CHAPTER 5
Chapter 5
I LOVE YOU VIOLA
What could be this young girl's problem? This is the second time I'm seeing something like this. Even the times I shouted at her and poured water on her, she never wore a gloomy face like this." Leonardo thought inwardly as he walked around the garden.
Even in his arrogant and uncaring lifestyle, something glued his mind to Viola's countenance of late.
He walked past her on two different occasions, laying under the tree in the garden. She didn't even notice that someone was walking around in the garden; unlike her, Viola would always rush to greet Leonardo when she just saw him from her.
He moved closer, and his footsteps startled her from her world of thoughts.
"G-good evening, sir." Viola stammered and bundled herself up in fear.
"Why are you sleeping at work? Is.."
"Never mind." He said it coldly and continued taking his walk.
His intention was to ask her what the problem was, but pride set in, and he reserved his words.
"What? Is this truly Sir Leonardo? Why is he acting so calm today when I thought he'd sack me for resting while on duty?" Viola was stunned by Leonardo's calm reaction, and she stood and watched him walk around, inspecting her work.
"What is happening here?" Leonardo asked as he heard his mother's rising voice when he walked towards her room the next morning to greet her before he left for work.
"I've warned you; this should be the last time you ask me for such stupid favors again. Your mother can die for all I care!" Mrs. Van's voice echoed.
"Mum, what is the problem? And what is this girl doing here this morning?" Leonardo asked as he stepped in and saw Viola on her bent knees in his mother's room.
"Give it to her, mom." That's nothing since she said she'll stay and work for the period of seven years," Leonardo said as his mother explained the reason behind her early morning shout and Viola's presence in her room.
"What? Leo, did you even understand what I'm talking about? She's asking for 3 million dollars!" His mother reiterated.
"I know, mom."
"Would you stand up and get out of my room, now?!" she yelled at Viola.
The room became silent; she and Leonardo stared at each other without saying a word.
Mrs. Vans still finds it unbelievable that Leo was the one who actually uttered those words. This is the first time she's seeing Leo acting concerned over a person's welfare.
"It's fine. I'll do as you suggest. But what if she decides to run away after getting what she wanted, Leo?" His mother asked, sounding worried.
"Trust me, mom." She can never do that. And if she tries it, sorry, but her whole family would pay for it in a hard way!"
Leonardo's sudden kindness never ceases to amaze his mother.
"Well, that is a welcome development! I've always wished that he would become less arrogant one day. So this is the result of my prayers. I don't have to disappoint him." Mrs. Vans said and shrugged as Leonardo left.
Five years later.
Viola was working in the garden hastening to finish up her work before the mighty rain would fall, but she wasn't too lucky to escape the rain.
"Hey!!" She heard a familiar voice call out in the thick garden.
She turned around and looked, but couldn't sight anybody. Her body was all well and soaked in the rain.
"Hey!!" The voice echoed again.
"See me over here.
She focused her gaze at the direction of the voice, and there stood Sir Leonardo in the garden under the rain.
"Sir!" Viola shouted.
"Viola, leave that place and come stand here with me. We can manage the umbrella." He said.
Viola was stunned at Leonardo's kindness towards her. She wondered what luck she had with him, because all the other domestic workers in the mansion who had been there before her never ceased complaining of his arrogance.
"Thank you, sir." She said in her thin voice as she joined him in the umbrella.
It still felt like a dream to Viola how cool he sounded when he engaged her in a conversion.
"So, what are your plans after serving us for seven years?"
The question sounds rhetorical to Viola's hearing.
She was scared of the answer to give.
"What if he was sent by his mother to ask her such?" She asked herself inwardly, considering how cold Mrs. Vans had been acting towards her lately.
"I… I don't know yet. I'm still figuring out my next plan."
The two spent time conversing until the rain stopped and they moved to the mansion.
"Viola!"
Mrs. Van's voice echoed at her door at around 9:00 pm.
"Oh my God! What could bring this woman here?" Viola panicked at the sight of her employer, and she quickly stumbled out of bed to get the door opened.
"I don't need to come in," Mrs. Vans said coldly with a fierce look as Viola offered to usher her in.
"I've noticed your closeness to my son these past few days; can you tell me what is going on?"
This question wouldn't have been a tough one to answer, but the look on her face could clearly tell anyone that she doesn't mean well by that question.
"There's n-nothing going on, ma'am." Viola's trembled.
"Don't think you can fool me, Viola. I only keep you up to date because of my money, so if you think you can use that opportunity and trap my son's heart, then you lied, illiterate! Mrs. Vans warned and left.
But what answer did she expect from Viola? Of the truth, Leonardo has never confessed love to her—even though her heart has been beating for him for some time now.
At daybreak, Leonardo made way to his mom's room. She had texted him in the night that she wanted to see him before he left for work.
"Leonardo, what is going on between you and that poor gardener? She asked coldly.
"Nothing, mum. Just friends."
"Friends? Did you just call her your friend?"
"What is wrong with you, Leo?" she yelled.
I never expected this from you. Of all the classy girls out there, you didn't see any to make a friend but your domestic servant? A common gardener?"
"I'm disappointed in you, Leo!" She declared and angrily opened the door to walk out on him.
"You witch! Who invited you here?" She said as she opened her door and met Viola standing.
"I… I'm sorry, ma'am. I was about to knock when you opened." She said calmly.
"Nonsense! So what are you doing here?" She yelled at her.
"Here," Viola handed a paper to her.
"That's a check of 3 million dollars, ma'am. I want to say thank you for lending me the money to save my mother's life." Viola said in her thin, calm voice.
Mrs. Van became speechless; looking at the check given to her by Viola seems like a dream.
"Viola," Leonardo's voice echoed from inside.
"I thought the agreement was for you to work for seven years; then why doing otherwise? Did someone threaten you to pay off the money?" he asked.
"No, master."
"Then why are you giving us back the money? Besides, you've labored for five good years already. And aside from that, where did you get the money to pay us back?"
"Hmmmm." Viola huffed before she started answering his questions.
"I'm pretty fine with everything, master. It's just that after paying 2.5 million for my mom's treatment, my dad invested the remaining 5 million into his business, and thank God it paid off."
"Then you should have used it for something else!" Leonardo opined.
"No sir. It seems my continuous stay in this house would cause more harm than good. I don't think I'll complete the seven years anymore. I need to get a life for myself."
"And where do you think you're going?" Mrs. Vans asked as Viola turned to take her leave.
"Back to my parents house, ma'am. My things are all set. I should be living tomorrow," Viola replied with her voice devoid of any fear.
"Good! You've just made the best decision of your life!" Mrs. Vans said a smirk while she watched the poor gardener descend the stairs.
"Viola! Please wait!" Leonardo screamed and raced down after her, grabbing her hand as soon as he reached out to her.
"Viola, please, don't go. I've become so addicted to you already. Please stay back for my sake!"
"Leo! What nonsense is that?" Mrs. Vans yelled in disbelief at her son's act. He turned and looked at his mom, but said nothing and took his gaze from her, focusing on Viola.
"What do you mean, master?" Viola asked.
"I love you, Viola. You can stay back and not be a gardener anymore! But please, don't go anywhere," Leo confessed.
"Don't even go there! Leo, over my dead body, would I sit and watch you have a relationship with this poverty-stricken thing?" Mrs. Vans declared and dashed back to her room.