09 - Routine

Valeria

It's the next day. Lorenzo didn't come near me the whole day just like I requested. I stayed in the kitchen most of the time to avoid seeing him. I didn't even see him when I put the food on the table and called everyone. He wasn't there.

It's so awkward for me to live here now that I had that encounter with Lorenzo. I feel like I don't want to see him ever because I am afraid he'll hurt me again. Thinking about that takes me back in time to when my mother used to hit me on occasion. She was savage when it came to hitting me. She wasn't a compassionate mother, nor kind. She was anything but a good mother. I remember one time my mother was fighting with my father and calling him names. I stood up for him and in return got a punch in my face for interfering.

"Valeria, are you okay?" Mrs. Gonzalez asks, making me realize that I have been standing in the dining room and daydreaming.

"Yes, sorry..."

"Would you like to have breakfast with us?" She asks, already knowing the answer.

"Maybe another time, Mrs. Gonzalez. Thank you."

She nods, not asking further. She knows that I don't feel comfortable no matter how many times she tried to make me feel welcomed.

I go back to the kitchen and tidy things up. I clean the counters, and the stove, and wash the dishes. I sigh once I finish, realizing that I still have to clean the rooms.

I start with Mr. and Mrs. Gonzalez's room. I make the bed, wash the bathroom, and sweep the floor. I do the same things with Sophia's and Lorenzo's rooms. Sarah is finally coming in three days and I am so nervous about how she'll treat me.

When I finish my work, I go back to the dining room and take all the plates back to the kitchen.

It really amazes me why Mrs. Gonzalez doesn't hire more staff for her kitchen. I understand they are in the mafia and need to be careful, but just like how she trusted me, she could trust others, right?

After washing the rest of the dishes, I finally sit down and scroll on my phone a little bit. After that, I decided to call my father and check up on him.

"Hello, honey. How's everything?"

"Hey, dad. Everything is all right. What about you?"

"I am good. Don't worry about your old man. What's important is you. Don't forget to save up and enroll at the university like you've always wanted, okay?"

"Dad, you know we need to do your surgery first and then I'll think about university."

"Valeria, forget about the surgery. I don't want to do it. Promise me you'll think about yourself and no one else."

"But dad—"

"Valeria, promise me."

I sigh and say, "I promise."

Saying our goodbyes, I hang up and place the phone on the counter at the same time Sophia enters the kitchen.

"Sophia, do you need something?" I ask, standing up.

"Relax, Val. I just need a cup of water." She grins, getting a cup from the cupboard and filling it with cold water from the fridge.

"How's your stay so far, are you happy? Or you miss home?" She opens up a conversation.

"Well, so far so good. I miss my father, but I am happy here."

"I am sorry to ask, but your mother is still alive, right?"

I clear my throat and nod. "We're just not that close."

"Oh, okay...by the way, would you like to come with me today to the coffee shop? I am meeting with some friends today."

"Oh, I really don't want to intrude..."

"Nonsense! You will have fun and you will get to meet them. They are really nice."

"Umm...okay, sure."

"Great! Be ready by 5, okay?"

"Okay, but I still need to take your mother's permission."

She looks up at me and raises her brows. "You don't have to do that. Besides, you live here now and there's no fixed work time."

"I'd feel better if I ask her."

"Okay, no problem." She smiles and leaves.

I go to my new room and take a quick shower so I am ready for the outing. When I finish, I find Mrs. Gonzalez in the living room, reading a book. I smile at her because she is the reason I love books so much.

"Mrs. Gonzalez," I say, getting her attention. She puts the book aside and smiles up at me.

"Yes, Valeria?"

"Is it okay if I went with Sophia somewhere?"

"Of course. You don't have to ask me, Valeria. You already finished the housework, so I don't see why not."

"Thank you," I say.

"You're welcome, and be careful."

**

**

Stepping out of the car, Sophia and I march inside the coffee shop. She insisted I wear a dress and since I don't have one, I borrowed a casual dress from her closet. It's a causal all-flower pink dress. Nothing major. I wore a pair of white shoes I got a few years ago and haven't worn a lot.

"Hello, guys!" Sophia greets her three friends. Two boys and one girl.

"Hey!" All of them reply.

"Guys this is Valeria, Valeria, this is Elijah—" Sophia points at the dark-haired guy, "—this is Scott—" She points at the brown-haired guy, "—and this is Penny."

"Hello." I wave and smile.

They greet me back with a smile, making me feel relieved.

Sophia and I sit beside each other, while Elijah and Penny are sitting across from us. Scott is sitting on the side.

"What would you like to drink?" Scott asks Sophia and me.

"I'll have Iced Capp." Sophia is the first to answer.

"And you, Valeria?" Scott asks.

"I'll have the same as Sophia, thank you."

The awkwardness I feel at the moment makes me want to get out of the shop and head back home. I always feel weird whenever I meet new people and I know it's wrong, but I just cannot help it. I am very insecure.

"So, Valeria, what do you do?" Penny asks.

I debate on whether to tell them what I do because I don't know what their reaction will be. Not that I am ashamed of being a maid, but I don't want to put Sophia in a situation or make her feel embarrassed or anything. But again, she was the one who invited me and she didn't tell me not to say anything.

"I work for Sophia and her parents."

"Oh, that's nice!" Penny replies.

"Thanks." I smile.

Scott comes back with our drinks and I thank him again. This is the first time I actually drink anything from outside, other than that one time I tried a lemonade, which made me vomit when I got back home.

But this tastes so good.

The group starts talking about stuff they already knew about, which makes me feel like a third wheel or a fifth for accuracy. I comment a little bit here and there, but that's it.

A phone ring stops their conversation, diverting their attention from each other to Sophia.

"Yes, brother?"

My heart suddenly beats faster at the mention of Lorenzo and uneasiness fills my chest.

"Fine!" She rolls her eyes and hangs up.

"Is everything okay?" I ask.

"Yes. My brother wants me to pick up Cassie, Johnny's girlfriend/not. You remember her, right? She came in the first few days, but moved to her grandmother's house."

"Yes, I do remember her. Is she moving back in?" I ask in curiosity.

"Apparently." She shrugs and stands up. "We'll catch up with you guys later."

We?

We say our goodbyes and leave the coffee shop. Sophia's driver is already waiting for us outside. Poor guy.

We arrive at a house close to my parent's. Cassie emerges from the door and walks to the car. She steps in and greets us.

"Hey, sorry for being a hassle."

"It's okay. How's the baby?" Sophia asks.

"Good. I was at the doctor's appointment yesterday, and she told me that the baby is healthy."

"That's good."

We drive back home. The driver helps Cassie with her suitcase and takes it inside. We step inside the house and almost immediately, I am tackled by a large white dog to the ground.

I let out a small scream at first, but when the dog starts licking me, I giggle and pet it.

It was only when I saw Lorenzo coming our way that I let go of the dog and it whimpered.

"Max!" Lorenzo yells in frustration.

"Whose dog is this?" Sophia asks in confusion.

"Mine. I just adopted it."

"Why?"

"Because I want a dog?"

"Does mom know about this?"

"Does it matter?"

"Oh, boy...you're in a lot of trouble." She shakes her head in disbelief.

"Why?" He asks.

"Mom's a cat person."

"Lorenzo! What the fuck is this doing here?!"