“Sorry, Joday! We were just having a quick chat here in the garden,” Doday exclaimed to Joday, putting on a facade that made me weakly shake my head. You’re wearing a mask, Doday. What happened to you? Why are you acting this way?
“S-sorry, Joday! I was just watering my plants,” I responded, turning to Joday and showing her the plants I had attended to.
“Whatever! Just come inside when you’re done… We need to plan for Madam’s birthday tomorrow,” Joday explained impatiently, starting to walk back inside the mansion.
I was taken aback as Doday suddenly approached me and whispered, “Tomorrow night, after Madam’s birthday, in the mansion’s attic.” For some unknown reason, I simply nodded, swallowing hard.
Doday swiftly followed Joday into the mansion, leaving me with a mix of confusion and anticipation.
–
“Is this decoration really good, Doday?” Miss Linda asked as we worked on preparing the decorations for Madam’s birthday. Madam had requested a simple party for all of us. As I stood alongside Joday, Doday, and Miss Linda, we busily prepared for Madam’s birthday decorations. The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement and anticipation.
We started by inflating colorful balloons, filling the room with a vibrant and joyful ambiance. The soft squeaks and pops of the balloons added a lively rhythm to our tasks but something was still bothering me with working but I shrugged it all off.
Next, we hung up sparkly lanterns, their shimmering lights casting a warm glow in the room. The lanterns swayed gently, creating a magical atmosphere that would surely captivate Madam. Their soft twinkling would serve as a backdrop for the festivities. We also adorned the walls with delicate paper streamers in various shades, creating a whimsical backdrop for the celebration. The streamers cascaded down in a cascade of colors, making the room feel festive and enchanting.
For elegance, we carefully arranged fresh flowers in beautiful vases, their vibrant hues and fragrant aromas filling the air. The flowers added a natural beauty and served as a reminder of the joy and love that filled the occasion.
“Yes, yes, Miss Linda! Oh my gosh! These are great!” Doday replied cheerfully while looking at the decorations. Her trademark phrase ‘oh my gosh’ accompanied her every time. I wonder if that was fake, too.
Even now, I felt scared and uncertain about Doday. She kept changing her masks, that much I knew. She always wore a smile as if nothing was wrong. It just occurred to me that I hadn’t seen a genuine smile on her lips since I started working here. It was only now that it seemed I caught a glimpse of her true colors.
“Lyka! Are you okay over there?” Miss Linda’s voice brought me back to reality. I realized I hadn’t finished icing Joday’s cupcakes because I had been lost in observing Doday’s behavior. I looked at Miss Linda and then at Doday, who was watching me intently.
“Huh? I’m okay! I was just thinking about something,” I replied, feeling a bit flustered. Doday stared at me for a long moment, as if conveying a message. I was the first to break our gaze when Joday called out Kiro’s name.
“Sir Kiro!” Joday called out warmly, approaching him.
“Sir Kiro, do you want to help us? It’s for your mother’s birthday,” Doday added. I suddenly remembered the emotions she displayed when asking me about the kiss between Kiro and me.
She had been crying. Did she have a connection with Kiro?
I observed them as they teased and conversed with Sir Kiro. It seemed that Doday and Kiro had a normal boss-maid relationship, nothing out of the ordinary. They had the usual dynamics one would expect.
I was taken aback when Doday turned to me again, her gaze shifting to Kiro. She raised an eyebrow and smiled at me. What did that mean?
They convinced Kiro to help us with the preparations, including the decorations and other dishes for Madam’s birthday tomorrow. Miss Linda had already cooked some dishes in advance to minimize the work for the next day.
“I told Miss Linda to keep it simple, but why is everyone so busy? And look at these fantastic decorations! What’s all this for?” Madam commented as she arrived home from work.
“Oh, Madam! You are so kind to us, so we wanted to prepare something special for you!” Miss Linda exclaimed, while Joday chimed in.
“And besides, Madam, the money you gave us was used for the ingredients we’re using now… We’re the ones doing the cooking, so it’s alright!” Joday boldly proclaimed, earning laughter from the others. I noticed Sir Kiro also smiling at Joday’s words.
“Oh, alright then! Carry on and take care of everything. I’ll rest for now. Thank you!” Madam declared. We continued with our busy tasks, everyone filled with excitement for Madam’s upcoming birthday. However, amidst their anticipation, all I could feel was apprehension. I was fearful of what Doday might say or reveal tomorrow.
–
The next day, we all woke up early, knowing that we would have a small party for Madam later in the evening. Throughout the day, our tasks consisted of cleaning, preparing, and cooking a few more dishes. In the afternoon, we took showers and changed into comfortable clothes.
Joday, Doday, and Miss Linda put on lipstick, with Miss Linda even helping me, although it wasn’t really necessary. Since morning, I had been feeling restless, eager for this day to be over.
The little party for Madam began, and we all tasted the cooked dishes before serving them. After dinner, we engaged in a conversation with Madam, who shared stories from her life.
I must admit, I wasn’t paying much attention.
Feeling the need to use the bathroom, I asked for permission, which everyone granted. As I washed my face and removed the lipstick marks, I noticed Doday waiting for me outside the bathroom when I went out.
I felt a sense of surprise. “Just follow me to the attic, Lyka,” she commanded.
Despite feeling scared, I immediately obeyed. I couldn’t help but wonder why we needed to go to the mansion’s attic. What was the significance of speaking there? What important information did she have to share?
As soon as we arrived, she switched on the light. As I entered the attic, a sense of curiosity washed over me. The space seemed ordinary and unremarkable at first glance, with its dusty corners and old wooden beams. The air felt still and heavy, carrying a hint of… a forgotten past.
Dim light filtered through a small window, casting faint rays that lighted the room. The attic’s floor was covered in a thin layer of dust, as if it hadn’t been touched in ages. The walls were lined with cardboard boxes, stacked neatly against each other. Cobwebs dangled from the ceiling. The occasional creaks and groans of the wooden floorboards echoed through the silent space every step we made.
“Perhaps you’re wondering why I brought you here and why I still have something to confess to you, Lyka…” Doday began, her eyes fixed on mine. I noticed the familiar emotions she displayed earlier that day in the mansion’s garden.
She placed her hands on my shoulders, and I saw the corners of her eyes turn red as tears streamed down her cheeks. She was crying.
“D-Doday…”
“This is where I used to cry, Lyka… in this attic,” she uttered, her words interrupted by sobs. Why was she crying? What did she mean by what she said?
“H-huh? W-what do you mean, Doday? Are you alright?” Concern filled my voice as I posed the question, but she covered her mouth with her hands, stifling her sobs.
“You know that Sir Kiro is sick, don’t you, Lyka?” she suddenly asked, causing me to startle and swallow hard.
Finally, I understood what she was about to reveal. With tears streaming down her face, I nodded repeatedly in response.
“He’s sick, isn’t he?… I am one of his victims, Lyka.”