In a very long porcelain gold table, dishes were served by uniformed maids in a single file, one by one placing the dishes and saying their conplicated French or Spanish names and what they are made of. Yet there were only 3 of us who will eat- -Mr. Dave, Softia, and a boy who seemed like he is in his rebel years (about 13 or so).
I did not actually care that the dishes were from Italy made by Gusto someone, the famous chef of American Idol or such, I just cared about when I will finally eat those! Derrn! I really have forgotten how rich people go about their meal. I mean, we used to have this but I always eat when it starts...but it was my house and now it' s not so I politely waited for the "seremony" ended.
"Why are you here?" the 12 -year- old looking guy asks me.
" To tutor you." I said plainly while getting a spoonful of each dish.
"I don' t need you. Get out." he coldly told me.
"Hey! " scolds Mr. Dave.
But I am not easily swayed so..
"It' s okay Sir Dave. And No, dweeb. Absolutely not. I like the food here. I plan on eating here for... (*pretends to think)..uhhh, about a hundred times before I escape this household." I winked at him which earned sniggers from Softia and Mr. Dave and a glare from the twerp.
"I am so sorry for his behavior, Mia."
"It' s okay, Sir. I can handle it."
"Anyways, Aaron here needs to get a grade of 90 this incomming school year for him to pass the requirements for Stanford University for his high school. I' m going to let him take high school there. And I heard that you are an incomming senior student with the top honors there, yes? "
"Yes sir." I don' t like lying so I try my best to be frank about truths.
"For that, I believe that you are the best person for the job. Someone recommended you for it."
Thank you, Mr. Behind- the- counter- guy!
I nodded.
"I' m gonna pay you 500 per 15 days of your tutoring. Also, you are to get free meals and lodging in the palace. Free bills and the likes. Is that alright? "
I guess it' s not that low. I used to get lower than 1K when I was just starting to work full time in summers and that was without lodging and meals! .
"Yes sir." I nodded.
"Therefore you will get Php 1Million per month since you will receive Php 500 000 per 15 days."
"Wait, WHAT? ! 1M? ! isn' t that overpaying?" O.O
"I don' t think so? is it? " He looked at Softia for confirmation. She gestured no. "Well then, it' s settled. 1M per month in 4 months. Are you ok with that? You' ll be working full- time in this house as a tutor."
"O- of- of- of- of course! Of course sir! Thank you sir! Your highness. Your majesty." I bowed with every praises of names.
"Oh, dear no. I' m not the one to be thanked. Clarence will be the one to pay you."
"Oh? Where is Sir. Clarence? "
"He' s in a business trip in Taipei. He' ll be joining us next month."
"Really Dad? That jerk did not tell me! Can' t wait to see him! " Softia said with a suspicious sneer. Hmm, or am I just imagining things. Oh well!
After this, I' ll be an official millionare! BOOYA BABY!
I was scruffing down my food when Mr. Dave spoke again.
"Mia, dear? "
"Hmm? " Forcefully swallowing my food.
"Please call me Papa. I don' t like the sound of Sir or Mr. beside my name anyway." he said with a smile.
"O- okay, Papa." I looked down my food. I' m not used to using those words since my parents died 4 years ago. but somehow it all felt right saying PAPA to a guy I only met a few minutes ago. am I abnormal?
"Dad! SHE has to call you PAPA now? ! WHO IS SHE TO DO THAT? ! SHE' S JUST A FREAKIN' TUTOR! " Aaron said loudly.
"Aaron, calm down. You' re facing your food." Mr. Da- err, Papa said calmly.
"No! I will not allow that geek to be my tutor! ! NO! NOOO! " he broke into hysterical tantrums and the maids came rushing to his comfort.
Why does this kid hate me so much? Please tell me! I' m not used to being hated! I' d prefer being pitied on than that, thank you very much.
"Uhmm, Aaron? " I said soothingly "I' ll just be your tutor okay? I' m not going to call your Daddy Papa, alright? Will that be more suitable for you? "
It' s not bad to compromise right? Maybe that' ll lighten things up a bit between us.
"NO." Mr. Dave /Papa said in an authoritative voice. "Aaron does not have a say in this."
If one has meet Mr. Dave/Papa even for a day, one will think he' s very soft yet here he is with that tone of voice.
Surprising, indeed.
Aaron immediately stopped, also shocked to have heard his father say those words. He stood up.
"I' m done." and went into his room.
"Kids." Mr. Dave/Papa said in an exhausted voice then smiled at me.
I guess my face was still really shocked because Softia said " Daddy, you scared her."
He just smiled in return and I smiled as well and continued eating. The scenario made me even hungrier.
They had smiles in their lips as they watched me eat like a pig.
BINABASA MO ANG
Palace in the Woods
Teen FictionMia Dimagiba at age 14 is am orphan. Her family abandoned her and took all her family's riches with them. Her education is secured but her summers are spent working for her relatives for her to survive the days without classes. This summer her relat...