Ellie’s POV
It has also been three days since the strength of my legs returned. I can finally walk again!
But the two nurses still did not leave my side, even Arya was still watching beside me. They always remind me to still take care of my body. Even though Dr. Guttierez checked me up and Miss Candy and they said that my condition was really improving, Arya and Aunt Cora still couldn't help but worry about me.
They take good care of me both and that’s one of the reasons why I feel so relieved when they are with me. Even though I didn't know them very well and I only came here because their Señorito helped me, they still accepted me and considered me a family member as well.
"Ellie, do you want us to go to town later?" Arya asked cheerfully.
We are currently in the living room today with nurses Hans and Ria. We were watching a movie on netflix while eating cookies that Aunt Cora herself baked. I'm getting more and more food because Aunt always cooks, you really can't complain about his dishes because they are so delicious!
Now I understand why Aunt Cora is always the one they want to cook here in the mansion.
I took my eyes off what I was watching and turned it to the one next to me. "What are we going to do in town?"
"Shopping!" She's happy answering me.
“But, Arya, you know that I don't have any money. I haven't worked for Señorito Keeion yet and another thing, even though I work for him as a personal assistant, I still don't get paid. He don't need to give me a salary because it understood that I need to pay my all debts to him.”
I may have served him for less than a year before I could be reimbursed for all that he had spent on me. I am aware that he really spent a lot. When he hired a private doctor and nurse, it would be difficult for me to pay.
“Oh my gosh! Who said it was your money to use or Keeion’s money? Of course it will come from my pocket to use. I'm the one who invited you so don't worry, I'll treat you.”
I shuddered in extreme embarrassment. Yes, it's hard to refuse when someone volunteered to treat you but I can't really accept it. I can't bear to see her spend money on me. It's really embarrassing. The help that Arya gives me is so much.
“Don't refuse, Ellie. Will you still reject me? I used to be the one always treated by y-” She didn't continue what she was saying and seemed surprised by what she said. She stopped and averted her eyes. She adjusted his seat and pulled her hair around her ears. “I mean, Keeion and Tedson used to treat me and I never refused them. It's a blessing that comes to me so why don't I want to? You should be the same.”
"It's okay with you because you're their friend," I said. "You feel comfortable with Sir Tedson and Señorito Keeion so you can't refuse their treat."
It is normal for friends to treat each other. They are comfortable with each other so no matter how many times they will treat her, it is no longer embarrassing. Sometimes it's a habit but you don't give a damn anymore. Your friends are even richer.
Like Keeion, Tedson and Arya. Even if Keeion seems to be treating his friends every day, he won't suffer. Is it because of their family's super wealth!
“But there is no difference. You are also a friend of mine so don't be shy.”
I don’t know what to feel after hearing those words.
It seemed to caress my heart. It is overwhelming that I am probably considered a friend of Arya even though she knows my condition.
It’s not easy for someone to trust someone like me who doesn’t know the real personal background. Isn't she afraid that she will consider me a friend? She did not know where I came from.
I don’t want my true identity to affect the people who helped me.
“Are you not afraid? You don't know me very well," I said.
The expression on her face did not change. She just calmly stared at me until now.
“This…” He pointed to the side of his chest where the heart was located. “It says that you’re a good person, Ellie. Let's just say I don't know who you are or where you come from, but that's no reason not to treat you as a friend. I feel you are a good person and that will not change my view of you.” She smiled.
I just smiled too.
I will make sure that when my memories come back and I know who I really am, I will not let the friendship Arya and I form now be ruined because of that.
The past cannot dictate the present. It is up to the person what he/she wants to be in the present. That's what I'll handle.
I will just accept who I am in the past, but I won’t let the past ruin what I am today.
“Stay here, okay? I'll just call Uncle Emman at the plantation so he can drive us.”
Arya got up and went straight to the kitchen. There is the back door where it is easier to get to the plantation. That is also the road that the people here in the mansion use when they want to go to the plantation and the vast farmland of the hacienda.
When Arya returned, she was with Uncle Emman. She just let us know that she would prepare the vehicle to be used and she would wait for us outside.
"Do you still want to change your dress?" she asked.
I shrugged my head. I'm okay with wearing white tattered jeans and a nude crop top blouse. I don't even know where it came from. I just saw the clothes I was using in the closet in my bedroom. I'm sure it's Arya's dress because we're the same body size, maybe she just lent them to me.
"Then, let's go?"
It traces on her face that she was excited. I was also excited so I immediately stood up.
I was excited to be in town. In a few weeks stay here, only now can I get out of the hacienda. I could no longer wait for the sights waiting outside.
I smiled especially when Arya held my hand. She pulled me closer to her and put on my head the light brown turban with a daisy flower design, the same one she was wearing on his head.
“Ellie, look! You look so beautiful!” She fixed my hair. She let the hair strands fall on both my cheeks.
Nurse Ria handed me the small mirror to look at my face.
I smiled as I saw the wound on my face slowly disappear. I no longer need to put on a band-aid because the ointments I apply are enough to make my wounds disappear and heal.
"Don't worry, those will also disappear. Your smooth and beautiful face will appear again,” Arya reassured me.
I smiled at her. She knows how to comfort me.
But the wounds I inflicted were not such a big deal to me. I don't care even if I get scared. I no longer wonder if the accident that happened to me will leave a mark on my body. What is important is my complete recovery.
While Arya was holding my hand, she pulled me out the door. Suddenly I let go of the mirror, fortunately it fell on the sofa.
We were about to get out of the big door when we stopped because we met Tedson. The man also stopped when he saw us coming out.
"Where are you going?" his question. He looked at Arya and me but in the end, he just looked at Arya. He waited for the girl to answer.
"Shopping!" Arya's frugal answer. I noticed that her hand holding me had grown cold. Is she nervous? But why is she nervous? We are just talking to her friend today.
Tedson's face lit up at what was heard. “I’m going with you! Wait for me and I'll just take a shower for a while.”
But even before Tedson could run inside, Arya immediately stopped him. “You can’t come! It’s a girl thing. Just stay here at the mansion and update Keeion about the flower plantation.”
The man's wide smile was immediately withdrawn. It snorted and seemed ready to pounce.
"No way! I want to go in town as well," he said in a hushed voice. He was like a child whose mother did not allow him to go to the market.
"Can we take him with us, Arya?" I suggested because I felt sorry for him somehow.
"No!" her immediate answer.
I wondered why his voice was so loud.
“Ellie is kind and she remembers me. Not like that one, too stingy,” Tedson whispered.
Arya glared at the man before she turned to me. “Ellie, just let the two of us bond today. Maybe next time, let's take him, just not today.”
I didn't go against what Arya wanted anymore. She will treat me so she can still be followed.
I couldn't say goodbye to Tedson because Arya was already pulling me away. She didn't even look at her friend.
Are they now enemies?
Why do they fight so often?
Ever since I woke up, the two of them have been arguing. Were they conceived out of resentment?
Before Uncle Emman could drive, I waited for Arya to message Keeion. She said that she would let her friend know before we left. They said that Señorito Keeion strictly instructed them to watch over me and update my every move.
Seriously, he has a lot of eyes here in the hacienda. He is still able to monitor me even when he is in Manila.
After Arya used her cell phone and seemed to have texted their Señorito, I sneezed. “Is he really that in control? Every action here in the hacienda must be told to him?”
She knew what I was referring to.
“Not like that, Ellie. It's not about being in control. Everyone here knows how protective Señorito Keeion is and that is not a problem for those here at the hacienda.” She just calmly explains it to me. “Everything in Señorito Keeion's house is his cargo so he always monitors everything to avoid possible bad things. Especially you, you haven't fully recovered yet so that's how he's worried.”
Keeion doesn’t look thoughtful. He was always serious and no emotion could be seen in his eyes.
Uncle Emman started the car. We made our way out of the hacienda. We passed rows of trees and the fresh breeze because of that. Provincial life is very relaxing.
It was also almost 30 minutes before we reached town. It is also quite far from the hacienda. As you can imagine, it took us thirty minutes even though there was no traffic here and we had our own car.
"Come on, Ellie."
Arya immediately invited me to get out of the car. I was exposed to the vast mall that Arya says. We immediately went inside.
Then Arya let go of my hold when we could finally enter.
Lots of people inside but not to the point where we were already crowded. This building is really spacious.
I enjoyed the dress and sandals shops that Arya and I went to. She let me choose whatever I wanted. He even reminded me not to be shy. She also refused to let me see the price of my choices. She knew I would regret it when I found out it was too expensive.
After shopping for clothes and shoes, we go next to the parlor.
She probably knew the people there because it was obvious that they were all very close. Maybe this is where Arya always goes to the parlor.
She ordered those present staff to fix my hair. At first, I was hesitant to agree because the hair treatment they would do might damage my long hair. But I did not regret it in the end. They did a nice and neat job with my hair. My hair became even straighter. It became smooth, shiny and fell apart especially.
“See, I told you. Raynier is great! ” Arya is proud of her friend who works here in the parlor.
Arya only got a manicure because she said she would only fix her hair last week before she went to Manila. When we finished, we immediately went straight to a Korean restaurant here also just inside the mall. We were already feeling hungry in various boutiques.
But before we could enter the restaurant, we met a man. He was about to leave and when he saw us, he suddenly stopped in front.
He is tall and has dark skin.
Based on his clothes, he was enjoying a luxurious life.
The body is well-shaped and I can’t deny he's handsome.
Maybe Arya knows him.
But surprisingly because he was looking at me and not next to me. He looked at Arya for a moment but he focused his gaze more on me.
He smiled. "Ellie!"
A few seconds of silence prevailed over the three of us.
"Wait, you know me?"