Rain woke up the next morning, the room dimly lit by the early morning glow seeping through the curtains. The scent of lavender and something sweet, familiar and comforting lingered in the air.
He yawned lazily, stretching his limbs across the plush mattress. His arms instinctively wrapped around the pillow beside him.
"Smells like Cici!" he murmured with a sleepy smile, burying his face into the pillow like a child clinging to comfort.
"You are awake?" Her voice came gently from the doorway.
Rain sat up quickly, rubbing his eyes as Frances walked in and pulled open the heavy curtains. Light flooded the room, warm and golden.
She looked effortlessly radiant in her red robe, the silk trailing elegantly as she moved. Her hair was loosely tied, giving her a soft, morning glow. She made her way over and sat beside him, fingers threading tenderly through his hair.
"I don't know when I slept off yesterday," he said with a sheepish grin, scratching the back of his neck.
"Yes, you were tired. It was so hard moving you to the bed, you're so heavy," she teased, nudging him playfully.
Rain chuckled and looked down apologetically.
"I'm sorry for stressing you."
"It's fine!" she said with a little shrug and a smile.
He looked around the room, still dazed.
"Do you usually wake up this early?"
"No! I don't! I didn't sleep in my room so I woke up early, definitely."
Rain's brows furrowed. "Why? Why didn't you sleep here?"
"You were all over my bed, dude! I couldn't lay down anywhere so I went to the living room. Moreover, men and women should always sleep separately."
He frowned, pretending to pout.
"Babe! I'm your boyfriend, why should we be sleeping separately? It's unfair!"
Frances laughed softly, brushing her robe back into place.
"Oh! My bad! I just signed out of high school. I'm not used to it yet. We'll sleep together tonight, I promise."
His face lit up.
"Alright!"
Frances stood up and walked toward the closet, her robe swaying behind her.
"I arranged some of your clothes in my wardrobe. You can wash up and change clothes. Let's have a meal."
"Okay, baby!" Rain grinned, leaning forward to kiss her forehead lovingly.
Her face turned red almost immediately, and she quickly turn around, flustered, before rushing downstairs.
Rain descended the stairs, running a hand through his freshly washed hair, now slightly damp. He was humming softly when he suddenly almost bumped into someone in the hallway, a middle aged woman with a composed expression and warm eyes.
He jumped back instinctively.
"Who are you?" he asked, startled.
Frances quickly rushed to his side, placing a hand on his arm to calm him.
"Rain! That's my housekeeper! Why do you look so scared?"
Rain chuckled nervously and sighed in relief.
"Oh my goodness! You live alone so my mind skipped the fact that someone takes care of your apartment! Good morning, ma'am!" he said, bowing politely.
Mrs. Graham chuckled and nodded warmly.
"Good morning, sir. Miss, who is he?"
Frances smiled softly, wrapping her arm loosely around Rain's.
"He is my boyfriend, Mrs. Graham. He came to visit me."
Mrs. Graham's eyes widened with delight.
"Wow, that's great! That's so good! Having a boyfriend is the right thing to do now and he also looks so handsome and calm."
Rain blushed slightly and bowed again.
"Thank you, ma'am!"
"Thank you, Mrs. Graham," Frances added warmly.
Another maid peeked in from the kitchen and smiled mischievously.
"Miss, you didn't introduce your boyfriend to us too!"
Frances turned to face them, her expression softening.
"His name is Rain. He's in college and also a gamer. He also owns a gaming company too."
The staff gasped, their eyes widening in admiration.
"Wow! He is such a cool guy! He already has his own business at this age?"
"Yes! He does!"
"He is so handsome and tall too!"
Rain looked flustered but tried to maintain composure. "Thank you, ma'am!"
Frances gently took his hand and smiled at him. "Rain, these are my workers. The housekeeper is Mrs. Graham. This is Camilla, Evangeline, and Paloma. They've been looking after me since my grandfather left. They're very good people."
Rain gave them a respectful bow.
"It's so nice to meet you all! Thanks for taking care of Cici."
Mrs. Graham put a hand to her chest, clearly touched.
"Oh my, you are so polite! It's our duty to look after her." The others nodded in agreement.
Frances looked at Rain with a smile, her voice hopeful.
"When our house is done, they will start working with us. Do you like that?"
Rain nodded eagerly, a grin spreading across his face.
"Definitely! Having people that you know is better than strangers, you won't have to be worried about anything."
Frances turned back to Mrs. Graham, her tone matter-of-fact but affectionate.
"Mrs. Graham, I've graduated now, so Rain and I plan to get married next year. We'll have to change to a bigger house. Then you will have to move there with us. You will also hire extra people for us to take care of the place because it's a very big house."
Mrs. Graham's eyes welled slightly.
"I'm always with you, Miss. Wherever you go to."
"We will also follow you, Miss!" the other maids chimed in supportively.
Frances smiled, her heart full.
"Thank you so much! I won't treat you badly, I will definitely increase your pay."
"Thank you, Miss!"
"Congratulations on your graduation, Miss. Are you planning to go to college this year or next year?" Mrs. Graham asked thoughtfully.
"This year. I will be taking online courses mostly so I can look after Rain properly."
Rain blinked at her, clearly touched.
"I understand, Miss! Camilla, serve the breakfast."
"Yes, ma'am!" Camilla said, bustling toward the kitchen.
Rain took a sip of orange juice, his gaze following the maids as they moved quietly and efficiently through the dining space. Their expressions were calm, their movements graceful and purposeful, each one knowing what to do without needing direction. His lips curled into a small, thoughtful smile.
"Your maids are so nice, unlike the ones in our home. They're always angry and yelling at me," Rain said, his voice soft but tinged with genuine surprise. His eyes lingered on Mrs. Graham as she folded napkins with care, then on Camilla who refilled Frances's cup without interrupting the conversation.
Frances leaned back in her chair slightly, her red silk robe spilling across the polished floor like a pool of liquid fire. She crossed her legs and rested her chin on her hand, an icy smirk lifting the corner of her lips.
"The disrespect came from the fact that no one respects you enough in that house. If you were always treated well by the family how dare some lowly maids even look up at you! But it's fine, let them have their fun for now they don't know what's coming for them soon," Frances said and smiled slightly, her eyes gleaming with restrained anger beneath the surface of her composed demeanor.
Rain blinked, her words washing over him like balm. He looked down for a moment, jaw clenching, then slowly exhaled and nodded. "Now I have left them alone, I wouldn't have to be bothered about them anymore."
Frances reached across the table and gently brushed her fingers across the back of his hand, warm, reassuring, steady.
"Yes you don't have to, I promise to give you a home that you will find comfort in. Look at my workers here, even though I'm crazy they still love me and respect me they understand me too. There's no disrespect at all, this is also the way they will treat you in the future. As long as you are good to them they will be good to you."
Rain chuckled lightly, his eyes lighting up with amusement and affection. "Definitely! I have always been easygoing so I will be good to them!" he said, sitting a little straighter in his seat, more confident.
Frances picked up her cup again, her voice softening. "These 4 people are so nice than you can imagine, they're not people that pretend to be nice just to get on your good side. Even on the days when I'm most angry they always tolerate me. Mrs Graham used to scold me sometimes."
Rain tilted his head with a playful frown. "She does?"
"Yes! But in a polite way, she's an elder so she tend to talk about manners and I have learned a lot from her. I always have to respect people but if you are not a good person you can see my other side as well."
Rain nodded slowly, genuinely impressed. "It's good to see that she's teaching you well."
"She is! And I like that."
He leaned in slightly with a grin. "Sounds like a good woman. I will reward her on your behalf."
Frances gasped softly, her expression softening into joy. "Aww thank you babe! And the others too they can't be left behind"
"Definitely! Trust me!" he promised, his voice firm but affectionate.
Rain smiled happily, really smiled and the expression lit up his entire face. He sat back in the chair and took in the morning sunlight filtering through the sheer curtains. The quiet hum of the maids in the kitchen, the subtle scent of warm bread, and the clean, organized environment made his chest feel light.
He wasn't celebrating his birthday today, not yet. But for the first time in a long while, he felt like it was a special day. He felt at home.
There were no hostile eyes watching him. No one snapping at him to keep things clean or acting as if his presence was a burden. No footsteps that made his heart race in fear. Here, he wasn't walking on eggshells. He could stretch out and breathe. He could be.
He looked over at Frances, and his heart swelled with quiet gratitude.
This… this was a home.
And he loved it for her, and for himself too.