Chapter 2.2

Chapter 2.2

I was not on my own just watching him as he stood and when he came out of the room. My brain was still processing what he said.

"W-what?"

He just turned to me and looked at the corner of the room. When I looked back at it, all the things I had brought were already there.

"W-wait, huh? Why are my things here? And how did you get my things?"

He shrugged his shoulders and boredom was written all over his face. He really doesn't have anything to talk about.

"I have my ways." That's all he said and left the room.

After he left, I immediately took a shower and got dressed, maybe he will pay me for this hotel.

I was arranging my things when suddenly my cellphone on the bed vibrated. I opened it and what I saw slapped me the cruel reality of the world.

Mr. Valdez sent me his payment on my bank account.

I took a deep breath and calmed myself. I don't want to cry, I'm done there. I must be used to it, but every time I see the digits of the money being entered into my bank account, I am drawn to the reality that I entered the job I used to avoid.

I was about to leave my room when I saw two men in black enter the room and take my belongings.

Arriving at the lobby, I saw him sitting on the couch there. He was still wearing sunglasses while looking seriously at his watch and seemed bored.

His forehead was already furrowed and his two thick eyebrows were about to meet when he looked at our presence, I was about to hide behind the men who were carrying my belongings when he looked at me sharply.

"I said 15 minutes. How couldn't you follow a simple instruction?"

Even if I wanted to know if what he said was correct, I couldn't do it because I didn't have a watch. He looked at his watch again and frowned at me.

"We'll be late for our flight."

"Flight?"

What flight? Why—

"Don't tell me that I'll go with you," I stated incredulously.

"Sure."

He was followed by the two men who were still carrying my belongings while I remained where I was. I was stunned to realize that he was serious.

Our flight home to the Philippines also took a few hours. I just slept because he didn't speak either and we weren't really close. I don't even know what his name is. I also have no interest because this is definitely our first and last meeting.

"Welcome back Loise," I whispered to myself as I took a deep breathe. The heat and the smell of my surroundings proved that I'm really home.

When we arrived, I immediately went to the hospital where Daddy was confined. He's still unconscious but as what his doctor said, he's stable and doing great. His condition is getting better because of the treatments but it also costs a lot so I have to work. Aside from this job of mine and I have other jobs that supply my daily needs and hospital expenses. One job is not enough to pay all of that so I had no choice but to do such things for me to be able to save Daddy.

"Hello ma'am," Daddy's nurse greeted me when I arrived at his room. He's still lying on his bed just like the last time I saw him before I went to Singapore.

"Thank you hm?" I held her hand. I'm so thankful to her because she never leaves Daddy when I'm away and have a job. If it wasn't because of her help to take care of Dad when I'm not around, I don't know how to divide myself just so that I could work and take care of him. I just think it's too hard.

"It's nothing ma'am. It's part of my job to help."

I said my thank yous to her before she left me inside the room. I looked at Daddy who was sound asleep in bed. I approached him and held his hand with what was already attached.

"Hey Dad. You've been sleeping for months now. Ain't you tired of doing it?" I laughed at what I said. "How can you get tired when you're just sleeping, right? And besides, you need all the rest so that if you'll wake up sooner or later, you'll be as strong as before. You'll—"

I stopped and stared at Daddy's face. His face was laced with the stress he's been through before, but I know that it will be gone someday. When he woke up, I hope the traces were gone. I can't bare to see him like that. I can accept all his painful words as long as he's doing okay.

I tightened my grip on his hand hoping that he'll also feel my hand holding his. I want him to know that he's not alone, that I'm still here. I'll be with him all the time.

"So, spill the tea sis." Catelyn playfully sipped her drink while looking at me. I rolled my eyes, because I had nothing to say to her.

After I watched Daddy all night last night, Catelyn invited me to come out when I got home to where I was staying. She insisted to bond with me because she wants to know the 'tea' she's talking about now.

"I don't have to tell you about that because it will be our first and last encounter okay? That's the last one. Don't hope, you'll just get hurt."

He was the one who stared at me now so I laughed.

"Tsk. He's the most handsome man that night. I really thought that it was Wyatt you're with that night but I saw an article that he was with his girlfriend that time."

"Wyatt, who?"

I've never heard that name before, even though we're a little bit on a same circle before I wasn't able to meet Dad's friends or business partners. I'm always on the dark side, I just observe people from afar. He doesn't take me to gatherings because he just simply hates my existence.

"Really? Has your world really been the same before?" I just nodded. "In that case, why don't you know him? Goodness! He's so handsome then those women just knelt down in front of him to notice. Then you? You don't know him? Do you still have feelings?" She angrily ate her food while I was just playing with mine.

"There is. Not just for him." She frowned at my answer, "Eh, my circle of friends isn't that big or does it really exist. Besides, I don't have time to gather information about men," I defended myself because it's true. I'm busy doing my best to make my Daddy proud.

"Tsk. If you're going to get laid, why not right?" I threw tissue at him. Her mouth was really nasty sometimes.

"I'm innocent."

"Innocent your ass."

I sticked my tongue out and then we laughed. After we ate and her unending questions about that Wyatt guy that I actually avoid to answer though, we went home.

I spent my days looking for a job while I took care of Daddy in the hospital. It's also embarrassing because I'm asking the nurse to watch Daddy because I don't pay her anything. She's just too kind to do that without receiving any cents from me.

I wonder why no one's contacting me for a few days now. The callers used to be one after the other. Catelyn is very busy with her life so we will only meet once for which I am grateful. She's keep on insisting that the guy I was with was Wyatt. I don't even know who it is— ugh! I don't want to remember that man.

I was trying to forget that guy but here is Catelyn, my walking Showbiz-whatever-news she got from her sources. I don’t know him! Even though we didn't meet, I feel like I was updated on that Wyatt because Catelyn keeps on texting me about his whereabouts that I didn't ask for and needed. It's like I want to replace my friend now. 

Days rolled so fast that I didn't notice everything around me. I was busy looking for work when I heard a knock on Dad’s bedroom door. I looked at him before I went to the door to open it. Catelyn's smiling face greeted me. And here I thought that she'll be busy for months.

"Wow! You're so happy," she sarcastically said to me.

I was about to answer her when she steadily walked inside and sat on a monoblock on the side.

"Guess whaaaaat!" She was like a worm sprinkled with salt, she was thrilled with what I could not understand.

"Guess, what?"

She rolled her eyes.

"You'll be in Paris! Geez! I'm so exciiiited!" She is already blushing from the itch.

"Why?" I confusingly asked her. Obviously puzzled of what she said.

"Here." She reached for my cellphone and there's someone on the other line. I looked at her. Eyes full of questions, but she just shrugged her shoulders and urge me to answer the call.

"Yes?"

"See you tomorrow at 9am in the morning. NAIA Terminal 3." My mouth went wide open as I recognized the voice on the other line.

Oh shit!

What happened to the first and last encounter?