The Bargain
LEI’S POV
“Lei! Wake up! Wake up!” as soon as I heard that voice, I knew who she was. Aunt Dina.
“hmmmm.” Ugh! I’m still sleepy and tired. I just went to sleep at 2 o’clock in the morning because they make me wash all their dishes, sweep and scrub the floor, dust off the furniture, and wash their clothes!
“Will you get up or not?!” O-oh. Even if my eyes are shut, I can see that her nose is turning red and her eye balls are starting to pop out because of impatience.
“W-why?” I said sleepily while starting to get up from the floor. And even if I still don’t want to, I have to or she’ll skin me alive.
“Get dress.” She said ignoring my question. I was about to ask her for the second time when she spoke again.
“Now.” She commanded. It’s like she said shut up and just do whatever is told you. I just sigh and started to change clothes after she went downstairs.
Let me tell you how peaceful my life is, how beautiful the place I am living and how kind my Aunt and Uncle is. Five years ago, when I was twelve, my mom and dad passed away because of an accident. Since then, I’ve been living in a wooden cabin here in a small town called Ateema with my Aunt Dina and Uncle Steve. Well, let’s just say that they treated me like a maid. Yeah, you read it right, a maid. They make me do the all the household chores and when I say all, I mean everything. They spent all the money my parents left for me and made me work for the roof and food they gave me. And the ironic part is, the money I earn is the money they are using to buy food and they don’t even share it to me. How good is that, huh? They have this vacant lot behind the cabin. They make me plant corns there and sell it to the market. If I don’t sell all the corns, I won’t have my dinner for a week and I don’t get to sleep inside the cabin. I always come home late whenever I sell corns and when I got home, they already ate up all the food for dinner! And as if it is comfortable sleeping in the attic? No bed, just floor. No cabinet, just a box and that box is the only thing you will see in my room (attic) which where I put all my things. But it is still better to have roof where you can sleep than just sleep outside, especially because you don’t know what’s out there. I mean, wild animals and crazy people. So in order to sleep inside whenever I don’t sell all the corns in the market, I am forced to sell it house to house. And what are they doing while I’m trying to survive this kind of life? None. They will just eat, gamble, and sleep. And for the record? The money they used in gambling is also the money I earned in selling. They collect all my earnings, every centavo, saying they have all the rights to it and I don’t. In short, they just keep me so they have someone to work for them. I just can’t leave here because I don’t know where to go. And besides, they are the only relative I have. My thoughts were cut when I got a glimpse in the holes in the roof.
It’s still dark and I think a few hours before dawn. Why on earth I have to wake up at this hour? This never happened before. This is strange. While trying to figure out the answer, Aunt Dina shouted something that made me think that this is not going to be a good day for me except I don’t get a good day at all. I have a very bad feeling about this.
“Pack all your things, Lei. I don’t want trashes left in there!” There’s only one thing in my mind while packing my things, what’s happening?
“Lei! Get your lazy butt here!” what’s with the shout? Just a mere whisper at this kind of hour will already be loud and clear, what more of shouting? I’m not deaf, okay?
I just went downstairs before she drag me down herself. When I walk towards the living room, I notice that Uncle Steve is already awake too. They both wear fur jackets, pants, boots, and hats. Well, that’s new? They are not the type of people wearing that kind of clothes. They just usually wear fainted shirts and shorts and slippers. Are we moving to another house? But why they didn’t pack their things? I don’t see any bag or luggage of theirs. I am really starting to get scared. They are just sitting in the chair on both sides of the table and it looks like they’re waiting for someone. Is it me? Are they going to throw me out? At this hour?
“There you are, come sit here.” Aunt Dina told me when she saw me standing in the stairs just staring at them. I am really puzzled of what’s happening and what’s going to happen. I walk slowly towards them.
“Can’t you walk faster?! We should be ready when he comes!” Uncle Steve shouted at me while gritting his teeth. I walk faster towards them before he pulls my hair to make me move faster.
“Sit on the sofa.” He ordered. I sit on the old sofa and put my bag in my lap even if I am doubting what he just said. They don’t allow me to sit on the chairs and especially in the sofa because they say that it is only just for them. I’m starting to get nervous of their unusual actions. There are a lot of things running in my head and I just held tight on my bag when I think of the worst possibilities of the things that will happen to me. My nervousness was doubled when I heard a carriage. I just gripped tighter on my bag to prevent my hands from shaking.
“He’s here.” Aunt Dina declared.
“W-who’s h-here?” I stammeringly ask Aunt Dina. My palms are getting sweaty because of the nervousness of hearing the neigning of the horses just outside the cabin. It’s here.
“Remember Lei, don’t dare talk while he’s here. Just sit there, understood?” Uncle Steve reminded me. I can’t really absorb what he’s saying because all I hear is the unloading sound of the carriage and the footsteps outside. My heart is pounding so hard that I can have a heart attack anytime. Can someone explain to me what’s happening?
“Lei!” It was a whisper with a very hard tone from Uncle Steve that causes me to look at him. He eyed me so I just nod then bowed my head to avoid his gaze.
I heard a few more footsteps then it stopped. Two seconds after, three knocks was heard from the door. I felt that Uncle Steve stood up and walk towards the door. I just stayed my head bowed and unconsciously closed my eyes when I heard the creaking sound of the door when it opened.
“G-good evening S-sir, t-this way please.” Uncle Steve said. Then I heard footsteps. One stopped in front of me which is Uncle Steve then he sit. Then the other one stopped beside me. I froze. So he’s sitting beside me? My knees start to shake. Who’s he? What is this cold feeling? Is it when Uncle opened the door or is it the presence of this man beside me??
“H-here she is.” Aunt Dina said. She’s nervous too? But why?
“U-uhm, she can do h-household chores and s-she can p-plant crops. She can also w-work.” Uncle Steve added.
Silence. The man didn’t answer them and they didn’t dare to speak also. What is really happening? I don’t want to hold my head up because I’m afraid to what I’m going to see. Aunt Dina broke the silence.
“S-she’s young and h-healthy. A-and she’s a v-virgin!” My eyes went big and my head suddenly turned to Aunt Dina when I heard what she has just said. I c-can’t believe it? A-are they going to b-bargain me? A-after all I have done for them?! I was about to protest when the man sitting beside me finally spoke.
“Here’s the money. We’re going.” Then I heard a bag full of gold coins that was thrown to Uncle Steve. His voice sends chills to my spine, such a cold tone. He said that in a low yet authoritative tone. And what he said sends fear to my heart. Slowly, I turn my head to the man sitting beside me. From this angle, I can’t see his face because his blocking the light coming from the lamp but I can see his green eyes. It is like a warm hole that sucks you. It is like a deep ocean that can drown you. It is like a gem that hypnotizes you. It’s—it’s beautiful. I notice that he is staring at me too. I went back to senses and avoided his gaze when Uncle Steve spoke.
“W-well, it is a p-pleasure dealing with you Mr. Williams.” He stood up and offered his hand.
The man beside me or should I call him Mr. Williams, just stood up and started to walk ignoring the hands offered to him. I remained seated. I don’t want to go with him. I’m scared. He’s already outside the cabin when Aunt Dina grab my arm and forcefully stood me up and drag me towards the door.
“What are you still doing here? Go before he gets impatient!” she scolded me and continues to drag me towards the door.
“B-but A-auntie, I d-don’t want to c-come with him, p-please.” I said teary-eyed. I bit my lower lip to prevent myself on crying.
“Don’t be so hardheaded! Go! And don’t dare come back here!” she said while pushing me outside the door and when she finally did, she quickly close it so I could not get back inside. Why are they doing this to me?
When I turn around, I saw Mr. Williams standing beside the carriage. It’s like, he’s waiting for me? I have no choice now. I just have to be strong, I can get through this. I must. I heave deeply before walking towards the carriage. This is it, there’s no turning back. I hope everything will be okay and I wish nothing bad happens to me. I stopped in front of him with a bowed head. I saw his hand pointed at the step of the carriage. Is he asking me to ride first? He’s quite a gentleman. So I did. I step my right foot first. But before stepping my left foot, I glance back at the cabin. Someday, they will get what they deserve. Then I step inside the carriage. After I sit, Mr. Williams also went inside and sit at the opposite side of the carriage. I just chose to be silent for the whole ride and not ask questions even if there were millions of them in my head that I want to be answered. But I am just too afraid to ask and too afraid to know the answers and so, I just hugged my bag tighter and rest my head onto it.
