AGE( it is just a number)

Home in Tacoma

Hazel Dakota

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With mixed feelings, I packed up everything I needed into a big bag and zipped it up

I was happy about getting the job and was at the same time sad that I will be spending the weekdays away from my family !

but what can I do? the pay is so mouth watering so I got no other option but to do it .

Are you really going to live over there?Alexia who had been watching me quietly asked with a cracked voice and I nodded without looking at her

She has been moody ever since I told her about the job offer and I could tell she was about to cry

But why can't you just go from home? She asked and I sighed, turning to face her

Are we still on this! C'mon Alexia , you really need to understand me , I need the job and you know it !!!

I know Hazel but I am just worried about mother, what will I do if she goes into shock? She asked with fear written all over her face

I sat down on the bed and then took her hands into mine

Mother won't go into shock, all you just need to do is to make sure she use her drugs always. I assured and she nodded softly

And when I get my first pay we will take her to the hospital for better treatment. I added and Just then I heard someone snuffle

I looked in the direction to see my mom standing at the entrance to the room, crying

Mum! Why are you crying? Alexia asked ,freeing her hands from my grip

And without saying anything, my mom moved closer and Join us on the bed

Mum! I called softly and she shifted her gaze to me

I am sorry Hazel for putting all the burden on you. She said softly but I shook my head.

No mum! Don't says that! You ain't burdening me , I want you to be fine and I will do anything to make that possible! I said , wiping off her tears

Thanks! She muttered and I nodded

So tell us more about the teenage boy you are going to be "baby sitting". Alexia drawled and I smiled knowing she said that to lighten the mood

I will be serving him and not baby sitting him . I corrected and she rolled her eyes

What Is the difference?

I gave her a playful glare and she laughed

I just pray he co- operates with you. My mum joined in the conversation and nodded slowly

Of course he will , I mean why won't he!!!!!

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Hardin Castillo

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On getting to the airport, I checked in and got a boarding pass

I went over to the airport terminal and on showing my boarding pass , I got a first class ticket !!

I found an empty seat and sat down patiently waiting for the flight announcement.

Glancing at my wristwatch, it was 21:00pm

Wheeew! Still got about fifteen minutes to my flight

I leaned on the chair and closed my eyes trying to recall everything my father told me

You need to start a new life! You will be staying with your mother! Your name is Hardin! Jayden is already messed up!

Oh yeah! he got it right ! I am completely messed up!

But how will living with my mum feels like! Oh no! Mum! Did I really call her that!

She abandoned me when I needed her most and come to think of it she was the reason why I ended up in prison, she was .......my thoughts was distracted by the airport announcements

"Good evening passengers ! This is a pre- boarding announcements for flight 89B to Tacoma United States . We are now inviting you to begin boarding at this time , please have your boarding pass and identification ready!!!"

And without wasting time , I jolted up from the chair and joined the queue

Your boarding pass and your identification boy! a security officer asked and I handed it to him

he went through it and then handed it back

"You can board the plane"

I walked through a short passage to the plane and taking a deep breathe, I boarded it !!

29A! I muttered slowly as I looked around for my seat number and soon found it

It was a seat at the aisle , right beside a girl wearing a skimpy gown

I sat down and leaned my back on the seat

hello! the girl greeted and I shifted my gaze to her

She smiled and a tiny dimple appeared at the corner of her mouth and I must admit I was lost staring at her , she was damn beautiful

My name is Kim Na Na . She introduced and I bit at my upper lips to stop my self from laughing

What sort of name is that? I thought within

And as if reading my thoughts, she said

You can just call me Kimberly!

Kimberly, that is better! I remarked rudely and she smiled

Actually my mum is Korean while my dad is American . She explained and I nodded without looking at her

That explains why she is so beautiful!

So what is your name? She continued but I ignored her

hello! She greeted , waving her hands in front of me and I scoffed

What do you what? I asked rudely , expecting her to back off but she didn't , instead she chuckled and continued with her questions

Where are you from? You ain't from America right ?

And who told you that! I retorted and she smiled

Your accent tells it all! you are uhm ... uhm.. London, did I guess right? she asked with a pout and I was forced to laugh

Did I? She repeated and I nodded

But my mum is American . I quickly added

Oh I see! So can we exchange numbers? she asked but I shook my head

But why? She asked clearly embarrassed and I huffed

Because I don't want to and can you pleeeesse just let me be , we have roughly nine hours flight ahead of us and I need to sleep!

having said that , I closed my eyes and leaned in the seat as the airplane took off ........

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A loud bang jolted me up from sleep and I opened my eyes just in time to see the airplane land

At last! I muttered

I turned sideways to look at the pretty girl and was surprised to see her still sleeping

She must be one hell of a sleeper!

Kim! I called , tapping her gently and her eyes fluttered opened

Where am I ? Where are we! She asked, rubbing her eyes and I scoffed

And without answering her stupid questions, I stood up , pulled out my back pack from the open slot and then alighted from the plane ..

It was a bright day light and from the look of things, I guessed it was already mid- morning!

The wristwatch on my wrist was damn useless for now as it was set to London time

Slinging my backpack across my shoulders, I walked slowly to the waiting area

I was confused on which way to take , I had been to Tacoma just once and that was when I was very little .....

I looked around and a man on black holding up a white cardboard caught my attention

The name Hardin Castillo was written boldly on the cardboard

Oh yeah! he must be waiting for me!

I sauntered up to him and on seeing me , he knitted his eyebrow, staring at me curiously

You must be Hardin Castillo right? he asked and I huffed

Hardin! What a name!

Are you ? he repeated and I nodded tiredly

Oh! Good morning sir! he greeted , gesticulating with a bow

I stared at him in surprise

You must be very tired , can we please be on our way? he asked politely and I scoffed

I need to speak to... my mother first . I told him and he nodded

he brought out a phone for his pocket, dialled a number and then handed it to me

I stared at the screen of the phone

The name Mrs Castillo kept on flashing on and off as it rang

She picked it on the third ring and I placed it on speaker

Hello Zuma! her familiar voice echoed through

Mum! I mumbled , I have really missed her voice

Hellooooo! She repeated and I cleared my throat

This is Jay.. erm I mean Hardin ! I said and the line went quiet

Are you there ma? I asked to be sure and I heard her sniff

Baby! Is that really you? Where are you now? She asked in a rush

Airport! I answered dryly and ended the call

Baby! How dare she call me that!

I handed the phone to the man and to my surprise, he bowed to receive it

What the f**k!

This way sir. he said as he led me to a black sport car with tinted glasses

he opened the car doors for me and I got in

Closing the door, he turned around, got into the driver seat and zoomed off ......

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Hazel Dakota

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Waking up early the next morning, i got off the bed and rushed into the bathroom to freshen up

Mrs Castillo called me last night to remind me about the time for resumption which is 7;00am

She must be really excited!

When I was done bathing, I returned to the room with a towel wrapped around me to see Alexia already awake

Good morning! She greeted first

Morning ! how was your night baby? I asked with a smile and she rolled her eyes

I am not your baby , that Castillo boy is! She retorted and I smacked her plain ass playfully

She laughed

Ain't I right? I bet you can't wait to see him!

Having said that, she went over to the the bathroom to freshen up

And yes , she was right , I really can't wait to see "my baby"

I hurriedly dressed up in the same black gown with turtle neck ,put on my white sandals , combed my long black hair , picked up my phone from the table , grabbed the big bag and then walked out of the room to the sitting room...

My mum was still sleeping peacefully on her small foam so I leaned over to peck her and then tiptoed out of the house

I will call her later in the day!

Running all the way to the taxi station , I flagged down a taxi and got in breathing hard

Where to ma'am? the driver asked

Castillo mansion. I answered and without saying anything more, he drove off

Wow! The Castillo residence must be very popular !

*

The drive to the Castillo mansion was a tiring one as we got caught up in traffic

Shit! I never knew a small city like this have this much traffic!

In what seems like forever, the driver stopped in front of the mansion and I paid him after alighting

I rushed to the huge gate and knocked on it

Luckily for me , the security man opened up without anything silly questions and on seeing me , he smiled widely

Welcome miss...........

Hazel! I completed and he nodded, opening the gate wider

I walked through the gate and headed straight to the sitting room dragging my bag

*

Entering the sitting room, I found Mrs Castillo pacing up and down

Good morning ma! I greeted and she looked in my direction

I played with my hands shyly waiting for my query but there was none instead, she scurried towards me , grinning like an i***t

My baby is already at the airport! She squealed excitedly and I smiled lightly

It was obvious she really missed him!

Come with me ! She said and I dropped my bag beside the sofa before following her up the stairs to a room

She pushed the room door opened and we both walked in

Wow! Wow! I exclaimed softly, looking around the obviously expensive room

The bed was made with latex spring, the walls glass marble and a huge television hung at a corner of the room ........

I bet the room cost a fortune!

So this is Hardin room and I want it to be always clean . She said and I nodded sheepishly

And also you will be the only one attending to him . his food , water and any other thing he needs will be brought to him upstairs !

Really! Is he an handicapped? I thought within

But ma, why upstair... I mean can't he join you in the dinning? I asked picking my words

She was quiet for a moment and I swear, I saw the tears which she immediately wiped away

It will be a good thing if he does that but I doubt he will!

Oh! I exclaimed softly

But don't worry I am sure he won't be stressing you much because he always loves to be on his own!

Alright ma! I said not knowing what else to say

Hazel! Do you know why I employ you? She asked softly and without waiting for my response, she continued

It was because you are so simple and also because of your accent

Accent! I repeated and she nodded

You are from London right? she asked and I nodded

my son is also from London so I employed you hoping he will be a little bit free with you !!!!

Oh! I understand fully well ma ! I agreed with her and she smiled

Get to work, make sure the room is clean. She instructed and then left the room

Is she kidding me! how can she ask me to clean a room already clean

Well! I will just take a look around

I walked slowly round the room staring and touching anything that caught my attention and i must say , everything caught my attention

The huge flower vases , the paintings on the wall , the fancy reading table and even the reading lamp

I rolled on the bed , I jumped on it , I opened the expensive looking wardrobe and stared in awe at the stacks of clothes neatly folded in it , the shoes in the rack , the caps , the hoodie !!!

Jeez!Will he be running a boutique?

I made the bed that I scattered and then went over to the bathroom to inspect it and as expected it was sparkling clean !

Returning to the room, I brought out my phone from my pocket and was about calling my mum when I heard Mrs Castillo scream

And in a rush , I dashed out of the room , scurried down the stairs and got outside the compound just in time to see a boy on black alight from the car ....

Is this Hardin? I wondered, staring gobsmacked at him

When I was told I will be a "personal maid" to a teenager I never knew it was someone as hot as this ..I mean his face might be 17 but his body is way older than 17

I watched him go stiff when his mum hug him

And without minding, She held him tightly as she cried on his shoulders like a baby but he just maintained a straight face

I felt a tug at my cloth and I turned sideways to see the chubby maid , what is her name again? Uhm uhm Becca ,yes Rebecca

What? I mouthed at her and she rolled her eyes

Won't you go help Sir Hardin with his backpack, you are his personal maid right? She asked and I detected something like jealousy in her voice but I quickly waved it off

Oh yeah! I am his personal maid

And without thinking, I rushed to him and tried to collect his back pack from him

he pulled away from the hug and then shifted his gaze to me

his deep green eyes bore into mine and I clearly saw the anger in his eyes

I swallowed hard nervously

he stared at me for a while and then walked past me to the sitting room with his mother still hovering around him ....

I touched my chest and exhaled deeply

What just happened? Is this the teenage boy I am meant to handle !!!!!

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Hazel! Sorry ?

TBC