The Princess’s Affection

Chapter Two

I woke up quite late this morning and had to get to work without tidying up my home, as I was already too late and not ready to get my salary deducted for lateness. I left my home and entered the first available cab to my workplace. When I reached, I paid the driver, got down, and left the cab, walking into the restaurant.

When I got in, I changed my outfits to work clothes given to me by my boss. After I changed, I began cleaning the restaurant and helped the others prepare the dishes needed to be served to the customers that would come and eat.

Our first customer came in, and from then on, we had a hectic day, and it was busier than usual compared to the rest of the days we worked there. Some days were busier than others. And today was one of those days that was very busy and tiring.

Luckily, my boss didn't come to work today, and I was kind of happy that she didn't because if she had. Mary was really going to be in serious trouble today for coming so late than usual. But luck shined on her today, and she wasn't caught.

When we were done with work, we began cleaning up the kitchen and where we served our customers. We parked up the chairs and tables we used and closed up the place before exiting our various homes.

I walked out into the alley and found a young lady stranded on the streets as it rained like cats and dogs. Luckily, for me, I always come prepared with my raincoat and umbrella in case of an emergency like today's rain that fell unexpectedly.

I saw the way people walked past her when I wanted to leave her. My conscience didn't allow me to do anything but help the lady who needed help. So I walked to where she was and asked her,

Why are you here, and what happened to you? Don't you know that this alley is known for violence, and those who are strong-willed can withstand it? Do you have anyone you can call?

So, I carefully bent down and looked at her. But what took me by surprise was her beauty, and she looked fierce when she looked at me. I took her before she got to protest and ordered a cab straight to my apartment for her to stay before I decided to look for where she stayed.

The cab stopped a few metres away from where I stayed. So, I strolled down to where my apartment was located with the lady, and I found out that her name was Princess. I took Princess to my apartment.

Welcome to my little self-con apartment, and I hope you like it. I walked to where I kept my clothes and gave her a towel to use, changing her wet clothes to the clean ones that I had given her.

I quickly went to the kitchen to warm the food that my friend had given me for dinner and served it before she had come out of the bathroom. When she came with the changed clothes, I asked her to come eat some food that I had warmed.

She looked at me with those same fierce eyes and said, Why would you offer a stranger food and aid when you don't know them?

Because in this life, one helps and does a good deed. Such would happen to the person when he or she doesn't plan for it, I said to her.

Eat before your food gets cold. while I finish mine and rush to the toilet and have my bath, I said to her.

Why don't yours have any meat, and why would you give me so much meat when I don't deserve it? she asked me.

Hahaha, I laughed out loud and told her that when my mother was still healthy, she taught me how to be kind to visitors who visited me. You don't eat the meat that you have when you have a guest in your house, and that would seem like you're a selfish person.

Okay, if you say so, but you have to take one meat from mine before I can eat any meal you have served me. When I deliberately refused to eat, with her much persuasion, I couldn't resist but take it.

Fine, I said, and I took the meat from her plate and ate it. She smiled and began eating the meal that I had served her. I left her and went to the bathroom to clean myself up, and when I was done, I came to where she was and began asking and talking to her to get more information about her.

Hey, I don't want to seem intrusive, but what happened to you? I asked her.

I was robbed by some men and got stranded as I didn't know where or who to ask for help, she said.

Oh, sorry, but by tomorrow, you can find someone you know to help you out. I am really sorry that I didn't help you as of now; my phone is dead and there isn't as much light as you can see.

I hope you are able to sleep here tonight, and maybe when I get back from work, we could go look for your family if you want me to help with that.

Still looking at me, she didn't say anything to me, and she then asked me about myself, and I began telling her everything about my situation with myself and my family. She didn't say anything to me but listened as I talked about everything.

I was really grateful that she wasn't sympathising with me like people who knew about my situation, and I was happy that I wasn't pitied by her. When we talked about everything and got to know certain things about each other, I cleaned her plates while I asked her to sleep in my room.

When she came to my room, I decided to sleep on the floor with my mat. But she blatantly refused and asked me to sleep on the bed with her. So, I grudgingly stayed on the bed and slept immediately due to how fatigued I was.

Goodnight, I said, and immediately my head hit the pillows.

Goodnight, she said.

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I woke up very early in the morning, bathed, and got dressed up as I needed to have a long day of trekking due to using my last money on us for our transportation to my home. After I dressed, she woke up and asked me:

Where I was going at the time of the hour.

Oh, I have work and needed to get ready and leave before it's late and have my salary deducted by my boss, I said.

Why would she want to deduct your salary for coming late for once? And also, wouldn't the person have any reason for coming late? she asked me.

I don't know any reason why she does that; I can't answer that, I said. But what I can say is that I need to be leaving early to work in order to put food on my table. I will be going now, and if you need any help, food, or anything else,

You can wait for me to come home, and I will be coming home early today. There's food in the kitchen before I forget, and bye, I said to her. As I left straight to work.

I trekked until I finally got to where I worked. When I did, I made my way in and began doing my duties and chores before the restaurant would open. After doing my duties and having the meals prepared for serving,

We began serving the customers that came in. But during those times, my mind was pretty occupied with Princess, and I had pity for her because of her situation. I wondered how worried her family would be if they couldn't find her. While I still thought about her, I also thought about my rent due and how my siblings upkeep money to be sent to them.

Deep in my thoughts, I heard my phone beep with an SMS alert, and what I saw made my jaw drop. I found money worth 150,000 naira sent to me and was beyond shocked. Because of how afraid that I was, I went to the bank to find out if it was sent wrongly.

When I asked the customer service representative present in the bank, she told me that it was not wrongly sent to me, but it was privately sent to my account, and she said that she was sorry that she can't go against the bank rules and disclose the person who sent me the money.

I thanked her and left the bank with the money sent to my account. I went back to work and got permission from my boss to let me off early as of today. When she agreed, I was happy and left with the money I had withdrawn from my account.

Paying for my cab and having a drop-off at my apartment. I first of all sent some money to my siblings, and when I got to my apartment residence, I went to where my landlord was staying and paid my rent dues for this month and the next. Excitedly, I went back to where my apartment floor was and entered the apartment.

I was super excited and thanked whoever sent me this money and thanked the Almighty for His help in making a way for me. I couldn't wait to tell Ola and the lady that I helped out. She was my luck, and I was grateful to God for making me help her yesterday. She was what destiny and life offered to me when I least expected it and was good to people who needed genuine help.