Chapter 5 The first day of my work

• Isabella's pov;
• When I opened the door, the room was deserted. I walked further into the room and took a glance around the place. Mr Martinez wasn't in the room. While I was rummaging for Mr Martinez, I heard the sound of water behind a door. I came to know that Mr Martinez was in the bathroom, I guess he's taking a bath. It's better to come after some time. When I tried to leave the room, I heard Mr Martinez's voice, "Where are you leaving?"
• "Um... Nowhere. I was just... admiring the magnificence of the paintings."
• When I turned towards him, he was in his bathrobe revealing some part of his chest and well-built abs with water dripping from his body. He looked like a male lead who came out of a manga. His skin looked shiny but gave a rough surface when touched I guess.
• More to that, Mr Martinez wasn't wearing a mask. Since I stepped into this house, I have never seen him without the mask. This is the first time I'm seeing his face too.
• His blue eyes match well with his wet crimson hair while a sharp nose has its perfect philtrum ending with sculptured lips. His facial hair gave a little rough look. Without his mask, he kinda gives a thug's features. He looks damn hot! Ahem. I mean he has good looks. Why is he covering his face by the way? Weird. Maybe he doesn't like the attention that much.
• "Wait here." Showed me a seat beside the bed and disappeared after opening a door.
• I sat on the stool and took a look around the room again. No modern furniture. No family pictures on the wall. No beautiful lights. Not much decor. Except for aesthetic paintings on the wall here and there.
• Mr Martinez came inside the room again but dressed.
• "Was I late?"
• Late for what? What did he mean by that?
• "No."
• "As you already know, you have to hold my hand till I sleep. The time I take to go to sleep will be your salary."
• I gave a nod and said, "Yeah, I remember, Mr Martinez."
• Mr Martinez sat on the bed and lay on the bed later. He gave his hand to me to hold it.
• I slowly lifted my hand and placed it on his hands. I felt cold. I think It's because of the shower he took minutes ago but why is it cold, didn't he take a hot shower? I held his hand and looked at him. He closed his eyes to go to sleep. In no time, he slept. That was quick!
• When I tried to remove my hand from his, I looked at Mr Martinez who was sleeping peacefully.
• I thought I'm the one with a poor background but I still have a mom and namesake dad. To Martinez, Mother who died when he was little and a Father who passed away a few years back, what's there for him except this house, a company? Money?? Losing both parents in your childhood, how did it feel, Mr Martinez?
• And I thought people who were like me were the only ones to cover all inner feelings inside them and be happy on the outside but some people are rich also undergoing this same feeling. I pulled my hand and stood beside his bed while watching him.
• I didn't sign the contract because of some greed for the money but because of my mom. Once I get enough money for the treatment, I'll stop this nonsense and never step into this house again.
• After I came out of the room, Noah was standing outside in the hallway.
• "Did he sleep?" He asked me.
• I nodded and said, "Then, I'll take my leave to my house."
• "Wait."
• Noah took something out of his pocket and gave it to me. It looked like an envelope. I opened the envelope and looked at it. There was cash inside it.
• "What's this for?"
• "Your salary. You'll be getting it on the days you visit."
• "Oh, okay. Thank you then."
• I left Mr Martinez's house and came to my house with the payment in my hands. Good god, my mom wasn't at home when I arrived. After changing the clothes, I waited for her. What should I do with this money? How will I explain this to mom? I have to come up with some lies to make her believe in me.
• While I was thinking about the lie I'm going to tell my mom, I heard knocking on the door. Mom came!
• I stood from the place where I was seated and walked to the door to open.
• "You're early today." I welcomed her with a bright smile on my face.
• "Because it's my payday. And, Did you eat anything?"
• I shook my head and said, "I was waiting for you. I thought of cooking instant noodles but remembered that you'll scold me once you find out so I didn't. Am I a good girl?"
• She smiled and said, "Since you've been a good girl, let's go out and eat dinner in a restaurant. Get changed. I'll wait for you."
• "Are we eating out? Didn't you give money to that guy?"
• "I gave the money and I wanted to treat you because someone's birthday is on the line. Take it as my pre-birthday treat."
• I gave a nod and changed my clothes. While I was changing the clothes, I took the money which I got from Noah and stuck it in my pockets.
• "Shall we go?"
• I gave a nod and walked behind her. She closed the door behind us and we two started walking together on the pavement.
• After a while, mom asked, "What do you like to eat today? Do you have anything on your mind?"
• "Um... No. But since I'm hungry I'll go for anything I see."
• She patted my head and said, "Eat till your tummy gets full today."
• "Noted, mom. And, where are we eating tonight?"
• "The place you always wanted to eat."
• "What is it, mom?"
• "Try to remember before we get there or you can't eat what you like. I'll be the one who orders for you instead."
• "Mom! You can't do that to me… You said it's my pre-birthday treat. How can you do that to me?" I pleaded with her but she ignored me and walked before me.
• "Stop begging and start remembering." And laughed.
• While I was walking behind her, I tried to remember the name but I couldn't come up with anything because I've asked her to take me to many places to eat.
• "Is it FOR restaurant?"
• "Nope."
• "SU?"
• "No."
• "I don't know, mom. It's so hard."
• She laughed and continued walking.
• We took a bus to that place. After walking for a while, we reached the HYU restaurant.
• "This place???"
• "Yeah, come on. Let's go inside."
• "Are you sure we're eating here? You know how much the food costs here, aren't you?"
• "You don't have to worry about that. Worry about the food I'm going to order for you."
• We walked into the restaurant while she was teasing me.
• After we got seated in the restaurant she asked while holding my cheeks together, "Why are you pouting your lips?"
• "Because I'm not the one who's going to order?"
• She laughed and said, "I was just kidding. Go on. Order what you like."
• I stood from my place and walked to her and gave a hug while saying, "Thank you so much, mom."
• "Okay. Okay. Order first."
• We ordered a lot of food in different categories and it arrived quickly. After finish eating the food,
• "Mom, I have something to tell you and don't get mad."
• "What is it?" She changed her expression into an intense look.
• "I-I don't know how you'll take it. Promise me, you won't get mad at me."
• "You sound suspicious. Are you dating anyone?"
• "What!? Mom! No! Me? Dating? Come on."
• She laughed and continued, "I'll be surprised too if you're dating. Okay. So, What is it about?"
• After I tidied my hands together with a tissue paper, I took the envelope and placed it on the table.
• "What is this cover?"
• She took the envelope and opened it, "There's cash inside..."
• "I took a job."
• "Job? What are you saying? We talked a lot about this but you still did what you wanted. Don't you have trust in me? Do you think my income is low and not enough to feed us?"
• "Please, mom. Please listen to me. Why are you getting mad even before hearing me out?"
• "I've heard so much from you already."
• "Mom, the job is in my school. I'm going to be an assistant to a librarian."
• "You took a job in your school? In a library?" She sounded relaxed suddenly.
• "Y-Yeah. The library was recruiting some students to assist the librarian so I put my name and I got selected out of luck it seems."
• "Then it's fine. You can take the job."
• "Really?? You agreed? But why?"
• "You should be happy that I accepted, not surprised."
• "You never accepted before but why now?"
• "Since it's a library, you'll be spending more time in a library. Who knows, maybe you'll start studying too. But I wonder how you got the job in a library, the most hated place of yours."
• "Yeah, but the pay made me too."
• "Anyways, do it well. And study while you're working there. More to that, don't sleep in the library."
• I gave a nod and continued eating.
• "How much are you getting from working there as a… what job did you say?"
• "Assistant."
• "Yeah, how much do you get for being an 'assistant'?"
• How should I answer this? Let's blurt out some random sum of money.
• "Um… one hundred dollars."
• "Okay. Use it for buying things for your school. Don't waste it unnecessarily."
• "Yes, mom."
• We finished eating and came out of the restaurant.
• I let out a burp which made her laugh.
• "Did your tummy get full?"
• "Yeah, I ate till here." said while pointing to my throat and continued, "and, I don't know how I'm going to get home."
• She let out a sigh and said, "I thought of buying you an ice cream but since… you're full, I think we have to head home."
• "No! No, no, no. I still have space for ice cream. Mom, I want one."
• "There's always a space for ice cream, huh?... Come on. Let's buy it."
• We found an ice cream stall and mom bought ice creams for both of us.
• "What do you want for this birthday?"
• "I don't have anything on my mind right now but recently I've been thinking about painting. Can I join art class, mom?"
• "When did you start having interest in art?"
• "I don't know. It just flashed in my mind when you asked about the gift. If you want to buy something for me, then give me a palette."
• "Okay. Got it!"
• "About the art class?"
• "Okay. You can join."
• "Can I have a new phone?"
• "No!"
• I let out a sigh and walked behind her.
• "Let's buy a new phone this coming year."
• "Really?"
• "Yeah, but only if you get good scores in all the subjects without failing."
• "I don't want a new phone."
• "Aren't you wishing to graduate this year? If you don't start studying, you won't graduate this year. Are you planning to stay behind and study another year?"
• "Okay, I'll study. But wait and see, I'm going to pass every subject and get a new phone and graduate this year."
• "Good luck."
• After having two ice creams in a row, mom and I finally came home.
• Mom gave the envelope which I gave to her in the restaurant saying, "Use it well."
• I nodded and received the envelope from her.
• After switching off the lights, we laid on the bed to sleep. I don't know how many days it will take to sum up all the money, but I've finally got a way to earn more money and quickly this time so I'm not going to let it go easily. I'm going to use it well, mom. I'll save the money for the treatment and we're going to get well together, mom.