Chapter 6

"Take care of yourself, Lyrica. Don't ever forget my reminders," my father said as he hugged me tightly.

Today was the day I left for Manila, a five-hour journey from our province.

"I will, Dad. This is all for our family," I reassured him.

"Ate, please be careful there, okay? It's probably better that you're leaving. I hate seeing Ate Cynthia picking fights with you. Boyet and I can't do anything because we're too scared of her and Ate," Annika said, her voice trembling.

"You'll be fine. Just make sure you and Boyet look after our nieces and nephews. Call me right away if there's a problem, alright? Don't hesitate," I said as I ruffled her hair.

"Of course, Ate."

Cynthia and the others weren't home; they had spent the night at Kuya Roy's house. I chose not to tell them about my departure to avoid any drama.

It was only three in the morning, and Wren and Marco were accompanying me to the bus terminal. I didn’t ask my father to come because I didn’t want us breaking down in tears at the terminal.

"I'm leaving now, Dad. Marco and Wren are already here," I said, my voice slightly shaking.

He only nodded, his eyes glassy with emotion.

"Good morning, Tatay Mario. We'll take Lyrica to the terminal," Marco said respectfully, and Wren also greeted my father.

"Thank you, boys. Take care on your way. And Lyrica, remember my reminders. Be careful out there," my father said, hugging me again.

"I will, Dad. Thank you for everything." I fought back tears as I hugged him one last time.

Marco and Wren helped carry my things, though I didn’t have much—just a large zippered sack bag and a small shoulder bag. I also wore a jacket for added security for my belongings.

We rode Wren’s tricycle to the terminal, and I waved goodbye to my father.

"Are you ready, Lyrica?" Marco asked with a gentle smile.

"Of course!" I answered with determination.

My friends had pooled together ₱8,000 for me—a sum of their savings. I had reluctantly accepted it, knowing I needed the funds to start anew. Before leaving, I also bid farewell to Nanay Lucing, who was saddened by my departure but supportive. She even tried to give me extra money on my last day at her store, but I declined, feeling it was too much. I left ₱1,000 for my father to help with expenses, especially for the twins' milk.

"Lyrica, has Ate Jessie texted you?" Wren asked while driving.

"Yes, she texted me last night."

"Good. You’ll probably arrive in Manila by morning," he assured me.

Marco stayed quiet in the backseat, his silence weighing heavily on me.

When we reached the terminal, it was still quiet, with only a few passengers around.

"Here’s the bus to Manila. It’s leaving soon," the conductor announced, pointing at a bus idling nearby.

"Go on, Lyrica. We’ll take care of your fare," Marco said.

"No, I’ll pay for it myself," I quickly replied.

"We got it, Lyrica. We know you set aside part of your savings for your family. Just get on the bus," Wren insisted. They loaded my bag onto the bus's compartment, leaving me with just my shoulder bag.

"Thank you so much for everything. I promise I’ll pay you back," I said, tears streaming down my face.

"Just take care of yourself," Wren said, patting my shoulder. I nodded, wiping my tears.

"Wait, Lyrica..." Marco gently held my arm.

"Here, Nanay Lucing insisted I give this to you. She said she’d be upset if you didn’t take it." He handed me a small white envelope, and I immediately knew what it contained.

"Just take it, Lyrica. It’s her gift," Wren said.

Reluctantly, I accepted it. "Thank you, Marco. Please thank Nanay Lucing and your family for me as well."

Marco hugged me. "Take care of yourself, Lyrica. I promise to follow you to Manila once I graduate. Don’t forget about us."

"I won’t. Thank you, Marco." I hugged him back, and before letting go, he kissed my forehead.

I boarded the bus and sat by the window, waving at my friends as the bus pulled away.

As the bus began moving, I sighed deeply. There was no turning back now. I vowed I wouldn’t return home a failure.

By nine in the morning, I arrived in Manila. The terminal was bustling with activity, and the air was heavy with smog. I texted Mildred’s cousin, Jessie, to let her know I had arrived.

While waiting, I kept a close eye on my belongings. After half an hour, a woman approached me.

"Are you Lyrica?" she asked.

Standing before me was Jessie, her short hair now dyed light brown. In person, she was even fairer and had a well-toned figure.

"Yes, I’m Lyrica. I’m sorry for bothering you on your day off. I’m not familiar with Manila yet," I said apologetically.

She laughed. "Don’t call me ‘Ate’! What do you think I am, old? And it’s no bother. Come on, let’s get you to the apartment so you can rest. Long trips are exhausting, huh?"

I nodded and followed her.

"By the way, have you eaten yet? There might not be any food ready at home since Shiela and Misha are probably still asleep," she said.

"I haven’t eaten yet. The bus stopped earlier, but I didn’t eat because I get carsick," I admitted.

"Alright, let’s grab something from the eatery and eat at home."

After taking a jeepney ride and a tricycle, we arrived at their apartment. It was a tiled, concrete house with two rooms—a place that looked expensive to rent.

"Girls! We’re here!" Jessie yelled as we entered.

There was a loud crash from one of the rooms, and to my surprise, a shirtless man stepped out. He had a well-built physique and looked mixed-race.

"Jessie, why is he here again?" Jessie scolded, glaring at him.

He smirked. "I’m leaving. Is this the one staying with you?" He nodded toward me.

"Yes! And she’s off-limits! Get out!" Jessie snapped, ushering him out.

After he left, I turned to Jessie, puzzled.

"Don’t mind him, Lyrica."

"Jessie! You ruined my fun!" Misha emerged from the room, glaring at her friend.

The argument between them and the arrival of another housemate, Shiela, left me intrigued—and a little wary about what lay ahead in this new chapter of my life.