The Royal Contract

1129 My home

She looked at the almost empty room as she wiped another dirty table. It had been a hard day, but despite being exhausting. She felt it was all worth it. She would probably do it again.

She had volunteered to help in a charity event in an orphanage as a helper for the nuns who organized the celebration. They commemorated their twelfth anniversary since the first founder established the house that had been a home for thousands of children.

“My child, I think you already had done enough. Let the others finish this.” Sister Nenita told her with her gentle voice and a kind smile.

She met Sister Nenita at one of the Charity events she attended some time ago. The Sister had shared a few intriguing things with her in one of their conversations that had stuck in her mind.

From then on, she communicated with the Sister for more than a year. Therefore, when she decided that she needed time to think and be away from everything else in her life. She called her and asked for help.

“I am fine, Sister. Don’t worry about me.” She cheerfully responded, finding herself smiling despite the aching muscles.

She hardly did much compared to the others, but admittedly, she had never worked this hard in her previous job. Acting work was a difficult job, but she believed this was harder.

Waking up before the break of dawn was not a difficult task, but mopping the floor, wiping the tables, serving food, running around with the children, and entertaining the guests had been more taxing than whatever she had done in the past.

“Thank you for helping. Not just with the money. But for giving us your time and your effort.” Sister Nenita said as she put one hand on her shoulder. “You are truly a Godsend.”

.....

“I think you help me more than I could ever repay.” She said to the nun who did not close her door when she came for her help.

She immediately gave her a place to stay. It was not a luxury hotel with a beautiful suite or a large condominium in some first-class residential building. But it was a room where she could feel safe and at peace.

It was more than any of her money could buy. Yes, she donated money to their foundation, but it was nothing compared to the joy she felt when she saw the smiles on the people around her.

“God doesn’t need payment. But he sees the effort you put into helping all those kids.” Sister Nenita said. “You were a tremendous help in the success of this night. That is more than enough.”

Many attended the event, but most guests were former orphans who had lived in this house and found a new home and a great life. The head nun wished to inspire the young kids still seeking a new home and family that would help them toward their future.

But thankfully, the nuns had made the event private. They Invited only the people that mattered and did not make a spectacle of the occasion by seeking the media’s attention. The last thing she wanted was her face on the front page of a tabloid magazine.

“Sister, I am sorry to bother you, but could you come and help us? There seems to be a situation in the kitchen.” One of the helpers interrupted their conversation, excusing herself.

It helped that she had been working with the organizers for a few days. Therefore, her presence was not such a big deal to them anymore. They tried to take her pictures.

But with the help of Sister Nenita’s request, they never posted them online. At least she had not seen any paparazzi around, snooping on her business. Or maybe the media had enough of her and was not interested anymore. That would be great if that should be the case.

She was tired of hiding from them anyway. She just wanted some time for herself without someone bugging her with questions. Was that too much to ask? However, for the media who thought there was a story. It was.

“You have to excuse me. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask for help.” Sister Nenita said before she left her back to what she had been doing, wiping the table clean.

But she only said to the Sister that she had everything under control. All she needed to do was several more tables. Then she had to put the chairs on top of the table so the others could finish mopping the floors.

After that, she could walk back to her room, not far from the hallway where they conducted the event. She could finally hit the hay and allow her body to rest and enjoy a peaceful sleep.

“Hey, Serena. Why don’t you let me finish here?” A voice walked behind her, making her turn around.

She was surprised to see him. She thought he had already left since it was late. Honestly, she had seen him with one of the guests and thought he had gone, with her, when she left.

“Doc, I can finish up here,” Serena said, talking to one of the volunteers who also aided in the event. “Why don’t you try to help the others?” She said, thinking that someone out there might still need his assistance.

Besides, she only had a few things to do. Then she was ready to retire for the day. But she promised Sister Eloisa that she would help with tomorrow’s chores around the orphanage.

“Ok. But if you need any help, call me.” He said, taking a few steps away from her. But before he could go far, he turned and looked at her again. “I don’t want to look creepy, but do you think you can grab a drink with me after we finish here.”

She did not see him as creepy. On the contrary, she thought he looked sweet and kind from how he had handled the kids earlier. But she hardly knew him since he only saw her this morning when the nuns introduced them.

All she knew was that he was a doctor that specialized in bones. He was here because he also volunteered to help. Then, she heard that he worked at the nearby hospital. At least, that was what she gathered.

“I guess you are also not from around here.” She answered him as she shook her head at his offer. Suddenly, he looked at her with a frown. “No bar around here is still open at this time.” She looked at her watch to confirm it. “Trust me, Sebastian. I already check.”

She remembered her first night in her room. Honestly, she felt like she was detoxifying herself from her addiction as she stared at the four corners and walls surrounding her.

The only pieces of modern equipment she saw in her tiny room were the electric bulb that lit the small space and the fan that circulated the air. Then, there was nothing else except the bed, a table, a chair, and a small cabinet where she could put her few things.

She thought she was going crazy, so she went out to find a bar. But as the nuns had told her, it closed early. She suddenly understood that she was far away from the city. And this place was far from the life she had. But she had learned to adjust in a few days, finding something else she could do with her time.

“Oh. I did not know. I only arrived late last night.” ‘Sebastian informed her, confirming her assumption. “Then, can I at least take you home?” He still offered, as if he genuinely wanted to get to know her.

She looked at him, trying to gauge her situation and wondering if she should trust him. She had seen many men who looked like him. They were handsome with cute smiles, kind and gentle when people were watching, but in the end, they were monsters hiding with their fake facades.

But then again, Sister Nenita said she should not give up on life. Despite what happened to her, life should still go on. She should never stop meeting people and lose hope in humanity.

“I guess there is no harm in that.” She finally accepted, agreeing to wait for him when she finished. He would help the people who still had to mop the floors.

She finished putting the chairs on top of the table when she saw him mopping the last portion of the hallway. She could guess it would not take him more than several more minutes to finish.

She walked over to Sister Eloisa and confirmed with her their activity in the morning. She did not want to be late. She knew that their time was valuable. She should not waste it.

“Hey! I am sorry. But I think we can go now.” Sebastian finally came up to her and told her that he was ready to leave if she was. “My car is already parked outside.” He informed her.

She slightly chuckled, knowing that they would not need it. “I guess we should get going then.” She said as she said goodnight to the rest of the people in the hallway. “This way.” She told him when he was about to escort her to the exit.

“Where we are going would not require a car?” She said, which showed a puzzled look on his face. “Come on, trust me.” She said as she continued to walk at the backdoor until they were outside the beautiful garden, which the nuns had been working on for years.

“Where are we going?” He asked as his eyes darted around him as she leisurely walked along the pathway, enjoying the magnificent view.

“My home.” She answered. At least her home until she was ready to return to the real world.

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