Chapter 3

Chapter 3

After being puzzled for minutes and perspiring in a quiet place, I finally manned up and decided to continue my job. Having in mind that whichever thing may ensue, let it be, I cleaned my tears and wiped the sweat then joined the other bartenders. I noticed that two elegant men entered the bar. Majestically they stood in a table of two and they could be seen conversing unceasingly. Since our protocol is to welcome any customer and serve them the menu. I took the men and gently walked to them.

Moments would pass without me remembering my mum and her condition. I could still notice that my heartbeat hasn't restored to normal.

“Hello! Good evening gentlemen. You're welcome to" Adams' Site”.

“Wow! Seems this one will make a difference!

I overheard one of them mumbling to each other, not minding that I could hear their conversation. They ignored the fact that I did compose myself to sound friendly to them. The words I overheard already had a negative influence on me. It already refreshed my hatred for that so-called gender.

“Thank you!”

The one in short replied.

Just as he spoke, I perceived the aroma of cigarettes, and I was closer to him. He stretched his hand to collect the menu I was offering him. His fellow still decorated his face with smiles, while the man in short, whose skin was fairer than the other, already got serious.

In a few seconds, he handed the menu back to me. Even though whenever he talks, the air he breathes out smells of cigarettes, he still orders more. Since I must give customers whichever thing they desire, I had nothing to say. Just as I was about to leave their table, bi's colleague collected the menu for my hand. Just as if he read my mind, he canceled the cigarette and gave it back to me.

While I went to get what they requested, I knew not what they were discussing. Majestically, I carried their order to their table and then dropped it gently. The man in shorts was quietly smiling at me while I was lost in thought since I knew they did discuss something in my absence. With Bi's right hand, he signaled me to draw closer. I guess, there was an external force that pushed me to him.

“How much do you need?”

“A thousand dollars, sir!”

I replied to his question without knowing whether he was referring to me.

“For a stinky whore like you? Nah!

His fellow intruded. The words alone were intuitive, but his expression was more. Immediately, as he said his words, I realized the root of the young man's question. Instantly, I felt as though my heart raced out of its portion in my body. I did that, and I then began to breathe heavily. To apportion some respect to myself, I turned to leave the scene. But the young man grabbed my hand.

“Sir, please, I'm sorry. I can't tell how I said what I said. If you don't mind, please ignore the response. I apologize for intruding in your conversations”

I continued to explain since I need to clear the air.

“Mention not again! Money is not my problem. I like the way you're wired”

He began to compliment me, not knowing that I already have this unquantifiable hatred for gender.

Inwardly, I wasn't the one standing with them anymore. The man is disgusting. But an instinct in me kept compelling me to find out the outcome of the whole thing. While still with them, I heard a beep from my mother's phone. It refreshed the memory of the entire incident of the day in my memory.

“Hi? This is Clara and not my mum”

I replied to the caller as I made a few steps away from the men.

“We're yet to hear from you, and your mum is lying helplessly here.”

The caller said from the other end.

“I, I, I will soon be there. Please take care of her”

I managed to make the response without tearing up. Giving hope while I was hopeless.

Just after the call, the young man brought out a room key and flung it to me. As I saw the key and the number attached to it, I noticed that it was a key to one of our hotel rooms. Already, I grabbed the key before realizing what I was doing. Instantly, I developed cold feet. I wasn't at peace because what I was about to do was against my norm. But I had to explore it as the last option to save my mom. The unfortunate question that kept stroking my mind was whether he would pay after playing such disgusting cards with him.

“Anyway, anything for my mum. Not as if I would continue it after saving her life. But she's unquestionably important to me. And she deserves all I have and can.” I found it difficult to make the decision, but I had to.

I managed to settle a few customers who were waiting for me and walk clandestinely into the room. He must have been following me because just as I opened the door, he also got in.

In a few minutes, he was done with his gymnastics and acrobatics. All my concern was money. Luckily, he opened his wallet and gave it to me. While the money was already in my hand, a sense of guilt came into me, but that couldn't count since I got excited that finally, Mum would be saved. Not minding that he was still in bed, Hurriedly I dressed up and left the room, and rushed to the hospital with the money. On my arrival, Mum was already tired. Though the nurses never left her alone. I could notice that she's been undergoing one treatment and the other. But in all, my mother wasn't in the best condition. They directed me to where I made the payment, then they began the necessary arrangement for the dialysis as they said.