Chapter 27

"Why?"

"Huh?"

"I mean, why are you asking me? I do not think I am pretty enough to be hit on."

"..."

Edward scanned her appearance from top to bottom.

Although he noticed some pimples on her face and bags under her eyes, he didn't find her unattractive.

He thought about Angela, who had improved a lot during college, and wondered if this girl could do the same with a little self-care.

"Well, you're not that bad, but you're right, I'm not hitting on you... It's like this," Edward replied, a hint of amusement in his eyes as he began to explain his motives.

In truth, the primary goal that led Edward to enroll in the university was to obtain a graduation certificate, a formal acknowledgment of academic accomplishment.

As for studying... Edward believes that he has already delved deep enough into his studies in the previous time-space.

While it was indeed true that he still had much to learn, particularly due to his change in major from IT to BA, "so what?"

In his view, attending lectures and following the traditional university curriculum consumed a considerable amount of time, which he could have spent on more practical things.

So, instead of investing time in what he considered less practical aspects of education, such as assignments, projects, research, and thesis work, he still decided to have someone handle these tasks on his behalf.

"In exchange, I'll pay you."

"Pay me what?" Patricia asked with a confused expression, as if unable to understand him.

"I'll pay you cash, about ₱5,000 a month. What do you think?"

"5000?" Patricia's mouth opened wide in surprise, and she paused for a moment, as such a number is a lot for her.

Honestly, her family wasn't doing well financially.

In their single-parent family, it was solely her mother who worked to provide them with everything they needed—food, clothing, school expenses, and more.

The money her mother made was barely enough for their daily expenditures, but fortunately, she was lucky enough to secure a sponsorship, all thanks to her excellent academic results in high school.

It was just enough to cover her various school expenditures.

"Why, you don't want?"

"N- no, I want to.."

"Then it's a deal?"

"Yes... but the ₱5000 is too much. I can do it with ₱1000!" Patricia responded.

Edward looked at her with confusion.

"Is ₱5000 a lot?" he wondered.

Right now, he still has about 10,000 in his account... Not too much, but considering that he could easily earn 5,000 in a week through sponsorship from Musika Inc., Edward felt that it was just enough.

She was, after all, a former valedictorian and salutatorian... Where else can he get someone with her qualifications who is willing to accept his bribe?

"Nah, 5000 is just right."

"But it's too much..."

Despite the headache, Edward persisted in persuading her.

After all, money can be a strong motivator.

What if she didn't take it seriously with just ₱1000?

In the end, he pointed out to her that 5,000 was pretty affordable, especially when compared to the cost of hiring a private instructor.

...

After arriving at his apartment, Edward refreshed himself with cold water from the fridge.

Then, he changed into casual attire, including a pair of shorts, a T-shirt, fashionable rubber shoes, and sleek sunglasses.

After the buying spree yesterday, which included furniture and appliances, there were still many other items he needed to purchase.

Making sure that nothing looked unusual, he left the apartment and strolled towards the nearby mall.

Inside the Canon Store, he selected a Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera, a sleek tripod, and multiple memory cards.

He then exited the mall and headed to a low-end electronic store to purchase a secondhand desktop computer... Anyway, it is just for editing, and he doesn't need something for gaming; therefore, specs and other factors weren't taken into consideration.

After buying everything he needed to buy, he decided it was time to go home, so he just got into a taxi to assure a nice ride back to his flat.

Upon arrival, he then carried all his purchases inside his apartment himself. Afterward, he made a call to the ISP branch to inquire about internet installation details.

He asked about available packages, installation fees, and the estimated installation time for his specific area.

After the call, he felt a bit disappointed but accepted that the fiber internet installation was fully booked for a week, so he could only schedule it for the following week instead.

Next, he headed towards one of the two vacant rooms in the apartment, which he intended to turn into his studio. 

The room boasted walls painted in pristine white, and the floor was adorned with sleek tiles. It was not only spacious but also possessed the ideal level of sound insulation, perfect for recording.

Placing the things he had bought inside, he arranged them with care and attention to detail, aiming for a setup that was not only functional but also visually pleasing in its simplicity.

At around 7:30 in the evening, after completing all his tasks, he left his apartment and headed towards a nearby restaurant to eat dinner.

Inside the restaurant, as he placed his order for some dishes, he couldn't help but voice the question that had been bothering him since yesterday.

"Um, isn't this a Chinese restaurant? Why do you serve some Filipino cuisine here?" Edward asked as he pointed at the menu.

"Duh, we're in the Philippines, and not many people here eat Chinese food," Honey Lee, the owner's daughter and part-time waiter, rolled her eyes as if stating the obvious.

"Then why do you call your restaurant a Chinese restaurant?"

"There are several restaurants outside, so obviously, we had to create something unique to attract customers."

"..."

After satisfying his appetite, Edward settled the bill and made his way back to his apartment.

Once there, he retrieved his phone, called his parents, and engaged in a pleasant hour-long conversation about various topics.

As he hung up, a contented smile graced his lips, and the homesickness that had weighed on his chest slowly faded away.