CHAPTER 1

Celeztine’s Point of View

I get my phone when it rang. 

“H-hello.” My voice was so lifeless, I don’t know what to do now. Our savings is less than 50k and I don’t know how long this will last. 

“Lez!” I was taken aback by Emily’s shout from the other line.

“Emily.”

“Where the hell are you? Won’t you go to class today? Are you alright?”She continously asks. 

I can’t stop myself from sobbing.

“H-hey what happened? I’ll go there waiting for me.”She immediately hung up the phone after that.

I continously drank up the wine beside me.

After a couple of minutes, I heard a knock from the door downstairs. 

I called Emily thru the phone.

“Come in, I’m in the bathroom,” I muttered. 

I heard loud footsteps coming closer to me.

“What the hell Celeztine? You’re a mess!”She exclaimed at the top of her lungs.

“You don’t need to shout Emily, I’m just here.”

“Look at you!” 

“Where would I get a 1 million pesos, Emily?”I asked, ignoring all of her rants about me.

“Why what happened?”

“Dad’s in the hospital. He was diagnosed with Coronary Artery Disease. He needs an operation.”I said almost losing my voice, as tears started to fall down my cheeks again.

“Ssssh Please be calm okay? We’ll make way, I will ask my Dad if he can lend you some money.”Emily started tapping my back to calm me. 

I shook my head.

“N-no, I’ll make a way,” I replied, I don’t want to burden her and her family, they aren’t rich like us too. 

“I’ll find a job, even if I need to work for 3 different jobs I’ll do it. I need my Dad, I can’t afford to lose him.” I added as tears continously traveled down. 

“I know, I’ll help you find a job okay?”

I nodded. 

“For now let’s go to school together alright? You can’t stop schooling, it’s our last year.” Emily added. 

“I heard there’s a restaurant hiring near here, you should give it a try Lez.”Emily started the conversation after we sat on vacant seats here in the cafeteria.

“Yeah, I’ll go there. But I need two more jobs, Emily, it’ll never be enough to save up for dad’s operation and doses.”

“You should ask yourself first if you can do it Lez, remember you still have studies to work on, your body might give up if you’ll work on 3 different jobs simultaneously.” 

“I don’t have a choice, Emily,” I replied. 

Emily shrugged and take a sip of her coffee.

“Everyone please gather nowhere in the gymnasium as I have an important announcement to make.”A loud voice of a school staff echoed in the cafeteria, every room and cafeteria has their audio speakers for emergency and any announcement to make. 

We immediately went to the gymnasium after that. 

“What could be a that important announcement?”Emily asked as we’re walking inside the gym.

I shrugged. I’m still thinking about where can I work for dad’s operation.

I heaved a deep sigh.

“Hey don’t lose hope, everything will be fine Lez.” Emily uttered, she probably noticed my hopeless expressions. 

I tried to smile hoping it won’t show a fake one.

“Good morning, I would like to ask everyone to be seated as we wait for our special guest today.” the school staff earlier announced. 

“Who would be that special guest Lez?”  Emily asked. 

I shrugged. I didn’t know either. 

After a couple of minutes of waiting, there’s a familiar man upstage who came with bodyguards wearing suits that surrounds him. He seems an important person.

“Alright, thank you for waiting students. Please welcome and give a round of applause for our honorable guest today, Governor Isaac Guevarra!” 

The whole student claps their hands while my gaze was all on the center of attraction, he’s the guy I met in the hospital yesterday, I can’t be mistaken. I heard he was a very respectable Governor in the city, because despite his young age he already helped a lot of people, put up a lot of structures, and donated things for those in need. People love him, in addition to that we couldn’t deny the gorgeous face he has that seems to stop him from looking older. He just seems like in his mid-20s even I heard he’s in his 30s already, yet still looking young as the Governor of the city. 

“Hey Lez.” I was taken aback when Emily called my name. 

“Y-yes?” I glanced at her. 

“Are you spacing out? The Governor was staring at you.” Emily whispered which made me widen my eyes and look back at the governor that I shouldn’t have done in the first place. 

Our gaze met.

“Governor Isaac donated new computers, books, and another building in the University. And he was here to give an opportunity to some of our students.” The school staff announced.

I don’t know why my heart is beating so fast, he was still staring at me and I couldn’t find the strength to remove my gaze at him. He smiled before getting the microphone and he finally remove his glance at me. 

I heaved a deep sigh in relief. 

“Are you alright Lez?” Emily asked. 

I nodded and smiled at her as I gave my focus back to the Governor. 

“Good morning my dearest students of Williams University, I am Isaac Guevarra, the Governor of the City. I heard that this school excels in different fields that why I chose this to give my donations, in addition, I would also like to give opportunities to our dear tourism students. Next week I’ll have 3 days trip to France and I would like to get three future cabin crews here, of course, you will be paid for your work and a chance to be an intern in the most famous airlines in the country. I have already talked to your dean, and he agrees that the chosen tourism students will be excused for 3 days in their class and will get a plus in their major subjects.” Governor explained and after saying his last words he glanced at me again or was I just hallucinating? That was just for a few seconds before he removed his gaze and give back the microphone to the school staff. 

“Oh my God did you hear that girl?” It’s Emily who whispered. 

“Yes Emily, I heard it clear,”  I replied. 

“It’s our chance, what if the airline he was talking about is our dream airline? We couldn’t let this opportunity pass Celeztine!” Emily said seems excited. 

I nodded, though why do I feel such a strange feeling now. 

“W-where are we going?” I asked when Emily grabbed my arms and dragged me somewhere.

“Aren’t you listening? They’ll conduct an interview today for those who are interested.” Emily replied. 

“Wait aren’t we gonna think of it first?” I asked. 

She looks at me unbelievably and frowning.

“I thought you need money Lez? I heard Governor Isaac was good in paying his people, besides the work is aligned to our course Lez, it’s an opportunity.” She uttered trying to convince me in every way she can. 

I didn’t respond, I just let her drag me. She’s right anyway, I need this for my dad. Right, and if we’re one of the lucky students to be chosen then we won’t worry about our internship, it’s a bonus if it happens to be our dream airline.

“So why should we choose you?” It’s Governor Isaac Guevarra who asked this time. 

It’s my turn for the interview and I’m fully convinced about my dad’s operation. 

“You should choose me because I need this, Sir,” I uttered. 

He raised his eyebrow and it’s kind of intimidating.

“Of course, everyone who was here needs this, you’re a tourism student and it will be good for your credentials to be an intern in one of the famous airlines in the country. Can you give me more reason why should I choose you?” He asked. 

I gulped. 

“I’m not just into the internship S-sir.” I stuttered. Damn, don’t make a scene Celeztine. 

“M-my father is in the hospital and I badly need work to pay for his operation and medications.” I bravely said even though my heart is beating so fast. 

Silenced envelope us.

“So you are here because your father is in the hospital?”  He asked breaking the silence. 

I nodded.

“Y-yes.” 

“This isn’t full-time work Miss Dior, it’s just 3 days opportunity for a chance to be an intern though you’ll be highly paid for the services so I understand, however, if I like your service, then who knows I might hire you as one of my crew for my private plane or more.”