“As
Goethe says: on top of the world, or in the depths of despair. Well I can’t get
on top of the world without money. It’s all about money, my dear. Power and
fame will follow.”
She
smiled softly. Her plump lips looking more beautiful than ever.
“So
you’re reading Goethe now? Since when? Anyway, tell me, how can you love
someone for their money?”
“Look.”
Alba leaned forward, her face serious all of a sudden. “First, I was just
hanging out with Mondi, it was nothing serious and it’s in the past now. I love
Nino and soon we are getting married. He hasn’t proposed yet, but I know he’s
making big preparations for a huge wedding, he wants to surprise me. Secondly,
my parents married ‘out of love’. My mother died washing clothes by hand, while
my father spent his time drinking cheap booze at the neighbourhood bar.
Relationships have nothing to do with love”
“You’re
talking nonsense, of course they
do!” Sara exclaimed, thinking of her own precious family. “It was
different back then, you’re totally wrong. And more to the point, what is going
on with The University of Intelligence? Why did that secretary lock me out?”
Alba
leaned further forward and looked around her. Her voice changed to a soft
whisper.
“Promise
me you’re not going to write anything about this. Otherwise, I can’t protect
you. If they catch you, they’ll ruin you. Take away everything you care about –
even your son.”
“You’re
threatening me again.”
“No,
I’m warning you. Take me seriously. You’re dealing with dangerous people here.”
Sara
wiped her clammy hands on her trousers and leaned in too.
“Tell
me everything. I want to know everything. I won’t write about it, I promise. Sara
placed the camera on the table. “Here are the pictures I took today. Delete
them all, if you want.”
“The
University of Intelligence is a money
machine,” Alba said. “People with money pay for a piece of paper. Not all
people are born smart, not everyone can get a university education and get a
degree the way you did. The less fortunate have to buy their ‘brains’. Today,
they can become lawyers, doctors, engineers without ever touching a book. They
all have a degree from The University of Intelligence. This country is feeling
the effects of a brain drain. A society with uneducated or poorly educated
people with fake degrees worth nothing, which is why we’re doomed and heading
for darkness.”
Alba
sat back and laughed. “At least they are my only options until I get very rich
or become a politician.”
“Alba,
those doctors, engineers… people’s lives are in their hands.” Sara’s eyes were
wide open
“That’s
not my problem,” Alba smiled.
“How
are you involved in this?”
“You
know me. I’m always where the money is. Nino helped Mondi get the licence. It
was a win-win situation for everyone involved.”
“So
Nino knows that Mondi is your ex-boyfriend and he still agreed to work with
him?”
Alba
waved her hand in the air.
“When
it comes to money, it’s easy to forget these trivial issues.”
She
stood up. They said goodbye to each other but the affection they once shared
was no longer there. Alba took the camera on her way out.
“Don’t
forget to give me my camera back, I can’t afford a new one,” Sara shouted after
her.
Alba didn’t look back, just waved goodbye and
kept walking toward the exit.
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