Sometimes you have to eat your own words, chew your ego, swallow your pride and accept your mistakes. It's not giving up, it's called growing the hell up.
I look at my reflection in the mirror in front of me. Boy hair cut, a chocolate eyes. Nothing of my own I touched my face while the water droplets were still dripping on the floor of this bathroom from my wet hair.
"Can you still feel it, Demetria?" I asked myself. I gently touched my forehead and pulled out the little blocked hair from there and a small wound was immediately exposed to me.
"It still hasn't disappeared until now," I said softly in the absence and just got dressed and went out of from the bathroom. As usual, I wore a black cap and face mask again. I'm not comfortable in what I'm wearing right now, especially with people who are already looking at me on the road.
"Gosh, her body is beautiful and she's f*cking hot, dude…"
"Witwew!"
I just ignored what those people were saying. That morning was immediately noticeable. I stopped in front of a store the cooked dishes and rice.
"Good morning." she immediately turned to my direction at the same time her eyes widened and she even holding her own mouth as if she couldn't believe it.
"Oh my god! Is that you? " the sales lady can't believe what she is seeing right now.
"It's not me, it's just my shadow speaking." I have a grin. Laughing, she tapped my exposed arm lightly.
"As for you, in the morning, you have a high blood right away," she said with a laugh. "I said, the dress and floral dress are really up to you, you are very welcome. Because you make me happy now, your salary a day will be 600 pesos. " My eyes widened immediately.
"Hell? Is that a joke? " I can't believe my question.
"Ah -uh, it's not honey, so be kind to me." she laughed at the same time and even messed up my hair. I was immediately surprised by what she did and grabbed her hand tightly and immediately removed it from my head and immediately fixed my hair, especially on my forehead.
Her forehead immediately frowned at my reaction.
"Why? Is there a problem? "
"N-Nothing… let's start, we have a lot of customers." I wore an apron first and entertained the customers outside.
***
"Thank you." she smiled broadly at me.
"Your welcome, honey. It's late, aren't you really going to be delivered? I'll call my drive — oh, nothing. " I just shrugged.
"No, you've helped me so much, I'll be right back tomorrow." I stepped away from the sale lady's place.
"Always be careful lady, we'll meet again." she could have said something but I just ignored it and smiled at her back.
"Yes." I replied politely and rode the trycle.
I stopped out first at the market because I planned to just buy barbeque and eat at my house. I took the envelope that the woman gave me earlier.
"Why does that woman give my salary in a envelope?" I opened it right away and six hundred pesos was already there. I thought it was like the ones in the movies that someone gives you too much money.
I was wrong.
I took those two hundred inside and immediately wrinkled my face as something fell like a plane black card from there. I picked it up right away and look at it.
"What's this?" I turned it over hoping that I might see something but nothing really. "Gosh, that old woman really, maybe it's her children toys, tsk." I shrugged and just put it in the pocket of my pack-bag I was carrying.
I look crazy now because while I was packing my black bag, I am wearing a dress that was only up to my knees and rubber shoes and a black cap. I can still see that women who go through my behavior laugh at me but hell I care.
Money I chase, not the opinion of others.
After an hour I'm already at my apartment.
"Gosh! I'm tired!" I shouted loudly and immediately slammed my body on my sofa. I looked at the clock and realized it's already night so I first dressed in loose shorts that were only up to my middle thigh and a fitted white shirt.
I was about to eat my food when my cellphone suddenly rang so I was just gasping in the air and the steps were heavy to go to the couch and look at who the caller is.
"Unknown number?" I suddenly said out of nowhere, "Hello?" I answered on the other line. I raised my eyebrows when I heard a man moaning like a mat from the other line so I immediately removed it from my ear.
'Sh*t, another prank call again?'
I was about to press the end call when suddenly I heard a familiar voice on the other line.
"How's your life now, Dem?" wrinkled when I put it back in my ear.
"Nicole?" my answer is ambiguous. I heard her laugh because of my reaction.
"Yeah I am. How is my silly friend? Is your life already in a mess, right now? Aww, I pity you. " I liked her before because I saw her pure heart, or maybe I am the only one who are fantasizing about it?
I couldn't stop clenching my fist. What I hate most of all is that someone make me a fool. I was also guilty because I am also a fool. I'll admit that.
I didn't beat up and tall when he answered my question on the other line.
"I'm doing good my dear, best friend." I really emphasized the last thing I said and smiled, "Is it good to have sex? I wasn't informed, that was a big deal, I hope you enjoyed my last client. Bye," I don't know if I'll laugh at what I am saying right now.
Maybe out of desperation, I choose to trust her, I choose to be a fool, an idiot.
"What did you say!?" I laughed softly. Did I anger her that much?
"Ohh--my bad, did I say too much?" full of sarcasm I replied and immediately dropped the call.
'Pathetic. How many kilos of plastics are there in your face the you even called me after all of what happened?
****
I hurried out of my rented house. Shit! m late! Why did I immitch TV last night!
"Excuse me, can you drive me in the park? Please hurry up," the driver immediately started his engine while I'm still busy arranging myself.
"Here we are already, " I rushed down the trycle and paid the driver first.
I hurried to that woman stolr place but I stopped immediately when I saw that there were people scattered in brgy. Guard there.
"Excuse me, where is the stole here?" I asked breathlessly to a guard who is here.
"Ahh? The captain ordered me to destroy the stole here if they're not willing to leave this park Immediately because it is a park and not a market. " My tears grew immediately at what the the guard said.
"Why did you send her away!?" they seemed even more surprised at the rise of my voice.
"I don't know either, we're just following the captain's orders." His other comrades shook their heads and proceeded to dismantle the remaining tents in the park.
"Sh*t." I just held my left hand on my waist while my right hand was on my hair.
This really sucks!
****
"We need to make sure we bring alcohol and don't go to public places—" I didn't finish the news and turned off the TV.
"Just go back and forth," I just shook my head and decided to go to sleep. I was about to lie down on my bed when all of a sudden my foot was numb so my eyes landed in the floor.
'Envelope?'
I picked it up and opened it. It was only then that I realized that I had brought the contract given to me by that old man. I sat on the bed and then opened the envelope and look at what was written in there again.
"Mission for a Billion." I winced when I read that. Does the contract really need to have a title? I even read the details posted inside.
But all of a sudden my attention was nailed to a laid -out detail down there.
"S-She will pay for Mama's lifelong expenses until she recovers?" I even read the bottom of it and I couldn't help but hold my own mouth.
" He will really give me one-billion, huh? Is that old man crazy or what? " I can't believe I said that. I even read the one below.
"Once you will sign this contract, no turning back."
CHAPTER 10
I got up early again and took a shower first and just wore loose jogging pants and a white t-shirt that it's also big for me and also a mask.
Even though I knew I wouldn't see that sales lady woman in the park, I still dared to see her there, but nothing. I look at the brown envelope I am holding and just sighed.
"Maybe I'm really deprived of physical luck!" I complain to myself.
"What is happening to her? Is she crazy? " I immediately looked at the people passing by my side and it was only then that I realized that there were still many people looking at me.
"Ahem!" I just started and immediately left there. Why are people so like gossiping now adays?
"Mister, Foodies company please," I rode the trycle.
I can't help but re -read the contract that is in my hand.
[Good day to you Ms. Galvez, this contract contains details of what you will get when you sign this contract.
First, we will take care of your Mother's expenses for her medicine and we will also find her a more experienced doctor to map her recovery more easily.
Second, we will give you a one-billion pesos for the reward if you can find where the grandson of the chairman is.
Third, we will take care of all the paperwork, also the passport and your daily expenses. Please be informed that you need to leave the country right away and go to Milan Italy, have a great day.
Please, sign it here.]
I was immediately caught in my mouth. Are they insane!?
"Milan? Is that old man really crazy? " I can't believe. This is totally insane!
"I'm not crazy, Ma'am." I immediately turned to my side and saw Misters reaction he is just frowning while looking at me. He had been waiting for me to come out so I left the taxi immediately.
"I'm not referring to you." I turned my back on the driver and I even heard him whisper to his self.
"It's good, it's a bad habit." My nose immediately seemed to smoke and I angrily turned to him with a deadly look.
"What did you say, huh?" he seemed that he is confused and his taxu was being pushed away. Tsk!
I was about to enter the building but suddenly the guard blocked his right arm on the way.
"What do you think you're doing, dude, huh?" I couldn't help but raise my eyebrow as I said that. His face is serious and he is wearing an all black suit that looked like a club bouncer.
"You are not allowed to enter if you do not have an appointment inside, Ma'am." I just messed up my own hair right away because of the irritation.
"Guard, if I don't go in there, you'll regret it." His face still didn't react and he just looked straight ahead. He didn't even gave me even a bit of attention.
I took a deep breath before being forced to squeeze myself. I was ready to give the guard an uper-cut when suddenly someone spoke behind me.
"What's happening here?"
"Boss." At the same time the guards bowed and at the same time I looked behind me and I was not surprised that the first thing that immediately appeared to me is the face of that old man.
He smiled broadly so I didn't feel like I was in the air and shook my clothes.
"Shall we?" I am annoyed to say so the old man laughed out of nowhere.
"Come to the office lady, I guess you have a lot to say?" with a smirk on his lips he answered me.
"Give me way!" I actually hit the guard's left shoulder earlier and the old man just told him not to give me attention. Rich people, there is nothing to do in the world but to use their power. But of course, money is always involved.
***
"So, did you already read the contract?" he sipped the coffee he was carrying while I also reached for the water in front of me and drank immediately there.
If I really had a choice, I wouldn't be here today!
"Who is that Alfeo, huh?" I put the envelope on the small table in front of us. I saw the reflection of a small smile on his lips as if he had won a lotto.
The old man straightened up. "Won't you even ask my name?" I laughed heartily because he said at the same time that I turned a deadly look.
"I don't have a car—"
"I'm Christopher Bianchi, the owner of Foodies Company." He cut off what I was going to say and with a smile held out his hand in front of me. I just looked at his hand and just gave him an emotionless look.
"I'm not here to say hello to you, Mr. Christopher, " he laughed immediately because I looked at him and withdrew his hand that is outstretched. My eyebrows rose immediately.
'Does this old man have a brain disease?'
"Okay, so, let's go back to the business." His expression is serious now. "Are you willing to find him at all cost?" I was so upset for the second time.
"How can I find him, huh? You didn't even bring any picture of him. I will not prophesy. " Laughing the old man raised his left hand and he immediately signaled to his Secretary to have a pick up there inside a drawer.
His Secretary handed him another brown envelope and he immediately took it and handed it to me as well.
"Open that, Ms. Galvez." I accepted it right away and then opened it. Creased when I looked at a picture of a boy.
He had those eyes as blue as the sea and his eyebrows as thick as charcoal. You can stick to its lashes because they are too long just for a guy like him.
I can't help but compare the picture I am holding now to the old man in front of me.
"Is he your grandson?" the old man nodded softly in agreement with what I said. "You have a lot of money, and I'm sure you can afford to pay any more skilled detectives than me?" he laughed and shook his head at what I said.
"No Ms. Galvez, I can't even count how many detectives I got and from different countries, but still no one can find him." I nodded and sat down four times and looked at the picture again.
"And how can I find him? Milan? Are you all out of your mind? Milan Italy it's a freaking big city." None of my own pronunciation. I heard the old man's loud laughter again because of what I said. Does he really have a lump in the brain?
"You're wrong again, Ms. Galvez. "
"Huh? What do you mean? " he sat up and pointed to the picture I was holding.
"Who told you he was still young until now?" the old big grin posted on my face was like a bubble that just disappeared because of what the old man said.
"Are you serious? Y-You want me to find this guy named Alfeo with this picture? " the old man nodded with a smile.
"Hah!"
"I've changed my mind, I won't sign the contract anymore." I had already put the papers on the table and I am about to come out when he spoke again.
"I don't have a problem with that, Ms. Galvez… But what about your Mom?" I violently looked at his behavior.
"Don't touch my Mom!" he immediately raised both his hands in the air.
"I'm not doing anything… but I found out that his situation is getting worse and he needs a higher dosage to be used on her. So how is that? " he shook his head, "Poor thing," it was obvious on his face that he was just trying my patience.
I clenched my fists and went back to the sofa and then sat down.
"Just make sure that there will be no problem with my Mom's medication, otherwise, no Alfeo Bianchi will live in this world." Christopher just smiled and presented the contract in front of me.
"Once you'll sign this contract, the payment of your mother's medication will be carried by me and for her recovery as well, but," I raised an eyebrow.
"But what?"
"Before you will receive the one-billion reward, you need to bring my grandson here, in Philippines first."
"What!?"