Love Song

Autumn came early and brought with it a bit of cold air that made time and space seem to slow down.

Diana's eyes filled with tears as she passed through the streets covered with yellow leaves falling in the dew.

She constantly looked back at the land where she lived for twenty years through the bus window.

Diana's mother is a single woman. Her love affair with the rich guy ended when his whole family settled abroad and cut off all contact.

After a month since her lover left the country, she found out she was pregnant.

In the end, the beautiful girl dropped out of school halfway and returned to her hometown to live with her elderly mother.

Diana's mother worked hard and didn't have a day off for a long time, so she was completely exhausted. Her tearful funeral was just completed a week ago.

“When you go to someone's house, you shouldn't cry, but smile to be liked by them.”

Rose took out a stack of tissues from her pocket and gave it to Diana and kindly advised.

Diana gently nodded and took it and quickly wiped her wet face.

The woman next to Diana was a person who specialized in finding gentle and honest girls in remote rural areas. Then she took them to the city and introduced them to wealthy families who needed a maid to receive money.

A week ago, when Rose knew about Diana's difficult family, she immediately took a bus to come here and discussed going to the city with Diana, and then Diana quickly nodded and agreed because she sold her only home to pay off a huge debt that her family had borrowed to treat her mother and grandmother's illness over the years.

The house was sold by Diana and she became a vagabond, so she felt the same everywhere.

When she agreed, she did not know what life in the city would be like. She only knew there she would have a place to shelter from the rain and sun and earn money to take care of herself. Rose had said that the owner of the house would let the maid stay.

Diana just graduated from high school and she knew that the door to university was closed for her forever, so she had the intention of finding a job to have the conditions to go to school. The city would be the place to cherish her plan.

“The house that you will enter to work has only one mother and one son. 3 years ago, Nadia from the above village was introduced by me to work for a large family. Fortunately, they later hired two more middle-aged maids.”

After Rose finished speaking, she laughed again and continued to tell Diana that Nadia was miserable in the first few months, but she still tried to stay because they paid well and they treated her kindly, without scolding.

“Most of the rich people in the city are intellectuals and knowledgeable people, unlike in the countryside. If you are hardworking and gentle, everyone will love you.”

Diana gently nodded in agreement with what Rose said because she had witnessed that Nadia worked for the richest family in the village, so she knew it.

They had thought that a salary as big as the wheel of a bullock cart could accidentally roll over and crush a person's dignity and self-esteem.

Nadia's family situation was even worse than Diana's. When she was three years old, her parents died in a traffic accident.

Nadia's childhood was extremely difficult. She was beaten when she lived with her uncle's family, so she only finished high school and she had to work as a maid, had to stay up late and get up early and she had to listen to curses and criticisms.

The village was completely hidden behind the bamboo ramparts. The bus went straight to the highway to the city.

From when Diana was a child until she became an adult, this was the first time she left her hometown and this was also the first time she went to the place where her mother's sad love was marked.

Although the letters that her mother saved every penny to send to her father were countless, he still did not reply. However, her mother told her not to be angry with her father.

Her mother said that because she wrote the wrong address or his family had moved, he did not receive the letter.

At nine o'clock in the morning, the bus arrived at the station. The bustling scene made Diana dizzy. She heard loud laughter and loud talking and even the swearing of two saleswomen.

The reason the two of them cursed at each other was that the diners had come to the city from the countryside. He arrived at the door of this restaurant, but before he could order anything, he was invited in by the other restaurant.

Because of his ignorance, he had to drink water while listening to insults, and the surrounding people also had to listen.

“Diana. Let's come in here to eat a loaf of bread, have a drink of water, and then go on.”

Rose said while reaching out her hand to pull Diana to the restaurant of the fat lady.

When the fat lady saw that two diners were sitting on two empty seats, she also felt comforted, so she stopped cursing and bent down to make bread and squeeze sugarcane juice.

“Mrs. Rose, how far is the way to their house?” Diana asked.

“The road is still far. The two of us should take a motorbike taxi to save money.” Rose said and raised the glass of water to take a sip.

After both of them finished eating, Rose took out the money in her wallet to pay and then continued to pull Diana towards the drivers who were actively inviting passengers who had just stepped off the bus.

If Diana didn't go with Rose but she went to the city alone to earn a living, she would probably get lost because the bus station was wide and the people were crowded like ants.

“I'm sorry... sorry.”

Diana hastily said. Then she bent down to pick up the bag and return it to the opposite person.

Because she was busy looking around, she carelessly bumped into someone. When she looked up, a handsome face with no dead corners appeared in front of her, making her dizzy. The white shirt made the handsome guy stand out even more.

“No problem. It was because I was careless not to see you. Thank you.” Eric humbly said.

Diana breathed a sigh of relief when she heard Eric say that and then she turned her back and ran towards Rose while Rose was about to return to find Diana because she discovered that the country girl was not following her.

“How many people? Two people, right? If it's two people, go with two motorbikes.”

A man with skin as black as coal asked and answered questions and made his own decisions. Then he waved his hand at the man next to him to prepare to carry passengers.

Rose nodded, read the address to both of them, and then she asked for a little more discount.

“I and this girl are planning to share a motorbike, but now we ride on two motorbikes. The price is twice as high, so please give a little discount.”

“Oh my god, do you want to break traffic laws to get caught by the police? I work all day and earn only a little money. If I get fined by the police, I will be hungry. Okay, let's get on the motorbike.” The man urged.

Diana and Rose quickly got on the motorbike as the driver said. Rose told Diana to keep her bag tight for fear that the robbers would think there was gold in the bag.

If she was robbed, her clothes would be lost. Those clothes also cost a lot of money to buy again, no joke.

Before Diana had time to reply to Rose, the motorbike ran through the crowd and ran to the main road. She turned her neck to look, but she did not see Rose's figure anywhere. Overcrowded traffic obscured Diana's view.

At the intersection of traffic lights, the motorbike carrying Rose had to stop and wait, so the distance between the two of them became even further.

Diana's face showed a worried expression. In the past, she had heard adults talk about bad guys who cheated and kidnapped young women to sell across the border, so she was terrified.

Her small hands gripped the bag tightly as if it would become a weapon to protect her. However, when Diana thought of Nadia, she was also somewhat reassured.

Last summer, Nadia visited her uncle's family once, which was enough to prove that Rose did not sell Nadia.

The motorcycle ran through the main roads and minor roads, and then it entered the alley. Then it continued to run through the fork in the road and then it came to the crossroads.

More than an hour passed, and they still hadn't arrived. Fortunately, when Diana almost fainted from fear, the motorbike stopped.

Because the driver braked too hard, so she staggered and bumped her pretty face into the driver's back.

“This is the correct address. Well, this family is so rich. The villa is so big and beautiful.”

Diana quickly glanced around when she heard the driver's praise. In her life, she had never seen a house as high-class and beautiful as this castle. When Rose said that Diana would go to work as a maid for the rich, she thought they were as rich as the family that Nadia worked for, but she did not expect them to be so rich. This villa seemed to be the largest and most elaborate design.

Her heart was pounding, and a feeling of nervousness filled her whole body. She didn't know if she could take the job in a place beyond her imagination.

“Oh my god, why are you running so fast? You made her scared, didn't you?” Rose jumped down, ran to Diana's side, and patted her shoulder.

“You act like I'm about to kidnap her.” The driver quickly spoke up.

“I mean, your speed will make her scared. I am not saying you kidnapped her.”

Rose quickly opened her wallet to pay for both of them, then she grabbed Diana's hand and pulled the country girl to the front of the closed gate and rang the bell.

“Do your job well to make the mistress happy and you don't worry too much because the mistress is very gentle.” Rose quickly told while waiting for the mistress to open the gate.

“Yes, I will try my best.” Diana replied.

The large gate opened. A woman with a kind face appeared in a light blue dress.

Rose bowed and then she pulled Diana forward and smiled.

“I would like to introduce to you a very gentle and hard-working maid. Her name is Diana.”

“Hello madam.” Diana politely bowed.

Cara gently nodded. Her eyes quickly moved from head to toe to the girl, and then she stopped on the innocent face with a satisfied expression.

The maid of Cara's family left a week ago, so she had to hire a new maid because she and her son constantly had to go out and they needed someone to cook and clean the house.

There was no shortage of job placement centers in the city, but Cara wanted to find herself a reliable maid.

When she heard that Rose was the one who introduced maids from poor rural areas to rich families, she asked Rose to help her.

“Please come in and have a cup of tea with me.” Cara stepped aside to let the two guests enter the house.

The three of them walked together to a white stone table placed in the right corner of the villa, under the canopy of the Indian Oak tree, which was blooming with bright red flowers, and sat down.

Diana reached out to pick up the flowers that had fallen on the table and dropped them next to her feet. This minor act made Cara thrilled because it showed the girl's consciousness.

“You and Diana drink tea and wait for me a moment. I'll go get the money and give it to you.”

Cara poured water into a glass and whispered. Next, she went straight into the house.

When the figure of the luxurious woman disappeared, Rose hurriedly told Diana that she must not tell everyone that her house had just had a funeral lest they fear bad luck and they would let her quit.

“Yes, I get it. Thank you so much for recommending me to such a good place.”

Rose sighed softly when she heard what Diana said. She reached out and gently stroked the girl's hair. Actually, she just introduced jobs to people to earn money. She wished this poor girl could be at peace here until she found a good husband to rely on.

“Diana, try to save some money and learn a profession to take care of yourself.”

As soon as Rose finished speaking, Cara also returned with a white envelope in her hand. After Cara thanked Rose, she gave the money to the introducer as their agreement.

Diana's nose was stinging when she saw Rose's fat body hidden behind the big gate. Now she was alone in this strange place.

She told herself to be strong and try. Although her studies have been unfinished for a long time, she still has her own dream. She believed that one day she would overcome her fate and shine like a star in the night sky.

“Come here, Diana.” Cara said and walked forward.

“Yes, madam.” Diana quickly replied and followed Cara.

This villa was designed by architects in neoclassical style, making Diana unable to take her eyes off the places she passed. The highlight of this work was the meticulous decorative art installation creating an ancient and majestic beauty.

The solid shape and distinctive pieces reminded the country girl of the castles she had seen on television.

“Diana, this is the room for you. Put your bags in your room, then I'll take you around the house to familiarize you with the daily tasks.”

Cara's warm voice, friendly eyes, and gentle smile reminded Diana of her mother.

She nodded in agreement, then quickly put her things in the room and went out.

“The house is enormous so you don't have to clean it all at once. Today clean this room, tomorrow clean another room.”

Cara stopped in front of the large room next to Diana's room and said that this was her son's bedroom.

Adele had a gentle disposition, but he didn't like strangers entering his room, so Cara told Diana that she could go anywhere in the villa except to this place.

“I am Adele's mother, but I rarely go to his room.”

Next, the two of them entered Adele's office together.

Diana glanced at the books neatly arranged on the wooden shelf, and then she looked down at the table. She saw a few small pots the size of a hand on the polished wooden table.

“When you clean this place, put everything back in place. If Adele can't find what he needs, he won't be happy.” Cara laughed.

“Yes, I'll keep that in mind.” Diana politely replied.

Diana felt the sacred motherly love that Cara had for Adele when she heard what Cara had just said. Cara's eyes were slightly sad, but every time she mentioned Adele, her eyes suddenly sparkled. He must be very talented. That's why she was proud.

“The third floor is Adele's piano practice room. You can also go up there to clean the dust normally.”

Cara looked up the stairs and then she leisurely went down.

Diana thought that perhaps Cara's legs were tired, so she did not continue.

The word “piano” made the girl feel so many emotions. Her dream was it. She wanted to someday sit at the piano and play tunes.

The image of famous female pianists who wore long skirts and sat on the stage under the lights and lightly waved their fingers on the keys made Diana's heart skip a beat. She yearned to be like them.

The last job that Cara instructed the new maid was cooking and using gas stoves, ovens, and rice cookers.

Every day, her family only had dinner at home because Adele was busy with school and she was busy with work, so the two of them went to a restaurant for convenience.

“These are the dishes that alternate for half a month. If Adele and I want to eat something else, I'll let you know first. You just have to look here and cook like this. Recipes are available.” Cara said as she pulled out the menu from the kitchen drawer and handed it to Diana.

The country girl realized it was all the food of the rich. One meal of them was enough for the whole working family to buy food for a few days, not less.

“But... I don't know the way to the market, is it far?” Diana said timidly.

“The company is off tomorrow, so I will take you to the market to familiarize yourself with the road. By the way, I will show you where to buy fresh and cheap food. Don't worry too much, you'll get used to it. Well, you must be exhausted, you go take a shower and rest.”

Cara patted the maid's shoulder, and then she went up the stairs.

There was a warm intimacy creeping through Diana's body. She missed her mother, but she still tried to hold back the tears that flowed back inside.

Diana quickly put the menu back in the kitchen drawer and then she went upstairs. She suddenly realized that her bedroom was as big as the young master's room.

At first, she thought the maid should be on the bottom floor and in the small room, but she didn't expect it to be on the same level as the master.

After Diana folded the clothes and put them in the big closet, she hurriedly went to the bathroom. Although she had never touched modern appliances, after a while of trying, she knew how to open and close the shower as well as adjust the temperature. However, her skin almost peeled off because the water was too hot in the beginning.

While Diana was immersed in the cool water, she dreamily recalled her unhappy childhood memories and quietly encouraged herself to try. She thought that maybe her mother had blessed her to have such a good place to work.

In the room covered with blue, Cara happily chatted with her son, who was abroad.

As soon as the holiday came, Adele went abroad to take part in an international piano competition for young professional pianists.

Adele was born into a family with a business tradition. Because he was so passionate about music, he studied both business administration and piano at the city's Academy of Music.

He won a lot of big and small awards in his country and he wanted to reach out to the world to try his hand in this field.

Before Adele flew abroad, the maid retired, so he was anxious about Cara. He repeatedly urged his mother to hire someone else to replace her, but his mother kept procrastinating because she wanted to find an honest person. In the end, Eric's mother introduced Rose to his mother, so she hired a suitable maid.

“I'm very reassured. If she's with you, I'll be less worried.” Adele's warm voice rang out.

“Yes, focus on completing the piano competition well. Don't let yourself be distracted. It's late, you go to bed early.”

“Yes, mom, please take care of your health.”

When Adele heard Cara had hung up the phone, he slowly lowered his hand. Since his father died, he only had his mother, so when he was away from home, he was anxious about her.

Previously, the maid was still in the house, so he was also reassured, but recently, she retired to go back to her hometown to live with her children. Fortunately, his mother found a replacement.

“A country girl? It sounds cute, right?”

The question for oneself echoed softly in the quiet night and a slight smile appeared on the corner of the pianist's lips.

Adele was not like his friends of the same age. As soon as they entered college, they had girlfriends. He was moved by the melodious music, but he never fell in love with a girl, even though she was both talented and beautiful.

In his heart, there was only love for parents, love for unfortunate people, and love for music. However, he was still waiting for the girl of his life to appear.