Alejandra sat down at the dining table with the mail she had discarded and a calculator. She had made sure Pilar and Judy were asleep before she began calculating their bills.
She punched in the figures on the calculator and wrote down the total amount in her pink journal. She dropped the calculator quietly on the table and looked at the figures she had written down.
"These bills are increasing as the month passes. My salary isn't enough to cover most of the expenses. Judy's tuition is almost due and needs to be paid. I'm not sure the university will give me an extra-time to pay up like they did the last time." Alejandra said inwardly,
"My savings alone can't pay for Mum's heart surgery. Oh Lord,what am I going to do? My problems are really piling up and I have no idea on how to solve it. Maybe I should call Maurice?"
She searched for her phone on the table and found it buried under the bills. She unlocked it with her finger print and scrolled down her contacts. She tapped on Maurice's contact ID and had a thought.
"Or maybe I shouldn't. I don't want to disturb him with any problems. He has done a lot for me and calling him might not be the best idea. I think I'll have to get another loan from the bank. At least,I can settle the important bills and deal with the minorities late." Alejandra thought.
She nodded and arranged the bills. She kept them back in their envelopes and stood up from the chair. Alejandra turned off the living room lights and took the mail and calculator to her room. She kept them in the drawer and walked to her bed. She covered herself with a blanket and closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Hours later, morning emerged. Alejandra was still in her bed and heard people arguing. She got out of the bed and walked to the window. The voices weren't coming from outside. She slipped into her slippers and walked towards the door.
She placed her ear on the door and could hear the argument in her flat. It was coming from the living room. She quickly opened the door and went to the living room. She walked in and was surprised to see Ms. Diana,her landlady,in her flat and was yelling at Judy.
"What's going on here?" Alejandra asked as she stood behind Judy,
"Ms. Diana,what brings you here? I-."
"I'm not here for tea and biscuits." Diana said firmly,
"I actually came to collect my money. Your rent is due and I need my money."
"About that Ms. Diana,I don't really have your money right now. But I promise you,by the end of this week,I'll give it to you. I promise." Alejandra replied calmly.
Diana looked at her from head-to-toe and wasn't convinced by her words.
"I'm not falling for your stupid tricks again. I've had it up to here with you. Haven't I given you enough time to pay your rent? I'm giving you the end of today to pay up or else,I'll throw you and your things out on the street." Diana said firmly.
She opened the door and slammed the door. Judy rolled her eyes as soon as she left. Alejandra locked the door by its bolt. She looked at Judy,who had sat down on the sofa, and was chatting with her friends on her phone.
"Why didn't you call me when she came?" Alejandra asked with arms folded and kept a serious look.
"I didn't want to disturb you. You came back late last night and I didn't want to disturb your sleep." Judy said,with her eyes on her phone.
"But you know best not to pick a fight with her. She is still older than you." Alejandra said as she left the living room.
"Even people her age still know how to talk to people with a little respect." Judy said frankly and got up from the sofa and followed her.
Alejandra went to the kitchen and walked straight to the sink. She pressed the soap dispenser and squirted soap on her palm. She rubbed the palm against the other and washed her hands under the running water.
"Shouldn't you be in school today?" Alejandra asked and glanced at Judy from her side.
She turned off the tap and dried her hands with a cloth.
"Nope! I'm done with my exams and decided to stay at home. Since you wouldn't let me get a job." Judy replied and leant against the kitchen worktop.
"Work will only distract you and may affect your studies." Alejandra said, filling the kettle with water from the tap.
She placed it on the ring of the cooker and turned it on.
"And you?" Judy asked as she left the counter and opened the fridge-freezer,
"Shouldn't you be getting ready for work?"
"I'm but I've some errands to run." Alejandra said.
"We are out of eggs." Judy said, grabbing a can of soda from the fridge and closed it.
"I'll go to the supermarket on my way home." Alejandra said.
Judy pulled the ring on the can and took a sip from it. She returned to the worktop and leant against it. The singing kettle alerted Alejandra that the water had boiled. She turned off the cooker and opened the cabinet above the sink. She took out a white cup from it.
"Isn't it too early to be drinking soda?" Alejandra said without making eye contact.
She kept the cup on the worktop and pulled open the drawer. She brought out a grey jar which had tea powder in it.
"Why don't you have fruit instead?"
"I'm having fruit." Judy replied gladly.
"Really? What kind?" Alejandra asked jokingly as she unscrewed the lid.
"Orange! See..." Judy replied, pointing at the label,
"Orange flavoured. Made from real ORANGES."
"I didn't... Nevermind. Why don't you try tea or coffee?" Alejandra suggested as she stirred the powder with a spoon in the cup which had water in it.
She opened the fridge-freezer and got an opened carton of milk. She poured some into her tea and stirred it.
"Keep this, please?" Alejandra said politely and gave her the carton.
Judy nodded and collected the carton from her.
"Nah! I'll stick to my soda." Judy said as she closed the fridge,
"Or maybe a glass of milk."
"Maybe!" Judy shrugged.
"Okay,if you say so! Don't come crying to me when your stomach starts to hurt." Alejandra said, holding the cup by its handle.
Judy chuckled and dropped the can on the worktop and hugged her sister from behind.
"If I don't complain to you,who then would I complain to? You know you said I shouldn't stress Mum. You know her heart is fragile." She said playfully.
"My heart is strong. Strong enough to handle you two." Pilar said happily and got their attention.
She had walked in and heard their conversation. Judy broke the hug and picked up the can.
"We know,Mum! You're our only kryptonite and my shield from Alejandra's bullying." Judy said teasingly.
"Hey!" Alejandra said.
"Be careful or you might spill tea on yourself." Pilar cautioned, reminding her of the hot liquid she was holding.
"Oh!" Alejandra said and took a sip.
"And you?" Pilar said to Judy,
"Haven't I told you not to drink sodas in the mornings? It's not healthy."
"I know but I was thirsty." Judy replied childishly,
"But this is my last can for the mornings. I promise."
"I've heard that before." Pilar said.
"But this time,I mean it." Judy pledged,with her left hand up.
"Okay!" Pilar replied.
"I'll leave you to your boring tea,Ale." Judy said and stuck out her tongue playfully,
"Enjoy!"
Judy left the kitchen. Alejandra shook her head with a chuckle and drank her tea slowly. She looked at Pilar and noticed she looked pale.
"Mum, what's wrong? Are you okay?" Alejandra asked, holding the cup close to her face.
"I'm okay! I've a slight headache, that's all." Pilar said.
"Have you taken some painkillers?" Alejandra asked worriedly.
"Yes,I did!" Pilar said, forcing a smile on her face,
"Alejandra?"
"Mm!" She hummed.
"Who were you arguing with earlier?" Pilar asked curiously.
Her question changed Alejandra's mood.
"It's no one." She lied and lost her interest in the tea she was drinking.
Alejandra poured away the rest of the liquid in the sink and left the cup there.
"But I heard shouting coming from the living room." Pilar stated.
"Mum,I said it's no one." Alejandra replied coldly.
"I may have a weak heart but my brain is still working perfectly. I know Ms. Diana was here, wasn't she?" Pilar said firmly.
"Mum,"Alejandra said and looked at her,
"I want to go and have my bath now. I'm already late for work."
Alejandra left her in the corridor and went to her bedroom. She didn't want to stress her mother about the expenses especially now her heart is growing weak. Any bad news can make her go into the theatre. She sighed and went to the bathroom.
She had a quick bath. She knew the queue at the bank would be endless. Plus she needed to go to work on time. She got dressed and left her bedroom with her handbag.
"Bye,see you guys later!" Alejandra said, walking to the front door.
"Bye!" Judy replied, waving at her with her eyes glued to the TV.
She opened the door and left the flat. She brought out her phone from her bag and dialled Maurice.
"Hello,Maurice!" She said when the call connected.
"Ale, how are you?" Maurice replied from the other end.
"I'm good. Are you at the office?" She asked.
"Not yet! I'm still in my flat. On my way to my car actually. Do you need me to drive you?" He asked.
"No,that won't be necessary! I was calling to know if you could cover up for me today?" Alejandra said and pressed the lift button.
"Okay,but why?" He asked curiously.
"I want to run some errands, that's all. I won't be long." Alejandra said, entering the lift.
"Where are you going? I can drive you there if you want." Maurice offered.
"No, I'm going to....the hospital." She lied,
"I want to go and pick up my mum's medications."
"Okay! In case you need anything, just call, okay?" He said.
"Okay,I will! Drive safe!" She said.
"Okay!" Maurice replied,
"Ale..."
Alejandra hung up immediately. She arrived at the lobby and walked out of the building. She walked to the bus stop and waited for the bus to come with other passengers. The bus pulled over and they got in.
"That's my stop!" Alejandra said, calling the driver's attention.
The bus slowly stopped at the next stop and she got off the bus. She looked both ways and crossed the road.
"At least, there are no crazy drivers on the road today." She muttered as she got to the pavement on the other side.
She walked into the bank. Luckily,the queue wasn't as long as she thought it would be. She stood at the queue and waited for it to be her turn.
"Next!" A female accountant in a blue blazer called,
"Good day,miss! How may I help you?"
"I'd like to apply for a loan, please." Alejandra said calmly, wearing her hair behind her ear.
"One moment, please." The accountant said, brought out a slip,
"Fill in this."
"Okay!" Alejandra said and collected the slip from her.
She searched for a pen in her bag and found one. She filled in the necessary details and gave it back to the accountant.
"Okay! You may go and sit down there." The accountant pointed at the chairs,
"I'll let you know when the manager wants to see you."
Alejandra nodded and sat at where the accountant had pointed.
"I hope this goes well." Alejandra prayed inwardly.
<
Nicolas and some of his employees were at the conference room, having a presentation with a client. The client was impressed with the presentation and commended their efforts. The presentation ended with hand shakes and everyone left the room.
Nicolas went to the canteen and got himself a bottled water. His mouth was dry from all that talking and needed to quench his thirst. He went back to his office and heard the telephone ringing.
"Yes,Maya!" Nicolas said coolly as he answered the call.
"There is someone here to see you,sir." Maya said from the other end.
"Who is it?" He asked.
"Mr David del Monte,sir." She said.
"Let him in!" He said and hung up the call.
Nicolas pulled out his chair and heaved a sigh with his relief. He had quenched his thirst and was more relaxed. He heard a knock on the door.
"Come in!" He said, checking the time on his watch.
"Right this way, sir." Maya said to David as she led him in.
"Thank you!" David said to her and looked at the office.
"You may go now,Maya." Nicolas said plainly.
She nodded and left the office.
"Have a seat." Nicolas offered.
David walked to his desk and sat down on one of the chairs in front of it. He glanced at the office again.
"What a nice office you have! It's bigger than the one I had when I was still part of the police force." David said, admiring his office.
"Did you bring what I asked for?" Nicolas asked firmly.
"Yes!" David replied and kept the brown folder he had with him on the desk.
Nicolas glanced at him and the folder and picked it up.
"She is Alejandra Ortega. She is twenty-seven years old and lives here with her family." David stated when he saw Nicolas opening the folder.
"Mm!" Nicolas hummed.
"She is currently staying with her mother and sister." David continued.
"What about her father?" Nicolas asked flatly, reading the information written in the folder.
"Her father is late. He died five years ago in the mine which collapsed." David said,
"Her mother is in need of a heart transplant and she is financially unstable. She needs money to pay for her mother's medical expenses and take care of her sister."
"How old is her sister?" Nicolas asked, closing the folder.
"She is about twenty to twenty-one years old. She is still in the university." David said,
"Apparently,the company where her father used to work for has refused to pay them their compensation."
"Why is that?" Nicolas asked curiously.
"Mr Roman Gracia, the owner of the company,had asked her for a night with him in order for her to get the compensation. Unluckily, Alejandra turned down his offer and gave him a slap." David said.
"At least she isn't gullible." Nicolas muttered and stood up from his chair.
He looked at the window with his hands hidden in his pockets. He backed David.
"Does she have a boyfriend? Is she dating anyone?" Nicolas asked curiously.
"No! But there is this man who works in the same company she works in. He normally drops her off at her house and spends time with her." David said.
"So,they aren't dating?" Nicolas asked doubtfully.
"No,they are not! She is currently single." David said.
"Hm! Interesting!" Nicolas smirked.