Episode 5: Disgusted

Mia walked briskly down the corridor to the sitting room. The first to notice her appearance was Jackson who could not contain his excitement. He scanned her from her head to toe and her wear. Mia was putting on a red palazzo trouser with an animal skin crop top.

“Mia" he called out “Come join us," he said

Mia walked to the dining table and paused.

“So I guess you also sleep with it," Ethan said rolling his eyes

Everyone was seated leaving two seats empty. One free seat was across Jackson and on the right of Ethan with another free seat on the left of Ethan beside Sofia. Mia took the seat across Jackson and beside Ethan and Jackson smiled at her. Mia smiled back and for the first time since she came, he saw her lips curve up.

Henry placed Mia's meal before her covered. She thanked him and opened her food. She paused staring at the meal before her with her face squeezed. Everyone subconsciously stopped having their meals and watched Mia. She picked up her spoon but she could not maintain eye contact with the food and kept on staring at her spoon in her hands.

Her left hand flew to her mouth before she took the water jug and poured out some water into her glass cup before taking a sip. She bent slightly and sniffed the steam of the food and the aroma before she scooped a little with her spoon and stared at it for at least a minute before she put it into her mouth.

She chewed once and could not continue then hurriedly left the dining table as she was about to throw up. Mia rushed to her room and ran into the toilet and vomited all she had eaten.

Henry craved going after her but he maintained his composure and instructed Jackson to do so which he willingly did without objection and it angered Ethan as it was visible on his face.

“What's up with that guy?" Jackson thought as he walked to Mia's room

Jackson knocked on Mia's room door and Mia just stepped out of the bathroom with a towel in her hands. Mia opened the door when he was about to knock again.

Ethan excused himself from the dining table and walked through the corridor. He paused when he heard voices.

“Are you okay?" Jackson asked looking worried

Mia faced down and Jackson had to bend slightly to get a better view of Mia's face. Mia cleaned her hand on her towel before raising her head and smiling.

“I'm fine," she said

“But it seemed you were about to throw up earlier," Jackson said

“Yeah, sauce disgust me," Mia said restraining herself from going into the toilet to throw up again

“I see. We didn't know that"

“Henry is meant to know"

“You told him?"

Mia nods. “Alright, let me go and inform them maybe he forgot. Would you like to come back to the dining table? Sofia could…"

“No, thank you. I don't wish to eat anymore" Mia said interrupting Jackson

Jackson nods and walks down the corridor. Ethan hurriedly goes into the room close by and once Jackson had passed there he stepped out and hurriedly went back to the dining table.

“So what happened?" Henry asked Jackson

Jackson sat so did Ethan. “She feels disgusted by sauce," Jackson said, “She said you are meant to know" he added

“Tsk, she wants preferential treatment nothing more," Ethan said starting at Dara who seemed lost

Henry looked surprised at Jackson's statement but he composed himself. “Yeah, I think she did when we met," he said ignoring Ethan

“I think I can make her something else to eat," Sophia said

“She said she does not want to eat anymore," Jackson said

Henry shook his head and stood up. “Prepare something and give it to her. You can offer her some tea or coffee. I would not be happy if she slept hungrily" he said and left the dining table

“Why must she have preferential treatment? I wasn't treated like this when I first came over" Ethan said

No one bothered to answer his question. All stood and left the dining table with their plates leaving just Ethan there. Sofia went to Mia's room to do as Henry had instructed. Mia kept on vomiting as she could not get the thought of the sauce from her mind.

“I think I can make something for you to ease the irritation," Sofia said noticing Mia felt uncomfortable

“Really? I would love that thank you" Mia said

Mia took the towel with her as she trailed behind Sophia who felt worried about her. Mia felt like Sophia behaved like her mother and she could not help but miss her mother at that moment.

Mia stood still as she spots her new enemy on the dining table seeming to be lost in his thought. He felt he was being watched and he turned to meet Mia's eyes. Mia immediately looked away and moved to the dining avoiding Ethan's gaze. She sat in the same seat as Jackson earlier and looked down at her towel before wiping her lips with it.

After a while of the awkward silence on the dining table, Sophia came out from the kitchen with a glass cup filled with a liquid substance in it. Mia knew it was bitter just by the sight of it.

Sophia handed it over to Mia and sat at the table. Mia sniffed it and squeezed her face.

“What's this?" Mia asked

“It's an antidote for your irritation. It's a family recipe and I have forgotten its name" Sophia said

“I guess it's bitter, right?" Mia asked glancing at the cup placing it on the table

Sophia smiles and nods. “It would help you. Trust me" Sophia said

Mia nods and gulps the substance in one go. She closes her eyes for a second before opening them. “Do you feel better?" Sophia asked

Mia nods. “Thanks," she said and stands

“Would you love having tea or coffee? Since you did not have dinner" Sophia said

Mia nods. “Thanks but I'm good. I don't wish to eat anymore" she said and left the dining table followed by Ethan and Sophia after turning off the lights.