Dangerous Love

Chapter 12

Ara carried her cross. She went to the washing room which was outside the building. The washroom was built in a way that if ten people were willing to wash together, it would contain them. The washroom was a little bit behind Prince Ire's building itself. You could take the back door or side door. There were enough washing machines and drying machines. 

She thought even with the washing machine, her work would be easier and faster, but she was wrong. The curtains were thick materials, long and wide. She didn't complain knowing she couldn't even try it. Hundred thousand naira is at stake here. Knowing the Prince she was working for, she couldn't even try it.

"Ara, why are you here? I've been looking up and down for you. You just left me in the kitchen all alone staying here." Sewa put on a act, pretending she knew nothing and behaving as if she had been looking for Ara truly.

Ara shook her head, still smiling. "I would never do that. I'm sorry I didn't tell you I had to start my punishment." She pointed to all the curtains and clothes on ground for Sewa to see immediately she climbed the steps, entering the building you could see from afar. "This is just the part one out of the punishment Prince Ire gave to me. I actually don't know what I've done wrong."

Sewa shook her head. "I'm really sorry about that. Let me just help to make it faster."

Ara quickly shook her head. "You know how the Prince can be. I don't want him adding anymore to all these. Is too much for me already. Besides, you just finished working too."

Sewa smiled at Ara who knew nothing. Even if she had wanted to assist Ara, she would have rested before coming over to do that, but she couldn't because she knew Prince Ire was somewhere watching. She carried some of the curtains and stood before the third washing machine. "Don't worry, I like helping people actually. And just watch out in case you see the Prince. I will just hide somewhere here and no one will know."

Ara was so happy. She left the drying machine she was operating and hugged Sewa really tight. "Thank you so much. You don't know how happy I am. I want to cry..." She faked a sound that made her look like she was crying indeed before bursting into a small laughter causing Sewa to chuckle a little. Ara continued. "To tell you the truth, I'm tired already. And I can't even believe I'm just spending two days out many months to go."

Sewa smiled back at Ara's sweetness. She felt for her but she knew Ara would get used to it in time. Just that, she couldn't tell why the Prince had to punish her with all these. The curtains were washed two days ago. Why made Ara do useless work again? Sewa tried to calm her down instead. "It's okay."

Ara was still standing there. Now she was smiling back. She scratched her neck trying to say something. She prayed Sewa's mood wouldn't change because of that judging by how she reacted to her when she first came. She wasn't sure if Sewa liked her, but judging by the fact that she was helping her, she decided to just ask. Ara coughed, then spoke. "Can I call you sister Sewa? Like...." She quickly added. "I don't feel comfortable calling you just by your name. You look a bit older than me and I think I'm right about that."

Sewa smiled. Somehow, she was beginning to like Ara more. She was beginning to see more than just her beauty. She could see someone who was willing to respect her and not act and call people by their names because you work together knowing they are actually older than you. Slowly in her mind, she liked the idea of coming out to help Ara. She was getting to know Ara more than just the pretty face. The first day she saw Ara, she knew within her she saw Ara just like a sister, but one has to be careful because to her some of the youths she had come across were very rude. Like Florence. Even some rich children are respectful. Talkless of a girl brought up from the slum. She turned her attention back to Ara and smiled. "How old are you?" She asked.