PAINFUL.I don’t know how to breathe, as I stare at the two of them.It feels like my chest is being squeezed because of what I’ve witnessed, and everyone there seems aware of it, smiling as if everything is okay.Why?Who is that woman?Why did she kiss Kalix?I was startled when someone suddenly touched my back and grabbed my arm.“Sweetheart, relax. Breathe,” Mrs. Cynthia’s words made me try to calm down.But no, the pain didn’t lessen; it felt like my heart was being crushed slowly.My feet moved on their own, and I quickly left the place. I kept my gaze on the floor, unable to meet anyone’s eyes.When I managed to get into the elevator, tears started streaming down my face. How could this happen? I didn’t even think something like this was possible.I quickly exited the elevator and left the building. My mind was in chaos, my heart breaking into pieces.Is Kalix playing with me? Why? Is it because I’m foolish and easy to deceive? Is it because I’m dumb, is that why—For some unkn
“You like this? Hmm?” I didn’t know her voice could be this sexy.“Ahh..” I couldn’t help but squirm from the sensation enveloping my body. I didn’t know, because I’ve never experienced this in my whole life, not until now!“I see, you like finger fucking, huh?” He quickened the pace of inserting and withdrawing his three fingers from my opening, “I am the only person who will do this to you, do you understand?”“Ahhhh, yes,” I couldn’t control what came out of my mouth, everything sounded like moans, I tightly gripped the bed sheet, and one was in his hand, I opened my eyes, and saw him feasting his eyes on my nudity now.I suddenly felt embarrassed and tried to cover my chest, and close my thighs, but he immediately stopped me, “Don’t, it’s beautiful,” he whispered and trailed his hand all over my body, “How did I fucking miss this kind of body?”I felt something hard against my side, my eyes widened when I saw what it was, “What, uh, your, uh, it’s hard..”I heard his soft laugh, “
“Sorry, I mean, who are you?” It felt like I was stabbed with her response. My greatest fear had come true; she had forgotten me. “Do I know you?”“I’m- I’m-uh-” I stuttered, but my words were cut off as the door opened and Nads entered with fruits and lunch for us.“OMG! You’re awake!” Nads exclaimed, quickly running to hug Kalix. She must have noticed me watching, as she immediately backed away. “Sorry, got carried away.”I was about to mention her amnesia, but Kalix spoke first. “Nads, why are you saying sorry? Do you know this lady? I think she’s lost,” Nads froze, and the big grin vanished from her face.“Come on, stop playing, Kalix, can’t you remember her? She’s Samantha!”“You know her? Oh! I’m sorry!” She turned to me, “You’re Nads’s friend? I’m sorry, I didn’t know.” She seemed genuinely not joking.“Kalix, stop playing! Stop pulling pranks, you dimwit!”“Nads, can I step out for a moment?” I excused myself and quickly left the room. I heard her calling me several times, but
“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
“Last stopover, we’ll arrive in Liberdad in about an hour,” Lita reminded me as we got off the bus. I went to the restroom because I needed to, while she smoked a cigarette. She said her tongue itches if she doesn’t smoke after eating, so I waited for her to finish.The wind was different here, and there were many establishments around, competing for attention. It was dizzying. Even though I’m twenty-three now, this is still the first time I’ve traveled for work.An hour and a half passed, and we got off in front of a low-cost apartment complex. I’m used to seeing places like this; there are many of them in town. People from the city work here, and they don’t have their own homes.“This is where I stay, you can stay here for now until you have your salary. Just leave when you find another place,” Lita said.“Don’t I stay with my employer?” I asked, thinking that maids usually stay in. Based on the researches I did, I mean, it’s city, I’m not dumb, but it will be easier if I’m accessib
“So, this is the living room, obviously. See that door?” he said, pointing to the door on my right, “That’s the kitchen.” I nodded, trying to absorb everything he was saying. “And that one is the bathroom, and the wall,” he pointed to the end of the hallway where there’s a wall, “Behind that wall is the bedroom. It’s two separate rooms; you’ll occupy the left door. Don’t open the other room unless instructed, understood?”I nodded in response, “Yes, sir,” I answered, scanning the entire house, trying to memorize it. Sir said it’s not too big, about three times the size of our house.It’s not like what I see on TV shows where you enter and immediately see the kitchen. Upon entering, there’s a built-in aquarium that greets you, next to it is a shoe rack, and on the side is a rack for indoor slippers. When you turn right, that’s when you see the living room, which looks very clean.The walls are a mix of black and white, there are three sofas, two single ones and one long one, there’s a
“Okay, All done!” I arranged the vegetables at the vegetable stall, placed the processed food in the chiller, and put the meat in the freezer. I left only the dishes I will cook, two viands: beef steak and adobo. They taste even better when they’ve been stored for a long time, the flavor really seeps in.I remembered the man earlier; people like that should be taken to a mental hospital. Why was he on the street? I thought only the provinces had that kind of thing, but it seems even in the city? And he expects me to wait for his explanation? With the hardships of life today, even if he doesn’t speak, it’s just a waste of effort, because what I need now is money.I chopped the garlic and onions. Luckily, there was some leftover beef from yesterday, so I decided to marinate it. I marinated it in soy sauce, calamansi, and pepper. I took it out of the fridge and fried it first before adding the sauce.“Ouch! Ouch! Damn! Wait! Damn oil splatters!” I was avoiding the oil splatters like craz
“I’m sorry, boss. I didn’t know you were my employer here,” I apologized as I applied an ice pack, almost bowing my head, unable to see what I was doing due to embarrassment.“Weren’t you informed? My god, what’s inside your head?” His words stung a bit, but I just ignored them. It was my fault anyway, which is why he was angry now, with a big bruise on his face.“I’m really sorry, I really didn’t know, no one told me,” I didn’t know how many times I had apologized.“Whatever, what’s your name?” I breathed a sigh of relief at the change of topic, hoping he was done talking now.“Samantha Zyle Feliciano, just Samantha for short,” I answered, taking the nearly empty ice pack from him. I got another one from the ice bucket and handed it to him. I sat on the sofa, and he sat on the chair opposite me.His gaze softened a bit, no longer as harsh as before. “I’m Kalix Alcantra. I bet you knew about me?” I furrowed my brow, looking at him.“Uh, no, sorry. I’m from the province, I don’t really