NOVEL NEXT Chapter 88: Gifts
"Mom! We have a few guests!"
With an energetic shout, I welcomed Alexandra and Silva to my Aroa Palace. Their wide-open eyes curiously observed my face, and then the apartment where I was living.
"Well, it's a little lacking compared to the Milan Palace, but hey, at least we got a fridge and a microwave," I said as I gave them cushions to sit by the window.
Waking up from my call, Mom walked out of the room. She was wearing her usual white nightsuit, and looking at the two ladies, her eyes widened in surprise. She paused her yawn as she looked at us for a few seconds before closing her room door.
-Shut!
10 seconds later
-Shut!
She reappeared in a proper dress, wearing a white shirt and her black long skirt, the one she usually wore in her previous job, now on rare occasions at outside dinners or similar events. She was just about to ask about the ladies, wondering who they were.
"I am going to take a bath. Can you attend to them until then?"
Though before she could ask, I went into the bath with a pair of clothes. As I was pretty picky about my bath time, I spent about 25 minutes scrubbing, cleaning and making myself presentable again. It was the bare minimum after sweating so heavily if I didn't want to get sick in this weather.
30 minutes later, when I was finally done with the bath, I walked out to the main hall, only to find Mom laughing along with the girls, enjoying a heartfelt conversation about cookies. Much as I expected, it was Silva driving the conversation as they ate the chips and biscuits along with black lemon tea.
Wiping my hair with a towel, I moved in closer to them. Noticing me, Mom stood up first.
"I'll get changed as well," she said before moving to the bathroom with another set of clothes.
"You have a sweet mother," Silva spoke with a slight chuckle while eating a piece of biscuit, to which I nodded before turning to Alexandra.
"Surprised?" I asked with an amused smile.
From the time I met her outside the apartment until now, she had barely spoken a single word. All she did was stupidly observe the small room that I lived in, finding it difficult to analyze anything, as she compared what she believed my background to be, and what it truly was.
"Yeah. It… wasn't what I had expected," she said, finally letting out a sigh.
I saw her tilting back slightly before supporting her body with her arms. Crossing her legs, she seemed to have finally relaxed a bit before she gave out a defeated groan.
"I did think you weren't rich, but this is too much. Compared to how you presented yourself, the one thing that I was sure about was the fact that you were well to do. But here we are in this one small home that isn't even half of my personal room," she said as she paused before continuing again,
"It's not about hierarchy, really. Honestly, given your skills, I couldn't care less if you were a beggar on the street. But here is the thing: the gifts that I have bought today were based on the idea that you already have enough money. Now that I know that you don't, I am wondering if the ones that I brought you are the right gifts or not."
She spoke about her dilemma, making me smile in amusement.
"Silva. How did you even find him?" She turned to Silva, her eyes still finding it difficult to believe the whole thing.
"Daniel," Silva answered, at which Alexandra paused, trying to recall who he was. Then, remembering Daniel, she looked at me, understanding a few more things as she added in a jealous tone,
"How lucky."
"Daniel treats me to the best of his ability. That too, without even knowing my secrets. That is one of the reasons I am still friends with him. It's kind of nice to have people like him in life," I said, mostly lies, as I gave a blissful smile.
While it was true that he was someone good to have, I have no memory of how he had been to me. The only thing that I know is that he had helped me with the gaming helmet and was looking out for me even though he didn't need to. Which was enough for me to keep being friends with him even though I barely even remember him.
"Daniel is a kind kid," Silva praised him before adding with a sigh," it's just he is too naive. That won't do him any good in the outside world."
As we were talking, Alexandra then took out two items from her purse.
"Here. I don't know how much use they will be to you, but hopefully it's up to your liking," she spoke as she pointed at the first item.
A black card with a golden flower designed on it.
"There are three features of this card. First is that you can use any facility of the Bela Company and its associates for free, for as long as you want. At a time, this card can vouch for 5 people. Other than that, you can also use this card to stay in any of the mansions or hotels owned by the Bela Corporation for a week per three months. This stay can be done with 3 other people, and a total of 2 rooms can be booked at a time," she explained the first two features before pondering and speaking,
"Lastly. You can take out a total of $100,000 per month for the next 5 years. More specifically, by the end of your term at Regalia University."
That's a lot to take in. The fact that it's too much makes me sceptical about taking this. I thought before waiting for her to continue explaining.
"The other thing that I had prepared for a sponsorship program. For as long as you were to stay at the Regalia University, you would be provided with your own place to stay, a monthly salary, and all your course-related expenses would be covered by me."
Looking at the white sponsorship contract, I observed it for a few more seconds before turning to Alexandra. Her eyes were waiting for my response as I gave a slow sigh before pondering over it first.
With the card, I can take my chance and help Evan Castro, Ciana Grace and Damian White. Even those whom I will meet later on. The money sure does make things easier for me in many ways. I pondered over the card first.
Personally, I didn't need it. Most of the things I could earn by myself in a few weeks or more, but if I was going to help those that I planned to do, and in a short time, I would definitely need some external help.
As for the sponsorship program. It's easier to accept since I can see through her agenda through this one. I mulled over the gifts that I had just been presented. Then, looking at Alexandra's face, I asked,
"What's the catch?"