Chapter 29| Returning

"It's all coming from Clark?"

"Yes, Bel. He gave me a gift." I was referring to the floral dress I'm wearing right now.

"And those shoes…" I pointed at the shoe rack on the side; near the door.

"That's for Kokoy, then Maymay received a doll from Clark. Well, Maymay is already playing it right now in the neighborhood with her friends," I told Bel.

We were here in the living room, having small talk. I already finished doing the laundry, the ones I received from the neighbors. I already received the rent for the laundry as well.

It had been more than a week since Clark visited here. It was the day he gave us a gift. I communicated with him using my keypad cellphone. He told me he has been busy for a week so he doesn't have any free time to visit us. He has a lot to do in their company. Since there was nothing I could do to help him with the problem he was facing right now, I could only give him text messages, reminding him to eat at the right time and take a rest. I also thought of cooking something for him to eat for lunch but it was embarrassing to go to their company alone.

Who am I to enter such a luxurious place? I'm just a prostitute.

"Those gifts seem like the price is no joke, Angela. It looks very expensive," Bel commented after seeing my brother's shoes and the dress I was wearing.

A wide smile escaped my lips when I suddenly remembered something.

"Before I forgot! Clark has a present for you!" I exclaimed happily and stood up in my seat. She frowned at what she heard and her gaze hovered over me.

"A gift? For me? From Clark?" she seemed to be wondering at what she heard and pointed to herself in disbelief. I nodded quickly at her with a sweet smile on my face. I reached for both of her hands and held them.

"Come on! His gift to you is inside the room!" I was excited for her to see those gifts. I pulled her and she didn't protest. She just let me pull her inside the room. When we entered, I sat her on the bed then I went straight to the durabox to get the three paper bags I had set aside. Then, I hurriedly went back in her direction and sat down next to her.

"These… That's his gift to you. Open it!"

I knew she would like it. Clark seemed to be good at choosing clothes for women because even though Bel and I weren't with him when he bought these presents, he already knew what we would like to wear and it fit perfectly based only on his observation of how we dress every time he sees us.

Bel took the three paper bags I handed to her. She laid them on the bed and opened them one by one. In the first paper bag, it is a sexy dress, in the second, it is shorts and a shirt that you could tell is indeed expensive and the third paper bag contained perfume. Victoria Scents.

Bel looked enchanted before shifting her gaze to me from the presents in front of her.

"Is this all for me?" she asked in amusement and looked again at the clothes and perfume that were now scattered over the bed.

"Yes, Bel. It's all for you. He gave it to you as a gift," I replied with a smile.

The smile on my lips faded when I saw her face become serious.

"Bel, are you okay? Is there any problem?" I asked and touched her arm. She sighed before glancing at me.

"It looks expensive. I can't seem to accept it," she explained. From what I heard, I hugged her arm and leaned on her shoulder. We felt the same way when we received Clark's gift.

"Accept it, Bel. Clark will be upset if you give it back to him. Maybe, let's just give him a favor. What do you think?" I suggested. I pulled away from leaning on her shoulder but I left my hands wrapped around her arm. There was a smile on my face as I stared at her.

"How? We're not as rich as he is," she said tiredly and glanced at my face before looking back straight at the wall again.

"Maybe…cooking food for his lunch later will do?" I asked.

Bel looked at me again and stared into my eyes.

"And how are we going to deliver the food, huh? We're going to his company?" she asked with a hint of sarcastic melody to her voice.

"Well..." I put my right hand under my chin and think. My eyes widened when an idea crossed my mind.

"Maybe we can deliver it. Waldo's nephew Jayson. He is a delivery boy, right? Maybe we can send him the food and let him deliver it to Clark's company. We just need to pay Jayson. What do you think?" I suggested.

Bel looked straight into my eyes for a minute. She seemed to be measuring whether I was serious about what I was saying. When she saw that I was dead serious about the idea, she shrugged and sighed in agreement.

"All right, let's cook food for Clark," Bel said and got up from the bed. She walked closer to the door. She was about to open it but stopped when she felt I'm not following her.

"What are you doing? Why are you still sitting in there? Get up! We'll buy ingredients in the market," she said and walked out the door.

I left sitting on the bed with a smile on my face then I followed Bel.

* * * *

"Maybe it's okay for the kids to leave them for a while, right?" Bel asked in a worried tone. I glanced at her and turned back my gaze to the road.

We were here in the market. We will buy the ingredients for the marinated chicken dish called Adobo.

I hope Clark will like it.

"Don't worry, Bel. They're fine. Let's just hurry in buying so we can go back home quickly," I said and pulled her towards the chicken, beef, and pork stall.

After paying, we left the market and went by public transportation.

I fell in silence when suddenly I remembered something.

"Why are you quiet all of the sudden? What's the problem?" Bel asked worriedly after she paid the fare to the driver.

"It's about Clark. He saw I had a kiss mark on my neck the last time he visited us. That kiss mark came from my client at the entertainment club," I whispered enough to hear it. Her eyes widened in shock as she held my hand. Concern drew on her beautiful face.

"What happened after he saw it? Did you two fight?" she asked worriedly.

I shook my head slowly in response. I tightened my grip on her hand and intertwined it.

"I lied. I said I was bitten by an insect."

"Do you think he believed your excuse?" Bel asked.

"I don't know. I need to be careful next time. I need to get out of the entertainment club as well. I'll file a resignation to our boss next week," I decided. I leaned on Bel's shoulder as she wrapped her arm around my body to hug me.

"Everything will be fine soon, Angela."

* * * *

"Is it already done?"

"Just one more minute then it's good to go," I said and smiled. I turned down the heat a little from the stove and fished out the cellphone in my pocket. I walked away from the kitchen. Bel was left there, watching over the adobo that we were cooking.

When I got away, I looked back at my cell phone and fiddled.

To: Clark

Good morning, Clark. By the way, Bel and I cooked marinated chicken for you today. That's for saying thank you for the gift you gave to us. Before I forget, may I know the address of your company? A delivery man will send this food there.

Sent!

Just a few minutes after the message was sent, my phone rang. In a hurry, I looked at the phone screen and checked it.

Sh*t! Clark is calling!

My heart pounded so loud due to the excitement and thrill I felt. I answered the phone immediately.

"Hello, Clark," I whispered in a shy tone.

"Angela..." he answered, which made my heart beat faster. I bit my lower lip to suppress the smile and thrill I felt right now. Hearing his voice looked like I was going to faint.

This is how love works, isn't it?

"Uhm, Clark... I would like to know the address of your company so that the food can be sent there—"

"Why a delivery boy? Why not you?" He cut me off.

With a sigh, I looked on the floor and looked at my worn-out slippers.

"It's because... It's embarrassing to go—"

"Why are you shy?"

"Clark, I'm just a—"

"Angela..." he interrupted. I heard him sigh on the other line.

"Don't underestimate yourself, okay? You are worthy. Always remember that. You are my precious gem."

"Feel free to come here to my company. I will tell my secretary that you will come so they can let you in right away. I'll send our company driver to your place to pick you up."

"No! Clark, don't. That looked like a disturbance. I can commute."

"But Angela—" he couldn't protest when I spoke again.

"I can commute, Clark. Don't worry about me. I'm fine," I assured him. He sighed from the other line.

"Alright. I'll send you a message about the company address," he surrendered.

"Be careful on the trip, huh? I love you," he said. I could feel he was smiling while saying those words.

"I love you too," I replied. With a smile on my face, I dropped the call and hurriedly went back to the kitchen.