“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.