She stepped into the room with doubts in her heart. She knew he would never agree to the arrangement but she just decided she would try. He was human like her, although stronger.
As she stepped into the dimly lit room, her eyes adjusted to the darkness to see his figure bent over a table in a corner of the room by the window.
The sound of glasses clinkng against each other and the smell of acids hit her nose. She approached him calmly. Obvious to her that he was he was not aware of her presence. She stopped in her tracks, unsure of going forward or not.
"Yang Yang" His deep voice boomed calling her name. She froze.
"Yes. I came to..." She started approaching him.
"Hnmm." He said as she stood next to him.
She swallowed hard.
" My. I.." She stammered, heaved heavily, and continued. "My mother has fallen sick. I have been called to come look after her." He was quiet. "Just for a week or so." She added.
He was very quiet. She looked down at him. Clad in his laboratory coat, the low light of the setting sun reflecting on his face. His handsome face. She could not help but realise just how handsome he was. It was impossible to ignore it. Slowly, he put down his jar had test tube, and began to take off his gloves.
He stood up, hovering high over her. He tilted his head as he asked. " You have been called over to look over your mother?"
She nodded bowing her head. Her hair bouncing into her face, covering her eye.
"Now. You wouldn't do that." He said solemnly. She looked up at him, her eyes sad.
"Why?" She asked. He stepped forwards towards her and slipped the hair covering her eye behind her ear.
"Your parents lost their right over you the day they signed that agreement."
"No." She gaped.
"Yes. You now belong to me. They have no right over you anymore. You are mine now." He came closer to her and bent his head. She could feel his breath on her neck. "Mine alone. And i hate sharing whats mine."
Tears welled up in her eyes. She sniffed. He stepped back, and looked into her face. He could see the tears in her eyes, but no, he wouldn't let her go. She was pregnant for his child. He would not let her go out of his sight.
He would make sure he kept her safe. At least keeping her safe would mean keeping his unborn baby safe. He knew she was sad. She had to be sad because she could not understand. She could not understand because he could not tell her his reason was to protect her. Because he was not sure his actions were right.
He turned his back to her and sat back down on his table, going back to his work.
She stood still for some moments and finally turned to leave shutting the door calmly behind her.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
As she walked into the kitchen, Changying turned to face her. She could not understand It, but she was becoming more drawn to her maid.
Changying noticed her mood and smilled brightly. "How's it going?" She asked.
"What?" Yang Yang asked bewildered.
"Your new life. As a to be mother."
She sighed as she replied her heart heavy. "Not impressive. I am still treated the same way."
"What way?" Changying asked softly.
"Like a nobody. Something that a contract had been signed for. Signed away in exchange for money." She said her eyes falling down to her simple sandals.
"No ma'am. You are someone. My mistress."
She said shaking her head. "And so, who should carry yourself as one."
Yang Yang forced a smile as she sat down on a chair there in the kitchen. She looked at the flaming fire of the cooker and was silent for a while.
"I wonder does God have all our feelings?" She asked after a while. "You know, anger, fear, sadness?. Do you think?" She asked as she raised her head to look at Changying's face. Her face was blank. Yang Yang could read no emotions from her face.
"He should have. He said we are created like him you know." She replied.
Yes. She thinks he said so. In the past years she could hardly remember attending mass. In fact, she must have forgotten how to say half of the rosary. And as she looked into the fire, felt the little sensation in her belly, and the tears well up in her eyes, she felt the pressing need to feel loved. And shockingly, the presence of an insignificant woman consoled her.