VI: Stop Looking

Then fast forward to the present. Maya learned that Alexander was not a fat guy. However, she still lacks info from him. 

Maya needed to know his positive points and all negative points.

Of course, she also needs to have a chance to appropriately interact with the man and get his cooperation, just like what Mrs. Knight wanted. 

But how? 

She was still in a dilemma when Maya realized that Sicilia already finished her food, and the old lady was ready for bed.

Maya, on the other hand, took longer eating. She was stalling time. But how many hours could someone stay eating with just the remaining spoonful of mash potatoes? 

Aside from that, she was already getting weird states from the house helpers.

So Maya had no choice but to finish her food. After that, she sneakily walks around the house, trying to create the chance for her and Alexander to ‘accidentally’ meet, but it was already past 10:00 PM, and there was still no shadow of the guy. 

She felt like having a headache for his future girlfriend. How could a relationship last when there was no spare time for having fun? 

Maya was still thinking of this solution when she finally fell asleep.

***

After two days, Maya was still nowhere to figure out the kind of man Alexander was. She didn’t get the chance to since he was always busy or locking himself in his room.

Aside from that, Sicilia also asked her for a favor. The older woman told her to keep their plan from Alexander in the meantime. Sicilia will help Maya to have more time with Alexander so that she could know him more.

Maya was dumbfounded as her thoughts run in her head, ‘Madam, are you sure you should trust me this much, and I won’t end up seducing your grumpy grandson?’

She was just complaining silently. But she was still surprised when the next morning, Sicilia made sure to bring her grandson with her to the breakfast table. Maya was already in her place, ready to eat whatever was on her plate.

Alexander looked pissed, and Maya was even more pissed at him because he was acting like a douche. It was obvious he was avoiding her, and he made her feel like an insect. However, if that was the case, Maya felt like she could be the bee and continue pestering him just to prove her small insignificant self could anger him to death.

Nevertheless, she had a job to do and make sure she knows everything about him.

Even though he always stayed in his room, she made sure to keep an eye also on what’s going on next to his room, and staying on the same floor as he made it more comfortable. Maybe that was why she was staying there.

She knew, for example, that he’s not the breakfast kind of guy, but around eleven, if he’s staying in the house,  he would always get hungry and ask for a sandwich, his eating habits are not good, he also eats late at night and has a hard time falling asleep, probably because he eat so late.

The other day when Maya woke up in the middle of the night, she felt thirsty and went to the kitchen to get some water. On her way, she noticed that lights were still on in his room. She knew he works hard, but this man was like a machine. All he did was work.

Alexander sat down in front of Maya, and they were still not talking except for a few ‘hi’ and ‘hey’ that were often spoken by Maya. He wasn’t talkative. At least that’s one quality every man needs to have. Maya hoped that her ideas would never make it out in the real world. Otherwise, she’ll be in big trouble, probably back in London streets.

She kept on following each gesture Alexander made, how he impatiently waits for his coffee, how he firmly holds his cup, how he puts half a teaspoon of sugar, mix the coffee, tastes it, then mixes again for no reason. Each little gesture was playing before Maya like a movie.

A sudden voice awoke Maya from her deep focus.

“Stop looking at me,” the voice said.

Once she looked up, she saw Alexander looking at her.

“What?” she asked again since she didn’t hear the first time.

“I said stop looking at me, it’s creepy,” He repeated with unmasked displeasure.

Maya was mentally pounding her head on the wall, but she couldn’t do anything as Sicilia was looking at both of them. Amusement?

“Sorry,” Maya muttered softly.

An apology she did not mean at all.

“You’ll have to excuse the poor girl, and it’s the first that you have blessed us with your presence, and you barely said anything. No wonder she’ll be looking at you,” Sicilia said disapprovingly.

The old lady was coming to Maya’s defense, who was grateful for it, yet surprised at how much Sicilia pays attention to details. How does she know they haven’t spoken yet?

“Aside from that, Maya is new in the country. I am too old to go around places. Why not give time to drive her around?” Sicilia added suddenly, before shifting her gaze towards Maya, “What do you think, dear? I don’t want you getting lost or scammed here. So you need to be familiar with the place.”

Maya resisted the urge to roll her eyes cause of the apparent teasing in the older woman’s voice.

‘Drive around with this block of wood? Isn’t that going to be awkward?’ Despite her silent complaints, Maya knew that it was the best opportunity to meet the guy.

But before she voices out her opinion, he already flatly refused.

“I didn’t have the time, my apologies,” he said dismissively and expressionlessly.

‘Why you unsocial person…’ Maya wanted to spat out. However, she could only discreetly glare at him instead.

Suddenly Maya frowned and noticed something…