Chapter 1: Sunday Morales

Sunday hugged herself while standing in front of the window of their small apartment in New York. Her younger brother's calling. "Hello?"

--"How are you?"

She smiled as she heard her brother's voice on the other line. "I'm fine. How about you and mom? How's the surgery?"

- "It's done and we're just waiting for her to wake up. When will you be coming home? We miss you already."

Sunday smile sadly. "I miss you too and mom. You take care of them, hmm? Where's Stephany?"

- "She's with Papa. She still has school tomorrow so they went home first."

Sunday sniffed. She misses them so much but she has to stay here. They still have a debt to pay that was added for their mom's surgery.

- "When will you be coming home? I'm sure mom misses you too."

Her tears travel down her cheeks. She knows Sebastian is lying. She never got along with her mother since then. It is because she is her father's daughter to another woman. And Sebastian just wants to make her feel better.

"I'll be home in no time. Don't worry okay?"

With a sad voice, he spoke. "All right, I'll hang this up already. Take care. I love you."

"O-Okay. Bye."

She wiped her tears when the overseas call of her brother ended.

Their mother had previously suffered from heart complications but had no chance for surgery. She went abroad for a bigger income and met Shaina here in New York who helped her find a job. She was in desperate need of money at that time, so she took the job as a waitress in a nightclub while looking for another job. She works as a waitress in a nightclub and in a restaurant during day time.

"Still awake?" Shaina came out from the bathroom.

"It's already past one and you still have work tomorrow."

"Yeah. But it's okay. " She sat on her bed.

"So how was the surgery?"

Sunday smiled. "Successful. Just waiting for her to wake up."

"Oh, that is good news. So... does that mean you're going home?" Shaina asked with a sad smile plastered on her lips.

"No. I'll stay here. We still have a debt to pay. Papa is just not telling me."

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Sunday came out from the bathroom that morning. She saw Shaina smiling from ear to ear.

"What?" she asked.

"Look who's here this early." Shaina pointed to David sitting on their small sofa.

Sunday immediately turned around. She's only on her towel wrapped on her body!

"Why did you let him in?" she said in a low voice and entered the bathroom again.

Shaina laughs and looks at David. "I'm sorry but can you go out for a while?" Though it's late to shoo him outside.

"Oh sure, sure. I'm sorry. I didn't know." David blush.

David is Sunday's boyfriend for a month now. And it wasn't gone easy for David in winning Sunday's heart because of her conservatism so David did his best but of course with Shaina's help.

Soon after, Sunday came out of the bathroom again. "I'll kill you if you do that again."

"Why? He's your boyfriend so what's wrong?"

"We're not married yet, you know."

Shaina just nodded. Yeah, that's true. It's her beliefs too, she is just teasing her.

"Oh shit, I'm late." Sunday immediately grabbed her shoulder bag and ran out while combing her hair. She can't be late this time!

"I'll get you there," David said and opened the door of his car for her.

"Yes, please. Thank you."

.

.

"What time is it?"

Sunday bowed her head as the restaurant manager scolded her. Their manager doesn't want any of her employees to get late. And it was her last chance.

"Last time was your last warning and I don't want to tolerate you anymore. But after all, you've done great." She give her, her salary for the half-month she had worked.

"Thank you, ma'am and I'm sorry." She came out of the restaurant with her dropped shoulder as she put the money inside her shoulder bag. She still needs money so she has to find another job but now she needs to rest. She feels like she abused herself in working day and night. She lost weight too. Now that her mother's surgery is over, she can finally rest her body so as her mind.

"Oh? What happened?" Shaina asked while making sunny-side-up when she saw her enter their apartment.

Sunday shrugged. "I was fired. Thirty minutes late."

Shaina didn't look shocked. "That's okay, so you can rest. Look, you've lost so much weight."

Sunday dropped her body to her bed with her arms wide open on her both sides. "But I still have to work."

"You still have a job, but now ... do you want to go shopping with me?"

"I don't have money," she replied as she yawned.

"Come on .. buy yourself new clothes. Make yourself happy."

Sunday shook her head. "I have to send money to the Philippines."

Shaina gave up and just look at the egg she is cooking. "Just go with me and refresh yourself. And by the way, David left something there."

"Hmmm?"

Shaina pointed to the small box next to the flower bouquet. "Your boyfriend is really sweet. Why don't you invite him over? So we can do house warming," she teases.

"Stop that. Whatever you are thinking, that won't happen," she said. By Shaina's teasing smile, she knew what was in her friend's mind.

"Duh, you are already twenty-five years old. Are you planning to die untouched?"

Sunday threw Shaina her slipper. "Your mouth."

Shaina just laughed at her. "I'm not saying this just to tease you but, aren't you afraid if David will find it to another woman because you can't give yourself to him?"

"He doesn't love me when that happens. I value marriage before sex. That is all matters to me." Yeah, she values that. She believes in the benefit of waiting. She will not allow her boyfriend to touch her unless they are married already.

"Then get married." Shaina started to tease her again."Rich, kind, and yet very handsome."

"I'm not rushing things, Shaina. David's my boyfriend but that's all for now. And still, I have to work for our family."

"David is rich ..."

Sunday threw her a pillow and give her a 'what the hell look'. "Oh please, stop teasing me..."

"Haha! Fine. Fine." Shaina just finds Sunday's reaction funny when being annoyed.

After eating breakfast they went to the mall as Shaina said earlier. And like Shaina, Sunday is looking around trying to find something that she can find. This is not in her plan after all so she doesn't know what to buy.

Later, Sunday approached the children’s accessories when she remembered Stephany.