CHAPTER 2—Opportunity has been granted

I was happy to go straight home. Somehow, I was able to bring home some light instead of just burdens and disappointments.

I pouted when I saw my sibling feeding Mama, who was having a hard time chewing. Every time I see them like that, my heart feels like it’s breaking.

"Ate, it's you. Are you hungry? I borrowed some eggs from the store. I told them you were looking for a job," Francis greeted me when he noticed I was watching them. "I know you’ll find a job, Ate, and we’ll be able to pay off our debts," he added determinedly.

"Oh really? How much do we owe now? The last time I looked, it was quite a lot," I replied. I continued feeding Mama with the porridge while Francis went to get food.

I thanked him and started eating too. I was very hungry; I hadn’t eaten much since last night.

I only had bites of rice here and there.

I had too many thoughts in my mind, so it affected my eating as well. This is how I am; I lose my appetite when I’m stressed.

I also think that when I eat, it feels like food is running out. I’d rather be the one to go hungry than let them starve. I love them so much, and I’m willing to sacrifice everything. That’s the only thing I can give back to Mama.

Another night passed, and somehow we were able to fill our stomachs.

I frowned when I couldn’t feel sleepy. I sat up and took a deep breath. I often feel like this at night.

If I’m not thinking about Rome, I’m thinking about Benjamin.

I took in a lot of air before lying back down next to Francis. I wrapped my arms around a pillow and closed my eyes.

A room so dark, dirty, smelly, and filled with countless insects. Suddenly, the door opened, revealing the shadow of a large man holding a whip. He quickly struck it on the floor, startling me.

I recoiled as he walked towards me. He threw the whip and removed his black belt.

All my fears from the two days I stayed away returned when he entered the house.

"I don’t want to!" I shook my head, "My body still hurts from the beating you gave me the other day! Please have mercy on me!" I pleaded, even though he hadn’t done anything yet, tears were racing down my cheeks due to my fear of him.

I knew what he was going to do to me once he took off the belt wrapped around him.

"You’re my toy, so why would I stop?" He snapped his belt against his palm. I continued to back away as my eyes darted between the belt and his face.

"Have mercy!" I begged, hugging myself. "Even just this once, please don’t hurt me. I think I’m going to die from all the beatings I’ve received!" I could hardly bear to look at my body that was covered in bruises and wounds from him.

"A toy doesn’t break easily when it’s played with. I won’t stop playing with my favorite barbie. A living barbie." He suddenly laughed maniacally.

My eyes widened. "AHH!" I screamed as the metal of the belt suddenly sank into my skin.

I saw the blood from my arm dripping onto the floor, causing me to lose consciousness immediately…

"Ate! Ate!"

I quickly stood up, breathless, sitting up and gaping while my eyes bulged.

"Ate? Are you okay? Ate?" Francis cried as he held my face. I hugged him tightly.

"I saw him again, Francis. He is still hurting me..." my voice is trembling as I reported.

"Sorry, ate," he accompanied my sobbing.

"I'm scared, Francis." I said, catching my breath and holding on to him even tighter.

"Don't be afraid anymore, Ate. He won't come back ever again. I won't allow anyone else to hurt you. I'm grown up now, I can defend you. I can throw punches now. Don't be afraid anymore. I feel sorry for you when you cry, it's as if I'm crying too. I love you so much. You don't have to be afraid of people with bad attitudes because they will also get their karma."

I suddenly felt a sense of relief in my breathing because of what Francis said. He always lightens my heart when I dream of painful things. He is also the one who hugs me and comforts me when I remember my dark past.

"Let’s go back to sleep, Ate, it's already two o'clock in the early morning." he suddenly rubbed his eyes.

"Sorry for waking you up all the time," I said with a pout.

"That's okay, Ate. I would feel guiltier if I didn't wake up when you're crying in your dreams."

"Thank you so much. You're so really kind," I said and kissed his cheek. "We are so lucky to have you."

"Hold on to me, Ate, so you won't dream. They say it's effective; I read it on social media." I nodded and smiled faintly as I hugged Francis tightly.

I took a deep breath before closing my eyes. I nestled into his neck for more to feel the comfort.

I hope my embrace of my sibling will be effective.

I woke up early and was up before my alarm. I smiled because I didn’t have a painful dream. Francis's hug was effective for me. I didn’t wake Francis up yet so he could make up for the sleep he lost because of me.

I still had some leftover money yesterday so I used that to pay off what I owed him and bought eggs again. At least I was able to reduce our debt a bit.

I also cooked a simple porridge for Mama. I know she must be hungry because porridge doesn’t last for long in the stomach. Every day, she eats porridge that isn’t perfectly cooked.

I feel sorry for her, but I always promise that I will make it up to her once I get a job. She won't just eat porridge, but delicious pasta, and I will buy her a bed so she will have a soft place to lie down.

While I was frying dried fish and eggplant that I just picked outside, someone called my cellphone. This is the cellphone that Rome and I saved up for.

This is seven years kept by me. It's a slow system now and of course the storage is full but it can still handle calls and texts. I will just make do with what we have.

I had the audacity to take this when I left him. I really needed a cellphone then, but it became worthless because Benjamin hid my cellphone from me so I couldn't contact my family.

It's a good thing I found this on top of the cabinet, so I was able to take it with me when I escaped from him.

"Hello?" I pressed the cellphone to my ear so I could still cook while talking. The number was unfamiliar, but my heart raced extremely fast. Not because of anxiety, but due to excitement.

"Faye Reagon?" I heard Miss Regina's voice. I dropped the spatula it and wiped my hands on my clothes before switching the phone to the other ear.

"Yes, Miss Regina," I happily replied. My excitement was evident on my face because she called me right away. Unlike those I applied to who took three days to call and then rejected me.

That's disappointing.

I hope that this time I get approved.

"Glad you recognize my number. Anyway, congratulations! You are the one who will work with us! You are so lucky. Out of 50 applicants, you were chosen by Sir, the owner of the company. I think he was impressed by your information. Not only that, he didn’t hesitate to accept you right away. Do you know that many dreams of the position you got? If I were you, I wouldn’t waste a huge opportunity like this," she said.

"Really?" I covered my mouth in surprise at what I heard. I quickly caught the pot when it suddenly fell. I also fixed the wood on the stone kalan.

We don’t use a gas stove because we can’t afford a gas tank. And we’re used to this in the province, so it’s okay for me to use firewood.

It’s tastier when using firewood, and it’s our culture too. Also, we use some clay pots to cook, which came from Grandma and Grandpa.

"Yes. You can start tomorrow. Do you have a white shirt and pants?" she asked. Suddenly, something fell loudly. "Sorry, the pen case just fell off from the table," she apologized.

"That's okay, and I do have white pants," I replied while preparing the food on the table.

Francis suddenly arrived, looking pleased with my reaction. He woke up early, huh? It’s only five o'clock.

"For now, that will be your uniform. You and Arlo will meet tomorrow at the same meeting place. He will fetch you. You will also have a personal interview with our boss, so be prepared. Do well. Make him impressed. The opportunity is all yours!" Miss Regina said on the other line. "Just relax and keep the excitement for tomorrow. Your opportunity has been granted!"

Even though I couldn't see Miss Regina, I knew she was happy for me. I almost wanted to cry for this luck.

"Thank you so much!"

"My very much pleasure. Anyway, I’ll end the call. See you tomorrow!" she said in closing.

"Thank you," she hung up. "I have a job now!" I happily announced, looking at my brother, and we embraced each other.

"I'm happy for you, Ate," he said.

All day, I happily took care of my mother and waited for the time to come for tomorrow.

I really need money, and I will do my best at my new job to stay there.

But I still don’t know what my job will be. Is it hard? It should be fine as long as I get an income and provide food for my remaining family members with me.

"Wow, anyone can paint your face, Faye," noticed Manang Laida, one of our neighbors who once gave us food.

"I’ve been lucky. I have a job now, and I will start tomorrow," I happily shared the news.

"It’s good that after so long searching for a job, you finally found one. So you can pay Tina too. She keeps saying that you don’t pay. Oh, she just can’t understand the life of the poor."

"That’s true. I won’t waste this opportunity, and I will pay them," I said with a smile.

"Does your mom still have medicine?" I set down the broom for a moment.

"She has some left. It’s almost running out. I hope her medicine lasts until my salary comes."

"Okay then. My child is calling me," she said. I nodded in response as she went inside.

I knelt down to talk to Mama. I held her hands. “Mama, as long as you can, be strong, okay? I’m just here for you, for you and Francis.”

She nodded slowly, so I immediately stood up to embrace her. Thankfully, Mama was still given a chance to be with us. I hope her life lasts longer. I want to show her what I can do.

“I’ll go to the table first, Mama.”

I went straight to the table and rested my hands on my chin.

“You know, Rome? If I could see you now? I would flaunt this little achievement of mine. Are you mad at me? Do you still love me? Where are you now? How are you, my love?”

I bit my lip as tears threatened to spill.

I went to the room to get the flower from when we got married. It was already wilted and very dry. If I take this out of its box, it will surely fall apart immediately.

Even though it’s wilted, I can still smell its fragrance; when I smell this flower, I remember how Rome and I answered those who married us.

I also have the suit he wore on our wedding day. I collected every item from Rome that was left with me. I will never throw these away, even if we don’t see each other anymore. It seems that Rome will be the only man I will love, no one else.

“Wherever you are, Rome, I hope you still think of me. I know I have many lacks. If I could go back to you, would you accept me again? Would you still recognize me? You know, Rome, even if it’s embarrassing to face you? If I ever get a chance to talk to you? I would talk to you and plead. You will always remain in my heart, my dear.”

I kissed his suit and hugged it tightly. I wish I was hugging him instead. I wish there would be a miracle and my embrace would become a person.