WHEN DUTY BECOMES DESIRE

7

SOPHIA’S POINT OF VIEW

I woke up in the morning, found myself in a strange room, and that was not all, I was wearing a wedding dress and it was heavy. “ what going on? Why am I wearing a wedding gown, early in the morning and where am I . am I dreaming?” I wondered, It took me a minute to remember that I got

married yesterday and when I looked if Ethan has return , I didn’t find him or any clues if he did but he said he will return. Maybe he did and left . did my words hurt him? I saw the way he left yesterday .

I quickly got up from the bed and stretched myself. After that I went to the bathroom and freshen up. It my first time , taking a bath here and I don’t feel comfortable. “ young lady , your clothes are here” I heard a female voice.

But I didn’t have the guts to replied because he called me young lady and I wasn’t used of being called like that. I remember when I used to live in the Travis house( her adoptive family) the maids there used to call Isabella and my step- mom young madam or lady and my step-father master but I was never given a title I was called by my name.

I quickly got dress although it was hard for me to choose which dress to wear because they were so many but I manage to come into terms with the one that was light and simple.

I decided to go downstairs because staying in the room doing nothing doesn’t seem fine to me , worse part I don’t know any rooms . even I want to check the house , where will I start it so big and it is confusing.

When I arrived in the kitchen, I found the maids busy working, others chatting, cleaning, cooking and etc. and nobody noticed me. I just stood there and watch them ; I didn’t know how to greet them.

As I was tired of staying in silence, I just turned and decided to go to my room but one of them stopped me. “ young lady, sorry we didn’t see you.” I turn and face her. “ no, there is no need to apologize, and you can call me by my name , I don’t mind.” I spoke. And they all looked at each other.

“ okay miss Sophia.” They said. Sophia, just Sophia.” I said, hesitantly. This people make me nervous. I never been treated this way. “ sorry young madam, but we can’t just call you by your name. it against our rules as servants of this house. Beside you are our young master’s wife which make you our young madam, we bow to you, say sorry to miss Sophia.” One of the said, and by judging her look, it seems like she is their matron . although I lack knowledge but I know everything, when it comes it servants because I was treated by one before.

“ okay, okay, treat me the way you want. But on one condition.” I said and they looked puzzled, I don’t know why if it the way I behaved or what but I don’t care. They will eventually understand me later.

“ you will allow me to help you.” I said and I know they will not agree. “ no miss Sophia, we can’t let you do something like that , it against the rule too , it our job to serve you.” They said an I knew it.

“ okay since I’m your young madam and you can never refuse my order you say right. Then I order you right now to put everything in the table for making breakfast and I will need two people to assist me and guide me since I’m new here I’m I clear.” I said and they look at each other again and they nodded , I could see they gave up, it pointless to argue with me.

I started preparing breakfast with the help of my two maids who helped me who are Hazel and Ana. Yes, I have already known their names but not all of them but as time goes by, I will learn the others.

I was happy to with them, because they awaken the person I was , smiling was not the thing I usually do, it was not my thing, I stopped smiling the day I left the orphanage.

When we were done, I quickly set the table, with the help of Hazel and Ana and the others, we placed the breakfast on the table and return to the kitchen. And we return to the kitchen after that, “ I placed your breakfast aside , do have it before continuing working because you will starve.” I said “ no, we can’t do that, we can’t eat the food that is going to be eaten by the family , we rather starve

Madam please understand, you are risking our jobs by treating us like this. We agreed on your conditions but what you are asking for we can’t do it ; we are very sorry.” Their matron said , yes, they are right . I’m overdoing things, I should let them do things their way. To them I’m their madam because I’m married to this family. But to my family I’m a servant. These are too different things and no one knows about my life that I used to live in my parent’s house.

I quickly went to the room to change my clothes because they were dirty because of the flour I used when I was baking biscuits.

When I arrived, I found Ethan wiping his hair with the towel and oh my god again, he as half naked again, only the towel covered him, I quickly turn my back and clothes my eyes.

“ how many times do you want me to tell you to wear your clothes in the bathroom. You can’t just walk freely like knowing someone could come in without knocking.” I said feeling annoyed. Oh god why did you let me get married, will I face situations like this every day, what if one day I found him naked.

“ I don’t remember giving you this room in other words , I mean that this is my room, I can do anything I want, I could even remove this towel if I want, and if you like you could help me remove it.” He said turning me to face him and remove my hands on my face.

“ listen Sophia, we may not love each other or treat each other as married couple but you can’t change the fact that we are married , so stop being dramatic over small things.” He said.

“ but this is my room too. So, I have equal rights to anything I want or complain about anything that doesn’t make me happy , I remember promising each other , yesterday that we will just be friends, nothing else. So, stop doing these things to entertain me.” I said, making my way to the bathroom.

ETHAN’S POINT OF VIEW

You know Sophia make me confused, what wrong by walking half naked. Am I not allowed to do that, in my own room, this is ridiculous . even if we agreed to pretend to be a happy couple but I can’t agree with what she says.

She came back from the bathroom, wearing another dress, so she came to change her dress but why . “ you know Sophia. There is no need for you to get worried over pity things. As you have said. We don’t have share any relation, we are just fake couples that need to pretend in front of others that we are a happy couple but, in the end, we are legally married , wow , what a life.” I paused , I was losing my control, I was angry so I need to calm down.

“ but don’t worry, since we have no since you have decided to be friends with me, I would like to say something …” she cutted me. “ after you have put your clothes” she said . I don’t know why she doesn’t like me to be naked while other women die to see me naked, but I just respected her , I don’t like arguing with a woman. I went to the changing room and wore some clothes.

After a few minutes I return and I found her still in the position I left her in. “ what did you want to say?” she asked. “ forget it let leave maybe breakfast is ready .”I said and left and she followed me.

When we arrived downstairs, I already found mom, dad and sister sitting down having breakfast. “ what were the couples doing all this time along that they have to come to have breakfast when we are finish ours.” Mom teased and Lillian( my younger sister) joined in. “ mom, what kind of question is that I’m sure brother was not ready to let her go” she spoke and she looked at me and continued. “ you can see that he wanted to take her…...” I didn’t let her complete her sentence.

“ Lillian” I said as I took the pillow on the sofa and hit her with it. “ brother you haven’t change . at least act matured . you are no longer a bachelor, you are married. At least act different in front of your wife.” Lily said and she is still teasing me

‘ mom, do you want me to tolerate this nonsense , don’t blame when I take my wife and return to my mansion. “ mom’s boy” Lily said she I know she is doing it on purposely. I took another people and throw it in her face. “ I will tell brother that you hurt me” she said and I laughed. “ go tell him I don’t care and it seems like you are forgetting that brother loves me more than you.” I said laughing at her

“ Sophia, help me.” She said “ you two stop this drama of yours and you Ethan sit down , Sophia my dear , I hope you slept well. Don’t mind them they are like this. Sit down at eat breakfast .” mom said as Sophia sat down at started eating, even myself started eating. Wow! Who ever made this breakfast really did her best. It been a long time since I last eating delicious breakfast or lunch and dinner.

“ mom who made the breakfast?” I asked mom, maybe she knows. “ I don’t know dear , when a came out in my room I found the breakfast in the table already being done you can ask the maids maybe they will tell. Why do you ask?” mom spoke.

“ No, I just want to know so that I could double her payment in exchange , she cooks this breakfast , every time when I’m here.” I said

I saw the maids laughing secretly. “ what, why are you laughing , what is so funny to what I said?” I asked ad they all look at Sophia. “ why are you looking at Sophia, do you know her?” I asked.

“ young master, young lady was the one who made the breakfast. We just help her with the thins she needed , so you could ask her to make breakfast for you every day. Besides she is your wife.” The matron said.

What! Sophia was the one who made the breakfast, I didn’t think she will know how to cook because she comes from a rich family. But how could I have known it her first time here and we haven’t known each other.

“ since brother you like your wife’s food , I have an idea. Why don’t you reward her by taking her out shopping.” Lillian said and I clapped for her. “ wow, for the first time in your life to say something right.” She looked at me angry and I laughed at her. “ that is for teasing me early.” I spoke .

“ excuse me” Sophia said as she made her way upstairs , what wrong with , doesn’t she feel comfortable, maybe, she misses her family . maybe it hurt to see us laugh like this.