Chapter 16

Finally, he left his room and walked to the living area to find his father. Unbeknownst to him, Janine was already waiting in the hallway. He noticed her but didn’t pay attention. He expected her to follow him like usual, but she walked in another direction. It surprised Giovan, but he didn’t care.

 Janine let out a sly smile. She was confident that by ignoring Giovan, she would get his attention, which she did.

****

 Crema’s POV

 It has been two weeks since I moved here, and I can tell that I can adapt. I found a housekeeping job at the nearby hotel. By the way, my new friend Jay and I landed the same job in the same department, so I am relieved. It is a good thing to have a nice person around. I’d like to regard him as my human friend and hope that it remains like that until I am here.

 "You look so tired, beauty. I told you, you can try to find a corporate job or something. Why did you insist on joining me here?" Jay was talking softly as we were walking to clean a just-vacated room. I smiled at him. Yes, he is a very genuine person. He is caring as well.

 "Don’t worry about me; I told you my reasons already. You and I are just new here, so we better stick together and enjoy the job that we have."

 "Of course, I am happy that we are together because, you see, I have a secure company. But I feel bad because I think you don’t deserve this job."

 "Come on, Jay, nobody works here. I am enjoying what we are doing, so don’t worry about me."

 Jay was right; if I were to consider my old life, then I don’t really have to work this hard. I have everything available; even my savings are enough to give me a comfortable life without working, but how can I gain the human life that I am supposed to have if I treat myself as Crema? I am Graciela now, and things must follow Graciela.

 The long day is over, and it is time to go home. I promised I would take Jay to my apartment, so we are now heading there. "Oh, my gosh!" He exclaimed as we were heading towards the elevator.

 "Why?" I was confused; he looks surprised. He held my face, then spoke again. "Do you live here?"

 I nodded.

 "Who are you?" He asked again, swallowed his saliva once, and then added, "You are rich! I can’t even afford to enter this building!" He finally exclaimed his thoughts, and I was relieved to finally understand him.

 "Shhhh…" I whispered to him when someone joined us. He kept quiet, but his reactions were still loud. I had a few moments to plan what to tell him once we arrived in my room.

 "You are a bomb!" Jay exclaimed when we arrived in my room.

 "You are overreacting, Jay." I cracked a laugh.

 "I am not. Our monthly salary cannot cover even half of your rent here! I don’t get it."

 I detailed my made-up story to him. I didn’t want to lie, but it was my only way of protecting him and my secret.

 "I ran away from home, Jay. There was a huge misunderstanding between me and my siblings, so I left. It was not a simple matter, that’s why."

 "So, you are from a well-off family?" He inquired, to which I nodded yes.

 His mouth was shaped like an O. I understood why he was shocked.

 "So, I was right that the housekeeping job does not suit you." He said something that made me smile, but his follow-up words saddened me. "Do I deserve to be your friend as well?" His face was shallow. I don’t understand him because, for me, status in life doesn’t matter for friendships.

 "Hey, I don’t know what culture you have back in your home, but status in society does not count for us." I politely explained. I didn’t want to bother him because of this. It was and will never be my purpose for granting his visit to my unit.

 He smiled in relief. I can tell that.

 "Okay, enough for this. I was just surprised; yes, it was just a surprised reaction."

 "Come on, let’s prepare something to drink." I was invited, but before I could move, I felt strange in my body.

 "Hey!" Jay was quick to catch me before I fell. I am dizzy, and my entire body is shaking.

 "Help me on the couch, please." I mumbled it before everything turned black.

 "Graciela!" Jay was scared. He didn’t know what to do, so he helped Graciela on the couch.

 He checked her pulses to make sure, then went to his phone to call 911!

 Jay was about to dial the numbers when Rochelle spoke. "Please give me water."

 "Oh, my God. Oh my gosh, thank you for waking up. I was about to call 911." Jay stood up and walked straight to the kitchen for the bottle of water. He was very relieved to hear Rochelle speak, so they can manage the situation at home.

 He knew little about Rochelle’s apartment, but he tried to haggle for the fridge. There, he took out a bottle of water. He walked fast back towards Rochelle’s living area. "Here drink."

 "Thank you."

 "How do you feel? Are you feeling better now? Or do we need to go to the hospital? Do you need me to call an ambulance for you?"

 Jay was still worried and couldn’t contain his feelings. He was scared and didn’t want the scenario that he just witnessed. He is very weak with emergencies.

 "I am fine now, Jay. Sorry for scaring you."

 "You don’t have to be sorry, dear. I am glad that you are here. I should be sorry because of what happened. Your visit to my apartment was as good as expected."

 "Hey, don’t worry about me. You should be worried about yourself."