Chapter three

Mrs Kim sneered.

"I'm sure he wouldn't die from something like this, I understand you Zoey, but you don't have to worry. I know what I'm doing, it was a harsh punishment, I was just trying to teach that fool a lesson. Everything about him irks me. If I remember all the money we wasted on him I get more angry. He should be reminded always about where he belongs,”

Zoey shrugged her shoulders, and said, "I trust you, Mom, I know you wouldn't do that.”

Mrs. Kim smiled at her daughter’s words and inquired. "Is Jason still in the sitting room?"

"He’s probably in his room sulking like a baby," Zoey answered and laughed.

"What is he doing in his room by this time, go and tell him to make himself useful. Or else he would receive more punishment from me. His punishment isn't over yet, there's a lot to be done around the house, I want the whole house sparkling,” Mr. Kim warned.

"Alright, mommy,"

Zoey walked to her mom and hugged her then she walked away. Zoey walked down to the basement, his small space, she called him but he never answered. She looked around but didn't see him. Zoey frowned. And attempted to call him.

"Jason..." She trailed off.

Zoey noticed a figure covered in a blanket move, she walked up to the figure and roughly dragged the blanket out of the figure. It was Jason, he was naked and shivering. The burnt scar was now very visible on his back. 

She stared at him for a while, having mixed feelings. Jason’s present condition was pitiful. Jason squeezed himself on the flat mattress. Pleading with his eyes for Zoey not to harm him. 

Zoey hissed. And said, "Stand up from there, you have a whole cleaning to do. Else, Mommy will punish you again." out of fear, Jason instantly stood up and put on his clothes. From the way he was shaking, it was obvious that he wasn't feeling alright. 

When Jason made an attempt to walk, but couldn't conveniently walk, he sat down. Zoey saw this and glared at him. But then, Jason noticed it and wanted to explain. "Zoey, I was....," but before he could finish his statement, Zoey shut him off with a smirk on her face.

"Forgot it, if you like, stand up or sit here, it's not my business. But you will have to blame yourself when mommy sees you here.” Zoey said and left. 

Immediately Zoey left, Jason followed, his body didn't want another punishment. So, he got his cleaning supplies and began to clean. The house is huge, it was acquired when the garrison family was doing well financially. 

There were twenty large rooms in the villa, Mrs. Kim made sure he cleaned every room including the kitchen, the garden, and all the bathrooms. Jason did all these chores without eating anything.

When Mr Kim came to supervise what Jason had cleaned, she was impressed even though she never showed it. This was his punishment for what he never said.

Jason sighed, he was scared that Mrs. Kim was going to ask him to redo it. Although she did, not all the rooms. 

So, he began to clean the already-cleaned floor.

"Should I help you?" He heard a voice and when he turned, it was Zoey. Jason knew that she was only mocking him. 

He ignored her and continued with what he was doing, Jason didn't want any distractions. He wanted to do this and do it well. He was very hungry and weak and couldn't afford any more chores. 

As he was doing it, Jason heard the sound of a car horn. He quickly prayed that it wasn't Me Garrison. He had traveled for a business meeting. Looking for a way to revive his dead family name and his business. 

Mr. Garrison hated him more than his wife and daughter. And he never failed to mention it to him. As he was seriously praying inwardly, the door opened and it was Tonia, Zoey’s cousin. Her parents died in a motor accident and Mr. Garrison took her in. But at some point, he informed her that he wasn't going to pay her bills anymore. Tonia left in search of work after spending most of her childhood in the garrison house.

Tonia exclaimed immediately after she saw Jason. “Omg! She and Jason were close, and they had almost everything in common. Jason grinned and managed to run to her. They both enveloped each other in a tight hug.

Jason was happy, he had seen someone who would care for him and also have good intentions towards him. Tonia looked at Jason. She wasn't impressed with what she saw, she knew that Jason had been suffering and he looked hungry and weak. She decided to help him. 

Tonia kept all her luggage but not without handling Jason the snack in her handbag to eat while she helped him clean the remaining rooms. 

Jason giggled and appreciated Tonia. He sat in a corner and ate the snack hungrily. When he finished eating, he rushed back to Tonia and demanded to continue with his work. He didn't know how Mrs Kim would feel seeing Tonia do his chores for him and he didn't want to get into Trouble.

"I can handle it now Tonia, I have enough energy now, Thanks to you." He said, smiling. But Tonia declined.

But Jason insisted. "I might get into trouble with this please let me do this,”

Tonia shook her head, “I won't let you do this. Look at you. I will tell my Aunt that I wanted to help. We used to help each other then, remember? And you did the most of the help. So it's my turn. Just relax and let me help you.”

"Hmmm….." Jason thought. Those years with Tonia were good even though they get punished sometimes. 

"Tonia, I know you meant well, nobody like me wouldn't have rights and choices. You don't have to make me feel special, I already know that I'm not.”

Tonia began to get emotional, she knew how Jason felt but she couldn't do anything. She just stood there staring at him. While Jason continued letting out his emotions. 

"It's not news to you about how I've been treated. And the bad treatment I receive daily,” 

As Jason was explaining further, Tonia immediately chimed in. “Please, Jason say no more, leave it like that.” she didn't want him to waste his energy explaining. She wasn't new to the news and she could notice the hurt in his voice and seriously felt sorry for him, she knew the garrison family treated Jason like an outcast and she knew it wasn't fair on him.

Jason is a nice person, with a pure heart and he deserves to be treated like a human being. 

"Jason, I know you were given this job, I won't let you do this in your present state. let me assist you. Okay? I'm sure you're tired by now."

"Are you not scared of being punished?" Jason asked and Tonia furrowed her brow like she didn't care.

"Punishment? Why would they punish me?" Tonia questioned.