Esmeralda's Point of View
"Oh my goodness sweetheart, are you alright?" Concerningly inquired Amabel as she scamper to hug Lucretius. Who, apparently, is very fine and healthy. No injuries nor blood were supposed to be splattered across him.
Although, I am also quite taken aback by his, and his men's dismal expressions. Seeing Nonno Alejandro getting down the car, I immediately rush towards him.
"Are you okay Nonno Alejandro?" I quizzed while darting my eyes to the other men as well. Some have little splatters of blood on their shirts but I see no minor nor major injuries.
"Miss Esmeralda, yes I am fine thank you." He replied with a scarce smile.
But still, they have this dismal look so I tried another question. "Is everyone alright then?"
I didn't hear if Amabel had asked my question as well but since she is talking with Lucretius, I don't know what to think not expect of the answers she will get. Whether a series of nods or blank expressions.
"About that, we have some unfortunate men. Two have minor injuries and one got sh-"
"OH MY GOODNESS! Did you say shot sweetheart?" Amabel suddenly exclaimed behind us, ceasing all of the conversations and turning to her.
She seems to worry about their topic just as how worried she was with Lucretius so I nod to nonno Alejandro before rushing to support her. Together with her husband who is more worried to her than the topic, of course.
Meanwhile, Lucretius seems calm but he held Amabel's hand gently coaxed. " Adriatico was shot but is rigid enough to be defeated by such a single bullet. He was even enthusiastic to come home and cure his damage here but his companions insisted for him to go and let the hospital help him. Your attendant is quite reliable."
Amabel wears a proud grin at the last sentence of Lucretius. "Well, let's hope he will recover soon then." She replied while ushering Lucretius to head inside. "Now, come all of you, have some shower and rest." She then ordered the other men. Who, noddingly followed.
******************
"So then are you alright? Did you have any minor scratches?" I quizzed as I face Lucretius who is busy typing on his laptop.
To be honest, this is my first time seeing him with a laptop paired with an eyeglass. Together with focused eyes and hands. I didn't even think he could use gadgets at all. Just a moment ago, I was also browsing on my laptop regarding how my lodge has been doing in my room when Amabel came and told me to personally give Lucretius his dinner because of some reasons heaven only knows what on earth are they. But since she seemed strict on the subject, I merely agreed.
So here I am, standing beside a table after putting down the tray of some pasta dish.
Finally, after recalling to myself how I got here, Lucretius lift his head and stared at me as if I am the newest member of the maid whom he had never seen.
'Great, it appears he returned to his old self after such an incident.'
"Yes indeed I didn't have any....unfortunately." He muttered, it seemed he said it more to himself than me.
I was about to be relieved upon hearing his response but when he added 'unfortunately ' I was forced to sit down. Because as a therapist-his therapist, I must correct his twistedly melancholic logic.
"Can I ask," I began. " would you have preferred it then if it was you who was shot?"
He raised his one eyebrow at my question. "It depends. " he merely grumbled before returning to his laptop.
I was about to respond when a loud knock interjected us.
"Yes?" I volunteered to inquire since Lucretius seems so occupied to even bother answering the poor person behind the door.
Hearing my response, the girl-whom I recognized by the voice, asked if she can open the door, to which I eagerly give my consent. Where I also added my apology since I forgot to open it for her.
"Master Lucretius and Miss Esmeralda, lady Amabel asks if you want to help with the preparation of her birthday celebration." The girl, who was also the one who gave us cookies, politely asked.
I was puzzled by the question but knowing Amabel, perhaps she might be thinking of helping Lucretius to appease his boredom.
So I returned a smile to the girl and replied, "Please tell her that we will. And we will be there in a minute."
She nods at my positive response and expressed her goodbye before turning away. Meanwhile, Lucretius who never gave the girl's presence any acknowledgment, finally raised his puzzled attention to me.
"Well, it's your aunt who is asking. Won't you at least give her some satisfaction to her request?" I asked upon sensing the unspoken inquiry.
He didn't say a word.
"Alright, don't tell me you are that lazy to at least work sometimes. What on earth can you possibly do then when, and not if, all your servants go away?" I added.
Again, he didn't utter any comment as he merely went back to typing.
'Curse this pathetic idiot.'
"Well, if you don't want to go then I won't force you. However, do remember that everything in this world will last, and nothing is perma-"
"Let's go." He unexpectedly grumbled while standing up, lazily putting away his now-closed laptop. Which interjected my speech and had my mouth forming an 'o' shape.
"Really? Are you sure?!"
I thought he would be pissed at my repetition but he was not, then he suddenly grinned. "Perhaps, surviving with an empty stomach is harder than with an empty heart." He remarked.
With that, he eagerly left. Leaving me astounded by his metaphor.
Heading to the kitchen, where Lucretius unexpectedly led me, we were welcomed by loads of working men and women here and there with food ingredients, fruits, and almost every good, you can think of. Nevertheless, Amabel made no effort of noticing us. Regardless of the swift activities and noises around us. And again, seeing this amount of workers, I'm reminded of what we are going to celebrate and to whom it is celebrated.
"Oh, sweethearts Esmeralda and Lucretius! Come here! Come here!" She shouts as she gestures her hand vibrantly.
Like a visitor being called, we followed silently but hesitantly.
"Come come sweethearts, here is my small kitchenette where we will be cooking my cake," Amabel informed us as we enter another kitchen with a smaller sphere, and more organized tools and ingredients.
Seeing and smelling the sweet aroma of the stocks of chocolates, powdered and formed, from solid to liquid everywhere, I asked, "We are to make chocolate cake?"
"Exactly! Sweetheart, you two love them, yes?"
We both replied automatically to Amabel's question. I replied 'yes' with a smile while Lucretius nodded.
I mean, who would still hesitate to say yes when it is about chocolates? If mom and Alatheia were here, they would totally ly here and there to taste the chocolates, and while they are doing that, mom would certainly carve some sculptures into the solid form of chocolates. While Alatheia would rush to take pictures with it while shoving it in her mouth. That was exactly what happened when we bake Alatheia's birthday cake as well. So now that I am in the same situation of making a chocolate cake, I feel like I need to call them later and inform or boast them of my this. One would literally cry in envy for su-
"You seem to be deep in a joyous memory sweetheart, will you care to share it with us?"
I was suddenly returned back to where I am currently standing upon hearing Amabel's words. I told her I was suddenly reminded of how we also baked my sister's birthday cake when I saw the chocolates. To which she positively commented before suggesting that we to begin.