Instinct or Money

Phoebe's POV;

Two days had passed by since my unfortunate encounter with Mr.Rude-man, he may be handsome, well let me add extremely to it. He is gorgeous but with a foul mouth, how dare he call me a smelly woman.

It wasn't the first time that had happened, I remembered back in college, there was a third-year student I was crushing on.

He was handsome and dark, tall, and had a well-built body, he always looked neat, drawing attention to him wherever he goes.

I knew he was out of my league, so it was just me having a one-sided love. Until my friends invited me to a house party ( they were in their third year too). How I became friends with them, it's a long story.

I was just a fresh student and they were my roommates so I had to give in. The one who organized the party was called Jessica. Her family was out of town so she decided to throw a party.

The place was packed with many college students from fresh students/level 100 students to fourth-year students/level 400 students.

I don't drink alcohol, funny enough I was laughed at for saying that, and people kept staring at me, I didn't like it so I took a seat in a lost corner, just looking at them.

Suddenly my eyes met with my crush Kobby Johnson, he was the most handsome at the party, note; my viewpoint. He was wearing black jeans and a blue polo shirt with black canvas. So simple yet gorgeous.

I quickly turned away to avoid any uneasiness, but I was wrong, for he walked towards me, and suddenly I could hear my heartbeat, I tried to stop myself but I couldn't. He came closer and closer.

He suddenly stopped, three feet apart, held his nose, and said "What is that smell?, he sniffs and looked back at me "You??..

I lost consciousness, and I did not understand what was going on, had sat with a few people at the party both male and female and none pointed out that I smell.

"You smell, I don't like it" That was the last words I heard since I lost consciousness. I know it's unreal but to hear your crush tell you that you smelled, felt like time had stopped, for I kept hearing those words every single day of my college life.

He kept avoiding me, even though we hardly saw each other. I don't have a clue why I smell in front of my crush, because nobody had said that to me before or after he told me that.

And now another man was saying I smelled too, should I find out from my friends again, maybe they've been deceiving to me. No, I don't think so besides, my mama, she hated smelly people.

She wouldn't mind telling me in front of a crowd that I smelled. So what was the problem?

Phoebe let's not stress about this. 'Focus', I am already in my room let's just forget about him. 'I am sure we will never meet again.'

After leaving the airport we went to the city, I don't know much about Singapore, so pardon me if I get some pronunciation or names wrong.

The city is called Choa Chu Kang, and that is where the main branch of the International Graphic Design Institute is located. The city is beautiful as hell, neat and glam, I finally understood, why this country is among the top richest countries in the world.

We got there in the night , so they asked us to wait at the lounge in the building. A five-story building modern design painted all white. Beautiful and elegant.

I noticed for a while that nobody was asking me how I joined them or if they noticed I was gone. Finally, the first instructor came and asked if we were all there.

I responded as well as the rest, but they all stopped and stared at me, especially the second instructor.

" Are you part of us miss?". He asked, "Yes, please. " Are you sure, because I didn't see you on the plane moreover when I asked earlier if you were all present, someone answered yes, so I assumed" he was interrupted by the first instructor.

"That is not possible, she was already with us the first time I called, she sought permission from me to use the washroom." the first instructor defended me.

I was almost in tears, "That is strange, so who answered when I asked if you were all here". The second instructor asked in a serious tone. Strangely nobody said a word so eventually he had to let it go.

Do they hate me already, I thought to myself. After that, they showed us the apartment we would be staying. They would pay for the next two months' stay but after that, we have to do so on our own.

I had no problem with it, they did cater for the trip and also the apartment too, I wouldn't know how to look for an apartment at a place I had zero knowledge about.

They gave our keys to us, the ladies on one block and the men on the other. We silently walked to our block, like chickens being ordered to enter their chicken coop.

Suddenly someone bumps into me, so hard that my keys fell. " hey watch it, brown girl, you don't want to hit your head" she says and laughs softly.

I snapped.

"Fuck, hey do you have a problem with me or what? , For your information, I am a black girl. What do you mean by a brown girl? Huh, you can't stand black girls who are pretty and curvy than you huh? Responded to her harshly facing her directly.

She was taller than me, not curvy but with a pretty face, she is Asian. " watch your mouth bitch, you think you are some hot shot because you got to work with us here. She Scoffs, "Don't make me laugh, I bet you spread your le..g"...

****

I didn't wait for her to finish and gave her a hard slap on the face. She tried to slap me back but I held her hand and pushed it away, the rest stared but didn't get involved.

" How dare you speak to me like that, you don't know me, just like I don't know you, so what gives you the right to talk to me like that huh" I yelled at her.

Damn, you think you got it all, huh, are you perhaps daddy's little girl who gets whatever she wants. Well, I have news for you, if you dare step on my toe ever again, I will make you regret it." I chuckled and moved away from him.

Only to be pulled by the hair and pushed down, I got up quickly and jumped on her, we were catfighting.

*****

"Hey, hey, can you hear me, miss" I heard someone calling me 'huh', I shook my head and saw someone's hand on my face, waving.

I panicked and moved back. " sorry did I startle you, didn't mean to," a young beautiful, white Asian girl in a floral dress and ponytail-styled hair said. I quickly got up and looked around.

Note; I know Asians are white but this girl is seriously white…

The person I was fighting with wasn't here so. " oh don't mind her, she's just bitter since she is only here due to a punishment. The girl added.

"Punishment??...

Why was she punished? I asked, she gave me a funny look at me, drew a little closer, and whispered, " I heard she refused to marry the man chosen by her family, and there is another rumor about her spending all her savings on shopping and partying so her father decided to punish her by working in one of his sponsoring institutions."

My eyes widened, I wanted to scream but held it in. Her father is a sponsor.

" so ignore her as possible as you can" she advised. She smiled at me and waved, she was about to leave when I asked her what happened, and she looked confused.

I don't blame her, the question sounded stupid, but she replied anyway.

" you don't remember or you are faking it," she asked curiously, I nodded and smiled faintly "Oh I am a little surprised but nothing happened, she bumped into you, your key fell and you were about to pick it when she said some hurtful words, you looked like you wanted to pull her hair out but you suddenly froze while picking your keys. That is that."

As an Asian, she spoke English very well, I was a little shocked, but didn't let it show. More importantly, I was shocked to know that everything I experienced was just a fragment of my imagination. I chuckled.

Damn, it was a good thing I didn't follow my instinct to beat the hell out of her and rather froze. I guess I saved my job which means I chose money. I said to myself while laughing inside.

" I didn't catch your name," I asked politely.

" I am Go Yoon Eum." " oh you are Korean "

"Yep" she answered with a spark in her eyes.

"Thanks," I said to her with a smile. She waved again and turned to leave, picked up my key, and I saw a number on it, checking the room numbers to see if it fits my number.

Just a few steps away from me, she paused and looked at me, and said "Yeah I forgot, try not to get on her bad side ok." I faked a smile as I watched her turn.

Finally, I found my room, the room was neat and beautiful, I liked everything here and I still do.

For two days we worked non-stop, I didn't know we had a project ahead, my body is in pain. It's all worth it, I can finally rest now, in my room with no disturbance.

"Knock, knock "Huh seriously….

Eric's POV;

Finally, home, there is no place like home, my bed, and bath. Things have been hectic since I came back to Singapore, I kept receiving calls from my Grandfather and mother, for two days straight.

I am amazed, I never received this many calls when I was under their roof, they hardly asked me how I was faring at school or even the friends I hang out with, nothing like that.

Now they are on my neck because they need something from me, it's funny but I knew this would happen one day.

It's 7:30 in the morning I had to get ready for my video conference , I stumbled on something after getting out of the shower.

'ouch!! What is that? l looked down and saw a silver handicraft bracelet with a flower design.

Suddenly memories from the airport two days ago came flashing into my mind.

'Bumped into someone that day, before I met that savage girl. If I ever meet her again, I would make sure to bury her alive. I don't need to think about her.'

I need to hurry up and have my meeting, I placed the bracelet down, It's probably a very cheap one, I thought to myself.

" Mr. Franklin, it's been a while, I have been expecting your input, still nothing," I said to the man on the video call, I could not meet with my workers and contractors due to exhaustion.

I had a virtual conference with them.

"Mr. Hong you don't need to worry, I will deliver just as I promised." Mr. Franklin assures. " I remember you saying that the last time. I am not going to give you another chance after this week if you don't deliver, my company and yours are done." I gave him an ultimatum.

'Andrew what do you want, you have been standing there for a while' I asked the man who kept listening to my conversation with Mr. Franklin.

He cleared his throat and drew closer to me and said "Sir I don't mean to pry but there are rumors going on about Mr. Franklin and his business dealings. An.."

I stopped him before he could continue, didn't worry I know, I knew it before I started working with him on the project. Why do you think I asked you to look for another institute for the same job. My instincts never fail me.

'working with people, you need to always trust your instinct rather than money if not you end up losing everything you built.' I said to Andrew, I saw a short smile on his face but pretended not to notice.

I knew what it meant so I just kept it to myself. The phone rang, I picked it up and it was my cousin Philip Hong, I didn't want to answer but knowing him, he would get back at me.

" Bro what took you so long to answer my call," Philip said sarcastically. I chuckled and responded back with an excuse.

'Why the sudden video call, you never call, unless you need something from me', I pointed out.

" You right little brother, I need something from you, I need you to come home and I won't accept no for an answer, you got that," he says and hangs up.

Bossy as always, but I guess he still thinks I am the same eighteen year old boy who listened to his bidding..

My instinct tells me I shouldn't miss this for anything. Alright brother I am coming home.

Let see what you have for me this time around..

******