Payment

Tyrel Pov.

I came back at around three o'clock in the afternoon pulling my suit cases in both hands. I can barely drag them, and the dormitory is located at the back of the buildings. I silently cursed keep asking myself why did I brought almost all of the house things. The only left was furnitures. 

" I'm going to get that", I say to myself pertaining to the furnitures we had in the house. 

I reached the room I had chosen breathlessly and almost bathed in sweat. I opened the door with the spare key given to me earlier. I dragged my belongings inside and saw three beds, two of which were already occupied so I headed to the last bed that I think hasn't been used yet.

"Finally after 10 years of dragging and walking", I slump on the soft bed. I rolled over but suddenly stop due to fatigue. I stared at the ceiling while thinking.

"I hope my roommates are kind." I spoke before my cellphone rang.

"Hello", 

"Good afternoon, is this Ms. Jenkins? I'm sorry to disturb you but I want to inform you that Mrs. Jenkins is experiencing a major seizure again."

I suddenly dropped my cellphone at the information I had received at the same time my tears flow.  I quickly picked up my cell phone and ran out of the dormitory.

"Lord please, save my mom" I prayed softly inside the cab I was riding in. When I got to the hospital I hurriedly ran to mama's room but she was no longer there.

"Mom! Mom!" I tried to search the whole room while my tears never stopped falling. I found nothing as if the whole room had been cleaned. My whole body trembled as I ran back to the information desk.

"Ms. where is Mrs. Tylera Jenkins? I went to her room but she was no longer there." I explained while the woman at the desk typing on the computer.

"She's in the ICU room Ma'am. Walk straight in that way, turn left, the first door."

I didn't bother thanking her because I ran in the direction she pointed. I caught up with a doctor out of mom’s room.

"Doc, how's my mom? Why did you take her to the ICU? Is she okay, doc?" I cried while interrogating him.

"Calm down Ms. Jenkins, the patient is okay for now. She had a seizure earlier. You know her condition. And I've already told you what can happen to her. Because your mother suffered a traumatic brain injury, we need to take the last option which is decompressive craniectomy. I know it is an expensive procedure that is associated with high morbidity and mortality but it is a life saving measure. Your mom's condition is getting worst day by day. I am afraid that if we postpone the surgery again, your mom won't make it." the doctor explained. 

I cried harder at the thought of my losing my mom, she's the only one family I knew. 

" H-how much is the surgery ? " 

" That will be $ 50,000 but you can give $20, 000 for 

the first payment." 

My world crashed down. My breathing seemed to stop. My heart thumping heavily. Where am I going to get that huge money? We are too poor to afford that. I change my clothes into the hospital gown, the one needed to use when visiting an ICU patient. My tears started to flow again when I see my mom in the bed with wires attached on her body. The beeping sounds are only sound in the room. I get her hand placing it on my lips. 

" Mom, I love you. Please fight for the both of us. I'll try to raise money to schedule your surgery sooner. Mom please, you're the only one I have. " I put her arms back in her original position deciding to leave now. 

" I need to go now mom. I'll be back. I love you." I kiss her forehead and walk outside the room.

I walked home to the dormitory as if floating in the air. Where can I get a $ 20,000 down payment? Can I sell my kidney? My internal organs? Or will I just find a sugar daddy? I was frustrated by my thoughts. What if I just dance in the club and look for a handsome man who's jaw tightens like in the stories . A mafia boss or a rich sugar daddy? I mentally slapped myself. I still have class tomorrow so I need to go back to the dorm to fix my things.

I arrived at the dorm very tired. I went straight to bed and lay down suddenly my stomach grumbled.

"Hahaha we still have food here if you want to, just join us we haven't eaten yet" I heard a voice.

I looked back to where she was and smiled slightly.

"No, I'm not that hungry. I'll just put it to sleep", I suggest.

"No, I insist. You look hungry so you need to eat." she still insisted.

I got up and shyly smiled at her.

"I'm Tyrel Jenkins but you can call me Tyrel or whatever you're more comfortable with", I introduced myself.

"I'm Julie Doherty, nice to meet you", she reached out her hands which I immediately accepted. That’s so soft.

"Jules! I've finally bought a soda" a new girl entered our room. She glanced at me and smiled.

"Hi! I'm Hena Shella Gray but call me Shelly"

“Tyrel Keira Jenkins” I said with a brief introduction. I was about to extend my hand for a handshake but she suddenly hugged me.

"Are you okay? You look like you cried for hours?" she kept asking.

"Shells, maybe it's her personal problem! We can't just intrude her life." Jules interrupted.

"I'm sorry Ty, Shelly is really the queen of gossips", Jules apologized. Shelly just pouted and nodded in my direction.

"Are you sure you want me to join the both of you? Maybe you'll regret it because I eat a lot", I said jokingly.

"No, it's okay Tyrie. I have a mini fridge here but it is for the three of us now. What's in that stuff is for all of us. Nothing to be ashamed of okay? Every 3 days Dad's staff will bring supplies." Shelly informed us.

We started eating while trying to know each other more. I found out that they only arrived here yesterday and only met that day but it wasn't obvious because they were almost close to each other. 

“What’s course you are taking Ty?” Jules asked me.

"Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering", I answered.

"Whoahhhhh! Tyrey, is your class is also 1A ? We're on the same course! I hope we're in the same class." Shelly shouted with excitement which earned an eye roll from Jules.

"uhm yeah, I am in 1A too." I replied.

"Yes! I told you Jules! There are three of us! Imagine I'll name our group uhm power pop girls? What do you think?" she keeps talking and suggesting of what we're gonna name our group.

I munch my food silently going back my attention to my mom's surgery.

"Are you okay Ty?" Julie asked worriedly.

"Uhm yeah. I'm okay"

"I know you're not Tyrey. If you have a problem we are always here." Shelly reassured me.

"M-my m-mom is in the h-hospital and I n-need a huge money for her s-surgery." I told them as my tears flowed.

“I need it as soon as possible”, I added while biting my lower lip to suppress my sobs.

"How much do you need Tyrey?"

"$ 50,000 but the hospital is asking me for $ 20,000 for the down payment. I am poor. I only have mom so I can't afford to provide that" I wiped away my tears and bowed slightly to hide it. 

"Shhh it's okay Tyrey. Do you want us to lend you money? You don't need to pay." Shelly told me while hugging my petite body.

"No, not anymore. It's so embarrassing that you're feeding me here. If I borrow more money, I'm afraid I can't a huge amount of money." 

"If you want Ty, we'll take care of the $ 20,000 for the operation of your mom. But I know you don't want to just accept that so what if you tutor Shelly and me for the whole academic year. We'll just tell our parents that we hired a tutor so we need that amount of money. What do you think Shells? " Julie suggested.

"That's okay for me, besides dad doesn't care except for me getting high grades. So dad will be willingly give me money when he find out I have a tutor. So what now Tyrey? Deal or no deal?"

"It's embarrassing but I have no choice. I need to set aside my pride to accept your offer for my mom", I agree with them as I wipe away my tears. There was hope and joy on my face.

"Okay! That's settled then. We will send you the money tonight just give us your bank account so you can book a surgery. And there's still time to go to the hospital tomorrow because our classes will start at 9 in the morning ", julie smiled at me genuinely .

"Thank you so much, you don't know how much you help me."

"No Tyrey. Don't thank us because we help you besides you're going to tutor us. Our subject is more on math and science. I'm almost overwhelmed. Arghhh!" Shelly whispered to her senses.

"By the way, how did you get in OIS if you didn't have enough money? Don't get me wrong Ty but I'm just curious. OIS has hundred of thousands fees"

"nah it's okay. I applied for a scholarship and luckily passed so I'm here" I replied.

"Oh M G Tyreyyyy! You're smart! We didn't make a mistake to hire you as our tutor!" Shelly shouted again and seemed childishly happy.

"Tsss childish", Julie commented.

10 o'clock in the evening when I decided to arrange my belongings and take them out of the suit cases while the two were already asleep. I silenced every movement I make fearing that I might wake them up. I put my uniform in the three -part wardrobe. Two of them are already filled with different kinds of expensive wear that I'm sure belong to the both of them so I put my clothes in the empty part. I finished 11 at night and decided to rest as well. A lot has happened today so I need energy tomorrow. I yawned happily having the thought I have already a down payment. Before I went to sleep I first texted the hospital that I had enough money for the down payment so they can schedule my mom's surgery as soon as possible.

I woke up early the next day and immediately went to the hospital. The hospital also promised mom’s immediate surgery today. I can't be with mom while she undergoes the craniectomy because I don't want to be absent again. I'm taking care of my grades  for it is a major requirement to maintain a scholarship. At the same time, I was going to tutor Shelly and Julie. And one more thing, I only have a down payment I still have to replenish the remaining balance along with my mom’s hospital expenses and bills..