Catherine rounds up her work earlier for the day as instructed by Bianca. She goes to meet her before leaving.
She knocks at her door and opens it, after she is asked to enter.
She sees Bianca, sitting on the bed watching TV. The clothes, shoes and bag she bought from the day's shopping are on the bed.
'Ma', Catherine announces, 'I'm done and ready to go'
'Okay,' she replies and walks to her drawer at her dressing mirror. She opens it and brings out a white envelope . She walks to Catherine and stretches it to her
'Use this money for your mum's bills'
Catherine feels grateful. 'Thank you so much ma', she appreciates collecting the envelope from her. It feels weighted and Catherine wonders the amount it contains.
'You're welcome', Bianca responds, 'You should leave now and go see her'
Catherine bows to her 'Ok ma. Thank you ma', she walks to the door
'Is Raymond still around?' Bianca asks stopping her at the door.
Raymond is Bianca's driver. He comes to the house mostly on days Bianca goes for shopping. Apart from that, he comes to the house when Bianca wants to go for a social gathering or related events.
'Yes he's washing the car' Catherine replies
'Tell him to drop you off', she orders going back to watch her Tv.
'Okay ma. Thank you ma'
'Stop thanking me Catherine and go home' she urges.
Raymond drops her in front of the hospital and zoom off. Catherine walks in, up to her mother's ward. She checks from the window to see if she was sleeping and finds out she is not.
She opens the door and walks up to her
'Hi mum', she greets taking the seat by her side .She drops her bag on the floor.
'Hi Kat', her mum replies, 'how's your day? You're quite early '
'Yes mum Bianca asked me to round up my work faster so I can visit you on time. She gave me some money for your hospital bills. She's kind right? I can't appreciate her enough'
'God bless her', her mum prays.
Catherine looks at the the lunch box on the table.
'Mum hope you finished your food?' she ask opening the box and sees her mum barely ate the food. 'Mum! You didn't even take up to ten spoons'
' I'm sorry Catherine I want something very light', she responds
' Okay let me go and make that for you', she stands but her mum holds her back
'Stay for a while before you go', she demands
Catherine sits and smiles to her. She strokes her head lovingly 'You've missed your daughter right?'
'hmmmm' she nods
'Mum, remember you use to stroke my head like this, right?' Catherine asks
Her mum smiles and tears begins to form in her eyes
'Mum!' Catherine calls 'Why are you like this? Do you also want me to start crying?' She rebukes
'No it's just I feel so bad you're going through this' she replies, tears dripping down
Catherine cleans her tears 'Mum I'm fine. But you're making me sad seeing you like this. We'll overcome this someday and you'll be fine. Don't be like this and just pray you respond well to treatment okay?'
'Okay' her mum replies
'Let me go get your food' she says and stands up not looking back so as not to let her mum knows her eyes now swell with tears.
She walks outside and close the door behind her. She bends low and buries her head in her laps crying profusely.
It is weekend the next day. Catherine hopes Michael will not hold any party so she can go home on time. Fortunately for her, his friends comes to visit but not to party but rather, to talk and play with him. But on days like this the noise that comes out of his room as a result of their chatting and playing is similar to holding parties.
Sebastien occasionally comes out of his room to relax in the living room or paints so as not to be disturbed by their noise on days like this.
Catherine sniffles as she moves the vacuum cleaner she is using in the living room. She gets to where Sebastien is , painting.
'Excuse me', she says and Sebastien moves away. Catherine tries to steal at what he is painting this time but Sebastien guides it jealously as he moves.
Catherine continues cleaning. She raises her head to the stairs as she hears her name
'Catherine', it is Tara, one of Michael's female friends, stopping at the stairs 'Can I get a glass of juice?' She orders and turns back to the room.
'You should get it yourself', Sebastien shouts after her dropping the painting in his hands. He faces Tara who turns back in surprise 'You're not in your father's house to order her around' he tells her.
'Is she not a maid' she throws back at him
'In this house and not yours. Go order your maid at home' he yells at her
Tara gets angry and storms to Michael room. She opens the door violently
'Hey girl chilax, you want to spoil that door?' one of Michael male friends cautions
She folds her hands and angrily sits on the bed facing Michael 'Would you believe I ask your maid to get me a glass of juice and Sebastien told me to get it myself'
Michael sighs 'For crying out loud she has a name and it's Catherine why must you call her a maid?' he rebukes her
'Are you both seriously trying to gang up against me?' she yells back at him
'No Tara. Okay fine, sorry. But you seriously need to stop ordering Catherine around' Michael cautions
'Or maybe Sebastien still hates her for asking him out' another Michael's friend teases Tara , laughing.
Tara throws a pillow at him angrily 'Are you nuts? Do I ask you to remind me of that?'
'Sorry' he apologizes still laughing ' Should I get the juice for you?' he jokingly ask
'Whatever' Tara replies and turns back to Michael 'Did Sebastien did that because he doesn't like me or because he likes your maid. I mean Catherine ', seeing Michael face changes.
Michael shruggles ' I don't know. But don't tell me you still have feelings for Sebastien. It was foolish of you to ask him out at first so...'
'Shut up!' Tara shuts him up.
Catherine looks at Sebastien feeling a bit relieved at what he did. Tara most especially troubles her anytime she's around, always acting like her second boss.
'You really didn't have to do that' she cautions him. Inwardly happy he did that.
'She gets on my nerves. And seriously,' he faces her 'Why do you have to answer anytime she orders you around?' he questions
' It really nothing', she replies lying. It really means something cutting her off at work everytime she comes around. She continues cleaning. Her eyes meet the painting he dropped down when he faced Tara.
'Is that' she asks moving close to it. Sebastien traces her eyes and suddenly takes the picture
'It's nothing'
'Me?' she blurts out
'No!' he objects
Catherine chuckles 'Then let me see it for a second'
'No. Carry on with your work' he commands
'Really? But why do I have the feeling that I'm the one in that painting?' she questions
'You can feel whatever you like', he replies covering the artwork as Catherine stretches her head to look at it
'Ok then' she agrees and continue cleaning.