Clio Stormhell ( Completed ) ( BL )

Chapter 17

Clio

While watching the show one of Zilas maid announced the lunch was ready, he turned the TV off and both of us went down to his kitchen. He was holding my hand as we walked through the corridor. Zilas has such a warm hand. It feels kind of safe within his grip. A long white marbled table welcomed us with seats. Around 12 people can be accommodated by the table. There was already food when we got there, they were plated beautifully as if we were in a michelin restaurant.

When I looked over the ceiling I saw a small chandelier,  the glass window from the ceiling up going down to the floor. There were also white curtains on the glass window, they were long enough to go from ceiling to floor.

“ Have a seat Clio, ” he pulled a seat out for me to sit on. It was next to him. I sat on the chair he told me to and he sat beside me. There aren't any workers here, during our walk to the kitchen I haven't seen any maids. Do they only work half a day? I saw around 9 maids pagpasok ko dito, asan na kaya sila?

“ Shall we eat? ” Napatingin ako sa kaniya and nod unconsciously. I look at my plate, it has a cup of rice and two pieces of chicken adobo smothered in its broth. 

I put my hands together and intertwined my fingers, I closed my eyes to pray for this food.

“ Maraming salamat po sa pagkaing binigay ninyo sa amin....” I heard a metal drop on the table as if nabitawan to agad, my eyes are closed kaya hindi ko nakita kung anong nangyari. I resumed praying “ sana po'y mabusog kami nito. In Jesus name, we pray amen.” Tiningnan ko si Zilas, may laman ang bibig niya pero he was closing his eyes, bowing his head, and intertwining his fingers for the prayer we just finished. Tiningnan ko ang mga utensils ni Zilas, may butil ng rice ang kaniyang spoon na nasa table at ang kaniyang fork naman may piece of chicken attached to it.

It was three inches away from his plate, halatang nahulog ito mula sa kamay niya nong nagmadali siyang mag pray. I probably startled him.

“ Let's eat, ” I told Zilas. He opened his eyes and slowly nod at me with a force smile on his face. He grabs his utensils back and eats the piece of chicken on his fork.

I covered my rice with the adobo broth and started scooping some for my mouth, the adobo tasted nice it wasn't so good but it wasn't bad either. It was more on the sweet side, may pieces of dice pineapple ang adobo kaya siguro matamis. I don't like my adobo sweet but I don't hate it either. Ewan. It just feels wrong for this to be sweet.

I separated the tiny dice of pineapple away from my adobo, so I placed it near my rice. I had another scoop of my rice with adobo broth and for the second time it tasted really savory. Like the sweetness adds a little kick to it. I'm starting to like this. I tried a piece of chicken, it was really soft and bouncy. The texture is smooth and it tastes fresh. Lasang lasa mo 'yung soy sauce at pineapple, like nag spa-sparring ang tamis at alat sa bibig mo.

“ It's too quiet, why don't we ask each other some questions while we eat? ” Sabi ni Zilas, his mouth was empty but mine was not. Is he for real? Like, he wants us to have a conversation while eating? It's disrespectful to the food. Let's eat and talk later.

“ Lacher ( later ),” my mouth was full so I couldn't pronounce my word right. I don't want to talk while eating.

“ Alright, we'll do it later. ” He agreed and continued eating.

It was a peaceful lunch we shared together, the maids cleaned up the table and the plates were placed in the sink where the other maid was washing them. I tried offering my help but Zilas pulled me somewhere, nadaanan namin ang living room niya which was all clean na. The couch was placed the way it should be, the painting was hung back, sa tingin ko pinalitan nila ang vase.

“ I want to show you something, come here. ” Hila hila niya parin ako. Saan ba kami pupunta? Ano nanaman ang ipapakita niya akin? We walked and walked until he stopped which means andito na kami. It was another room. He let go of my hands and opened the door, I immediately saw a reading nook and a shelf of books near it.

“ This is my reading area, I usually spend the rest of my afternoon in this room reading novels and getting lost in my imagination. I hope you'll stay for at least an hour with me, I just want more time with you before you go home. Please? ” He asked me, I can't say ' no '  to him because his my boss and we only did one round of my work. I should at least do this much considering his payment.

“ Sure, ” I answered. He pulled me inside the room and locked the door behind him.

“ Sit down Clio, I'll grab us a book. ” He ordered. Umupo ako sa may dulong side ng reading nook, I can see the whole neighborhood from up here. Grabe, ang lalaki talaga ng bahay nila. It must be nice being rich, they wouldn't have to think of what to eat by tomorrow or even think about running out of money.

“ Clio, here. You might like this. ” He handed me a book and I grabbed it by the end. Tiningnan ko ang cover nito. It says that this book is written by Engravely_yours, I haven't heard of that author.

“ Thanks, ” I replied.

He sat beside me, and together we read different books. It was silent the whole time but it's not awkward, I like this silence. Whenever my eyes landed on Zilas, he always met my eyes with a smile. I like this moment with him.

Serving him might not be too bad.

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( A/N: I'm aware that I have a lot to improve. Please bear with me. 🫶🏻)