“LONG TIME NO SEE”

It was almost dark when Mia arrived in Manila. If she hadn't been stuck in traffic, maybe she wouldn't have taken this long on the road. Outside the old house, Mia remained standing while quietly observing it.

A long time has passed but she still feels a small pinch in her heart as she looks up at what is actually a big house standing in front of her.

That's when Mia took action and pushed open the rusty gate of the house. She knows that tomorrow many of her neighbors will ask why her sudden return. And what happened to her?

That was when a bitter smile broke on her lips.

The way she looks right now, maybe no one will ask. Maybe they will just gossip about her. Those judgmental ones who knew her since she was a little girl.

That's right.

Because ever since Nana Rosita got sick and she was forced to cling to a knife to get and provide money for her treatment. And as far as she remembers, none of the people around her understood why she has to do such things except the late old foster mother.

That's when Mia took out the key and opened the big door of the old house.

Naturally like how she expected, dusty and full spider webs everywhere. But because she left all pieces of furniture covered with a white cloth, she knew that she would not have much difficulty in wiping the antiques in that house.

Tomorrow she will start cleaning. What she will do now is arrange where she will sleep because she wants to rest. Now she suddenly felt tiredness along with the pain in her body caused by the bruises that she got from Bernie’s beating.

Mia just lit a candle and started arranging where she would sleep.

Tomorrow she has to go to the electricity company. It was difficult to move in the dark especially when she has no one with her. Then she will start looking for a job. She needs to earn money, even if she is alone. What was already given to her by Nanny Ising will be used up and it will be more difficult if she waits for that to happen.

*****

THE NEXT DAY as she expected Mia was showered with many questions and rumors from her neighbors.

And because she was naturally quiet, she preferred to just smile instead of answering them.

In the variety store of Mrs. Ramos is where she bought her breakfast that day. Coffee and biscuits.

Those are okay to fill her stomach. She needs to spend her money wisely since she doesn't have a job in sight yet. The truth is that she actually plans to go to Pegasus later.

That was the nightclub where she used to work as a waitress.

Maybe even after a long time, the owner will still recognize her. She wants to go in there and apply if she could be a dishwasher or a waitress. Just like what she used to do before. But not as others think. She was really just a waitress. And Bernie was the only man she was with. In fact, she was the only man she gave herself to and nothing else.

And since the work at Pegasus is at night, she also asks Mrs. Ramos if she knows someone who is looking for a house cleaner and laundress to recommend her.

She can clean and do laundry in the morning especially if it's her day off from the club.

Because the woman asked her about her situation, and since she wanted her help, Mia decided to just tell her the truth. What really happened to her and why she returned to Manila after such a long time?

It was late afternoon when Mia finished taking care of everything that she needed to fix. She was somehow lucky because Rosanna, the club owner accepted her. When she remembered the conversation she had with her, Mia smiled.

"Is that so? Oh, I’m so sorry to hear about that. Don’t worry, I'll give you a job. I told you when you left here, didn't I? That I see you as my own daughter so you can come back here anytime you want," she said holding her hand, and then she gently squeezed it afterward.

"Hush now, stop crying already. You are home. At least here even if there are those gossipy and judgmental people, in the end, they will still help you because they saw how you grew up. We will not leave you. Just do not go back to that demon ex-partner of yours!” her friend Dahlia who is now a club manager.

"Anyway, what type of job do you want? Do you want to become a waitress again? Just like then, you can't be tabled by anyone. Not unless you want," said Rosanna in her calm tone.

Mia nodded then took a tissue from the box and wiped her tears. "Yes sis, I’m okay with that kind of setup," she answered and then smiled.

*****

A week later and here she is. At least she is getting used to living alone.

Just like she said she didn't open her cellphone until she bought a new sim card.

That's why after making the purchase, she immediately called the cellphone number Nanny Ising has given to her. To assure the old woman that she was okay. She also thanked her for the help. Because if it wasn't for her, she would probably still be there in Bernie's house, waiting for him to come home.

What she knows is that he will be out of town for two weeks.

And she also knows that he will be with the woman he got pregnant with. Well, if the reason that the man told her is true which actually was the source of their argument. Until that reached the point where Bernie hurt her again, physically.

Mia quickly shook her head to get that memory out of her mind.

Within a week of her stay here, she could say that she had almost forgotten Bernie. Maybe that will be more complete when she starts her work at Pegasus.

Rosanna told her that she had to heal the bruises on her body, arms, and face before she could start working. And she understands why. She knows that such a job requires you to always be beautiful and presentable to people.

"It's good that you are here, I have been waiting for you because of some good news," Mrs. Ramos one night when she bought a kilo of rice, two pieces of salted eggs, and a tomato at her store.

"Yeah? What is that?" she asked the woman.

In the aura of her face, it looked like the woman was going to tell her indeed good news, which is why she immediately felt excited.

"I've found you a house to clean. Do you remember Erik, your former classmate in elementary who lives over there in that house with the green gate?" Mrs. Ramos started.

Mia was immediately stunned by what she heard. "Is it really, Erik?" she asked again.

Mrs. Ramos nodded. "Yes, it's a pity you didn’t catch up with him. He was here earlier and just bought coffee. I don't think he's asleep yet, go. After all, it's a Sunday tomorrow he might ask you to do his laundry and clean up. For sure he will pay you nicely since he has a great job," the woman advised her.

Hearing that, Mia thought that Mrs. Ramos has a point.

If Erik asks her to clean and do his laundry tomorrow, while she waits for her bruises to heal, she will have income.

"All right, I'll go see him now," she said, handing over the change from the woman before she crossed the road to go to Erik's house.

That's when Mia felt a strange emotion in her chest.

Erik, her first love.

 Her first and last dance in high school.

Only now will they meet again because just a few days after their graduation, the young man left with his family to live in Canada.

Outside the green gate, Mia pressed the doorbell.

It wasn't long before she heard the wooden door of the house open. Then the footsteps that were approaching her. And soon the gate finally opened, and a very handsome man appeared before her eyes whom she had never seen for a long time.

"Mia?" he asked in surprise while staring at her face.

She hesitated at the smile that tore from her lips. "Long time no see," she thought of answering instead.