The Escalation

"How do you mean not a single one?" Gabriel says incredulously.

"I meant exactly that," Mrs. Gomez says. "No one from The Residence staff was compatible enough to be a donor."

"Alright," Gabriel mutters. If this were a simple thing, he would have called up his mom or his relatives—the Tans are quite a big clan, although his relatives only gave them recognition as they went up the social ladder. But the circumstances surrounding Miguel's situation can be seen as scandalous, and their reputation could be damaged.

"And we can't ask your relatives or friends because of the sensitive nature of this issue, correct, Sir?" Mrs. Gomez says, reading his mind.

"Yes," he says. "I'm afraid so."

"At one point we'd have to call up your mother, Mr. Tan."