The man that was tasked to keep an eye on Callisto was called Arnan, 28 years old and will be 29 in September. He was born and raised in an ordinary family with a good upbringing.
Arnan's eyes followed Callisto as she entered the hospital. "I wonder what's the purpose of her visit?"
However, at the year he was supposed to be entering college, they found out that his father was having an affair with another woman, which had been going on for years.
"I'm sorry, you two."
"Father..."
His father claimed that he was fired from his job and was trying to find another place to work at. For years, he only did side hustles while still looking for a proper job.
Of course, the side hustles wasn't enough. His mother, who only finished elementary grade, had an accident that made her unable to leave the house, so she couldn't do any side hustles like her husband, resulting to them falling into debt.
The situation of his family took a total 180 turn. The once normal, happy family became a household full of endless arguments, silent frustrations, and doubts. Even so, Arnan persevered.
"Just a few more years," Arnan's hands balled into fists that were heavy with determination. "Once I finish school, I'll be able to give mother and father their normal happy lives back. Just hold on a little longer, mother, father!"
But one day, during his vacation after graduating high school...
"Who's that woman," he asked himself as his gaze followed his father walking alongside a woman he did not know with his arm over her shoulder.
They were smiling together like a happy couple.
Eventually, his determination turned into uncertainty. Arnan's enthusiastic outlook turned upside down as the truth of his father's affair was revealed.
Arnan held his mother's hand who was sitting at the dinner table, her eyes barely have any light of hope in them, "It will be fine. We'll be all right. I'll get us through this, Mom."
Arnan's father left them for the woman, forcing him to not go to college and find a job to support his mother and himself now that there were only two of them left.
However, finding a job in the Phillippines is rather difficult for a high school graduate.
"Do you think you can start tomorrow," asked the manager of the convenience store he was at right now for an interview.
"Yes, I can."
He would find a job at a convenience store near their place, but it was only contractual. After that, he would continue to find the next job, but they were mostly just a side hustle.
It wasn't enough. But although his dream of finishing college to help his parents had already disappeared with the wind, Arnan's determination never wavered.
For years, he continued the same routine, getting every work he could, taking double, triple shifts.
Arnan's perseverance allowed him to gain connections, eventually leading him to an opportunity that would be too good for him to pass up.
"Hey, Arnan, you're job hunting right now, right?"
"Yeah, I'm currently looking for one," Arnan replied to the man he became friends with a while ago.
"Do you know Raymond Mandjet?"
Arnan nodded. "Of course. He's the one who owns the Mandjet Medical Center, right? I've heard that name a lot before. They said he's a kind man, but I don't know."
"Good, then I can go straight to the point."
The job offer was simple. For almost the entirety of the day, Arnan must follow Callisto wherever she goes. If the girl isn't leaving her apartment unit, Arnan must keep a lookout outside until Callisto either she exits her residence or if it's the end of the shift.
Arnan must report everything to his employer, also known as Raymond Mandjet. Everything. No questions asked.
All that, for a salary that is a lot more than all of the side hustles he had to do for him and his mother to get by in a month.
In fact, it was more than enough to pay all the debt him and his mother had accumulated in the past few years.
Arnan could not help but wonder just how stupidly rich Raymond Mandjet is after hearing the amount of pay he is willing to give just by doing such a simple job.
* * *
Standing in a way that wasn't calling attention from any passerby in the area, Arnan watched the front entrance to the hospital building Callisto entered not too long ago.
There were times when Arnan wondered if an opportunity like this would come by again had he let this one slip by.
This moment was one of those times. And each time he did, Arnan would remind himself that taking this job was the best decision of his life.
Buzz, buzz!
Arnan's phone buzzed within his pants's pocket. When he picked it up and looked at the screen, Raymond's name was platered atop the message.
"Come to my office," said Raymond in a text.
It was just those four words. Nothing else.
But for some reason, it made his stomach churn with curious anxiety. This was the first time he was being called by his employer to go to his office after all.
But he recomposed himself as he made his way to the front entrance of the Mandjet Medical Center main entrance. Once inside, Arnan headed for the elevator.
That was when he crossed paths with Callisto. To Arnan, the girl should have no idea who he was or about his job.
But as he moved forward and away from Callisto, the girl's footsteps stopped before turning around, watching his retreating form with a smile on her face before turning away herself and left the hospital.
* * *
Outside the door to Raymond's office, Arnan mentally prepared himself for what was ahead. Just what was the reason he was being called by his boss in his office?
Knock, knock, knock!
The sound of his knuckles hitting the door echoed around him and most certainly inside the office.
"Come on in," Raymond commanded.
The moment Arnan heard his boss's voice, his hesitation disappeared.
He twisted the knob and pushed the door open.
"I'm here, Boss."
When he entered the office, Raymond was just sitting in a relaxed position at his desk. But his gaze never left Arnan since he entered the room.
"You can sit down there," Raymond pointed at the chair facing directly towards him and his desk.
Arnan did as he was told.
Arnan had been in a similar situation before with his previous employers, but this is the first time he could really feel his nervousness crawling up his skin.
He tried to look as calm as he could as he started to speak.
"May I ask why you called me here, Boss?"
Raymond, being as effortlessly intimidating before Arnan, answered in a serious tone.
"I'm gonna get straight to the point," Raymond uttered. "Your work ends right here. Thanks for your hard work."
"Huh?"