Chapter 36: How to pay the debt


    "Thanks for your help, Kiro," she said, her voice weak yet filled with genuine gratitude. Then, with a


    hint of yfulness, she added, "You''re a good-looking young man, HAHAHA!" Herughter, though


    frail, echoed in the room, offering a brief respite from the somber mood.


    I closed my eyes, trying to ignore the teasing banter between my mother and Kiro. It was


    heartwarming to see them share such camaraderie, but part of me couldn''t help but feel shy about


    how Mother showered him withpliments. It was as if she had taken an instant liking to him, and


    it made me wonder if she somehow sensed the special bond between Kiro and me.


    Dodong, ever the curious and observant little brother, joined in the conversation too, chiming in with


    childlike enthusiasm. "Yeah, Kiro, you''re really handsome!" he eximed, causing me to chuckle


    softly.


    Wow, they''ve be closer instantly than I thought, I mused, feeling a mix of amusement and


    surprise. Kiro''s easy going demeanor seemed to put Mama at ease.


    Suddenly, a patient from another bedined that the electric fan was only focusing on us. I


    apologized and offered to adjust it. I didn’t notice that another patient was actually beside us, I


    thought a while ago that there was no patient there.


    “Sorry, I really thought–”


    Instead of epting my apology, the patient insulted us, wondering why we were eating food from a


    fancy restaurant while staying in a public ward.


    "Why are you people eating food from a fancy restaurant while staying in a public ward? Can’t


    afford the private ones? Huh!"


    I felt bad and kept saying sorry while trying to focus on my mother and Kiro''s conversation. To my


    surprise, Kiro adjusted the fan and pointed it towards theining patient''s caretaker and to the


    patient himself.


    "We have every right to eat what we like, but I apologize if it''s causing any inconvenience to you,"


    he silenced them. I sensed the yful tone on his voice that the patient looked at him in disbelief.


    “This boastful son of a b*tch! Who do you think you ar–”


    I closed my eyes for a second, trying to process the sharp words that escaped the not-so-nice


    patient''s lips.


    "If you continue to disturb my friend''s family, I''ll have no choice but to request moving her to a


    private room."


    I was shocked as private rooms were too expensive for me to afford. As much as I want my mother


    to enjoy those prvate rooms, I can’t. I do not have the money!


    "Oh, you don''t have to do that, Kiro! Private rooms are too expensive…." I objected, but Kiro


    insisted that he would take care of the payment.


    "Don''t worry about the expenses. Your mother deserves to befortable, and I can handle it."


    "I... I don''t know what to say," I stammered, my heart warming with gratitude and disbelief.


    He gave me a small, reassuring smile, his eyes revealing a hint of understanding. He then spoke to


    my mother, and after their conversation, Kiro and Dodong left the room.


    My mother wasn''t sure about the idea and preferred to stay in the public ward, even if it was a bit


    hot and the tension with the other patients rose. "Lyka, daughter! Are you sure? Why are you


    moving me to a private room? I''m fine here, even if it''s a bit hot. . . I''m fine here, Lyka!" she said to


    me.


    I exined that Kiro wanted her to rest in a private room, and he said he would cover the expenses.


    "A-ahh, Kiro wanted you to rest in a private ward, Mother. And he said he was the one who was


    going to p-pay. . ." I said to her, still confused.


    My mother scolded me. "He''ll pay? Omy! ''Don''t do that! Have some shame on your boss!" She told


    me. I am also ashamed of Kiro, of course! The fact that he apanied me here despite the rain,


    that was already enough help. How much more with the expensive private rooms??


    I nodded in agreement to my mother’s scolding because paying for my mother’s private ward would


    be too expensive. As their housekeeper, it made me wonder if he might consider reducing my sry


    topensate for the extra costs he was taking on. I would open up about this to himter and I


    hope he would agree, too.


    I handed mother a burger from the food Kiro had bought earlier. Soon, Kiro and Dodong returned


    with male nurses, and they helped move my mother to a private room. Kiro assured me that


    everything was taken care of.


    "Lyka. I already processed everything. Auntie can now be moved to a private room. . ." Kiro said


    when he and Dodong returned, followed by a few male nurses who escorted Mama to move to a


    private room.


    Auntie? Why is he calling my mother ‘auntie’? Since when did my mother approve of this? I mean, I


    won’t mind about it but what if other people would know that my boss apanied me here, paid


    for my mother’s expensive private ward, and now he’s calling him ‘auntie’?


    "You can have that electric fan all for yourself... Rest well, huh?" Kiro said to the patient''s caretaker


    on the other bed. The person got embarrassed and pretended not to hear anything, so I pulled


    Kiro''s arm, trying to get out of the public ward.


    "What''s going on? Why did you say that?" I asked him as we walked. He just responded with a


    sound and kept walking, so I followed him, not knowing where the private wards were either.


    As we made our way through the hospital corridors, Kiro leading the way, I couldn''t help but feel a


    mix of anticipation and gratitude. We had arrived at Room 7, the private ward that Kiro had arranged


    for Mama. The door bore a small que, indicating that this was now Mama''s room in the midst of


    the hospital''s hustle and bustle.


    Kiro opened the door, and I followed behind, my heart fluttering with a sense of relief at the sight


    before me. The private ward was a stark contrast to the public ward we had just left. The room was


    spacious, withrge windows allowing natural light to filter in, creating a warm and inviting


    atmosphere. Soft curtains swayed gently in the breeze, casting yful shadows on the floor.


    There was a cozy armchair near the window, with a small side table and a vase of fresh flowers.


    The bed was neatly made, and the crisp white linens gave an air offort and serenity. A small


    desk sat in the corner, adorned with a thoughtful arrangement of get-well cards and a plush toy that


    caught Dodong''s attention.


    I approached my mother, who was lying on the bed, talking to Kiro. They always seemed to be


    chatting, and I found myself asking questions even though I knew no one could answer them. I felt


    like hitting my head mentally for doing that.


    "What are you two talking about, Ma?" I asked them.


    "Nothing, Lyka. I just asked Kiro about your manners in their house because I know how naughty


    you can be!" My mother teased me, and I smiled, turning to Kiro.


    I remembered how I used to think that if I saw my mother, I would cry andin about what Kiro


    did to me on my first day at work. But now, I didn''t feel like telling her. I somehow convinced myself


    that Kiro was innocent and just a victim of his condition.


    "Are you alright, Lyka?" my mother asked.


    "O-of course, Mother!" I didn''t realize I had been lost in thought while staring at them.


    "By the way, the doctor said you can be discharged the day after tomorrow, auntie," Kiro said, still


    calling her ‘auntie’.


    "And I already paid the bills, so there''s nothing to worry about." I then felt ashamed and sorry.


    “What do you mean ‘you paid them’?” I asked. I know it would be an advantage and a luck for me


    for someone to pay the bills but I just can’t let that happen like that. Not when ites to mother. I


    want to at least pay the bill, too. That was the sole reason why I work in the first ce though, to


    provide for them.


    Kiro looked at me seriously.


    “You paid it all without my permission?” I asked again because he was only looking at me, not


    answering.  I couldn''t help but sense Kiro''s gaze upon me. It must have been the first time he


    witnessed me speaking with such authority. With every word that left my lips, I could feel his eyes


    studying me, perhaps surprised by the strength I projected.


    "I''m sorry for not telling you that I''ll pay for it all. I didn''t mean that," he said softly, his voice tinged


    with regret. "I just want to help because Dodong shared, and you also eventually shared with me


    that you have another sister and a father who are sick. I... just wanted to ease the burden for you,


    Lyk."


    His words washed over me, and I could feel the sincerity in his apology. "T-that''s embarrassing... to


    know. But I-I''ll pay you back from my sry when I start working again at your mansion, K-Kiro." I


    looked at him while making that promise. Yeah, it''s a promise because I truly want to repay him.


    "My goodness! How much do I owe you? It''s so embarrassing, you can put an interest on that debt,


    Kiro, I’ll make sure to pay it! I’ll work hard!" Mama suggested, and I nodded in agreement.


    "Nah. It''s really okay, Auntie. I want to help. Just get well and always be healthy so that Lyka won’t


    cry out of worry and in that way, you can pay off the debt HAHA!" the young man told Mom,


    laughing. I alsoughed to hide the blushing of my cheeks.


    "Seriously. Get well, aunt. Lyka was really worried earlier. She was crying," he dered, making me


    turn to him as he stared at me.


    I looked away and focused on Mama. "I do get emotional when ites to her, Kiro HAHA! I can''t


    believe my body suddenly acted up like this. It''s tough getting older!" Mama said.


    "T-that''s why I''m really worried, Mother! Please take care of yourself! The doctor said one of the


    reasons could be from lifting heavy objects!" I told her and hugged her.


    "It''s great that your boss allowed you toe home first... Oh, by the way, Kiro... Thank you for


    apanying my daughter home. She said it was raining heavily in your area, and it was a good


    thing she didn''t have tomute," Mama said.


    Kiro simply nodded before replying, "I was worried because she was literally crying a while ago.


    You''re wee, auntie."


    "The food we bought earlier is delicious, Kuya Kiro! It''s my first time going to that fast food chain!"


    Dodong eximed while munching on fries.


    "I''ll bring Datdat and Father there! It''ll be so much fun! Can I keep these leftovers for them? Is that


    okay?" the toddler asked Kiro recklessly.


    "W-what are you doing, Dodong—" I was about to intervene, but Kiro spoke up.


    "Yes, you can, Dodong. Let''s buy them something new for them but you can still  have all the


    leftovers." He smiled at the child. Kiro has been doing so much for us today. I feel so embarrassed.


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