As I toweled myself dry, I gritted my teeth in anger and retribution as I beheld the scars on my body; scars that had been left behind by Adam and his brothers.
They weren’t much, thanks to the wonderful medicines of Peter, but they were present on my skin, a reminder of what I had gone through.
Oh yes, I liked it to an extent. It would help me remember the atrocity the triplets had committed against me. It would help me never to forget their acts of wickedness. It would help me never to forgive them for their inhuman betrayal.
When I was done with drying myself up, I took up the clothes that Diana had left at the bed; and starting with the pants, which were black and stretchy, I got dressed.
They were okay. The big cloak-or was it a sweater? I was not sure-was okay. Good I had gotten used to wearing oversized shirts when I had been bullied at the pack.
Who would have believed that after the torment that Adam and his brother had put me through then, that I had still gone ahead to sleep with him, even delude myself into thinking that he loved me?
I was really stupid. Damn foolish! As a matter of fact I deserved what had happened to me. Since I had chosen to be foolish, I might as well have reaped the consequences of my lack of discretion.
I kept on cursing myself as I hung the towel I had just used on one of the rails, and dumped my used clothes inside the bin which I was sure was meant for that purpose, before walking out of the bathhouse into the large compound again.
Time to find the couple, and then of course eat. I mused when I heard my stomach grumble.
I went back to Diana’s hut first, to check if perhaps Laura had come to check up on me; I was sure that she had come by more than once to know if I had been still sleeping.
Sleepy head. I cussed at myself, taking note of the empty state of the room, though swept. I was just noticing that for the first time. Diana or Laura must have done this. I thought, shutting the door and walking out of the room, deciding to check the hut that had the sitting room, dining and kitchen.
When I got to the hut, the door was slightly open, and so instead of peeping in like I normally would, I decided to knock.
A first knock and then a second one before I started to hear footsteps walking toward the door. Laura maybe, since they were light, and not as heavy as Peter’s.
I was right.
“Good morning Laura.” I greeted, when she opened the door widely. She smiled when she saw me.
“Right on time, Maya. I was about coming to wake you. Did you have a nice sleep?” She asked, opening the door wider, beckoning me to come inside.
“Yes, I had a nice sleep. Thanks Laura. I am sorry for sleeping in. I had actually hoped to wake up earlier and help with the morning chores.” I said, turning around swiftly when I heard the bark of laughter beside me.
Peter was laughing. He was laughing at me.
“Really, Maya, you are funny. First, you knocked at the door before coming in, and now you are apologizing for sleeping in, and not joining us for chores? I admire your zealousness, trust me. But you are still recovering and need all the rest you can get. So sleep in for all you want till you recover fully, and next time, don’t bother knocking before you come in. This is now your home, unless the queen says otherwise. So until then, feel free to do anything, so far as it doesn’t land you into trouble, eh?” Peter stated, and I nodded, a short smile on my face.
When he was done, he left the room, and I returned my attention to Laura. She was still smiling.
“My husband is right. Now get to the dining, let me serve you breakfast. We will soon be leaving for the meeting, so you have to eat fast so that we can leave together since you are still new to this environment. Diana mentioned that she wrote you a letter. Did you see it?” Laura asked, and I nodded, settling down on one of the dining chairs.
“She had mentioned that either you or Peter would be taking me shopping today after the meeting.” I said as I sat on one of the dining chairs.
“Right. I apologize for the clothes. They are what we have, which we believed would fit and cover you up since there was no underwear for your use.” Laura mentioned as she left the room to the kitchen.
“No problem. I understand. You shouldn’t apologize. They are comfy after all. I like them. Can I keep the sweater?” I asked, but there was silence. And I wondered whether she had heard me.
However, I kept quiet, waiting until she reappeared from the kitchen, carrying a bowl that contained a steaming hot something-I didn’t know what it was, just saw the steam rising from it as she kept it before me.
“Let me get the side dishes.” She said, leaving just as quickly she had come.
I looked into the bowl. It was noodles-those types that were usually displayed on TV in Chinese or South Korean dramas. I opened my mouth to comment on the unexpectancy of this kind of food here, but shut it, especially when I saw her carrying three other smaller bowls.
One contained diced meat, the other vegetables, and the other, I was not sure.
“I have loved experimenting with food ever since I was little. This is one of the ones I have learnt and we have come to love in my family. I am sure you will like it. Finish it all up. I will be waiting outside, and of course, yes. You can keep the sweater.” She said, smiling at me before she turned aside and walked out of the hut.