THE ROOMMATES WE BECAME

Mason Cyrus

Birds chirping and the soft whistling of the breeze made me know that a new day had dawned. Wow, it was like preparing for a battle, a battle I had no intention of losing. I quietly walked to my window. Opening the curtains, it was quite cloudy. I stared for some minutes before going to my closet. Folding my uniform in my bag, I put away a black jean and a top before closing my closet. I quickly took a shower and put on my clothes. As I looked at my room before heading out, for some reason, I felt I was going to be gone for a long time.

I walked past Jere's room, he was still asleep. I had wanted to tell him about what happened, but it's better if he didn't know. That's when he would want to follow me there, ask a thousand questions, or better still, invite some more girls when I'm out. It's better I don’t tell him...or tell him when I get back. I told Mr. Noah I'd be back very early, and I wouldn't want to make him worried.

I got a cab with my bag and headed to Mr. Noah's. On getting there, my bag was taken from me by one of my colleagues as she smiled, ushering me in. If only she knew I was just a maid like her. I laughed to myself as I entered the house. I went into the kitchen and made a nice cup of coffee, taking it with me to Mr. Noah's room.

"May I come in?" I gently knocked on the door.

"Mia!" he screamed excitedly from the room. I gently opened the door with a tray in my hand and went over to him.

"Good morning, Mr. Noah. I told you I’d be back before you knew" I said, setting the tray on the table. "Hmmm... that smell" he smiled as he grabbed the cup of coffee. "God knows how much I'm going to miss this" he said, drinking the coffee.

"Well, it's not like I would be gone forever" I said to him, laughing.

"Well, here, Mr. Noah" I added as I brought out my uniform and ID and placed them in front of him. He dropped the cup of coffee and smiled at me.

"So, Mr. Noah... where will I stay? I brought my bag because I know I won't be able to be coming from home daily" I said, looking at him.

"There, you'll be staying with Mason" he said as my eyes widened. "Sir?" I asked again to confirm if I heard clearly.

"Yes, Mia, he lives very far from here, and also there aren't any apartments or houses around where he lives" Mr. Noah said. "You mean he lives alone? No neighbours or parks?" I questioned.

Mr. Noah nodded, I kept mute, trying to assimilate what he just said as I wondered what kind of man Mason is. Well actually, it was kinda expected that I would live with him, Mr. Noah only allowed me to stay in my house because we were more like family and also because of how young Jeremiah was.

"Mr. Noah, there might be a problem" I said, facing him. "What's that, Mia?" he asked. "I... would have to return home to pack my clothes. I didn’t bring things, only this" I said, gesturing at the clothes I wore. "Oh, Mia, I arranged that... you needn't worry" he said as I looked at him, confused.

Mr. Noah clapped his hands, and in some minutes, some servants walked in with two boxes.

"Sir?... what's happening?" I asked him, standing up. "Well, these are a few clothes I got for you. I didn’t want you stressing over what to wear, so I got some" he said gently.

"Few!?... Sir, this is huge" I exclaimed, walking over to the fully packed boxes. "Well, that's not all," he said, as another maid entered with a gorgeously cute uniform and a box full of shoes.

"Mia, here's your new uniform" Mr. Noah took it from her and stretched it to me. Well now, this was looking more like he was sending me over for good or better still, for something else.

"Wow... this is... this is beautiful!" I exclaimed, taking the uniform from him. It was very different from the one I always wore, and also from all the maids. "Mr. Noah?... Thank you so much sir" I said to him, staring at all he got me.

"But Mr Noah, what if I can't... I mean, what if..." I stuttered, tears almost falling from my eyes.

"I trust you, Mia, that's why I'm entrusting you with this and all... all of these is a thank you for being a hardworking and amazing daughter for the past 10 years" he said, walking to me as he patted my shoulders.

"Now, go and dress up... I'll meet you downstairs" he said as he looked in my eyes. "Yes, Sir, I will do just that" I nodded, walking to the room a maid showed me to.

I stared at the uniform in awe. It was a maid's uniform but still it was unique, maybe because it had my name written at its tip. I changed into it, my lips widening. It was so free and nice. I looked at myself in the mirror, my hair packed in a ponytail and my heart pounding. I took a deep breath and left for the sitting room. As I made my way to the room, I heard someone sobbing. I gently got there and, checking, it was Mr. Noah.

"Sir?" I called, as I rushed to meet him. I held him as tears welled up in my eyes.

"I'm sorry for giving you this task, Mia. I'm sorry," he said, wiping his eyes.

"If only I never left, if only..." Mr. Noah wept.

"Sir! Please don't... it's in the past. Blaming yourself will only do you harm" I said to him. "So this old man won't drink your coffee anymore?" he asked, cleaning his eyes. "Stop behaving like a child, Mr. Noah... of course you will. It's not like I'm leaving this world" I told him, smiling.

"I promise to call you every day and check up on you" I said, as tears welled up in my eyes. "That doesn't mean you should stop your medications. I'll make sure Nelson confirms if you used it" I chuckled.

"Thank you, Mia, thank you" he kept on thanking me. "You are welcome... Dad" a tear dropped from my eye.

"My daughter" he hugged me, patting my shoulders.

"Hailey would've been so proud seeing how dearly you love Mason" I said as he smiled, stepping back. "It's time, Mia" he said, tears welling in his eyes as I nodded. Although Mason's house was a state away, I felt like I was leaving my world behind. A journey of 10 years ended in just a day, and a new chapter had begun.

Mr. Noah held my hands as we walked outside his house. A black shimmering Mercedes, was gently parked outside his house waiting. The driver came down and walked to my side, opening the door, with Nelson loading the car with my bags.

"Alright Mia, let's go" Nelson said, waiting for me to enter the car. I turned to Mr. Noah, who for some reason looked like he wanted to tell me something but just couldn't say it. His eyes were puffed, and he couldn't even get himself to look at me.

"Mr. Noah... all will be well, I promise" I reassured him, as I took his wrinkled hand in mine. He just nodded hugging me again.

"Go now dear, God bless you" he released me from his embrace, as I walked to the car. I waved him goodbye as the door closed and the engine started. Tears fell from my eyes as I stared through the window, not uttering a single word.

"Make sure he uses his medications" I sobbed, talking to Nelson.

"Mia... I will, don't cry please" he turned to face me from the front seat. "Do you know it was Mr. Noah that told me to follow you? He sternly warned me to make sure you get to the house safely before returning home, or else I'll lose my job" he laughed. I chuckled softly as I wiped my eyes.

"He's always quick to threaten" I replied.

"Nelson... can you please turn off the air conditioner?" I requested as I started feeling cold. "Oh, sure, Mia," he turned it off, as we continued our journey.

"Nelson... do you know, uhm..." I said again after some minutes, struggling with my words. "I do, Mia. Not too well, but just exactly what I need to know" he said as I nodded.

"Well, not only for being the heir to Mr. Noah's conglomerate, he is known for his jaw dropping bike-riding skills" Nelson said as I kept mute. "He stays off social media and hates being linked to his dad. He lives alone and hates disturbance of any sort. He was linked to several models years ago and was reportedly said to be dating Lia Beckham, the popular Scottish actress months ago, but they broke up not long after as a result of infidelity...on Mr. Mason's part" he said as I swallowed hard.

"A tattoo but never seen, no one knows where it is on his body. He often wears a mask just like the day you saw him" Nelson turned to me as I quickly affirmed, as he actually wore one the previous day. "He was rumoured to have broken a friend friend's hand who entered his room during a party he threw in his house, as he loves his privacy and doesn't joke with it" he said as my jaw dropped.

"Uhm...that's enough, Nelson, thank you" I said, sweating.

"Look Mia, here's an advice for you, you can wander anywhere you like, but make sure you avoid entering Mason's room. Is that clear Mia?" he asked.

"Sure, of course" I said as I gently requested to have the air conditioner turned on again.

"And does he know I'll be working for him?" I asked. Nelson sighed, he turned to face me and then chuckled softly.

"And why do you think he stormed out of Mr. Noah's house previously?" he replied back, with my jaws dropping.

"Wait... you mean, you mean he does?" I asked, my voice shaking.

"Yes, Mia, he does" Nelson replied as I shivered.

I started sweating profusely. Mr Mason was clearly not as good as I imagined, breaking a friend's hand?... that's quite bad. Should I just tell Nelson to turn back the car or tell Mr. Noah I can't do this anymore?...

How on earth will I live with a stranger who doesn't seem to have a heart?. I don't know his likes or dislikes, I know nothing about him and here I am, on my way to him. Is it too late for me to go back?, Could I possibly checkmate Sir Mason?, I thought to myself for hours as I couldn't even get to sleep throughout the entire journey.

"We are here, Ma'am" the driver said, pressing the brakes as the car halted. My heart pounded faster as I stared out the window, knowing that indeed my life was about to change forever.