Admiring You From Afar (The Cold Masks Has Fallen: Book 1)

Chapter Thirty Seven: Trials of the Monarch

"We're being strict, not because we don't like you for my granddaughter. We're being strict, because we want her to be loved. Even more than the love that all of us gives to our grandchild" - Jeon Min Joo, Mayari's grandmother
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September 29, 2017.
Saturday.
5:30 a.m.

Maagang dumating si Theo sa bahay ng mga Jeon. Nakita niya ding nagwawalis ng kanilang bakuran si Mrs. Jeon.

"Good morning po Mrs. Jeon!" bati ni Theo kay Mrs. Jeon.

"Oh Theo napaaga ka" sabi ni Mrs. Jeon at dahan dahang lumapit sa gate upang pagbuksan ng pinto ang binata.

"Tulungan ko na po kayo diyan-"

"Ay nako hindi na! Healthy din naman yung naglalakad-lakad ako" Mrs. Jeon politely refused Theo's offer to help her.

"Go inside Marian. I told you not to move a lot" napatingin ang dalawa kay Mr. Jeon na tila sinesermonan ang kanyang asawa.

"Don't use that tone on me, Jeon Seo Jin!" Mrs. Jeon snapped at her husband.

"I'm sorry. And you're right on time, Mr. Salvatori" sabi ni Mr. Jeon at nilapitan si Theo.

"Good morning Mr. Jeon"

Dinaanan lang ni Mr. Jeon si Theo at binuksan ang gate ng kanyang bahay.

"Lock the doors Marian. Call me if eomma comes" umpirap lamang si Mrs. Jeon at sinara ng malakas ang pinto.

"Pardon for my wife. She has amusing moods in the past months" sabi ni Mr. Jeon at naglakad ang dalawa sa kotse ng nakakatanda.

"Ah Rin's grandmother, my mother, would be visiting us today. We would go to farmer's market today"

"I suppose I would help you in buying produce Mr. Jeon?" Theo asked as they enter Mr. Jeon's car.

"You're right. And you will also help Marian cook, you will chop the wood for our fire place. Added to that, you will also help my mother make kimchi later. You would be able to do that, Mr. Salvatori?"

"I won't disappoint you, sir" Theo answered with confidence.

"You must be. I won't let you court my daughter if you cannot prove to me that you can do these things. I don't like men who would only rely on my daughter's household skills, Mr. Salvatori. My daughter is not a slave"
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10:30 p.m.

"Pinagawa talaga sa'yo yun nina daddy?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Mayari kay Theo habang nag-susuklay ng kanyang buhok.

"Yep. And not gonna lie, ang hirap ng pinagawa nila sa akin" sagot ni Theo habang nagbabasa ng nakahiga sa kanilang kama.

Pagkababa ni Mayari ng kanyang suklay ay dumiresto na siya sa kanilang kama at nahiga.

"Ang OA din talaga minsan ni daddy. Kala mo naman papakasalan na agad ako" natawa si Theo sa sinabi ni Mayari.

"I can't blame them. That was also the time I realized why you were so excited to clean because you don't even know how to sweep the floor, Jeon Ah Rin" Mayari slightly hit Theo's arm.

"Maalam kaya ako"

"Babe, I literally have to clean your room again while you're sleeping in my room after you 'cleaned' it when you first came here" Theo seriously said and Mayari whined.

"Fine! And I just also learned how to cook when I start living here kasi nakakahiya at hindi ako marunong magluto. I even called mommy and asked how to open the gas" Mayari admits.