I am holding my breath SO MANY times because this subject is so boring. The person next to me had his eyes closed because our professor was still speaking very slowly.
I immediately regretted when I chose this subject over my work today. My salary is now deducted but now I haven't learned anything. I can't count the number of times I've looked at my watch to check the time and wished this class was over.
"Class dismissed."
I'm like a prisoner in jail who has been told that I will be released. I immediately said goodbye to Nirca, my friend, that I was going to work. I even met Renice and her boyfriend who is like a leech if you can get past her. Laurel, who is also my friend, in her back there's a guitar hanging behind her.
I quickly got into the jeep when I saw it immediately. It's a good thing that it hasn't been filled yet because the nursing students haven't left yet.
"Here's the payment," I extended my hand to extend money but no one accepted. The previously noisy car was quiet when I arrived. Everyone there looked at me. I felt like a strong wind greeted me.
When they moved on my face, they handed my twenty pesos to the driver. "Where is this?" The driver asked.
"At the Classic Taste Restaurant," I said immediately. I looked for my cellphone to text the manager that I would be late because of the traffic today. When did you lose traffic?
When I saw his one word reply, 'okay', I just put my earphones in my ears and started playing music.
♪ Beauty queen of only eighteen, she had some trouble with herself ♪
♪ He was always there to help her, she always belonged to someone else ♪
♪ I drove for miles and miles, and wound up at your door ♪
♪ I've had you so many times, but somehow I want more... ♪
My tears fell along with my silent singing. I remember the man who cheated on me. They said I was beautiful. Not just beautiful, very beautiful. But why did he leave me? Am I not beautiful enough for him?
I looked at our last conversation. What is written there is that we had a 21 minute call, that's when he told me that he has been cheating on me for a year and that he is breaking up with me because he feels sorry for me. After that, his message was, 'don't reply, wake up to the truth and 'don't hurt yourself anymore.'
Love? I don't want it anymore. I am tired. Instead of putting that first, I will put money first. If there were only choices between love and money, I would choose money. I grew up without the love of my parents, is it still the love of useless men?
Before I entered the Restaurant, I saw an old woman who couldn't cross so I hurried back to where I crossed because I didn't see her earlier when I crossed.
"Grandma, where are you headed to?"
"Sweet girl, maybe you can help me cross and take me on the tricycle. It's fine even if you just help me cross. Thank you..." Her wrinkled skin smiled at me. She immediately held my hand. I feel like I'm melting when I see old people. Then she called me 'sweet girl'.
"Alright... No problem," I smiled and signaled for some cars to stop so that Grandma and I could cross safely. She still has a stick so she can stand up.
"Let's wait for the tricycle first... There are a lot of people riding now because some students have already gone home so the cars are running out." I said.
"Oh, it's fine... You can also go now. I can wait here." She said.
"Not anymore... I will not let that happen." I looked around to look at the passersby.
"You're so beautiful, so kind... What's your name?"
"Thank you, you are beautiful too..." I smiled. "My name is Erin Hecate Crisostomo but you can just call me Erin."
"Can I see your palm, Erin?" Her smile reached her eyes. "I don't have any money to give you so maybe this will help you at least a little bit."
"Oh it's okay, grandma!" I laughed jokingly. "I don't need money." Joking, mother! I really need money but not from you. Money must be worked for.
I still gave her my palm.
Her face became serious as she looked at my two palms. After a while, a smile appeared as she looked up at me. "What a wonderful future!" Her voice rose.
"Why, grandma? Am I going to have a boyfriend who's a billionaire, is that it?" I joked and laughed.
"Yes, Erin," she was still smiling at me. "Your husband is rich. You will probably meet soon."
"Hah," my laughter grew louder. "Is that an old man, grandma?" I just accompanied Grandma's trip.
"Yes... Besides..." She was about to speak when a loud horn stopped us both. It's a car. "Maybe that's him." Grandma's joke.
I just laughed even though I don't believe in such things anymore.
When a tricycle passed by, she even offered to let me ride and we would eat, but I refused because the restaurant where I work was nearby. I walk fast because I'm already late. Before I could get inside, I saw the car honking loudly earlier.
What else is a rich car doing here? I can only see that in the picture that my classmates who are fond of cars are looking at.
When I opened the door of the restaurant there was a strong wind. I even saw a male customer in my peripheral vision. Sir Lucas was looking for me right away, he texted me and I just saw him now.
"Sir, I'm sorry, I'm just taking care of something."
"It's fine," he smiled sweetly at me. Is that his scary smile? He look like a pervert. This one likes me even though he has a girlfriend now because of their cheating. "Where have you been?"
"At school, sir," it's none of your business.
It nodded. I glanced at the man in the hat earlier. He came out and his face was completely hidden in his hat. The car outside is his, right? It seems that he did not order.
The same thing happened to me again in the following days. The only difference is that I'm not late anymore because I don't go to that subject. I moved.
Until one day...
"... Then chocolate cake. Just put marshmallows as toppings. Thank you." Telling the woman her order to me. "You my love?" She flirtatiously asked the man who was obviously her boyfriend.
The man couldn't speak immediately because he was looking at me.
"My love?" The woman called again. I tried my best to keep my laugh because her voice raised.
"I'm okay with what you ordered my love," answered the man while still looking at me. I looked away because I wasn't comfortable anymore. He still looks like a pervert in the corner.
It took a few minutes before I served them what they ordered. They were fighting because I could hear the word 'punyeta' coming from the woman. She was also slapping the arm of the man who was doing his best just to parry the woman's hit.
"Miss, come here," called the woman who seemed to have written a marker on her eyebrow. Its complexion also seems to have been overdone with rejuvenation. Her face was very annoyed with me and her face was still red. Her hair was still blonde as if it had been stiffened in the air.
I wiped my hand on my apron because my hand was slightly wet from the ice I served earlier.
"Why ma'am?" I asked as I approached.
"You're the one who served it, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"You're just a waitress, you're still flirting! Don't you have any shame in yourself? You're a woman and you're still approaching men! You've added something sour to our cake!" It suddenly shouted at me causing my eyes to widen. I looked at the people inside the restaurant because they were looking at me.
Woah, another jealous bitch.
"Ma'am, excuse me? I didn't approach your boyfriend! And even more so I had nothing to do with your cake being sour because I don't cook! Maybe it's just from your armpit that's why it's sour!" I couldn't control my emotions. I was very stressed at school and then when I came here he would treat me like that. I'm a waitress but I'm also human!
"Erin, you're fired! You're really flirty!"
That voice made me nervous. Ma'am Amber's voice!
"What? I'm not doing anything ma'am! She's just making things up!" I can't stop crying because I'm crying from annoyance. I want to curse that girl! If only I didn't really know how to be patient!
When I got home, I immediately threw myself on the bed and cried there. Why do I always suffer? You will experience some pleasure and then it will be taken back in the end. It's annoying.
I heard a knock outside so I immediately wiped my eyes even though they were a little red. Swollen already. Is there a visitor? My friends didn't say anything about hanging out here today. Besides, they still have classes, right? Who could this be?
"Erin Crisostomo?" The woman asked me. Well, looks rich! What does she need from me?
"It's me, why?" I asked. Wasn't that girl a goon of that bitch? Well, Enhypen's concert doesn't look affordable for her, so it's impossible that she'll hire a woman like this who looks like an artist.
"Here's an invitation for a meeting with our CEO." A smile appeared on her lips. "My name is Kimberly Agudo, the CEO's secretary."
"Huh?" My brain seemed to float at what she said. What? Invitation to the meeting? What for? "No, I don't want to see your CEO anymore." I smiled at her with effort.
Hah... I bet this girl is that guy's secretary.
"'Anymore'? Have you seen him already ma'am?" She asked.
"Yes. He's actually my ex and he's a cheater." I don't care. "With all due respect, Ms. Kimberly Agudo, please leave me alone." I said as I closed the door. I took a deep breath and leaned against the closed door.
"I'm confused why he still keeps pestering me while he's the one who initiated the break up." I whispered.
There isn't a day that that girl doesn't visit me. I also found out that it was not my ex's company so I started researching information on the company Arcajante Bank Holdings. Obviously, the first time you read it your eyes will sparkle. Because their company owns a bank, so they are surely really rich.
But unfortunately, there is not much information on that CEO. The mysterious CEO also does not have any publicly visible photos. What's up?
One day after that I found out that the meeting was for an agreement. And you know what's funny? He offered me a hundred million just to be his fake girlfriend. What? Who did they fool?
It might be a scam.
Hey, if I just keep gaslighting myself that no one really rich will come to me, I will go to nowhere. I have confirmed that this company is legit but why me? I have many questions and I know that meeting will answer my questions but what else? I'm having second thoughts.
The last time I became a CEO's girlfriend, it ruined my system completely.
I heard a knock from outside while I was washing my food so I wiped my clothes first so I could open the doorknob. Maybe it's Kimberly again?
"Kimberly I'm really sorry but I will keep rejecting your offer---"
I fell silent when I saw the landlady in front of me. "Lady Francia! Haha! Why did you visit?" I asked even though I was a little nervous. She only comes here if she asks for my payment or has a problem.
Her hair is still in a soft curler and her eyebrows are so flat that they are almost invisible until they are shaved to make them thinner. Sge is also wearing a vest that is typical of Karens (chismozas) among us. Of course, she won't lose her unlit cigarette.
"Ma'am, I just paid my rent yesterday," I immediately preceded her.
It just looked at me. She went straight into the house and I was surprised when she suddenly went to my drawers and took them to turn them upside down before throwing them on the floor.
"Lady Francia! Why?" I frantically picked up my things while anxiously looking at the old woman. "I just paid!"
"You just paid off your loan last month. This month, you have nothing to pay! I found out you also lost your job and your millionaire boyfriend is gone because you guys broke up! What are you going to pay now?" She shouted while pointing at me.
"But why does it have to be like that with my things. We can talk in depth." I said calmly to her causing her eyes to burn even more.
She quickly came to me. She took the neckline of my dress and pulled it violently before speaking. "Talk? No more! There's a new tenant here! It's better because there's more fee they can pay unlike you!"
"You sold this house to someone else without my knowledge? I live here too!" I was just surprised when she threw some of my clothes outside. I ran outside because the neighbors might gossip about me again. I don't want to be with Lady Francia and I also don't want the trouble to grow.
While I was getting my clothes, I was surprised when a dress flew off again. My favorite dress! My Aunt, who is my mother's sister, gave it to me before she died. That's when I started to get emotional. Why does he have to do it?
I wasn't in my right mind anymore so I violently wiped my tears and quickly took my cell phone from my pocket. This is my last chance. My life will change when I accept this too good to be true offer.
I immediately typed a message for Kimberly's number that I just saved yesterday due to boredom. I told her that I am accepting her offer and I want to see what I guess is an old CEO. I will swallow my pride first because I will slap money on Lady Francia. Her face is really thick. After taking possession of Tita's land, she is kicking me out of our own home?! She's overdoing it!
I have so many problems, it just adds up.
I got a message less than a minute from Kimberly.
'That's a great news ma'am! We're glad you finally accepted our offer. There's an address on the calling card I gave you yesterday. If you know that place, please do come here tomorrow. And if not, please tell us so we can send you a ride. Thank you ma'am!'
I looked up and glared at the old woman. There her eyes became even more inflamed so that she almost slapped me. Fortunately, my sense was good and sharp so I immediately avoided it.
I was about to speak when we heard the sound of shoes coming our way. Lady Francia and I looked at it together. A very handsome man appeared before us.
Omg! It's like Cha Eun Woo American version!
One of his hands was in the pocket of his trousers. He looks like a business man! He was brunette, black hair up like a professional. Its pointed nose, pink thin lips, light brown hunter-shaped eyes and thick eyebrows are additional handsome points. His beautiful body is also defined even though he is still in business attire.
"Crisostomo, right?" He asked suddenly.
"Who are you then?" I asked back. It's a good thing he came because maybe what I could say to the girl I was with. Thank you, Papa God.
He was about to speak when he suddenly stopped and looked up. I unconsciously looked up too. What's up? I was just surprised when he removed his coat that was on top of his black dress shirt and put it on me. My eyes widened as I remembered my clothes that were ruined earlier. Couldn't he have seen that?! I saw a smile on his lips when I looked up. Who is this?
"My name is Cadmus Arcajante. CEO of the Arcajante Bank Holdings."
My eyes got bigger. Arcajante Bank Holdings?! He's the CEO right?! I thought it was in the late 30s, 40+ to 70+ but nope! I was wrong! I remembered that there are still people who become successful even though they are not that old. It turns out that I had an ex-boyfriend who had business companies when he was young. But the ABH?! It's a bank company! So all this time, my suspicion was wrong!
If only I had known that this handsome man was asking me to be his fake girlfriend, I wish I would have agreed to it a long time ago! I thought that nothing good would happen in my life, but it did!
"Let's go," I saw him simply throwing ten thousand to Lady Francia's face. "Keep that money and I don't want to see your face again. Karma will just hit you." He even looked at it from head to toe before walking past her.
The old woman was shocked while looking at the rich man who looks very handsome.
That man... he's going to be my boyfriend?!