CHAPTER 6: WATCH OUT!

The following days seemed to be odd. Mrs. Myles didn’t give me any tasks, that’s why I am bored. I can’t even help clean the house or do some chores because Mrs. Myles firmly instructed all of the helpers to never allow me to do it. So, what am I supposed to do? I am laying flat on my back to my bed in my room. I can’t help but enjoy it no matter how I tried denying all the attention of most people to myself. What is this queer woman planning to do with my services? In the first place, I have no idea what she’s going to give me. I closed my eyes and the next thing that I remembered was walking quietly on the silent hallway of this grand mansion. I am wearing my plain black shirt and loose, ragged jeans again for comfort. I just feel like walking and activating my night owl instincts. I paced down my steps as I glanced through the window overlooking the lawn from outside. I can see some of Mrs. Myles’s bodyguards snoring comfortably under one of the gazebos placed in the middle of the lawn garden. I softly chuckled as I shook my head. My goodness, now this is Mrs. Myles’s point. They are kind of useless at night. However, I can somehow understand them because they’ve been working all day so I can’t blame them for sleeping that way. However, as much as possible, they should not sleep like that because they’ll be dead for sure if Mrs. Myles will know it. “Hmm…let me try their level of alertness,” I mumbled to myself as I hurriedly went back to my room to get my string bag made of cloth. I guess readiness is a must nowadays. I pulled my tiny, wooden slingshot made from a special wood that my father gave me when I was little. I tiptoed downstairs as quietly as possible. I made sure to look around as I went down. Other guards must have been on the lookout. I don't want them to think of me like a burglar inside this insanely big mansion. When I am beside one of the sleeping guards, I picked a tiny pebble and positioned myself behind the big bush that’s surrounding the gazebo. Good thing they are now using dim lights around. I am too confident that nobody will see me where I am hiding right now. I left my one eye open as I stretched the small leather fabric that’s placed in the center of my wooden Y-shaped slingshot as I carefully aimed it to the concrete wall that they are leaning on while snoring aloud. When I let my aim lose, I twitched because I was a little surprised by the sound made of that pebble that bounced on the concrete wall and yet those bodyguards are not even awakened by the sound. I clicked my tongue as I shook my head from side to side. “Gosh, that shot should already alert them, what on earth are their dreams about? Girls wearing a bikini?” I can’t help but mumble because of disappointment. I tried picking a pebble, much bigger compared to the one I aimed a while ago. I aimed at one of the bodyguard’s arms. “Please forgive me…” I said before I let loose the shot that's for him. I almost held my breath in one second because I am also nervous about what might happen next. I swallowed hard and I was shocked when it only bounced on the bodyguard’s arm. He even touched his arm and slapped it, thinking that it was a mosquito biting or attacking him. “Oh my goodness! I should be on guard for Mrs. Myles. I guess this is what she’s referring about the last time I talk to her.” I said as I sighed, enough for me to hear myself as I fold my arms while standing. The whole place is silent. Only the crickets chirping and the sounds made by some ventilation and exhausts installed around the mansion are the ones making the noise. I started going upstairs because I feel sleepy. My eyes wanted to close any time I gently rub it as I go back. I was about to step on the stairs going back to my room when I saw a light from the little room located under the wide staircase. Out of curiosity, I was able to tiptoe downstairs again, making sure my steps are not making any noise. I can hear a piece of familiar music played in a low volume. I also noticed that the door is slightly opened, approximately an inch or two. I can’t help but peek at that someone who is staying there. I placed half of my face on the opened door so that I can see who is the one that’s staying inside at this very late hour. Is that Mrs. Myles?! I can see her sitting on a small, comfortable chair as she faces the table, and in front of her is a large picture frame of someone. She’s smiling but I can see the hurt from her eyes. She sniffs at a familiar handkerchief…oh my goodness! Is that the handkerchief that I gave her when she was still at the hospital a few days ago? Why is she using my handkerchief when she has all the costly handkerchiefs around her? I felt sad for her. From Mrs. Myles’s mood right now, I can truly say that money is not an assurance for happiness. At first, that’s what I would always think of but seeing her in this state proved all my assumptions wrong. “Oh dear, oh dear…I hate you but I hope you knew what has been happening to me lately.” She smiled but tears are still running down on her cheeks. She’s talking to a picture frame that she hopes to talk to her back. I hope this woman is okay. I wanted to get inside and console her but I don’t want her to think that I am interested in knowing their lives more. I am not the type who will invade someone’s privacy in the first place. I breathed slowly and stepped back. As silent as I can, I started to go upstairs, passing many rooms. I want to think that this house is like a hotel because of the many rooms that I assumed to be empty. When I am nearing my room, somebody just pulled my hand out of nowhere. I felt that someone just covered my mouth with his palm. “Shh…please don’t make any noise.” A male voice reached my ear, almost a whisper that gave me goosebumps as I felt a masculine presence standing behind me.