CHAPTER 3: Is It a Dream?

THE NEXT MORNING, Martin slowly opens his eyes. At first, he couldn’t do it because of the excessive ray of light coming to his face. That's why he tried to use his hands as a shield. When he adjusted, he started to be aware of his surroundings. 

He found himself inside this old, yet wonderfully cozy small room. The shade of the wall is pastel pink and enough for him to think that he is inside the girl’s sanctuary. The wall even has decorations which are pleasing to the eye. 

“Speaks warmth and tenderness,” he commented with a groggy voice.

It was only when he moved, Martin felt intense pain in his body. Suddenly, what happened last night came to his mind. Just thinking about it, his body seemed to remember the events that caused it to feel the pain even more.

As he attempted to get up, he groaned. While clutching his side, he managed to sit up and give a good look at the whole room. 

When he tried to get up, he groaned loudly because he felt the pain even more. 

The sound made cause the person on the other side of the wall to enter in a hurry.

He knows her! She’s one of his colleagues at the bar. Martin immediately turned his gaze to the woman's face. He saw the worry on it that turned into a sign of relief.

“Finally!” she exclaimed. “You’re awake!”

“Y-yes,” he replied without even thinking. “Where am I?”

“In my place,” she casually said. “I saw you inside the bar last night unconscious. I tried to wake you up but you were beaten up badly. That's why I failed to do so. Looks like no one’s helping you or maybe they didn’t just see you that’s why I step forward—”

“Sorry for causing trouble,” he didn't finish what she was going to say.

“You’re not. I just treat your wounds before they get infected and put some bandages. That didn’t take my whole day so don’t worry, I won't charge you.”

“You don’t?” 

“You look so surprised,” she answered with a laugh. “Asking for help will not cause an arm and leg,” she sighed deeply after commenting like she totally knows him even if this is the first time that they talk to each other.

As much as possible, he doesn't want anyone to get involved with his problem. Growing up alone, he learned how to stand with his own feet without any help from others. He doesn’t know how to bother and ask for some time for them. He feels that they will just waste time on him and he is not worth it. 

That moment, he realized that maybe this is the reason why he became so stupid and allowed his girlfriend to toy with him. He is too idiot to seek love just enough for him to become blind by it. He can see color so good enough for him to be colorblind and doesn’t recognize all the red flags of his girlfriend.

“Get up, you need to eat!”

“You don’t need to help me—”

“You fool!” she snapped. “You look like a walking eggplant to me so don’t try to say anything, just accept my help!” she said while supporting him to go to the living room.

“Thank you,” he said after taking a chair.

“You don’t know how to seek help, do you?” she asked after taking a spoon on her plate.

He didn’t answer her because he’s busy roaming around his eyes to her worn normal apartment that consists of a living room, a bedroom and a bathroom. All the things that he can see it’s either white and light brown. The theme of the place is wood so he was sure that most of the stuff was old. What caught his attention the most were the pillows and blankets placed on the sofa. 

He thought she was a cold and lonely girl that was hard to get along with that’s why he never attempted to talk to her. Martin really made a wrong impression of her. He can’t help but feel grateful that she allowed him to sleep in her room so he would be comfortable.

“What are these strange electronic devices?” he asked while eating slowly so as not to hit his chapped lips that were bleeding badly last night.

“Ah, I’m a news anchor and trying my best to earn money—it’s so hard to be poor, right?”

He laughed with a pain in his chest, “yeah right!”

“I didn’t mean that!” Sonya quickly said when she realized it.

“It’s the reality,” he replied before taking a bite of food. “How people treat you depends on your state in life. You lose when you are poor.”

“Jeez, survival of the fittest still exists!”

“Coming to the top of the ladder will be so hard!”

They both laughed at their struggle just to survive. That they can do right now.

“But on a serious note, I respect you, Sonya. Continue what you are doing, hard work pays off.”

“If you have luck, it will,” she replied after finishing what’s on her plate.

“I wanted to thank you and buy you a lunch but I need to leave now,” he said when he put their plate on the sink. He didn’t tell her that he doesn't have money either, so treating her to lunch will be hard. Also, his phone is drained. He needs to charge it.

“Don’t bother.”

“No, I promise that I will repay you one day,” Martin insisted.

She just shook her head and shrugged her shoulders. 

SEEING MARTIN LEAVES, Sonya sighs deeply. Poor guy… she couldn’t help but feel pity for him. She knows that he loves his girlfriend so much that he doesn’t deserve to be treated this way. Finding someone like Martin is hard. He’s a gem. 

“If I were you, I would treat him better and cherish,” she couldn't stop commenting. “You’re the idiot one, not him.”

She sighs once again before looking at her equipment.

“I need to work!” Sonya said. She needs to stop thinking about Martin’s appearance last night when she saw it by accident.

The moment Sonya began her live streaming, her mood instantly changed. Working professionally is a must!

THIRTY-MINUTES HAVE PASSED before Martin arrived in his dorm. He felt the pain in his body even more. So, when he charged his old and broken phone, he took a quick shower immediately.

After drying his body and getting dressed, Martin lay down on his bed. If possible, he doesn’t want to check his phone and continue his sleep. He doesn't want his thoughts to disturb him and feel any negativity. He deserves a rest, but he does it anyway. 

Some of the messages are just spam and others are jobs that can be applied for so he becomes sleepy while scrolling. But the fifth message made his eyes widen.

“T-ten billion dollars?” 

Martin fell on the bed. But he didn't have time to feel the pain for long. He looked back at the screen of his broken phone after slapping his face so he would be sure that he’s not dreaming.

“It’s really ten billion dollars!” he repeated after squinting his eyes. “H-how come!”