Clark’s POV
“So… Just stay here for a while?” Bel asked when we had finally arrived at Angela’s house. The doctor already let Angela stay at home while taking medication for fast healing after one week of getting confined in the hospital.
I sighed and sat opposite Bel’s direction.
“Yeah. If it is okay-”
“Of course, Clark! It’s okay. Feel free. You are welcome here. I know Angela would love that,” Bel assured in a concerned voice. Tears escaped from my eyes in her warm welcome. I quickly wiped it away.
I suddenly remembered my mum.
Bel tapped my shoulder which made me look in her direction.
“Everything is gonna be okay, Clark. If you have anything you need, I’m one call away,” she offered, then stood up from her seat.
She was about to leave the house but stopped when I called her.
She averted her gaze back to me and approached my direction with curiosity on her face.
“What is it, Clark? Is there anything you want to say?” she asked in a concerned voice then sat again on the vacant chair.
I stared deeply into the air and thought for a second. I gulped before looking at her.
I need to address this problem of mine. I need to swallow my pride this time.
“I-”
“I-I need to get a job,” I uttered in embarrassment and lowered my gaze to the floor. Never in my life have I asked for help when it comes to financial matters. That’s the reason why I don’t accept the arranged marriage and the help of Mr. Sy to revive the company because I have so many ways to do it.
And sadly, I don’t have a true friend. In the rich world, true friends are rare to find and I found none.
When it comes to money, I would rather do it alone than ask for help but this time… I need help from a friend, and I think Bel is the one who I can run with.
I saw Bel stop for a while then after a second, sigh while staring at me. It looked like she already had an idea of the result of my decision for choosing Angela over my mom.
“Your mother cut her relationship with you as her son and also your wealth, right?” she commented and I nodded in response.
Bel took a deep breath. She walked to approach the door of Angela’s room. She opened the door a little and peeked at Angela who was now sleeping safe and sound together with her siblings.
She sighed again for the nth time before looking in my direction. She rested her back against the wall and crossed her arms.
“I don’t have a job either. The bar is already closed,” she shared, which makes my shoulder fall in disappointment.
“We are now jobless, huh?” she added and just laughed at the problem.
It’s hard for me to find a job now. My mom instructed her business partners and other companies to not accept me once I apply to their companies. My mom will do everything to make me suffer and to make me realize that the decision I made is the biggest mistake. She will do everything to make me regret it.
“Hmm… I’ll ask for help from one of my clients before. As far as I remember, he owns a construction firm and coffee shop. I’ll apply to his coffee shop and you’ll go with me. Apply there also,” she advised while looking at me seriously.
“I know you used to be rich and you never had done this kind of work before but this time… you need to swallow your pride, Clark,” she added which made me think for a second then nod at the end.
She’s right. If I wanted to live, if I wanted to help Angela with her medication fees, I needed to work even if it was too far away from what I used to before.
“Okay, Bel. Thank you,” I weakly uttered while looking at her. She just smiled at me a little and approached the front door. Before she left, she looked in my direction.
“I gotta go find a side job that we can apply aside from what I have said earlier. Just stay here and sleep. This village is dangerous to a person like you. You cannot fight back cause you lost the power to do that, Clark. Once you do it, you’ll be beaten to death here unless you have a bunch of money. Just stay here. I’ll be back after an hour. Okay?”
I nodded at what she said. I know she knows what’s best for me at this moment. She knows this place better than I do.
After seeing me nod at her as a response, she finally opened the front door and went outside of the house. I stood up from my seat and approached the door to lock it for safety.
I went back again to the chair and sat while waiting for her.
I looked at my watch. It said it was already ten o’clock in the evening.
I rested my back on the chair and stared at the ceiling.
I needed to cope quickly in this new environment if I wanted to live.
****
“Clark!”
My gaze shifted to the person who called my name. I was done doing laundry for the neighbors that Angela used to do before just to get some money in return.
I fixed all the clothes baskets and put them on the side before approaching Bel.
“What is it?” I asked as I wiped away the sweat on my forehead and neck.
“Have you all already eaten breakfast?” she asked in concern. It was already nine in the morning.
I looked at Angela’s siblings, Kokoy and Maymay, who were playing at the salas. I averted my gaze back to Bel’s face.
“Yeah. We had already eaten breakfast. Angela is in her room now, done drinking her meds and she’s now resting.”
“Good,” she shortly replied then suddenly, a wide smile crept on her lips. It looked like she remembered something.
“Go and take a bath! Hurry! We are going to a job interview. I already talked to my client before at the club. He agreed with me,” she shared the good news.
Automatically, a smile formed on my lips. I sighed in relief.
“Thank God! Okay, Bel. Give me a minute,” I exclaimed in excitement. Bel just pushed me away in her direction and chuckled.
I quickly went to the bathroom to take a shower.
“I hope I get hired,” I whispered as I closed the door.