Chapter 10 Needs Operation

• “Just eight buck.” An old woman replied to Kate, standing up to move closer and attend to her customer. The shabby kiosk sells snacks but from the looks, the snacks have been baked for two days.
• Still, Kate insists on buying it. Hell, it’s been over an hour she’s walking around the night, searching for a place to buy a snack or something.
• “Please can I have it?” She nodded, sputtering. The old woman walked to the enclosed glass where the snacks heaped and fluttered it open, wrapping one of the sausage into a paper. Eight bucks. It’s better. At least she'd still have two bucks left and use it to purchase a can water. Good idea. Kate muttered, taking the wrapped shit from the crone.
• After getting the can water which was her last order, Kate veered on her heels and began to file back to the hotel. She could feel the tinge of pains on her ass and she sighed remembering how the arrogant man pushed her off without an ounce of remorse. Hell, she has met two arrogant men today. Only she wasn’t able to see the last one's face.
• And to think they escaped her dirty insults.
• Is this how guys in Sin city acts? She wondered, grabbing a bite of the sausage and sipping water.
• Truth is, she doesn’t like the damn taste of this but what option does she have?
• That’s why you should accept the job. Earn high pay, girl. Her mind croaked into her ears. Kate huffed a sigh, pushing the thoughts away with effort.
• She continued biting, nipping and managing to down the sour snack as she approached her hotel.
• Halfway to the hotel, her phone rang. She paused and brought out the cracked-screened phone. She could barely see the name of the caller.
• Kate swiped the screen and pasted the cell to her ear. Waiting to make out the voice from the other side, Kate’s features incandescently changed when she realized it’s her sister on the call.
• “Tiffany!!” She snapped in glee. However, the honking of horns and dins of noise on the road is preventing her from hearing her sister’s words.
• “Listen, Tiffany. I’m going to call you once I get my residence.” She said, racking her ears to hear her sister.
• Earning an “okay” from her, she put the call down and began to eat and walk towards the hotel. Grabbing her keys from the second receptionist, she walked to the elevator.
• The receptionist have different shift. However, unlike the nosy, outgoing girl. This one here is polar opposite. Means she looks, prideful and snobbish.
• She’d given Kata a fair share of her bad attitude which is why Kate didn’t bother to smile muchless greet her. Why would she when she appears to be the same age as her.
• When the elevator dinged to a stop on her floor, she glided away from it to call her sister, Tiffany.
• Making an entrée into the room, Kate disposed the wrapper and empty can in the bin and deposited herself in front of the dresser, trying to call her sister again.
• “Shit.” She cussed as the cracked screen doesn’t respond to her operation. The screen is fucking hanging.
• That means she can’t call someone but she can only receive calls from people. Growling into the silence-filled air in the room, she shoved the phone on the bed and moved to use the telephone.
• The line connected after ringing thrice. Her sister’s voice boomed
• “Tiffany, hey. It’s me.” She belts out and Tiffany responded.
• “How are you doing over there?” Was Tiffany’s question.
• Kate cringed at that. What should she tell her sister? That coming to Sin city was a bad idea?
• No, that’s will only mean, they've wasted their last three hundred dollars. Kate growled at the idea of telling Tiffany that.
• “It’s been, amazing. So far.” She gushed, slumping into the soft mattress. Swiping her free hand mindlessly over the sheet, she continued. “It’s lively. Full of opportunities and people of different characters.”
• That last part reminded her of the asshole that broke her cell and her potential boss. Such an ass. Her mind grumbled, making Kate roll her eyes. Irritated.
• She heard Tiffany huffing an exhausted sigh. Hence she switched the topic before her sister figured she’s feeding her with lies. Kate and Tiffany ain’t twins but they sure acts as one.
• Tiffany would always tell her what she does, especially when her ex boyfriend broke her virginity. Kate shared her concerns with Tiffany except the incident that happened years ago which led to her pregnancy and childbirth. She didn’t tell Tiffany the story until her stomach started showing signs of pregnancy.
• “How's dad? And Gabby?” She mellowed her voice as she asked about them, especially her other half, Gabby. Talk about kill? Kate is willing to maim anyone that tries to separate her and Gabby.
• The child was an accident in her life but she’s grown to love him with passion.
• “They’re cool. Gabby is bathing.” Tiffany said.
• Straining her ears, Kate heard the swooshing of water and asked. “Are you bathing him?” Surprise laced her words because Gabby only allows their father and her to bathe him, expect Tiffany. Reason unknown. That’s why she’s surprised.
• “What? Will Gabby ever allow that? Of course, not.” Tiffany chortled, the sound seeping into Kate’s ears, making her inside warm.
• She misses her family.
• “I thought as much. Like I know there’s no place on earth it'll happen.” Kate said, offering a cool laugh which her sister reciprocated. “So what are you doing?” She asked.
• “Preparing dinner. I wasn’t able to get some money on time. It took me hell to get things done and get some money we'd feed with.”
• Kate’s heart shattered at her sister’s words. That means their sick dad hasn’t feed since morning and so is her poor child. Her poor Gabby. With effort, Kate pushed her thoughts aside and muttered.
• “Thanks Tiffany. I know shits are hard now . But I’ll make it right. Promise.” Kate crossed her heart, though Tiffany can’t see it. She could feel the sincerity in Kate’s voice.
• “Hey, how was the interview? It was held today, right?” Tiffany brushed off the topic.
• That question got Kate’s heart hammering. Not her sister. Not her. She doesn’t want to be reminded of the interview and she can’t bring herself to tell Tiffany it’s a porn industry.
• “It went well. The pay for starters is nice. However, we were asked to return the contract form tomorrow.” She said. Actually, Kate believes she’s honing lying skills.
• “Oh, I see…” Tiffany wanted to speak but a tiny voice in the background interrupted her.
• “Mommy!!” Kate’s heart stopped beating, hearing Gabby’s voice.
• “Omigod, baby!!” She belts out, clutching her rapidly beating heart. “How are you, son?” She asked.
• With the way Gabby’s voice is sounding, pristine and clear, Kate knew her sister has given the boy her phone.
• “I’m fine, mommy. When are you coming back?” Gabby asked.
• “Well…I’m not…” She was on the verge on responding when Gabby mindlessly gushed.
• “Grandpa is sick again!!”
• “What!?” Kate’s heart started beating rapidly at the exposition her son made.
• Still trying to wrap her head around the explosive news, Tiffany’s voice came.
• “Listen, Kate don’t worry yet. I know how hard it trying to stabilize in a new city…”
• “Were you…planning to hide it from me?” Kate interrupted.
• “It was for the best…”
• “Stop, Tiffany.” She growled, lowly. “Where are you people, now.” She demanded.
• Thick silence sailed between them and that made Kate’s inside tensing. “In a hospital. His condition worsened and…”
• “Omigod.” Kate bellowed, fighting back tears with effort. “For how long?”
• “Three days now.” Tiffany responded.
• That means, Tiffany isn’t cooking. She was wiping their dad’s unconscious body. Cradling her balled fist over her mouth, Kate suppressed a quaking roar of tears.
• “What’s his condition?” She managed.
• “He needs full operation.” And at that response, Kate’s eyes began to water.
• ‘No. I’m taking the job.’ Kate said inwardly.