's be honest, no decent woman in their sane mind will agree to stay in a room with a man she just met. I don't even know anything about him except for his name and that he lives here in Manila.
• "I'd love to, but I must follow every rule that your husband, Mr. Mendeleev, sets. He's very strict with rules and regulations. I don't wanna lose this job." It silences me.
• She casually walks towards the brown table on the left side of the quarter and steps away from the door. She placed the flower vase there.
• A small smile found its way back after I realized that the flower or plant? I'm not sure; that is inside of the porcelain vase, it looks like a flying hummingbird. Hedero quickly caught my attention as I heard her clear her throat. I look at her thoroughly and then keep my straight face.
• She touches a beige-colored telephone above the same table. "If you need something, call me with this. This villa is huge and spatial, we can't hear you even if you scream your lungs out," she kidded, I guess? But she didn't laugh though. Like a robot getting instructions from my new master, I nodded.
• "That frosted sliding door is the way to your walk-in closet. That French door near your bed is to the patio. The brown one is for your bathroom." All that I can do is look after all the doors she's describing.
• I crane my neck and yawn afterward. Hedero fixed her eyes on the color brown door and then directed it to me. "I'll sent someone here to serve your dinner."
• I let go of the snow globe that I took from the bedside table.
• "Here? Am I not having dinner with him?" I asked about Ender.
• She shakes her head in response. "If you don't need anything then I will go so you can rest too." Hedero bids her goodbye.
• The door closes. Now that I'm all alone. What should I do next? I look around, the lingering sadness I keep pushing away from my mind finally won. I always have this emptiness and sadness in me but as I realize now that I have no one here, this feeling intensified.
• I removed my sneakers and lay myself on the queen-size bed. This is much bigger than the one I previously owned. It's more comfy; every single thing in this Villa is the finest, but it's lifeless here.
• "Welcome to hell, Ibixa. Enjoy your stay," I murmured, then got up. My mind quietly appreciates the intricate carvings on the ceiling of the bathroom.
• With my brow creasing, I took the small remote control and placed it on the wall near the bathroom door. I pressed the red button and looked around. A gray-coloured blind near the bathtub lifts, offering me a breathtaking view.
• The blazing sun from outside is setting. What a beautiful ending. The sky's King took his rest after the long day of gleaming its rays.
• I pressed the black button from the remote control and so the blinds started to hide the glass window.
• After making sure that I lock the door of the bathroom. I took off my clothes one by one and dived into the warm and relaxing tub with bubbles. I rested my head on the side and shut my eyes closed.
• I was trying to refresh my mind and sort things out when I felt a bead of tear on my cheeks. I sniffed and wiped it away.
• I miss my Mom. I don't say it much but I can't get through a day without her. My heart will always yearn for her because she's my favorite person.
• My mind and heart started arguing after I came up with the idea of calling her with the use of the telephone. Maybe I could do that. A minute of talk will be enough. I just wanna hear her voice. I'll just let her know that I am fine, so she doesn't have to worry that much.
• My mind won. I rose to my feet and wrapped a white robe in my naked body. With trembling hands and shaking knees, I took the telephone and dialed the telephone number in our home.
• "Mommy, please."
• "Good evening, Fivel's residence---,"
• "Charry! It's me. Is my parents home? I wanna talk to Mommy—,"
• "Ender." He grabbed the telephone from my hand and threw it somewhere, which made me flinch. I took a step back and tried to run away as fast as I could.
• I remember seeing him enraged but not as furious as he is to me now. Swiftly, he managed to capture my arms.
• My face grimaces at the pain that I feel because of the pressure his hold is giving me. I couldn't help but wince.
• "I-I... E-Ender... Y-you're hurting me." His grasp on my arms became harder. Endeavor taunted me ruthlessly.
• "I'm trying my best to be nice, but you're testing my patience, Ibixa, and I don't have much," he said like a curse in between his gritted teeth.
• I looked away. His eyes are full of dark emotions, and I can't stand seeing them. My heart can't take it.
• "The next time you disobey me---," the door opened, and a lady about my age barged in.
• "Kuya!"
• "Piper America leave this room, now." My lip couldn't utter any word for help, so my eyes did. The lady stares at her brother again. She was about to say something when Ender shouted, which made her shake in fear too.
• "Sorry," she mouthed and left like how her brother wanted it.
• Ender withdrew his hold in my arms. "Expect no dinner," he hissed before he walked out.