Favored by the Goddess - Stary Writing Academy III

CHAPTER THREE – Not just for anybody

Hiraya

I went to the buffet table to get some food and ease the heaviness in my chest. I haven’t eaten much since lunch. Nah! I haven’t had a decent meal for a week now. Etherea told me that I must discipline myself before a grand party. I should be perfect and make sure that I will fit on the gown.

Well, the gown was a success and I fit in it just fine so it was time for a reward. Or to live was a better term. I was starting to feel woozy with all the stress. My heart felt light as I reached for the chocolate strawberry mousse placed on a small shot glass. If there was something I indulged a lot in that world, that would be food. Colorful and flavorful food that burst into my mouth. I discovered that it can drown my sorrows away. It is different from plain and bland food in our tribe. I remember bringing cakes to the tribe one time I visited them and they enjoyed it as well.

For some reason, the people I know are picky with the food they eat. Some even throw them away. When I told them to feed it to poor and starving people, Octavio, my father-in-law told me that it would only encourage people to be lazy and not work at all. However, they still feed poor people while posing on cameras sometimes. I wonder why.

I was sipping the bubbly drink called pink champagne when I noticed one of the waiters looking in my direction with envy. I think he was around eighteen or nineteen. He looked tall but still looked young.

I smiled at him but he suddenly looked away. “If only I were rich enough to buy even the smallest stone. It will heal my mother’s brain tumor,” I heard him murmur.

His fellow waiter who looked older laughed at him. “Even a small healing stone is worth millions. We are dirt poor. We will all die poor. Remember that.”

“I know that,” the younger man rasped, then looked down at the array of chocolate mousse he was refilling.

As if a vise grip clutched my heart. Why are there still poor people in the world who thought they would die because of poverty? It must end now.

I stood across them and smiled. “Excuse me.”

“Y-Yes, Ma’am,” he said with an ashen face. As if he was caught doing something illegal. “Is there anything I can help you with?”

“I heard that your mother is sick.” He nodded. I held my pendant of the necklace and lifted it up. “I can give this to her.”

His eyes widened and his mouth agape. “Y-You will give me this necklace? Are you joking?” Tears formed in his eyes. He was both surprised and doubtful.

I shook my head. “I’m not. He needs it so I am giving it to him.”

“I heard that your mother is sick.” He nodded. I held my pendant of the necklace and lifted it up. “I can give this to her.”

His eyes widened and his mouth agape. “Y-You will give me this necklace? Are you joking?” Tears formed in his eyes.

I shook my head. “I’m not. She needs it so I am giving it to her." I reached at my nape to unclasp the necklace and offered it to him.  "Take it." There was a lot for everyone. One piece of bahaghari stone won't hurt anyone.

The man's jaw dropped in disbelief as he stared at the twinkling pendant. He extended his hand to reach the necklace. He was teary-eyed but he looked happy, as it should be. His mother will be well soon. That is what the goddess wants.

I jolted when a hand clasped my wrist to stop me from giving the necklace to the waiter. “What do you think you’re doing?” The loud and domineering voice boomed.

“Papa?” I uttered in shock as I faced the domineering-looking Osvaldo Buencamino. He was my father-in-law and the President of Buencamino Mining. 

He was a man of 5’7” in height but he looked smaller because of his stout build. His cream tuxedo was about to burst because of his huge stomach. He usually had a kind face but at that moment, she didn’t want to cross him because he looked thunderous.

"Are you giving the bahaghari stone to a mere waiter? Is he a secret millionaire and will he pay for it?" His tone was harsh. It was like coming from a stranger’s mouth because he was always soft-spoken when talking to me. 

I shook my head and squeaked because the grip on my wrist was painful as if he would break it with just a snap. "N-No, Papa. I will give it to him. His mother is sick and he needs help."

He gave a sharp look to the wait staff who was trembling in fear. "What are you standing there for? You came here to serve our guests, not to ask for pity. Your drama has no place here." My father-in-law, Mr. Buencamino said. With a wave of a hand, he dismissed the wait staff. 

"I am sorry, Sir," the concerned waiter muttered. The other staff murmured their apologies as well and pushed the cart of food. There was nothing I could do but follow the poor waiter with sad eyes. I must think of some ways to help him out somehow.

Before I could take a step to look for the supervisor of the waiter and ask for his details, Mr. Buencamino pulled her back. "Where do you think you are going?"

I swallowed. "B-Back the party, Papa."

"No. You are not going back. I don't know what else stupid things you might do. Let's talk."

I flinched, hurt by the harsh words. How could helping out people be considered as stupid? He let go of her wrist but put a firm grip on her elbow instead. He smiled at the guests as they passed by but she could feel his contained fuming. He was strict as the CEO of Buencamino Mining, more so as a father to Calixto. He was nice to me most of the time and patient with my transgressions. It looks like he ran out of patience this time.

 He opened one of the seating rooms in the function area. He pulled me inside and closed the door with a bang. My wrist was smarting with pain when he finally let me go and I could see the red marks of his fingers on it. 

“Papa, please don’t get mad at me. I just want to help the poor guy. His mother was sick. He said it is c-cancer and she will die if she is not healed.”

He put his hands on his waist, a very intimidating stance that was telling me that he was really for a big fight. “Hiraya, that’s not how the world works. The bahaghari collection is not for charity. It is worth millions. And we must recoup our expenses for it if you don’t want to live in the streets.”

I was confused because I was not following his thoughts.  The Buencaminos live in a mansion and they had several properties in the country. They could buy whatever they want. How would they end up in the streets? It was just a bahaghari stone in exchange for someone else's life. 

“B-But I thought that we are mining it to help the ones in need. In Sinag, we don’t ask people to pay for it. I…I just heal them if they need me and give them the stone."