STAHD 1

" Vegetables! " I shouted to those people passing by my place.

I'm here at the market today selling various vegetables. Like eggplant, okra, ampalaya, opo and others. I was already here early to sell.

My parents are gone and my two siblings and I are left behind. Mama is gone, and my step father never came home, so now I'm the only one supporting our family. We haven't heard from him since his last message.

He was so kind that we were surprised that he didn't come home for a day until the month reached. He just left a note telling us not to worry about him and that he is fine.

"Young lady, give this to me" I smiled as my suki approached me.

"Oh, I guess you're earlier today?" I asked because she was a bit earlier today than usual.

"Oh, it's my grandson's birthday and I want to be the one to cook so I'm early today." she answered with a smile.

I looked at what she brought. That's quite a lot too. I just smiled and gave her what she needed.

When it was over, she left the other things she brought and she said she forgot to buy something.

My place is small, enough for one person and a few vegetables on a table.

I have to work for my siblings and me. I didn't finish school, so this is where I failed. But when I save up again, I want to go to college again.

There were many more people who bought and I saw that my customer was also coming and she was carrying vermicelli noodles.

"Thanks for looking out my things, beautiful ." she said smiling.

"Oh, that's not thing . You want me to help you to the exit, you have quite a lot." I offered because she would definitely have a hard time carrying those.

"No it's okay, I already called my grandson. And he's coming." My eyes widened at what she said.

I have a crush on that grandson of hers. She has brought him here once too and even though he is brown, he is very handsome. Typical Filipino, and an engineer.

I braced myself as I saw him approaching us. But no matter what I did, he was still different. He approached us with a smile and waved at his grandmother,and blessed.

Respectful!

"Lola, I'll take it to the tricycle. " he said to his grandmother, smiling and looking at me.

"Hi, Nerissa" he greeted. My eyes widened when he greeted me.

He's so hot, I'm thrilled.

"Hi" I greeted gently and he smiled.

I simply held the hem of my panties. It might fall, oh shucks!

I waved as he waved away. His grandmother also said goodbye and they left. My sales seem to be good now.

My smile didn't fade until more customers and lunch arrived.

"Hey Nerissa, it looks like we have a lot of sales right now. You only have a few items." said my friend Fely.

" Ah yes, that's why I can go home early. I'll just bring the others home and we'll have it dinner." I replied smiling at her.

She is a friend of mine who, like me, was not lucky enough to finish school, so this is where we both are.

I started putting it away and put it in my small trolley. There is only a little left so I better bring it home and be with my other two brothers for a while because later I have work again.

Even though they are not really my brothers, I consider them more than brothers since our parents left us.

I am the father and mother who supports our family. We have no one else to rely on except our aunt who is my father's sister whom I sometimes leave with my siblings.

"I'll go first, Fely, see you tomorrow." I said goodbye and waved at her.

Carrying the trolley with only vegetables, I went to ride the tricycle. After getting on board, I went to our house that we are still renting, so I really had to work harder.

When I got down I saw my two brothers playing billiards with our neighbor.

"Thank you, man." I thanked the tricycle driver and entered our little fence. I opened the small gate and called my brothers and they turned to me smiling.

"Arthur, Arjun!" they immediately approached and hugged me.

"Sister!" they responded at the same time. I hugged them too.

"How are you here, did you both behave ?" I asked my twin brothers. They are only seven years old.

That should be guided by our parents. So I thank our aunt for not leaving us alone.

"Oh, Nerissa you're already here! " I looked at my aunt who had just left their house. "Have you had lunch yet?" she asked.

We live in a small compound so the houses are close together.

"Not yet." I answered scratching my head.

My two brothers went back to playing and aunt came to me.

"Oh, what are you waiting for Christmas? Come inside to eat."

She took the trolley I was carrying and led me to walk into the house.

I went straight to my room first and put down my bag and went to the bathroom to wash up. My eyes are about to close but I still have to work. I have to racket for us. After washing, I left the room and went straight to our small table and I found my aunt serving food there.

I smiled, even though she has his own family, she is still there for us. Her husband and her five-year-old daughter are also good and kind. I hugged her from behind, which surprised her. I broke away from her laughing and she hit me on the arm.

"You young,lady " she laughed as she looked at me. "Eat now, I know you have other places to go. But I hope you don't abuse your body. Get some rest, you'll be up early in the morning. Then in the afternoon you will work more. Rest your body." she said worriedly.

I just smiled and sat down and started eating.

"Aunt, you know why I'm doing this." I replied and took a bite of the boneless bangus dish.

"That's it, you're doing it for your brothers. Especially they will be going to school next month. But take care of yourself. Oh, when I actually that brother of mine . I will hit him! Why did he suddenly disappear like a bubble and just leave a note saying not to look for him!? "

She's angry at her brother too.

I just shrugged. I don't know either. The important thing now is that I can support my brothers every day. Because if not we will be hungry.

After eating and putting away my food, I peeked at my two brothers and saw them watching TV at our Aunt house. I just went back in and went to the room to get dressed and I had to go to work.

I knocked on their door and it was opened by uncle.

"Oh, it's you Nerissa, come in. Your aunt is in the kitchen making snacks" he said and let me in. That's when my aunt came out of the kitchen.

"Are you leaving?" she asked and placed the tray with only snacks on the table. My two brothers faced me and came closer.

"Sister, are you leaving again?" Arjun asked. I knelt down to match them both.

"Yes, but sister will come home later. I will bring home fried chicken and fries." I promised smiling.

Even inside me, I don't want to leave them. It's also hard for me, because I'm always at work, so I can't take care of them anymore. Sometimes when I come they are already asleep and when they wake up I'm not there.

And sometimes if they catch me at home, I'm already leaving for work.

"Okay, okay, be careful sister."

they said at the same time and kissed both of my cheeks. I ruffled their hair and they went back to watching.

"Don't worry about them. Just be careful always." I nodded and was about to leave the house when Tiyang spoke again. "Oh by the way, Nerissa. Someone came here a while ago. They were the ones who always came here before and were looking for your father." she said shaking her head.

"Leave it alone, they won't find anything here." I replied and left the house and went to the tricycle parking lot.

How many months has it been since my step father disappeared? One, two, three or four? I don't know how long it's been gone. My priority right now is whatever is here. And those are my brothers. It's hard but I can do it. It's even more difficult when mom died. So, I can handle it!