Goodbye, Aya.
May you be smiled upon.
"...?!"
Aya suddenly woke up from her nice nap. Her eyes widen in shock, still grasping senses of reality. Her face soaked in cold sweat.
She looked around, founding that she was asleep on her arm chair, with her body covered in blanket. Must be Maria..
Aya sighed in relief, and leaned back on her chair. She glanced outside the window, and found that the sun already rises slightly.
Maria walk into the room with a basket full of laundries. She noticed Aya's anxious expression, and asked "What's wrong, Mistress?"
Aya shook her head slightly. "No, no. It's nothing. Nothing to worry about."
"Are you sure? You know you always can-"
"Definitely. Thank you."
At Aya's short and quick response, Maria only stared at her without further presses or questions. "Well, I'm going to do laundry at the back. Please, do call me if you need anything, Mistress."
Aya nodded. "Thank you again, for all your attention."
"No need to thank me. Oh, also, I'm going to prepare your bath water in a while. Please, just sit tight and wait."
Although Maria was Aya's assistant, or servant, or whatever Aya think she was, Maria always acted like a loving mom to Aya. Sometimes, Maria scolded her for doing something like breaking glasses, watering plants too much, and all that trivial things. However, Aya didn't complain about Maria's behavior. It's either she didn't realize it herself, or she just liked Maria's motherly side. That aside, Maria was quite handful at being an assistant when she's needed. Aya, though, was more and more skillful than Maria at creating dolls. That's why sometimes Maria requested a doll and Aya make it for her as a present.
Aya sighed after she can no longer find Maria in her vision. She tried to remember her dream - or nightmare, or even probably her memories haunting her. Either way, Aya hated that feeling of guilt when she remembers him, his trust, his request, everything.
Can I just.. forget about it all?
"Mistress Aya, your bath is ready," Maria called from the next room. Aya looked up at the wooden cuckoo clock lazily, and without she realizing it, it's already been 15 minutes since she was lost in thought about her dream.
"Coming," Aya get up from her chair and threw her blanket away. Aya, according to Maria, also hated houseworks. That's why Aya giving presents for Maria is not rare. It was some kind of payment for Maria's hardwork at houseworks.
"Here are your clothes, Nice and warm," Maria gave Aya a dress that is quite similar to Aya's usual dress, but this time the dress color was red.
Aya took the dress and noticed the different color immediately. "You already planned a victim?"
"It is not exactly planned, but well," Maria smiled sheepishly. "I wanted him like how I wanted my first teddy bear."
Aya's heart skipped a beat when she heard Maria's words. "I'm sorry? I think I misheard you."
Maria pushed Aya into the bathroom and closed the door. "I-wanted-him-like-how-I-wanted-my-first-teddy-bear." Maria repeated her sentence slowly as if she's talking to a kindergarten student.
Him, huh.. Aya's mind traveled away. Until she finally realized.
"Ah! The water's going to get cold soon!"