2

“Damn it, of all times, they had to fire me when I needed the job? I knew it, that idiot would be the one to fire me.” I didn’t care if I looked like a fool as I walked, drawing the attention of passersby.

They fired me yesterday, and I also received my final paycheck of twelve thousand. I worked for him for four years, but he didn’t give me anything else. Damn it!

So here I am now, walking and looking for another job. It’s tough when you haven’t finished your studies; all you have is your thick skin and experience.

I’m pulling my slightly wrinkled black polo shirt and blue pants, shoes I bought at a flea market, and because I’m shameless, I even haggled for them.

My family doesn’t know I’ve lost my job. They don’t ask, but when it comes to money, they know me well. Sometimes I feel like I’m just an adopted child because of what they do. I don’t know, my mother used to be kind, not like this, it all changed when Lea, my sister, came.

“Where are you headed, Sam?” I looked at the person who spoke beside me, Lolita, Lita for short, and she joined me in walking, drawing stares because of what she was wearing.

“Just around, looking for a job,” was my brief reply. She’s my classmate from gradeschool to high school, but she dropped out in our second year of high school, I don’t know why.

“Oh, didn’t you have a job? You got fired?” I just nodded. “Actually, my friend’s boss in Liberdad is looking for help, maybe you’d like it?”

I shook my head and smiled, “No, thanks. I’ll just look around here in Sta. Isabel.”

“Well, okay! I’m off then! Good luck!” Why did I feel insulted by what she said? Or was it just me? Tsk. Annoying.

“Hey, Sam!” I looked at Sanchez, an old widow who, they say, went crazy and ran naked in the street at midnight, “Be careful with that woman, she’s Satan’s disciple! I saw her being escorted by a demon riding her smoking horse last night, it’s terrifying!”

I just gave him a fake smile and nodded slightly, “Ah, thanks for the reminder, yes, I’ll be careful with her.”

That’s nothing new; it’s always like that. They go out and have fun without me. They have their own lives.

“Oh, Samantha,” the city counselor greeted me with his yellow teeth.

“Sir Perez,” that’s what they call him here, I don’t like him, I’d rather bump into anyone but this pervert.

“I heard you lost your job, my friend told me,” yeah, his friend is my boss who stutters. “Do you want a job with a good salary? The work is easy.”

I didn’t answer, just smiled. He looked like he was about to explode in his long polo and black slacks, and I was also trying not to breathe through my nose because his breath felt like it could kill.

“So, will you come with me to my house, then I’ll send you home tomorrow, and I’ll also have someone pick you up, do you want? I’ll give you a big salary.” He even grinned. Damn, what a beast.

This guy’s such a freaking pervert

“Ah, no thanks, Sir Perez, offer it to someone else. I’m leaving.” I said, quickly leaving, and I heard his angry voice calling me.

I’d rather be a helper than be touched by that lunatic. I know those types, damn beasts.

I didn’t go home right away, I walked around hoping to find other places where I could submit my resume. It’s hard to support a family like mine.

They can work, but since they see that I can manage and that they can do what they want, the government takes care of their vices, so maybe they don’t bother to work anymore.

I only took a moment to pack my things and clothes; I don’t have many clothes because my mother doesn’t buy for me, and I don’t buy much for myself either. I think the last time I bought clothes was two years ago, but it’s okay, as long as they’re still wearable.

I waited for a few more hours; it’s already eight in the evening, and they still haven’t arrived. I won’t be able to say goodbye. They wake up late, and I can’t stay up late because I have to get up early, so I’ll just leave a note.

——-

“It’s all set, I’ll take it. I don’t really have a choice anyway. What’s wrong with being a maid? And what else should I look for? I didn’t finish my studies, do I even have the right to complain? Nothing, and there shouldn’t be, especially now that I’m the only one with a job and bringing in money for the household.”

“So, are you okay with it now? Will you come with me to Liberdad?” Even though I wasn’t entirely comfortable with Lita, I agreed. I’ve been looking for work for two days, but still haven’t found anything. They all require college graduates.

“Yeah, I guess. I can’t find anything here,” I grabbed my bag, my resume was inside it, “Here’s my resume, maybe I sh-”

“Oh, it’s not needed. I’ll just tell them I referred you, they know me anyway, and I was told they need someone.” I just nodded and put my resume back in my bag.

“When will I start?”

“Tomorrow, I’m going back to Liberdad, come with me, I’ll cover your fare.” She said and drank the coconut juice I bought for her. It would be embarrassing if I invited her and didn’t offer her anything to drink.

“I’ll take care of it, sure. What time and where should we meet?”

“At seven, at the bus terminal, bring your things with you. You can go home if you want, but maybe only once a month, the work schedule is hectic.” I nodded and stood up, “Okay, I’ll go ahead and get my things ready, thanks again.”

“Okay, bye!”

That woman is weird. I went home immediately and packed my things. My parents weren’t home, I didn’t know where they were. When I woke up earlier, they weren’t there, even my sibling, they probably went out again without me.

That’s not new, it’s always like that. They leave and go out without me, they have their own lives.

I quickly packed my things and clothes. I don’t have a lot of clothes because my mom doesn’t buy me any, and I don’t buy much for myself either. I think the last time I bought clothes was two years ago, that’s fine, as long as they’re still good and wearable.

I waited for a few hours, it was already eight in the evening, but they still weren’t home. I couldn’t say goodbye, they wake up late, and I can’t stay up late because I have to wake up early tomorrow. I’ll just leave a note.

“Are all your things ready? You don’t have much.” I didn’t say anything and drank my coffee, it was already six-thirty in the morning, and we were the only ones at the terminal heading to Liberdad. “The bus gets full in an hour on its way to Liberdad. The first trips are at three and four, they fill up quickly because many people travel for work. By six, it takes a while to fill up, sometimes we wait for one to two hours, the buses lose money.”

“Why? Is the journey from here that far?” I took a sip of my coffee, this was my second cup.

She nodded, “Yes, the journey from here takes seven hours, sometimes eight, including the stopovers, traffic, tolls, and other things.”

Wow, that’s really far. I’m getting tired just thinking about it. “Is my future employer nice?” I decided to ask.

“Hmm, yeah, she’s nice as long as you follow her instructions. She gets angry quickly, and if you don’t follow her, she might not pay you for the day. It’s a waste of a day.”

I just nodded, it’s different when you’re wealthy, it’s easy for them to get angry and not pay you, as if they already bought your life because you work for them.

We waited for almost two and a half hours before the bus finally left. I must have had around three coffees and some water; I must have spent around three hundred. I still haven’t left, and I didn’t ask Lita to treat me. I don’t want to owe her anything, aside from the job she gave me, I shouldn’t owe her anything anymore.

“Go ahead and sleep for a while, the journey is long. I’ll wake you up when we have a stopover.” I just nodded; I was really sleepy. I woke up at four in the morning; I didn’t want to be late for our call time.

I didn’t say goodbye to my parents; I was sleeping soundly. I didn’t know when they came home; I didn’t even notice they were there. So, I just left a note that I’ll be working in Liberdad. I expected them to call me to ask, but it was already nine, and there was no text or call from them.

Maybe they’re still asleep until now. But they were already awake at eight, no matter how tired they were from what they did.