Ayinah

She is seated at one of the chairs in the visitor's area inside the building. 

She is waiting for the woman who took the form she filled out for the loan application. She is here because she badly needed money for her mother's immediate surgery.

Not even an hour ago.

"Miss Lorenzana, your mother needs to undergo surgery for her brain tumor. It's a grade IV type of brain tumor, which we call glioblastoma multiforme (GBM); this is the most common and deadliest of malignant primary brain tumors in adults and is one of a group of tumors referred to as gliomas. So before it takes your mother's life, we have to remove it, the sooner the better. After surgery, she needs to undergo radiation therapy to kill the leftover tumor cells and try and prevent recurrence."

That's what the doctor told her before she ran out from the hospital and rushed to their home to think.

Where will she go to find money for the surgery? They have lost everything already. Her father had gambled all that they had before he died due to a mob robbery in the gambling house where he was in.

She doesn't have any means now.

The house that they live in is the only thing that is left for them. But she doesn't want to lose her mother. She went to the bank with the title deed of their house in her hand. It's better to live on the street than lose her mother, she thought.

When she submitted her collateral for her loan, they asked her to wait. After a long wait. They told her that they have to survey the place first and promised to call her if they approve. She's nearly losing hope.

She asked them how long it would take to approve her loan with her collateral. They said that they will call her as soon as the surveyor has seen the place. She took back the original title deed of the house from the woman.

"I'll give you back as soon as my request is approved," she said, and she left the woman.

She needed the money very badly. Where else she could find.

She sits down on the bench outside the building.

Feeling exhausted. 

She hasn't had enough sleep since yesterday when she took her mother to the hospital because she was crying from the terrible pain.

The cleaner might have noticed that she's in distress. She came over and gave her a bottle of water.

"Drink some water first. You're so pale," the woman said.

"Thank you!" She took the water from the woman, and she didn't think of anything, whether it's clean or not; she just drank it. She felt the coldness of it that runs down her throat.

"Miss, just trust God. He will not leave you nor forsake you. No matter how heavy your problem is, there's always a solution in it," said the woman.

She's not the type of woman who will do badly with her fellow, she thought.

"Thank you so much. My mother needs surgery. Her brain tumor is malignant, and the doctor said that it has to be removed or it will take my mother's life." She said, crying.

"Let's hope for a miracle," the woman replied.

"Thank you for talking to me. You're very kind," she said.

"God bless you. I'll go to finish my work now. Trust God; He will send you some help," the woman said and turned to leave.

She bent down and cried. She doesn't care if people see her. She needed money to save her mother's life.

If only her father hadn't wasted their money. They had a lot when she was growing up. Her mother was a hardworking woman. They have a big garment factory, but without her mom's knowledge, her father became addicted to gambling, and he sold their factory.

Her mother wanted to end her life after she discovered that they left nothing but the house. The house that her mother had bought before she married her father.

He contributed nothing to their lives. She finished her studies because her mother has saved enough for her education fund. What if her mother wasn't wise? She might not be going to finish her studies. She will come to hate her father even more.

Sometimes she asked herself what made her mom marry her dad. Yes, he is good-looking, but what else? He's lazy. She's not even close to him. He never played with her when she was small. He never came to school for parents teachers day.

She hated her father for giving nothing but a headache and heartache to her mother. Maybe because of her mother's problem, that's why she acquired this tumor. Whatever.

"I hate you, Daddy," she whispered.

Now where else is she going to go? Can she try other banks? Why not? She must work now. Her mother's life is at stake.

She stops crying when she feels that someone is seated on the bench with her. She wipes her tears with the hem of her skirt. She stands up to walk away from whoever the person is who sat with her. She doesn't want anyone seeing her in this vulnerable state. It's not her.

"You need money?" asked the man with a husky voice.

She doesn't know whether to turn around or leave him. But what if he's the help that the woman said a while ago? Her mother needs help.

She turns to face the man. He's the most handsome man she has ever seen. She could see him through her blurry eyes from tears. He's so attractive. Remember your mother. She reminded herself.

"How did you know that I needed money?" She asked, stuttering.

"I am only seated on the other bench, and I could hear your conversation with that woman." He replied, pointing to the cleaner who gave her a bottle of water a minute ago.

Maybe that's the help she needed, she thought.

"Hear me out; I will tell you how I am going to help you," he added.

She hesitated, but thinking of her mother, she sat back down where she was seated. She's waiting for him to speak.

"This place is not a good place to tell you. Follow me," the man said after a while.

He stands up and walks towards the building where she came. She followed him. She noticed that employees acknowledged him. Maybe he's their regular client, she thought.

The man punches the lift and presses the CEO button. When the lift came to a halt, they came out. The man walks to the door to the right and pushes to open.

"Get inside," he ordered.

She moves slowly.

She admired the huge room adorned with expensive furniture.

When the man motioned her to sit on the luxurious couch. He patted the space near him.

She sat down hesitantly.