Chapter 7 Seven

• “I really wonder why he won’t answer my calls? He even said that this is his personal number, what if something happens to me? And I have no one to ask for help?”
• I felt like a crazy person talking to the plant in the pot in front of the condominium. I’ve been here outside for two hours now. I was planning to eat, but I’m not sure if I’ll get lost. I need to wait for the boss because I’m going to ask if I will really leave.
• Because of extreme hunger, I walked to find a skewer outside, I walked for almost ten minutes before finally seeing a vendor, I immediately joined the line and bought a hundred pesos worth, because of my extreme hunger.
• I also roamed around, but I didn’t go too far. I noticed that there were more and more people, and then I looked at my cheap watch, it was past five already.
• There were also some students, some with their parents, my gaze was fixed on a spot where there were two children, with their mother and father, walking, you could see the excitement and joy on their faces, something I never experienced with my family.
• I took my cellphone from my pocket and called my mom’s number, after a few rings, she answered, so I felt so happy, “Hello, mom!”
• “Oh, what’s up, you seem to be earning quickly? You’ve only been working for two days, right?” I heard the noise in the background, “Where are you going to send it, hey, sluts, I’m rich again! Chuchay, come here, I’ll bet!”
• “Mom, wait, not yet, I’m not sending money yet,” I interrupted her, “I’m just checking on you, because you’re not calling or texting me,”
• “Well, it’s a waste of load, and you’re the one with money, you should text, and don’t keep calling, I’m having a hard time with what I’m doing,” tears welled up in my eyes because of what my own mother said to me, “Go ahead, call me when you’re sending money, and Cris needs money for tuition, their finals are the day after tomorrow,”
• I didn’t respond anymore, because she suddenly hung up, I stared at my old cellphone, I’m used to it, but it still hurts to hear that from her.
• I felt a drop of water, so I looked up, it was very dark, and big raindrops started to fall. The waiting shed was filled with people seeking shelter. It rained heavily for almost ten minutes, until slowly the people waiting were gone. Some had umbrellas and the rain was just too strong.
• Until I was the only one left, it was also dark, and because the rain was heavy again, I couldn’t leave either, good thing, I brought my jacket, if not, I would be like a wet chick.
• “This damn life, I’m always unlucky, I’m even followed here in the city, it’s always like this,” I couldn’t help but kneel and cry.
• I was in that position when I felt my phone vibrate, while wiping my tears, I answered the call.
• “Hello?” I took a deep breath to stop the sob that wanted to escape my mouth because of crying so much, “Who is this?”
• “Samantha, where the hell are you, didn’t I tell you never to leave?! I even went home ahead of you!”
• That’s when I panicked, “Sir Kalix, uh, because—”
• “I don’t want to hear any explanation over the phone, come home now!” he shouted and then hung up on me.
• “Why do people these days not answer my calls, will I really always be the target of anger in this world?”
• I quickly fixed myself and ran back to the condominium, the security guard greeted me when I entered. I took the elevator of course, his floor is several floors high. I didn’t knock because I have a key card.
• As soon as I entered, I saw him sitting in the living room, he was no longer wearing a suit, and his necktie was loose around his neck.
• “Boss,” I got his attention, he looked up, and he seemed really annoyed with me, “I’m really sorry, I just wanted to clarify,”
• “Sit,” he said, which seemed like I was a dog that needed to follow the tricks of the master, but I didn’t speak and quickly went to the sofa in front of him, “That’s better be a valid and good reason for you to leave when in fact, I told you not to,” he said with a hint of irritation.
• “Well, boss, your girlfriend came here earlier, and I told her that I’m a new helper here, but she didn’t believe me—”
• “What girlfriend? I don’t even have a fling right at the moment! Don’t you dare lie to me, Samantha, I’m not joking,” his irritation was evident in his angelic face—what, angelic? Oh my god.
• “Sir, why would I lie, it’s true, she came this morning while I was cleaning the library, tall, fair-skinned, hair up to her shoulders, brown, her clothes were lacking in fabric, and she was wearing high stilettos, and she introduced herself as your girlfriend, and she said you don’t accept helpers,” I explained to him.
• “Then what did you do, did you leave like she said? Why didn’t you bother to call me, huh?” I heard him take a deep sigh, “So, every time someone comes here, claiming that she’s my girlfriend, you’ll do what she says? What the hell?”
• “Sir, I don’t have your number, and I also tried to call Sir Max, but he didn’t answer, he told me to call him if I have a problem with my work,”
• He didn’t speak, and he just leaned back harshly, and then he loosened his necktie even more, “Sir, do you want me to take off your necktie, it looks like it’s suffocating you—”
• “Shut up, stupid!” I closed my eyes because of his loud shout, I just lowered my head and played with my fingers, “Samantha, I’m your boss, you should only listen to me, and above all, why did you let her in?” I was about to answer, but he spoke again, “Anyway, if I didn’t say it, you will stay still, I’m the one paying you, so you should obey me, do you understand?”
• I nodded repeatedly, and took a deep breath, somehow, I know I will sleep and wake up with a job, “Have you eaten, boss? Shall I cook, or do you want the food I already cooked?”
• He didn’t speak immediately, but because the house was bright, I could clearly see how his whole face turned red, “That one, I ate this morning,”
• “Which one, boss? The adobo? Do you want that?” he just nodded and coughed, “Okay, I’ll just heat it up so you can eat,” and I stood up, I first took off my jacket, the kitchen is not that big anyway.
• “Samantha,” I paused opening the ref when I heard him call me, “Join me for dinner,”