Chapter 9: The Balcony
Augustus was all sweat and tired as he tries to shape up into squares the bermuda that he will be transferring from the front yard of Don Maximus rest house to the back of the house where his father Berto has already started the landscaping. It was almost a week since they started the landscaping of Don Maximus rest house. He had already done thirteen squares and took every five of it to the cart and carried it to the backyard.
It was almost four in the afternoon when one of the housekeeper came outside carrying a tray of cold mango juice and two slices of banana cakes.
"Mang Berto! Augustus! Come here and take a rest for awhile. Have some of these," the housekeeper said giving the tray to Augustus.
"Thank you," Augustus replied as he accepted the tray and started drinking the mango juice to quench his thirst.
A little girl went running from the inside right after Augustus glanced at the entrance door. She wore a flower printed white blouse and a red long skirt that swayed as the soft wind blows it. He could see the girl's expression and knew that she was shy as she was caught looking at them outside.
He then looked back at the housekeeper and ask, "who is she?"
"She's Olivia, Don Maximus and Madam Odette's only daughter. She is a little bit shy and aloof but I just wonder why she took the time to come down today," the housekeeper said as she looked at Olivia running towards the stairs and up to her room.
"Why is that so?" Augustus asked in curiousity.
"Well, that little girl has some attitude. When they came here from Canada, she never got out from her room. She don't even eat with her parents during meal time. All she does inside her room is paint and sleep. I even think that she might be a special kid or something whenever she have her tantrums." The housekeeper replied in a whisper like tone of voice while rolling up her eyes as if trying not to be caught off talking behind her bosses back.
"But that girl seems to be normal looking. I guess she's not just used to the place and she doesn't even have friends here at all." Augustus said as he too looked at the girl who glanced at them before the door shut.
"Maybe, but who knows really? I never heard her speak at all. And who could even find a friend when she never gets out from that room," pointing to the room above with a balcony outside it where flowers of different colors could be seen in its edges and some were even hanging.
A few moments later they heard a car engine nearing and so they looked in the left side of the rest house to see who is arriving. It was Madam Odette who had a lot of flowers at the back of the pick up truck.
Augustus helped open the door for Madam Odette and greeted her politely, "good afternoon madam."
"Good afternoon too. And who are you?" Asked Madam Odette as they where not officially introduced yet.
They haven't noticed that Berto was also approaching, "Good afternoon madam, he is my son Augustus."
"Ah, so this is the brilliant young man that is admired by many in this town." She looked at him from head to toe, "It's such a petty Berto if you can't convince him to pursue his education. He can't be a laborer for the rest of his lifetime."
"I haven't talked to him about it yet madam," looking at his son trying to tell him not to speak up.
Augustus does not like being talked too behind his back especially if it pertains to his personal life. He wanted to ask his father why Madam Odette knew something about his concerns with regards to his education but as soon as he saw the expression of his father, he just lowered his look and excused himself. He respected his father that much.
"Excuse me madam but I have to get the flowers you just bought and bring it at the back."
"Yes you may Augustus, and remember," Madam Odette grabbed Augustus arm, "being a gardener doesn't suit you. Please change your mind and continue your studies, okay." as she talked back showing her sweetest smile at him.
"Yes madam," he replied politely before he took the flower pots one by one and put it in the cart and carried it to the backyard.
Meanwhile, Olivia was hiding behind the flower garden in the balcony outside her room. She had a sketch pad in her lap and a pencil in her hand and was so fast as she was sketching something. Her handa were so fast while her head looka down from the garden and to her sketch pad. After a few morw minutes ahe wiped the sweat in her forehead, stood up and felt good.
"Done!" She exclaimed.
Madam Odette heard her and look up. She was happy to see her daughter smile for the very first time since they arrived from Canada. She went inside the house and into the kitchen and ordered her housekeeper to prepare her daughters favorite meal. She was hopeful that her daughter might join them in tonights dinner.
At the backyard, Augustus was arranging the flowers by putting one color and variety separately so as Madam Odette can easily identify the kind of flower she wanted to be replanted in the backyard garden. He also managed to finish putting the square bermudas on the ground that after he just finished he sat on a large rock near the well that was just newly dugged. He was stretching his arms when he saw two beautiful eyes watching him closely up at the balcony. He did not let those eyes notice that he was also watching her but he was just too confused as to how those beautiful eyes seem to be very busy.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
ssabeth
ssabeth A change in Olivia's behavior.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone