DIVORCE

Linda gently turns her head irritatedly to face the lady who just spoke, giving her a heart stabbing look, she asks saying her words one after the other. "Who are you?"

"She will be helping me out with a lot of things around now." Jessie replies. "Both at home and at work."

"Then tell her not to ever mess with me." Linda says still staring at the lady suspiciously.

"I am sorry." Cecilia apologizes.

"Where is my father?" She asks facing her mom.

"I already told you, he left after divorcing me."

"How could you allow him leave when you know he is bound to forget everything anytime?!"

"It's not my problem that he is disabled." Jessie replies mockingly.

"Disabled?" Linda asks but she hears a car's screech outside. She pauses to listen well, and looks at her mom suspiciously for a while then aims at the door to go out but unfortunately for her, she was stopped by two hefty men which she hadn't noticed earlier. "Unhand me!" She yells.

"I am glad you both know your work without me stressing it." Jessie whispers to the men with a look of satisfaction on her face. "No matter what happens, this young lady isn't allowed to go out of this house or receive any visitors without my permission, is that clear?"

"Yes ma'am." The men says.

"Even if the house is burning down, she isn't allowed to run for her life unless I permit her to do so."

Linda forcefully releases herself from the men and scoffs. "I knew you were up to something, but I never expected it to be this. Acting all calm and lonely was all a pretense right?"

"These ladies over there will help

You out with anything you need." Jessie whispers ignoring her daughter's accusation. "They will serve you solely."

"I don't need anyone to serve me." Linda retorts.

Jessie stands and moves real close to her daughter whispering to her ears. "Behave yourself, I won't mind kicking you out like I did to you father." She says and walks out.

"Is there anything I can help you with ma'am?" One of the ladies asks.

With her eyes fixed on her mom as she leaves her presence, Linda remembers how her father had always preferred noodles to any other thing. "Can I get noodles?"

"How do you want it? With vegetables or pepper?" The lady asks again.

Jessie turns to the lady and smiles bitterly. "I will prefer to have the both."

"My name is Cecilia." She introduces stretching forth her hand for a shake.

"Avoid me."

"Is that your own method of saying hi to someone?"

Linda inhales sharply and whispers. "Please do you best to avoid me, I already dislike you from the onset."

"I guess you see it as no big deal to dislike people even without getting to know them, right?"

"I don't know of the type of relationship you have with my mom, but I will just advice you to thread carefully with her." She whispers and walks out.

Cecelia watches Linda till she is out of sight and joins Jessie in the room. "Did you stop sleeping here for a while?"

"Yea." Jessie nods. "But now I have returned to continue using it as my room." She sits on the bed. "No one is allowed to enter this room without my permission, is that clear?"

"Yes ma'am."

"I saw you trying to have a conversation with Linda, may I ask you why?"

"It's nothing serious ma'am, I just thought of building the blood line bond very fast."

"Blood line?" Jessie asks and laughs hysterically. "I won't try to talk you off about it, but I assure you, nothing good can come out of your relationship."

"I will put that in mind ma'am."

"Tomorrow, I will take you somewhere. Inform the girls to make me pasta."

"Yes ma'am." Cecilia says and walks out.

**********

Linda sits on her bed staring into nothing and thinking of her life, where to go and who to call. She hears a knock on the door. "Come in."

The lady from earlier walks in with a tray, holding a plate of noodles, apples and fruit juice. "Your meal is here ma'am." She whispers and drops the food on the small table close to the bed.

"What is your name?" Linda asks.

"My name is Genevieve." She replies shyly.

"The noodles looks quite attractive." She places the tray on her laps and puts a spoon of the noodles in her mouth. "It tastes good as well."

"I am happy you like it." Genevieve replies with smiles.

"Have your seat."

"Ma? I am sorry but I can't do that. Your mom won't Ike that."

"Do not worry, she won't know about that." Linda sighs. "You know, I have been forbidden from moving out of the house so I am just trying to make friends."

"Why would you want to be friends with someone like me?" Genevieve asks.

"Why can't I be friends with you?"

"I have a feeling that paupers like us can't move close to noble and wealthy people like you."

"How did you end up here?" Linda asks again.

"Actually, it is a story that I wouldn't like to mention."

"I am giving you the order, not begging you." She says with a bit of authority.

Genevieve sighs deeply and whispers. "My mom got really sick and we had no money to pay for the hospital bills. I came in contact with your mom by luck, she treated my mom in exchange of me coming to work here as a maid for three years."

"Three years?!"

"Yes ma'am." She nods.

Linda scoffs and smiles. "This woman won't stop amazing me, what in the world does she have up her sleeve again?"