Chapter 2

Ann's POV

I quickly put my important things inside a backpack such as underwear, a few pieces of clothing, my IDs, and some important papers as well as a few thousand pesos that I saved from my pocket that my dad used to give me when he was alive. I never thought that I will be able to use the money I saved in this kind of situation. My eyes widened when I heard a car stop in front of our gate. I immediately peeked from the window of my room to see who came because it might be Jordan.  And I am correct in my suspicion because the man who got out of the car and entered the gate is really him. I hurriedly picked up my backpack and then peeked outside again. I waited for Jordan to enter the house before I dropped my backpack down the window.

My whole body was shaking as I carefully climbed to the window.  The window of my room is quite high because I'm on the second floor and I'm also afraid of high places. But if I let my fear win against me I will surely end up at the hands of Jordan.

I almost held my breath as my foot reached for the attached generator in my room. From the generator, I can be able to jump down. I almost fell off while standing on the generator when I heard Jordan trying to open the locked of my room. I fought my fear and jumped down with my eyes closed. Thank goodness I didn't break a bone or even dislocate when both of my feet hit the ground. I immediately picked up my backpack and put it on my back then hurriedly ran out of the gate. I was secretly praying that Jordan hadn't come into my room yet so he wouldn't know right away that I wasn't in there.

Right after I left the gate, a tricycle passed by and I immediately stopped. "I will ride up to the exit," I hurriedly told the driver.

"Just take someone else, Miss. I'm already on my way home," the driver answered me.

"Please. I will double the payment or maybe triple as long as you give me a ride," I begged him in tears. If we don't leave now, Jordan will catch up with me outside our house.

"All right," answered the driver in a forced tone.

I was relieved when the tricycle started moving away. But I will feel relief when I'm completely away from our place.

As I told the driver, I paid him triple after getting off the tricycle. I was very grateful when just a few seconds later a bus to Manila arrived which I immediately stopped.

"Thank you, Lord. You didn't let the evil plans my stepmom and Jordan planned on me to succeed," I prayed in a low voice as I boarded the bus to Manila.  It was a long trip from Legazpi City to Manila so I decided to sleep first after the bus assistant charged me for the fare.

I don't know how many hours the trip was but I just woke up when I heard the sound of passengers disembarking. We are here in Manila, I guess. I immediately went down and then walked around. I don't know where I will go and where I will live here in Manila because I don't know anyone here. I suddenly thought of Jasper.  Maybe I'll be able to contact him now that I'm here in Manila. I hurriedly grabbed my cell phone from my bag to try calling my boyfriend's cellphone number again. But I was surprised when I saw a hole in the side of my bag as if it had been cut by a sharp object. I was so nervous that I dug through my things to look for my cell phone. And to my dismayed, I couldn't find my cellphone anymore. But the worst thing is that the pickpocketer not only stole my cellphone but also the money inside my wallet. That pickpocketer is quick and clever.  I didn't even feel that my bag was cut. Weak and almost crying, I sat down on a big rock.  How am I now? I have no cell phone and no money. What am I going to do now?

I suddenly grabbed my stomach when it growl. It's almost noon so it's only natural that I feel hungry, especially since I barely ate last night. But where do I get money to buy food? My god! Am I going to beg now just to fill my stomach?

I stood up and walked around again while looking at the road.  Hoping that I can pick up at least five pesos so that I can buy some water. I couldn't help myself but cry at my situation. I feel sorry for myself. But I don't regret running away from our house because I would rather be a beggar and begging on the street than be a wife to Jordan.

"The woman will be hit by the car!" I heard a woman scream. I raised my eyes to see where the woman was going to be hit by a cab But when I raised my head, an upcoming car met my eyes. The woman who was going to be hit by a car that the woman was referring to is me because I just realized that I'm walking in the middle of the road.

With a mixture of fear, hunger, thirst, and tiredness, I suddenly sat down on the road. But I was still lucky because the driver of the car braked so quickly and the car suddenly stopped a few inches away from my body.

"Are you okay, Miss?" the man who almost hit me asked worriedly after getting out of his car and approaching me.

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize I was walking in the middle of the road," I quickly apologized to him. It was my fault that I almost got run over.

The man frowned as he looked at me then he helped me stand up and accompanied me to the side of the road. I thought he was going to leave after he helped me, but he just parked his car on the side of the road because his car was obstructing the passing motorists, then he returned to me again.

"What happened and you seemed out of your mind while walking?" the man asked me with concern.

I told him that I was from the province and that I was a victim of pickpocketing while walking earlier. I didn't tell him the real reason why I was here in Manila.  I just said that I came out of here to look for a job.

"I'm really sorry for what happened," I apologized again after I told him what happened.

"You are looking for a job, right? I will offer you a job," said the man who introduced himself to me as Edu Ibarra.

"What kind of job?"   asked him nervously. Even though I'm new here in Manila, I know that there are many scammers scattered here besides pickpocketers and snatchers. But he looks respectable so maybe he's not a fraud and he just really wants to help me. But first, I want to hear what kind of job he will offer me.

He stared at me intently before answering my question. "Be the maid of my blind nephew."