Chapter 4
"It is your job. Stop complaining, besides, I don't want to hear stories of why my Father's treatment was halted, that's why I try to meet up with the payment every week," Camilla tells the attendant and she slips her out inside her bum short and brings out the stash of cash.
She counts out the required amount and places it on the counter with a bang. "Do your job!" She hisses. The attendant is slowly starting to piss her off. She doesn't go around pickpocketing in the city, running all night only for a lazy attendant to come to give her a lecture as to when to do the payment.
She knows how many people the hospital has killed just because their relative didn't come to make payment for their health. Camilla doesn't want this to happen to her that's why she fights tooth and nail to get the money. Even if the time is too late or too early, she will come to the hospital to pay her Father's bill. The hospital stations attendants twenty-four hours a day for a reason.
"You don't have to disturb the whole city because of someone as good at dead!" The lady grunts and Camilla turns back.
"What did you say?" She demands slowly, her blood boiling in anger. "Repeat what you said bitch!" She screams, slapping a hand at the countertop.
"Nothing!" The attendant squeaks, lowering her eyes in shame.
"Good. Because if you managed to repeat those disgusting words about my father. I will not only beat you up! I will destroy this whole place and make sure you suffer for the consequences!" Camilla barks her eyes flashing with untamed anger.
She leaves the attendant shaking with fear and goes to her Father's ward. Over time the small room where her father is kept has become like a temple for her. The pale blue color of the walls, the constant beeping of the tens of machines attached to him, made it seem like a fortress for the gods.
She stands by the door, watching her father. The anger that had earlier seeped through her fades and remorse replaces itself within her. This place has a way of making all her confidence wash off. In here, she becomes that little girl again. In here she feels so ashamed of her actions and like a Christian in a confession chamber, Camilla runs to her father's side and goes down on her knees.
She holds his pale hands in hers and her breath gets shaky. She feels a sharp pain in her heart and a lone tear trickles down her cheek.
"I am sorry," she whispers.
"I didn't want to do it but I had no choice..." At this point, more tears flow out of her eyes, and her throat itches.
"I had to take the watch from them so I could pay for your treatment dad, I am so sorry. I feel so helpless. I know- I know I shouldn't steal- and that-" she hiccups, wiping her running nose with the bag of her sleeve.
"I know I shouldn't steal from people. But daddy, what can I do if you keep being here? Please wake up... Please." After she says the last word, she drops her head on his bed and releases her tears.
She doesn't want to be a pickpocket. But what else can she do?
Coming to confess her crimes to her dad is away she developed to help reduce the guilt that constantly eats her insides.
"Please wake up..." She sobs over and over.
If only her father can wake up, then she will not have to pickpocket again. All she will need to do is get a nice paying job that can sustain the both of time until he recovered.
Camilla remains by her father's side for an extra hour before she decides to go home. She places a kiss on her father's forehead and turns to leave. Wiping her tears, she resumes her strong facade and goes out of the hospital.
"How is he doing today?" The guard at the gate asks as soon as he sees her approaching.
"He is fine. Thanks." She whispers, not being in the mood to talk about her father's condition.
She and Lisa live just a few blocks from the hospital. Lisa thought it would be convenient if Camilla didn't have to bother about getting a bus whenever she visited her father and it paid off. Due to the proximity, Camilla could bestride in and out of the hospital at whatever time she wish without having to worry about traveling long distances.
"Hey Baby girl!" Lisa greets as soon as Camilla's tired body enters their small apartment.
"You are early today," Lisa says with sarcasm rolling off her tongue.
"Yeah, I had to get money to pay for daddy's bills," Camilla explains as she pulls off her hoodie and bum shorts.
"You have to be careful, it's almost a full moon. I don't want you staying out when creatures of the night go hunting."
Their state is known to house both humans and werewolves. There was a memorandum of understanding and a peace treaty between the two races. But every human is required to stay indoors whenever there was a full moon, for werewolves go a bit crazy when the moonlight shines. They say it gives them so much power they can hardly tell between humans and actual animals they come out to hunt. To be on the safe side, humans are advised to stay indoors during these periods.
"I know Lisa, I’ll be careful," Camilla says as she picks out a change of clothes from her side of the wardrobe.
"Okay," Lisa whispers. She turns around typing away on her phone.
Camilla changes into a soft gown for sleeping and joins her friend on the bed. All the adrenaline from the day's business is finally telling on her.
"That reminds me, did you go to that estate you talked about?" Lisa asks, her eyes are still focused on her phone and she scrolls continuously through it.
"Yeah, I did. They had a party, I figured I could get a nice pick from the rich people." Camilla closes her eyes remembering the way the estate had called at her to get in.
"Do you know Ethan Jadiel Peterson, owns it?" Lisa drops her phone on the small bedside table and turns her attention to her friend.
"The heir to Richmond Gas Company?" Camilla asks.
Everyone in town knows who Ethan Jadiel Peterson is. The entire country worships him for his money and good looks. Every newspaper and tabloid spoke about him. It was impossible to live in Besaadi without hearing about Ethan Jadiel Peterson. But Camilla pays no attention to people like that, she could care less if he owns half of the country, all she cares about is getting enough money every week to pay her father's hospital bills.
"Yeah, him. How is the security in that place? I think we should plan a grander episode there. We could make so much money, we'll never pickpocket again for a long time. The guy breathes money!" Lisa exclaims.
"The security isn't so tight. I think we can slip in and out without a problem. If we are targeting the guy, we will have to be extra careful." Camilla tells her friend as she suppresses a yawn.
"Hmmm, I will think of something. That guy is too good-looking for us to let him slip through our fingers!" Lisa coos.
Camilla opens one eye and stares at her friend. "What does his being good-looking have to do with us getting money from him? Are you sure we are still talking about the same thing here?" A smile covers Camilla's face and Lisa giggles.
Aside from being the toughest woman, Camilla has ever met, Lisa is such a romantic. She crushes on every good-looking guy she comes across and Ethan Jadiel Peterson is also on the list of her crushes.
"If we are ever going to steal from this guy, I don't want you getting too close to him. You may freeze once you see his face!" Lisa laughs at Camilla's comment and picks back her phone from the bedside table.
"I should show you what Ethan looks like, I am sure you won't have the same opinion." She unlocks her phone and scrolls to the gallery, then gives the phone to Camilla to inspect.
"What do you think?"
As Camilla's eyes land on the picture, she freezes.
She has heard of the man. She has even seen his name pop up in so many news articles, but she had never really cared to check what he looks like.
As she inspects the picture again, she gets even more convinced.
Her memory flashes back to when she bumped into him. The electricity that passed between their skin when he held her hands, the way goosebumps had appeared on her skin as he pinned her to him.
Oh my God! That was him.
She met Ethan Jadiel Peterson!