Chapter 13: Errand Girl
1017 Words
"Barbie! Barbie!" Melanie just entered the main door of the house, yet, she immediately called me non-stop.
I was in the kitchen and preparing a simple dinner. Hearing her anxious voice, I instantly left what I worked with a white apron on my body and ran off to meet her in the corridor.
"What is wrong Melanie?" I asked right as we ran to each other.
She rushly walked over me and turned me around. She examined every part of me.
"What are you doing? I am getting woozy." I moaned.
Melanie stood straight, placing her arms on my shoulders and pulled me for a hug. "Thanks to God Barbie. You are fine. You scared me to death."
I tapped her back. "I am fine. Nothing happened to me. Thanks for your concern."
Melanie unravelled from our hug. She pushed me gently on my chest and slid away. "I hate you Barbie. Why did you not answer any of my calls and messages?"
"Oh no, I forgot." I tapped my forehead. "Melanie, I am sorry. It was because I am too pressured this whole day so I forgot the other thing. I'm sorry. I won't do this again in the future." I moved closer to her and wrapped my arm around her shoulder. "Here, come with me. I prepared a delicious dinner for you."
She pretended huffing. "Hmmmmp! You easily forget me, now you are trying to coax me with food? You are too sly." She walked along with my lead. "Make sure the food is delicious. If not, I will ignore you for a whole long week."
"So long?"
"Of course. That is how I am when I hold a grudge."
I just laughed at her.
*************
I couldn't help but smile closed-mouth watching Melanie enjoying the food I cooked. A rich lady used her hands to hold the drumsticks and alternately bit each of them.
She moaned, savoring the fried chicken. "Hmmmmmmm mm. Barbie, this is too yummy. I love it."
"Just take that slowly. There's a lot more in the skillet." I was unable to chew well because even I was enjoying watching her. The way she ate already made me full.
I took another mouthful bite to my drumstick and savored it, trying to find the taste that made Melanie satisfied but I already swallowed everything, still, the drumstick tasted the same. I frowned. "Melanie, is it really delicious?"
"Yes." She said, licking her fingers.
"It seems true." I sniggered, shaking my head.
"Oh by the way, I am going away on a business trip for two weeks. When I am away, be careful here. Don't forget to lock the gate, doors and windows. Okay?"
"I will." I said sadly. Just thinking to be alone for that long made me unhappy. "When are you going to leave?"
"Tomorrow."
"So soon?"
"Yeah. I didn't expect them to move the date ahead." Melanie gently moved her hand and rested it to mine. "Don't worry, I will often call you. But it is much better if you can go with me." Melanie's eyes suddenly brightened. "Right! Why don't you go with me?"
I pulled my hand and patted hers. "I can't. I can't tail with you forever."
Melanie loured and exhaled loudly. "Alright!"
"I'm sorry. But I wish you success on your trip and come back safely."
Melanie nodded and finished her fill. "How was your first day in the shop?"
I coughed and drew a happy expression. "It was quite good."
"Are you sure? Did no one pick on you?"
I chortled, fake. "Who dares? Who am I? I am Barbie. The big boss' best friends."
I didn't know if she would buy what I said but eventually the two of us giggled.
Since on my second day at work until the whole week passed, my life was really tough because each of those days, I hadn't reached my quota and everyday I got punished. If I wasn't cleaning the whole store room, I would either sort out the items in the store room based on its kind, wipe the crystal windows of the store or buy meals and drinks for the entire staff.
Everyday, Denice was thinking of a way to torture me. I wasn't allowed to eat nor took a minute of rest while under punishment. If not for Anica who was slipping sandwiches for me, I would surely have collapsed in starvation during the day. If Melanie didn't often call to chat with me, I might already be bored to death. And if not for the company of the handsome Mannequin inside the store room, the pressure, hardness and loneliness inside my heart wouldn't lessened. Because of him, seeing him while insanely talking to him everyday, made my day pass through smoothly.
I didn't know why but I was feeling secure with him around although he couldn't talk and move. Just the thought that he was staring at me, only me on the whole day, made me smile and my day complete. He was like an angel of my life.
On my 7th day of work, I left alone in the shop because I fell asleep after cleaning the whole shop. When I was in the middle of my sleep, I felt that someone was walking towards me and covered me with a thick blanket which caused me to open my eyes.
The whole area was too cold as if I was inside the cooler. Right as my eyes opened, my sight caught the back of a leaving figure of a man. His back physique looked familiar to me. But what came in my mind wasn't him being familiar with me but the worry that he was a thief. Hence, I jerked off the chair and chased the figure.
I checked every corner but I found no one. Only the Mannequin who stood to the other corner again.
"Why are you here now? Did I bring you here to accompany me?" I asked him, scratching my head and scanning the Mannequin. Weird, because the clothes he was wearing since the day Melanie sent him here seemed similar to the clothes I deliriously saw earlier. I didn't see him clearly because my eyes were blurry at that time.
Since there's no one beside me, I concluded that I might really see it wrong.
- Writer
