Eyes in the Wall (4)

"Mister Ezra." Samira stood taut, straightening her dress and tidying her hair. 

"Mister Ezra," Naeun said as well, standing firm. 

They were silent for a few stiff moments as Ezra looked between the two of them. But he cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "I came in here to set aside the rest of the dishes." He smiled, highlighting the stack of plates in his hands. 

"Oh." Samira was first to respond and first to believe that he hadn't heard them. "Well Mister Ezra you don't need to help with that. We would have gotten it." 

"I know. But I heard some departments are currently a bit understaffed. Something to do with Lady Erina?" 

"Yes, that's true." Samira studied him from the impressions of dimples on his cheek to the lines in his lips. "But still, Mister Ezra, you don't need to do that. That's below your duties and plus you start work tomorrow, not tonight." 

"Ah, but what can I say? I'm desperate for something to do other than unpack my things," he jested, brightening his smile. 

Soft laughter came easily to Samira. "Still, don't worry over it. Yew---you, look like you've been through enough already. We've got it." She approached him to take the plates. 

He handed them over, their fingers momentarily brushing against each other. "I see just two of you though. Are you two sure you don't need help?" 

"Y-yes." Samira sat the dishes into the sink, blushing. 

"Yeah, we're sure." Naeun responded as well, folding her arms over her chest. "So?" She set her eyes on him. "Don't you have anything to say?" 

Ezra turned his attention to her. "Do I have anything to say?" 

"Yeah." Naeun peered at him. 

"Well." He blinked, thinking. "I suppose I do have something to say." His eyes bounced between the two of them. "This is our first time, and you two have yet to introduce yourselves!" 

"What?" Confusion rammed into Naeun's face.

Samira clasped her hands together, happiness blooming in her eyes. "My name is Samira. But all of my friends call me Sami or Sam." She offered her hand. 

"Alright, nice to meet you, Sami." He took her hand, and gazed at soft round-faced young woman. Fiery red ginger hair peeked out from under her black bonnet. She wore the common indoor maid uniform, a black tunic dress frilled at the neck and dress hem, topped with a plain white apron. The only noticeable change to the uniform was a rusted silver broach in the shape of a bumblebee pinned to the chest of her long apron.

When he released her hand, Samira lowered her gaze and bashfully played with her hair. 

"And you are?" Ezra turned his sight to the quiet Naeun. She was shorter than Samira, with pale skin that had a slight yellowish tint. Her eyes were angled and cut thin like a fox and her cheek bones were flat and raised high. She wore a similar uniform, her sleek straight hair pulled into a tight ponytail. 

"Naeun." She didn't offer her hand. 

"It's nice to meet both of you. I'm sure you know, but I'm Ezra." He smiled. 

"Yes, of course we know who you are!" Samira gushed cheerfully with a smile. 

"And now I know who you two are," he returned her giddy happiness. 

 "Yes, I suppose you do." Samira placed a hand over her mouth, and giggled like a modest maiden. "So?" She started twirling her loose hair. "Mister Ezra, how are you faring so far?"

"Me? Oh well, I'm fairing---." 

"What were you talking with Miria about?" Naeun cut him off.

"Excuse me?" He furrowed his brows. 

"Ignore, Nae! She's not---." Samira tried to cover up their tracks with a panicked addition, but Naeun interrupted. 

"I know you heard us and saw us peeping in. We will admit it, we were watching. But we weren't watching to disrespect your privacy. We were just curious after we heard all that commotion, and that's why we're watching. Now, you." She folded her arms over her chest, continuing to fire line after line at him. "Fellow worker to another, would you mind telling us what you were doing reading the letter Lady Sutherton specifically gave for Lady Erina's eyes only? Is that something you do on your first day of work? Read through people's private letters?" 

Ezra stared at her for a long moment, as if he were considering his words. After a few seconds of stares and stillness, he parted his lips. "It's been a long night. I should see to it that I get some rest. Goodnight, ladies." He smiled, and waved them off. 

Without waiting for a reply, he simply turned from them and left the same way he came. 

"Wow." Naeun scoffed, shaking her head scoldingly at his leave. "Can you believe that?" She glanced at Samira. "Sure, I get we shouldn't have been spying, but why not confront us? He just brushed us off. We don't do that here. We talk to each other, because everybody knows everybody is always sticking their nose where it shouldn't be." She huffed, unfolding her arms. "The way he acted it was---." 

"--So, mature of him, right?" Samira lovingly exhaled.

"No, I was thinking more, suspicious."