Chapter 5

Joy kept her phone pressed to her ear while staring at the ceiling of her almost empty dorm room.

Her room was quiet. The utter silence was deafening. And even though her room was quiet, she still could not think of anything. Her head just started to ache because she was trying to understand if the person she was talking to was normal.

Make him laugh? She asked herself. What the fuck! What is this? A job interview or a talent search? It seems like he plans to make her a clown. If he wanted a clown, why did he not just purchase a N*****x subscription and watch comedy shows?

She blinked a few times. She felt like she was going to lose her sanity.

"Hello?" he asked again on the other line. "Are you still there?"

Oh no, I am not here anymore. You should be nervous, her brain whispered. Rich people are really something else, right? They think of all sorts of things just to waste money. While those of us who are struggling in life would do everything just to earn money.

That is life for you.

"Yes." She even let out a breath after answering.

"So?"

She scratched her forehead. So? So what?

"Sir..."

"Alexander." He cut off what was supposed to be her litany.

"What?"

"Alexander. I am not used to 'Sir.'"

She shook her head. He is really tripping, huh? He wants someone to make him laugh, but he does not want to be called Sir. Oh wow!

Not used to it? You are a CEO and you are not used to it? Her brain complained.

"Then. Mr. Alexander?"

"No."

"Boss Alexander?"

"No."

You son of a father! What do you want me to call you!

"Kuya?"

The other line suddenly went quiet. She bit her lip.

Oh, I think that was wrong, her brain interjected. But what was she supposed to do, he did not want Sir, he did not want Mr. And he also did not want to be called boss? Where is she supposed to place herself?

A few seconds passed before she heard a very faint sigh.

"Alexander."

She grimaced. "That is so awkward."

"'Kuya' is more awkward."

She covered her mouth. It seemed like she annoyed him. Did he really not want to be respected? While she wanted to finish her studies just to be called Ma'am. Then here he is, already a billionaire, and he does not want to be called Sir. Well, how arrogant.

"Alright then. Alexander."

"Better."

She took a deep breath. "Okay... how am I going to make you laugh?"

She needed the money. It probably would not be bad if she grabbed his offer, right?

"That is your problem."

She gasped. Oh wow. So kind.

"What do you find funny?"

"Nothing."

"It cannot be nothing."

"I have not laughed in years."

Her forehead creased. "Years?"

He really is arrogant. Rich but does not find anything funny? Is she talking to a robot?

"Years."

She swallowed. She probably really is talking to a robot.

She thought for a moment before smiling.

"Alright."

"I am listening."

"Knock knock."

A long silence passed before he spoke.

"What are you doing?"

"Making a joke, what else?"

"I know."

"Then answer it."

"I do not know how."

Her eyes widened. "You do not know knock knock?"

"No."

She held her forehead.

Lord, this is too much. Where did you put this person? Is he far from civilization?

"Okay..." She took a deep breath. "Knock knock."

"Who is there?"

"At least you actually know."

The man went silent again. She smiled slightly.

"Banana."

"Banana who?"

"Banana split."

"There is more."

"I am waiting."

"Because we are split in this conversation."

A long silence. She grimaced. It seemed even she did not find her own joke funny.

"That is corny..." he complained to her.

Well then, sorry, okay?

"I am sorry."

"That was terrible. Very terrible. Terribly... creative."

She raised an eyebrow. Creative? Was that not an insult?

"Sir—I mean, Alexander..."

"Yes?"

"Do you really not laugh?"

"No."

"Not even at memes?"

"No."

"Videos of cats falling?"

"No."

"A crying baby?"

"No."

"People slipping?"

"No."

She scratched her head. "What kind of person are you?"

"I have been asking myself the same question."

She suddenly went quiet. She did not expect him to answer like that. It was not arrogant. It was not sarcastic either.

It felt like the reasoning of someone who is truly exhausted. She shook her head to get rid of whatever she was thinking.

"I cannot make you laugh if you do not want to laugh."

"Maybe."

"So did I fail already?"

"No."

"What?"

"You are still talking."

"Was making you laugh not the requirement?"

"It is."

"But I did not make you laugh."

"I did not say you failed."

Her forehead creased. "You are so confusing."

"So I have been told."

She sat up properly on the bed. Her nervousness was slowly fading. She did not know why. Maybe because he was not like the CEO she expected.

He was not shouting. He was not bragging either. Just really weird.

"Alexander."

"Yes?"

"Can I ask a question?"

"You already did."

She rolled her eyes. "There."

"What?"

"That."

"What?"

"That is your problem."

"What is my problem?"

"You answer everything like you are in a debate. Are you normal?"

Silence came between the two of them again, and after a few seconds, he finally spoke.

"I do not know."

She did not know why, but it seemed like the air around them suddenly grew heavy. His answer was not a joke. It felt true. She felt his resentment toward the world. Or maybe it was actually her own resentment, she was just too occupied so she did not notice it.

She sighed. "Alright. I am listening."

"Your turn."

"What about me?"

"Try to make me laugh."

A long silence and then...

"I have never tried."

"Exactly."

"So?"

"How will you know if something is hard if you do not try?"

She felt the man breathe slightly. Then...

"Brian."

Joy's forehead creased.

"What?"

"I asked my assistant what joke he knows."

She could not stop herself from laughing. "That was not you!"

"I know."

"Wait..." She actually laughed now. "You asked for help?"

"Apparently."

She burst into laughter completely. Not because of the joke. But because she could imagine a serious CEO suddenly asking his assistant,

"Brian, tell me a joke."

She shook her head while laughing.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Yes. Do I look abnormal?"

She was still laughing. "Sorry..."

She could not stop laughing on the other line... Until they eventually went quiet.

But on the other side of the city, on the top floor of Montalban Holdings, Alexander was standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window while holding his phone.

He was listening quietly. To every soft laugh of Joy. To every time she caught her breath. He did not realize the corner of his lips was slowly lifting.

Brian stopped while opening the door. He stared at his boss.

"Sir..."

Alexander did not answer. He just remained listening to the other line. Slowly and almost unnoticeably.

But it was clear, he was smiling. And in the span of many years, it was only now that it happened again.