It's Not About The Money Novels & Stories

Gagawin niya ang lahat para mabawi niya ito. “Then I’ll pay what you gave her,” sabi ko, mas madiin na ngayon ang tinig ko, “I’ll double it. Just tell me how much you gave her. End the contract. Now.” Cullen finally looked at me fully. “This is not about money, Caelus.” Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ko. “Then what is it about?” Tumahimik siya. Tila nag aalalangan kung sasabihin niya o hindi. Then Cullen finally answered.

madiin niyang saad. "I know, it's just that..." "Is the money I'm giving to you every day not enough? Just tell me―you know I can give you more." "No, no. It's not like that, okay? You gave me more than everything―that's why sometimes I just don't want to accept the money because it's too much."

Hay, anong kahibangan ba 'tong napasok ko? "You don't have to worry about money. Wala kang poproblemahin do'n," grabe talaga 'tong taong 'to. Lahat talaga nakokontrol na ng pera sa panahon ngayon, isa nang need for survival ang pera kahit hindi man natin aminin. Lahat ginagawa ng tao para lang dito. "At isang bagay pa, ginagawa ko 'to para sa mama mo ha, hindi para sa'yo," dugtong ko at tiningnan ang phone ko at napatayo ulit dahil sa nakita kong text notification na mula kay Marian.

nagmamakaawa siyang gumapang palapit sa akin. “Hindi ito tungkol sa pera. Hindi ito negosyo. Ito ay hustisya.” Sumenyas si Gian na bitawan ko na. Tumango ako.

"Hindi mo ba naisip na baka naiipit na sa utang niya sayo yung tao? Why can't you just give without expecting them to give back?" "Hindi gano'n ang takbo ng mundo. We are all doing this for money, for fame, for reputation. It's quiet impossible that you didn't do the same yet, Attorney." Huminga ito ng malalim at hindi pa rin ako tinitingnan. Maging ako ay natahimik na rin at 'di na nakapagsalita. Tama ang sinabi niya. Hindi gano'n ang takbo ng mundo. It wasn't as ideas as I was thinking. Tulad ni Jayron. Napakabuti niyang bata pero anong nakuha niya? Malalang sakit.

“Hindi na ako mahihirapan sa laging pagtakip ng mga balita tungkol sayo.” “Well, tell me. Ano ang gusto mong kapalit sa nagawa mo tungkol sa bagay na iyon ngayon?” “Hmmm, no need. Lunch will cover it.” sagot ko sabay turo ng pagkaing dala niya kanina. “Oh…The money-grubber isn’t greedy anymore. That’s rare…” Kunot ang noo ko. “Bakit? You get anxious if you’re not spending money, don’t you?”

Of course, he made it sound so simple, as if money could fix everything. But it wasn’t just about the penalty. It was about my name, my reputation, everything I’d worked hard for. At saka hindi rin biro ang halaga ng babayaran kung sakali. Kung sa peso, walang problema. But it was in dollars. Millions of dollars. “Norman…” I whispered, shaking my head slightly. “It’s not that easy.”

May ngising sabi niya rito. Tinitigan lang siya ni Jeffrey. "You really are into money, aren't you?" Kumento nito na may pagka-uyam. Tumango-tango siya. "Aba syempre, hindi ko naman gagawin ito kung hindi dahil sa pera ano." Pagpapakatotoo niya. Umiling-iling si Jeffrey saka na ito umiwas ng tingin. "I hate people who worships money." Mahina pero may kapaitan sa boses nito.

“Ano ngayon kung magtapon ka ng pera na kaya mong pambili ng bahay sa kanya? Hindi naman ito malaki, kung sabagay!” “Ang pera ay hindi malaking bagay, pero ang reputasyon mahalaga! Kung hindi ka maglalabas ng pera, mawawalan ka ng dignidad na makita ang mga tao sa hinaharap!”

In the end, it was never about the money, the status, or the contract that once tied us together. It was always about how we chose each other. It was always about our love for each other. About us. And this is how our story will always be told.