Chapter 3

Chapter 3

SAM'S heart is fluttering when he is reading the message. His hands that are on the rest of his laptop shaking due to the terror.

Another message popped out on the screen.

[I think someone is sick, since I saw you buying some high-level antibiotics and human albumin.]

The poor boy blinks twice and another message keeps on popping out.

[To be honest, you are handsome and I bet my life that you will be one of my asset.]

Sam's lips parted in confusion. He looks at the direction of his grandmother, he don't want to be a burden—once an opportunity knocks. . . you need to open the door.

If the door closes—there is the window left open for you. Sam didn't think straight; he can't believe that he is receiving suspicious messages from an unknown person.

Is this really a CEO? What the heck is he thinking about me?

His mind is storming but when he thinks about the current situation of his grandmother. His heart is turning into mayhem. He has no other opponent but himself. It is so hard to deal inside—Sam keeps on carrying this encumbrance for years. A grief and guilt inside his chest is pumping out.

[I can help you, Mr. Sam Ramos.]

Another message that keeps on bothering him this whole time.

He slaps his face. However, he knew that it is not a dream! This is true and the truth is so cruel. He forces himself to type something. Breathing heavily as his fingers are dancing on the keyboard.

From: User

[I don't know what you are talking about. This is privacy invasion!]

He clicked the send and the CEO at the other line laugh so hard! This kid is a hard to get—somewhat in denial in nature.

Sam keeps on heating up because of this. He never chatted anyone like this his life is quiet. He left a heavy sighed, as he types again.

[I will call the police because of this!]

He keeps on threatening the CEO of CAM but he is just laughing inside his office in this early morning.

[You make me laugh young man! Because of this, I will offer you an exclusive contract. Bet your salary!]

When Sam opened the message, he cannot believe what he is saying.

[Don't tell me this is a scam!]

The man behind the chat is slapping his desk in so much laughter—even his eyes are becoming teary because of Sam.

The innocent introvert young man's body is turning cold because of the nervousness settling down to his feet. He goes to the corner to get his bag. As he opened it, he gets his blue light glasses to lessen his eyestrain.

The CEO messaged again. [You cool more hot with those glasses.]

Sam's hair nearly stands straight when he read the message! He looked at the window but no one is outside but pure silence. This Covid-19 is making the busy highways look a ghost town.

Sam received a message again.

[Don't look at the window, I am not there young man. You look handsome with that just keep it. If you sign a contract with me, I can give you assistance. This is my generosity towards you.]

He don't know what he do when his fear and depression is making a way to his head. It feels like something is odd from this moment. The moment when he turn his neck. He sees a tape—he don't hesitate to pick it up and cover his webcam from the top of his laptop.

The CEO is amazed with him. He is typing his message again, [you are such a clever man. Because of this, give me your account number and I will send you something.]

The young man thinks deep. He needs the money and he barely needs it for the swell up expenses of his grandmother. Sam can't believe that he is pulling out his phone and getting his bank account number. He gulp, every time he is typing it.

[Account number xxxxxxxxxx Sam Style Ramos]

He is startled when he witness that his grandma is looking at him.

"Nay?!" he closed his laptop and go to his grandmother. "Give me a water," she requested and his loving grandson gets the Avian water for her.

"Thank you," a word of appreciation for him. Sam goes to the table and gets a small piece of apple. He washed it at the comfort room and slicing it to tiny pieces.

Grandma Georgia's stomach cannot receive food even a little amount of water because of her ascites.

Ascites is the water inside the body that is cause by a lump inside her ovary. Dealing with a cancer patient is so hard—Sam knows it well. When he is finished cutting it—he offered it to her grandmother and she is biting it little by little.

"Is it good?" he asked breaking the silence inside the room. His grandmother halted his chewing and smiled, "yes, you do want some? Eat your breakfast now."

Sam nodded as he takes a cup of instant noodles and boils some amount of water on the heater.

He patiently waited for it but when he pours the hot water—his phone keeps on vibrating inside his pocket. When he closes the rim of the cup noodles, he goes to the comfort room. He nervously picked up his phone and when he opened it.

Sam is frozen at his position. He looks at the mirror with a blank expression. He cannot believe what he is seeing on the screen of his phone.

He read it carefully and the CEO is not joking around! It is true a big amount of money is being transferred to his account despite of this hour!

"Am I dreaming?" he asked himself at the mirror and he keeps on slapping his cheeks.

He wanted to shout but he is biting his lower lip due to the mixing emotions inside his chest.

His phone vibrated and he picked it up again. Sam received a message from an unknown number.

[I already transferred the money to your account. That money will be my advance payment for you under my application.]

He looks dazed to himself at the mirror; he cannot believe that this time will be his lucky day.

He types his reply but when he hears the whimpering sound—he immediately get the bowl from the sink and runs to his sick grandmother.

He is holding her vomit but when Sam gave it to her, she freely let it all out. Her poor grandson is blank when seeing her like that. Georgia keeps on vomiting some gastric juices and it yellowish in color.

"Nay? Wait, I-I will call the nurses. You are vomiting gastric juices," her worried grandson goes towards the nursing station and tells the current situation of his grandmother.

Upon walking at the silent aisle—his mind keeps on thinking about the offered job with him. As he opened the door, his grandmother keeps on vomiting.

The nurses go to her and give some medicine. When looking at his gravely sick grandmother that raises him. . . his heart is wrecking into pieces.

Sam's tears are falling down to his chin without him noticing it. "Sam?" his mother's voice calls him and he sniffs it out as he wiped it out from his face.

"Nay? Are you now feeling well?" she asked her mother and despite of the pain—she always say, "I'm okay."

THE sun rises again to bring another hope. Sam goes to his school to enroll for another year. Upon getting his card from the registrar's office, it doesn't surprise him.

This pandemic is having a massive impact to everyone. Not until he knew that other students don't wanted to continue their education.

Despite of this challenges that he is facing in life right now, he don't even think about it. His stomach is growling because of hunger and stress. Sam walks silently to the cafeteria to buy his favourite pasta. When he opened his phone—he read the message from the CEO of CAM application.

From: Unknown

[You are at the international school right?]

When he read it his goose bumps are crawling to the surface of his skin. He gulped and look to the other direction, but he don't see something suspicious.

He barely wanted to continue to eat his lunch. Something interrupted him when his phone keeps on vibrating and his chest is fluttering.

The pictures are something familiar to him. The CEO is typing and when he does send the message, Sam is flattered.

[I am proud of you, young man. The contract is on one of these pictures. Finish what you are doing and find it.]

He hold his hair and breath deeply.

"This is making me crazy. . ." he said to himself as he eat the last serving of his favorite pasta.

Due to his desperation and curiosity—Sam look for the said contract that he will be signing inside the campus. First, he goes to the comfort room but he don't see something.

The CEO sends a message again. "Fuck, this is giving me chills," he keeps on swearing until he goes to the library.

His phone rings and it is the correct place.

From: Unknown

[Good, please find this one and sign.]

Sam sighed and typing his reply. [What if I don't want?]

The CEO chuckles and he is being easy on him.

From: Unknown

[Simple, I will kick you out from that school.]

When he read it, his eyes are enlarging in terror! He cannot find the words to say and the only thing that he wanted to is graduate and helps his sick grandmother.

The library is silent as usual but this silence is making his heart jump every time his feet are taking him to that spot.

He looks to his phone and the only thing he knew is he needs to sign that. He is afraid and he don't wanted his mother to know this. He needs to solve this discreetly!

He gaze to the table where there is a clipped folder on it. Sam rush and when he sees a logo of the CAM he knew it is what the CEO is talking about.

His hands are trembling when holding the pen on his hand. He gulped but when he opened it. . . his eyes goes to tears and pick up the special thing that the CEO will offer for him.

All his life, Sam never felt this important.