Happy New Years to everyone in the city of Republic City. They say that 1960 is the year that change will overcome this evil world. Sounds hopeful, except for the fact that I've been hearing that since the day I was born. 20 years later, I still shake my head at my father when he gives that toast every year.
"Korra! Give your daddy a big kiss!" My father said. He was obviously a little tipsy. I laughed and gave him a nice kiss on his cheek. He placed his arm around me in embrace, and pulled mama in as well as we watched the fireworks that came from the whites only celebration at the national park a few blocks away.
"Alright well, I think its time for me to head to bed now. Have to be up early to clean up after the Satos and their guests from their party." I was one of the few maids that work in the Sato mansion. I've been working there since I had to drop out of school my sophomore year to help mama and daddy pay for rent in our one bedroom home. Mr. Hiroshi Sato is the inventor of the Sato automobiles, and he's a very kind man that saw my need to help my family. I knew his late wife for only a short time before she sadly passed away from an illness she was battling. She left behind a beautiful daughter, Asami. Although very attractive, she lacked the heart of her father and treats the world like it revolves around her.
"Alright honey, we'll head to bed soon in a bit too," my mother said. She gave me a kiss and I walked inside.
As I layed in bed, I could see my parents slow dancing the music from the radio I gave them for Christmas from what I been saving up for since last July. Their love makes me happy. No matter how cruel people are and the things we go through, they always find a way to look at the bright side and never let negativity get in the way of the happiness within our family. Before I knew it, my eyes felt heavy and I drifted into a peaceful sleep.
When the sun rose, the light beamed to my eyelids, signaling me its time to get up. I poked my head up and saw my parents sound asleep, and my father snoring loudly as always. I quietly got out of bed and got ready for the day. I pinned my hair into a bun, wrapped my apron around me, and slipped my shoes on.
The walk to the bus station took about 10 minutes, and the wait for the bus took only 5. The whites got on first, then the rest of us. Getting to the stop takes 20 minutes and walking up to the mansion is another 20 minutes. I arrived to the gate, and the gate keeper let me in. As soon as I entered, I could tell there was one hell of a celebration last night.
"Good morning, Korra," Ally said, walking in with trash bags full of waste. Aaliyah is my best friend and we both started working at the Sato mansion around the same time, so we connected quickly and helped each other out. Although she's 3 years older than me, she always says I'm the older sister she never had.
"Mornin' Ally. Did anything eventful last night with Samuel?" I asked, sweeping the hard wood floors.
"Nah, my husband doesn't really do fireworks or parties...or anything fun rather," she laughed.
The rest of the help had arrived by 9, and the house was pretty much in much better shape by 10. Once my part was completed, I went outside to hang the wet, cleaned laundry up to be air dried. I then went back inside to get breakfast for Mr. Sato.
"Here you go Korra. Don't drop it," Ms. Gina, our kitchen maid, said as she handed me the tray of oatmeal, fruit, and orange juice.
"It happened once! A long time ago," I interjected.
"Mmhm, run along now child, I'm sure Mr. Hiroshi is still sleeping off last night."
I walked upstairs to his room, knocking before entering. "Mr. Sato, are you awake?" I asked. No response.
I entered the room and heard him snoring. I placed the tray down on the dresser, walked to the windows and opened the curtains.
"Oh, is it morning already?" Hiroshi mumbled tiredly.
"Yes sir, and I have your breakfast here," I chuckled. I picked back up the tray as he slowly forced himself to sit up.
"Don't drink, okay kid?" he stated when I handed him the tray. "The hangovers are never worth it in the mornings after."
"Note taken," I said. I then excused myself out the room and closed his door behind me.
Walking down the hall, I overheard Asami through her crack-opened door speaking to someone on the telephone.
"Oh, you should come over for dinner tonight!" she spoke. Company? I couldn't help but get closer to her door and listen. "...Daddy would love to meet you and, well, I sure can use the company."
The giggle in her voice was the most happiness I've heard her be in a while.
"Korra!" Ally whispered. I jumped fro her sudden appearance around the hallway. I walked away and stood with Ally.
"What were you doing? You know if that brat saw you eavesdropping, who knows what hell she would bring today?"
"Sorry, I know. Apparently we'll be having someone over today for dinner." I said as we walked down the marble stairs
"Well we should go on and tell Ms. Gina to set dinner for a third person tonight. From the tone of her voice, it's probably a young lad."
"You heard it too?"
"Honey, she can be heard from downstairs. That girl ain't had a smile in her voice since she got Elizabeth dismissed for something she ain't do."
Later that evening, Asami had informed us that a special guest would arrive and that everything had to be perfect, or else one of us would be without a job. At the moment, she had me standing in her room to just watch her get ready in case she needed me to fetch anything.
"Hand me that pin," she told me. I walked over to her dresser and handed her the hair pin requested.
"Don't I look ravishing?" she asked. Before I could even nod, she spoke again, "Oh why ask you? All you people wear are rags and work uniforms, of course you'd think I look marvelous."
Hold your tongue Korra.
"Make yourself useful and make sure Daddy is ready for dinner," she said. I nodded and walked out the room. Thank God I left. Being around her can be unbearable.
"Mr. Sato, your daughter would like to know if you are ready. The guest will arrive in any moment," I said when I got to his door.
Hiroshi opened the door. "I guess I am, but Asami has yet to tell me whose coming. She told me than ran off before I could ask." After that, the doorbell rang.
"Well, now I guess you can meet him now,"
"How do I look?"
"You look great Mr. Sato, like always."
"I always like you."
I chuckled and walked downstairs to see if Ms. Gina needed help. Halfway down the steps, Asami jolted down the stairs in lightning speed. "Out of my way!" she said, shoving me aside against the rails. Excuse you too.
Asami fixed herself, took a deep breath and opened the door. A handsome young man was in the doorway, tall and fit.
"Mako! I'm so glad you could make it!" She yelled, with an annoyingly high pitched voice that snapped me back to reality. Mako? The name sounded familiar but I couldn't put my finger on what it was. I continued to finish walking down the stairs.
"Korra, my friend, come grab Mako's coat please," Asami said. Friend? Please?
I walked over and grabbed his coat. "Thank you," he said. I nodded and placed it in the closet.
"Dinner will be served in a moment. Your Father should be down soon," I said. I excused and walked into the kitchen.
"Did you see who it was?" Ally asked when I came in the kitchen.
"Yeah, its a man that Asami will probably seduce to marriage," I answered, earning a laugh from everyone.
"Please, who would marry the devil?" Ms. Gina joked. One by one, the staff made a joke about her. "Alright, let's get done with dinner. I would like to see my babies tonight before they fall asleep," Ms. Gina said.
An hour later, dinner was finishing up. Ally and I stood to the side, refilling drinks and taking away empty plates when necessary.
"So Mako, got any family here in Republic City," asked Hiroshi.
"Yes, my brother, Bolin. He's at home right now." Mako responded.
"And your parents?"
"My parents were killed in a robbery when I was younger. Its just me and Bolin."
All our faces had gone soft.
"That's why I became a lawyer so I can help people find justice like I wish I could've had for them," he added. That was it! I know where I knew him from now. He's the lawyer from the newspaper that I saw last week. He's been dong well for his career, winning big court cases. No wonder Asami is all over him, he's dripping in cash and success.
"Oh my poor Mako, I'm so sorry," Asami said, with that high pitched voice again. "You know, I lost my mother too a few years ago."
"I'm sorry to hear that, I know the pain," He said.
"Seems like we have a lot of things in common." And with that, the sad moment was over. She starred into his eyes, twisting her hair and biting her lip just a bit. Mako returned the look, but not as desperate as she was showing. Ally and I shared looks.
Hiroshi cleared his throat. "Well I'm pretty full. Dinner was great, but I think it's time for you to leave soon."
"You're right. It has been a pleasure, but yes I must be on my at home now," Mako stated. They stood up and shook hands.
"Korra, could you fetch Mako's coat?" Asami asked. I went to the closet and came back to the dining room. As a walked, Asami scooted her chair to stand up right when I was passing by, causing my foot to get caught on the chair's leg and falling. "Whoops," she gasped. "I'm sorry, you should watch out next time." I looked at her and saw that devilish smirk in her face. Mako walked to be and offered his hand. Hesitantly, I grabbed it and he helped me up.
"Thank you. I'm sorry for falling on your coat." I said worryingly.
"Don't sweat it, its just a little dust on it."
I smiled at him and he smiled back. Something inside me fluttered, and I felt my cheeks starting to feel hot. I excused myself quickly before anyone could see me. What was that? I ran into the kitchen.
"What happened?" Ms. Gina asked.
"Korra got a little.. close to our guest," Ally said, walking in after me chuckling.
"Nothing happened. I tripped and he made sure I was okay, that's all." I argued.
Ms. Gina starred at me. "I know that look well baby girl, and you better not think about associating with no white man like that, you hear me?"
"But I wasn't even-" I tried saying.
"No, hush. That's the end of this conversation. Now you both go bring me them dishes left in the table."
I glared at Ally and she smiled like she was innocent and we went to the dining room.
After our duties were completed, it was finally time to go home. Because the dinner took longer than usual, the last bus for the night had just departed once I made it to the bus stop. I sighed. I'll just walk then.
30 minutes into my walk, a car was driving by me slowly and I immediately tenced up. My heart started racing and I began to walk faster. The only thing on my mind was to get home to mamma and daddy safely. The car stopped and then heard the door open.
"Korra?"
I stopped walking and slowly turned to see who it was. "Mako?" I was relieved to see a familiar face.
"Sorry if I startled you. I was getting food for my brother nearby and I drove by seeing you walking by yourself."
I looked into his eyes and became mesmerized. I never thought gazing into someone deeply was so calming.
"..Korra?"
I snapped back into reality. "Oh yes, sorry what did you say?"
He chuckled. "Where are you headed?"
"Home. The last bus had departure before I was able to get in, so now I'm walking."
"Where do you live?"
Part of me didn't want me to share that information to someone I just met, a white man to make things worse. But the other part of me felt all the trust from him. "Westbrook Avenue."
"Westbrook Avenue? That's all the way in the other side of town! I can give you a ride there if you'd like."
"Oh no, I'm capable of taking myself there." I started to turn to walk away.
"But someone like you walking down these streets at this town is very dangerous."
Then I stopped once again. "Someone like me? What's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh no I- well no I didn't mean it like that. Its just- well you know what I meant." His pale face flushed with red, stumbling with his words. "I just don't want to anyone get hurt knowing I could have done something to help in the first place."
And there goes that feeling in my stomach again. I didn't know what to say other than, "...You won't tell the Satos will you?"
"I promise I won't."
Well there has it. I'm getting in a vehicle with practically a stranger.
The drive was awkward and silent. I kept fidgeting with my hands because I was still worried something would happen.
"Don't worry, I don't bite." he joked. My cheeks became hot again, and I quickly covered them with my hands.
We were starting to approach Westbrook, and I saw the bus stop where I waited in the mornings. "You can drop me off here and I'll walk the rest on my own. I'll be fine but I don't want anyone to see us."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. How can I repay you?"
"Nonsense. I was just doing something that was right. Plus, it was the least I could do since you took a pretty nasty fall earlier."
We started laughing. "Well goodnight, Mako."
"Goodnight Korra."
I got out the car and walked down the side walk, watching him drive off into the moonlight. My heart raced, but not because I was worried, it was for something else. I smiled my way home. I walked up my doorsteps and walked into the kitchen where my parents waited for me like every night.
"Hey sweetie. Happy to be home I see?" my father said. I gave them both kisses, headed to the shower, and went to bed shortly after still feeling the sense of warmth inside me from those breathtaking amber eyes. With that, I drifted into a very peaceful sleep.