CHAPTER 2: Choice

Nala’s Point of View

I couldn’t believe my eyes! There he was, the familiar man, sitting on the bachelor’s couch in front of the big bed where I now found myself. His legs were casually crossed, exuding an air of confidence.

Wait, bed? What am I doing here? What is this place? Did this man take advantage of me?!

His two thick eyebrows met, and a ghostly grin curled his lips. “I did nothing to you, woman,” he said as if he read what was running through my mind, and then he stood up.

“You fool! What did you do to me?! Where is this place?!” I shouted and tried to get up, but my head started spinning and I ended up collapsing right back onto the bed. Thank goodness for the softness of the bed.

“I told you. I did nothing to you.” He looked at me from head to toe. “You’re too far from my standard. You’re not even beautiful,” he added.

“What?! Don’t speak as if you’re handsome!”

I also looked at him from head to toe. He was impeccably dressed in a black button-down long-sleeve shirt, neatly tucked into black slacks. The sleeves were casually rolled up to the elbow, revealing a glimpse of his chest. His black Oxford shoes and the gleaming, expensive watch on his wrist completed the polished look.

My gaze shifted to his face, causing our eyes to meet. He smirked while looking at me.

“Hmm. Realizing something?” he teased, but I just glared at him.

He walked towards the window and then crossed his arms over his broad chest before speaking again. “Where’s my money?” he asked, serious now.

His question hit me like a ton of bricks. The seriousness in his voice sent shivers down my spine. I was at a loss for words; my tongue and courage abandoned me in that moment. I swallowed hard and averted my gaze. It was a moment that left me stunned and speechless.

“I’m going to ask you again, where is my money?” he asked again while lighting a cigarette on his lips.

I kept my mouth shut, refusing to utter a single word. Let him try to charge me for what I took, but he won’t find a single penny because it's long gone. And even if he tries to take me out with an armalite or maybe even a bazooka, he won't be getting his precious money back.

He glared at me when he noticed that I had no intention of speaking. He puffed out an expensive cigarette.

“I already told you, didn’t I? I hate repeating my words. Now, speak!”

I let out a violent sigh. “Your money is gone,” I said.

“Gone?” he repeated sarcastically. “Oh, lemme guess? You used my money to pay your sister’s hospital bill and expenses, didn’t you?”

I stiffened in my seat. I couldn’t even blink because of what he said. How did he know that?

“Your sister, Nadine Cabral, is now suffering from paralytic polio and tongue cancer, isn’t she? And she’s currently in a St. Elizabeth Medical Center, and because of your lack of financial resources, you are the least priority in the mentioned hospital, ‘causing your sister not to improv—”

I interrupted him mid-sentence and grabbed his collar, my hands trembling. Despite my efforts, I couldn’t lift him. Frustration surged through me, causing my jaw to clench and my teeth to grind together.

“Who are you?! Don’t ever touch my sister, or else I’ll kill you!” I shouted.

He grinned and effortlessly removed my hand from his collar. I clenched my trembling hand and then glared at him.

“Bingo. So your weakness is your sister, right? Tsk, pathetic,” he said sarcastically, shaking his head.

“What did you say?!”

He ignored me and proceeded to the nearby table. He carefully poured a generous amount of high-priced wine into the rock glass that was conveniently placed there.

“So, let’s talk about business, woman,” he said, breaking the silence that enveloped us for a few minutes.

I rolled my eyes. “Sorry to disappoint you, but I have no business,” I interrupted him.

I heard him chuckle.

“Before I tell you what to do, I will first tell you what benefits you will get if you accept my offer.” He sat down again on the bachelor’s couch and crossed his two legs over each other. “First, I won’t send you behind bars. I will let you live without your conscience hunting you. Second, I will let you take away my money. Third…”

He stopped and played With the ice in his glass. I know that he is enjoying this!

“What’s the third?” I asked impatiently.

“Third, I will arrange for your sister to receive medical treatment in the US. She will have access to proper medications and be cared for by professional doctors who will monitor her progress. I will also cover the cost of her medications. You won’t take out a penny if you can do the job well that I will give you…” He waited for a long time before turning his gunmetal-blue eyes toward me. “What do you think about the benefits? Not bad, isn’t it?"

I can’t breathe. It seems like my pride is blocking my throat. I knew he wasn’t joking, even though there was a smirk on his lips. I don’t know if I should consider what he says, even though I don’t yet know what kind of work he wants me to do. I don’t know him, but I know he is rich, so I know he can afford to take my sister to the US for better treatment. But can I really let Nadine get away from me?

I closed my eyes tightly. The image of my sister lying in the ICU bed with many tubes attached to her body occupied my dark vision. Her whimpers are what I hear over and over again, and the smell of the medicine around her is what occupies the corner of my nose.

I nervously bit my bottom lip, summoning the courage to open my eyes once more. As our gazes locked, I couldn’t help but feel a knot forming in my throat. The man standing before me seemed to derive some twisted pleasure from witnessing the chaos that had become my existence. It was as if my misery was his personal entertainment.

“What kind of job? What kind of job do you want me to do? Am I going to kill someone? Am I going to become a drug pusher? What? Tell me!” I asked flatly.

He chuckled as if I had said something funny.

“Am I that cruel to you?” he asked. “I consider your questions a yes, then?”

“What job?” I asked again. More serious now.

“So impatient,” he commented.

“Can you stop talking? Tell me what kind of job that is! All I want to happen is that you fulfill what you said, because whatever job you give me, I will accept it.”

“Great, then.” He stood up and turned away. “Since you look very desperate to cure your own sister, this job is simple for you… well, for everyone to be exact.”

“What is it?!”

“Be my secretary…” he said, and he faced me again. “But not just a secretary, woman. You also have a duty to be my bedwarmer. What do you think? Sounds fun, right?”

“What did you say?! Are you out of your mind?!” I said with wide eyes. “S-Secretary? Bed warmer? Fun? Are you saying you will give me a job but with an extra service?! What do you think of me? A hostess?!” I couldn’t stop myself from bursting out in anger.

“Hostess? That’s bold.” He chuckled. “Hostess is a cheap term. I made a contract for you not to think that you are a hostess or whatever.”

“Do you really think I will agree to your shitness? You said I didn’t pass or exceed your standard, but what does this mean?!”

“This isn’t about you not being qualified by my standards. You said you would do it even if I gave it to you, right?”

“But that doesn’t involve losing my dignity!”

“Exactly! So that I am giving you an opportunity to think about this business and the benefits that I mentioned earlier. The decision is yours. Your future and your sister’s life are now in your hands.” He licked his bottom lip before speaking. “Fang.”

As he spoke those words, the room’s brown double door swung open, revealing a man clad in a black suit similar to those who had previously visited my home. He approached the person I was conversing with and passed him a white folder, uttering a brief remark before exiting without bothering to shut the door.

“Here’s the contract. Read this carefully, and tomorrow I need your answer immediately. Understood?”

He didn’t waIt for my answer. He laid the white folder down on the bed.

Our eyes met before he finally turned his back and left the room. My knees fell to the floor. It seems like I’ve suddenly lost strength because of what’s happening.

“I wonder how I got to this point?” I whispered weakly.

I washed my face with my palm and then combed my brown hair with my fingers. I don’t know what to do anymore. I don’t know how I’m going to get through all this nonsense.

I forced myself to stand up and reach for the folder on the bed. With shaking hands, I opened it and began to read and understand what was written on each page. All the benefits mentioned by that man earlier are there. It also stated that I would still be paid the correct amount for working as his secretary.

There is also something encoded there that says it is forbidden to tell others about me being his bed warmer, or else Nadine will be harmed. There is a lot written on the contract, and my nerves almost burst in my head because of the nonsense that is stated there.

“Hugo Lionel P. Fabellon?” I whispered.

That’s the name written next to my name. Above his printed name is a signature.

I stared at the contract, my mind going blank amidst the chaos of the current situation. The weight of the decision loomed over me, rendering me unable to think clearly.

Yesterday, I was so happy because I visited my sister in the hospital. I told her a lot of stories so she wouldn’t be too bored there. At the age of seven, she was going through a lot of hardships. She couldn’t even enjoy being a child because of her illness. If only the pain that Nadine is feeling right now could be transferred to me, I would have done that a long time ago.

If I sign this contract, it means that I agree to the agreement. I agree to be his bedwarmer. But the exchange for my lost dignity is Nadine’s recovery. I will see her smile again, like she always did before. I can hear her infectious laugh again. I will see her run to meet me again, like before, when I come home from school. She can wear her favorite doll shoes again.

Everything I thought was impossible will become possible when she gets better.

I immediately wiped my cheek with the back of my palm when a tear dropped from my eyes after I signed the contract.

Hugo is right; my weakness is my sister. Nadine is the only one left with me after Mama died because of what I did, which I still regret to this day. It’s like a nightmare that haunts me over and over again and won’t let me sleep.

“I really didn’t expect you to think about joining us, Nala,” Berto said with a smile on his lips while smoking a cigarette in front of me.

I laughed because of that. “I didn’t expect you to care, Berto,” I said.

The grin plastered on his thick and dark lips widened even more.

“That’s what I like about you, kiddo. You are fearless. Even in this moment, if we were to end your life, you wouldn’t plead for mercy.” After he said that, he laughed.

I raised an eyebrow at him. “Good thing you know. I’m a big asset if you include me in your group, you know that?” I played with my plain nails. “I know where the hideout of the Supreme Fraternity is. I also know where the next motor war will be held, and I know a lot more than you think. I know very well that your group wants to know everything I know because your group is worthless without someone like me.”

He was smitten. “And who will believe what you say, kid? What grade are you in? Grade 9?” He laughed silly, as if it were funny that I was only in grade 9.

I followed their laughter, causing them to get even more annoyed with me. I smiled sweetly at Berto and his companions.

“I’m not forcing you to believe what I’m saying, but they say children don’t lie. That’s bad, Berto. You’re old because you always lie to Aling Burning,” I teased, causing his dark face to turn even redder.

Aling Burning is Berto’s mother, who is a saleswoman at the food stall on the corner near our house. She’s clueless about what Berto is up to, which makes him feel pretty confident. I get it, even my own Mama has no idea what I’m doing.

“You really have guts, huh? Kill her now!”

Berto’s remark was like a signal, summoning an army of men in black to flood the abandoned parking lot. I couldn’t help but be taken aback by the sheer number of people he had brought along. My eyes widened in disbelief, as I never expected Berto to have such a formidable entourage.

I immediately punched the man in the face, who was about to hit me in the head with thick wood. I kicked his dick, which was perfect timing for punching him In the stomach.

“Fuck it!” I whispered when someone successfully punched me on the cheek.

I massaged my jaw because it felt dislocated. I looked at the person who punched me, who was now smiling as if he were so fucking proud.

“Your breath stinks!” I said it without hesitation and punched him back.

“Nala!”

I literally stopped breathing when someone familiar hugged my small body. Her hug was so tight that I could barely breathe.

“Mama?” I said, trembling.

I turned to Berto, who was currently running out of the parking lot. Cowards!

I glanced at Mama, who was now standing before me. Surprisingly, her eyes didn’t hold any trace of anger or frustration, but even so, I’m worried because she might scold me.

“Nala, look at Mama.” Mama’s voice is music to my ears.

I didn’t follow her; I just looked at the floor and waited for her to scold me. But my whole face seemed to lose color when I noticed a series of drops of blood on the floor where I was looking.

I slowly raised my eyes to Mama, who was trying to smile at me. Her forehead was full of sweat, and it was obvious that she was in pain.

“I-I told you to look at Mama, didn’t I?” she said with difficulty.

“M-Mama…” I called her trembling.

“Y-You still really don’t want to listen to me.” Her tears rolled down her cheeks as she looked at me. “B-But even if you’re just always causing t-trouble r-remember that I l-love—”

Mama’s words were cut short by a barrage of coughs, each one accompanied by a terrifying sight—blood. Fear consumed me as I watched it fill the air, leaving me speechless. It was a moment that shook me to my core.

“Mama! Mama, I’ll take you to the hospital! I will ask for help!” I said, crying, but she just shook her head.

Tears did not stop pouring from my eyes, causing Mom to caress my cheek with her bloody hand.

“Don’t bother…” she smiled. “I-I won’t be able to live longer either. Just promise me that you’ll take care of Nadine, o-okay? T-Take care of yourself too. H-Hmm? Never leave each other. Y-You should always be with her, and she should be the same with you. Don’t hurt yourself again, my daughter. Promise me.”

“Mom, don’t talk like that!”

She just smiled and hugged me again. “Promise me that you won’t harm yourself again, N-Nala.”

Crying, I nodded. “Promise, Mama.”

“I-I love you so much, Nala. I love you two very much…”