Chapter 3: Unexpected Offer
1332 Words
1 Unread Message from Unknown Number: How dare you ruin the business that I am building. Are you really that envious and clinging to the edge just to try to bring me down? I get that you are angry with us, but you don't need to stoop so low! How dare you, Gabrien. I will make sure this reaches Dad. You'll pay!
That's the message Gabrien received. Even though it came from an unknown number, he immediately knew it was from Tayla, the sender. He sighed deeply. He couldn't understand why he was being blamed for a mistake he didn't commit.
He remembered what Sir Rustom said. The copy of the document was supposedly found inside his locker. How did it end up there? He felt like he was being sabotaged. He felt like all of these were planned. He didn't know who did this.
Was it really Tayla? But why would Tayla do something that could ruin the business she was building? He was confused by what was happening. And even if he wanted to complain, he had no power to do so. In reality, justice is only served for those who have money.
He didn't know what to do next or where to go after packing up. He no longer had a job. Where would he get the money to pay for his apartment?
"f**k. What did I do to deserve all this?" He said, almost pulling his hair out of frustration.
He walked carrying the box full of his belongings from Vantage Points Solution. It hurt him to be fired from the company that had been his only source of income for years. When he arrived at the entrance of his apartment, he found some men taking out his belongings from inside.
"Hey, what's the meaning of this?" He asked, worried that he is going to be kicked out of his apartment because of the failure to pay on time.
"Sorry dude. Just following orders," one of the men taking out his belongings replied.
"What? Wait a minute, I'm only two days late in payment. I promise I'll find the money as soon as possible!" He pleaded.
"Psh! Where will you get the money? Rob a bank? Oh come on, Gabrien! You call yourself a Van der Bilt but you're poorer than a mouse!"
Gabrien turned around and saw his landlord holding a folder. He approached him and almost knelt in front of him to ask for a little more time to find the payment, but his landlord just waved him away with a mix of disgust and irritation.
"Well, I won't believe your excuses anymore. Oh what's in that box you're holding? Your work stuffs? Oh how lucky you are! You got kicked out and now you're being fired. And I also heard Amarah left you to marry that old rich businessman--"
*punch*
The landlord couldn't finish his sentence as Gabrien couldn't hold back punching him in the face. He had endured enough humiliation and didn't need more of it.
"f**k!" The landlord held his bleeding lip. The men who were lifting stuff were about to approach but he gestured them not to. He grinned at Gabrien, provoking him even more.
"One more word from you, and I'll destroy your face!" He threatened.
The landlord laughed insultingly and signaled to his companions to leave for good, leaving Gabrien alone outside the already closed apartment with his belongings outside.
Gabrien just sat on the cement and hugged his baggage. He thought about where he would live while looking for a new place. He carried his belongings and walked to the nearest inn.
Luckily, he still had a few bucks that were supposed to be used to buy food, but he had just paid for a room.
How would he eat? He didn't even know. But he also didn't have the appetite, so he chose to use the rest of his money for a decent temporary place to stay.
After leaving his belongings at the inn, Gabrien immediately went out carrying his resume to look for a job to apply for. He went from company to company to apply for janitorial or even lower positions but no one accepted him.
Later on, he found out that he was banned from other establishments for applying.
He have the strength to go back to the inn and just sat on the wooden bed. He began to think about what else he could do now that he had no money and especially since no one wanted to hire him because he was blocklisted.
"I'm tired," he whispered to himself.
He glanced around the room and saw a wire hanging from the ceiling. It seemed to be coming from the light fixture because it was obviously broken. He swallowed hard. Is this a sign to end his life?
He didn't have anyone left. His life was useless. If he were to continue living tomorrow, what would he do? Suffer?
He didn't hesitate and approached the wire hanging. He tied it to the sturdy foundation of the room and got a chair to stand on. Just as he was about to put the wire around his neck, his cellphone rang.
In surprise, he almost fell off the chair. He regained his composure slightly and quickly felt for his cellphone in his bag.
Gabrien received a call from an unknown number.
"Hello?" Gabrien answered cautiously.
"Gabrien, it's me," a voice on the other end of the line spoke, sending a jolt of surprise through Gabrien's body. The voice is so familiar.
"D-Dad?" Gabrien's voice trembled with uncertainty. He hadn't heard from his father, Sebastian, in years.
Why did he call? Did he find out what happened? Gabrien thought that maybe Tayla had already reported him, and he was calling now to threaten him with what would happen.
He just thought he would listen and just make this another reason to hasten the end of his life.
"Yes, it's been a long time. I'm sorry to reach out to you only now, but I thought you should know... your grandfather passed away," Sebastian informed him solemnly.
Gabrien didn't know what to feel. Truth be told, he had never seen his grandfather even once. He never met him. But from what he knew, he was a very helpful old man.
"I understand if you don't want to be involved, but there's something you should know," Sebastian continued, his tone hesitant yet earnest. "Your grandfather left behind a considerable inheritance, and you're entitled to a share of it."
Gabrien listened in disbelief. He never expected to be included in any inheritance from his grandfather's side, and he couldn't believe that his grandfather still remembered him even though they never met.
He glanced quickly at the wire still tied up above. Is this another sign to not give up? Part of him was grateful that his father called on time. If not, he might have already hung himself and lost his life.
"Why are you telling me this now?" Gabrien asked, his voice tinged with suspicion.
"Because I believe it's time for you to come here and claim what's rightfully yours," Sebastian replied, his words laced with a hint of sincerity that caught Gabrien off guard. "You are still my son, Gabrien. And believe it or not, I am watching you from afar. You've suffered enough. Now, come here and change your life."
Gabrien fell silent, processing the implications of Sebastian's offer. On one hand, the idea of reconnecting with his father and possibly securing a stable future through the inheritance was tempting. On the other hand, he couldn't shake off the bitterness and resentment that had built up over the years.
After a moment of contemplation, Gabrien made a decision. "I'll think about it," he said finally, his voice firm yet tinged with uncertainty. He hung up the phone and sat there in shock. Too much had happened today. And he is so nervous about what would happen tomorrow.
- Writer
