"Sweety?"
I looked toward the door when someone knocked. It was Mother's voice.
"Mother?" I furrowed my brows as I opened the door for her. "Why?"
"You're leaving again?"
I looked down at what I was wearing—she noticed it immediately. I hadn't told her yet that I was applying for a job here.
"To another country again? Don't you miss us? Are you leaving us again, anak?" Her voice turned sad.
"Mother, no. I'm applying for a job here—as a nurse."
Her sadness vanished instantly, and I smiled. "I'm not planning on leaving anymore. I don't want to go abroad again. I want to stay here for good."
Just when I had finally decided to settle down in the Philippines… the person I dreamed of being with in that other country was no longer mine. He wanted someone else now.
She nodded repeatedly. "I thought you were leaving again. You've barely been here for a month."
"I'm not leaving again, Mother," I repeated, then turned to the mirror and examined myself.
"Really?" Mother 's eyes lit up like a child's.
"Yes, Mother. I'm staying."
Her smile grew even wider. "Sweety, is anyone courting you?"
I was caught off guard by her sudden question.
"I'm just asking, anak. You know… you're at the right age already. Your siblings are about to graduate," she said gently. "Maybe it's time you gave us—your Father and me—a grandchild?"
My eyes widened at her request. Seriously? How old do they think I am?
"Mother, I don't want to get married," I said softly—because the man I wanted to marry… was already with someone else.
"Why not, anak? No one courting you? Don't you have anyone to introduce to us yet?"
There was someone… but he loves someone else now. Your youngest daughter, not me.
"Mother…"
She took my hairbrush and began brushing my long hair. It reached down to the back of my knees. I hadn't cut it in years.
"Is something wrong with me?" I closed my eyes. I didn't want her to see the pain in them.
"Am I not worthy of being loved? Am I hard to love? Hard to be with? Or maybe I'm just boring? A killjoy?"
She froze mid-brush. When I opened my eyes again, she was looking straight at me.
"Why are you asking that, sweety? Has someone hurt you?"
Yes… Marvin. My first boyfriend. Who's now with your youngest daughter.
"N-No. I-I'm just asking," I said, forcing a smile.
"Sweety…"
"Mother, it's nothing." I could fight through the pain. I'd stay silent until I forgot the person who caused this heartache.
"Nothing? But ever since you came back, you've been locking yourself in your room. You're distant from your sister too."
I swallowed.
"Are you and your sister fighting?"
I didn't know how to respond. That felt like the hardest question ever.
"No…"
She took my boyfriend, Mother.
"But… has Shaira introduced anyone to you yet?"
"Sweety, you know your sister is still too young to be in a relationship," Mother said seriously.
"But you, sweety—why does it seem like you don't want a boyfriend? You're not getting any younger. And before your Father and I…"
"Mother!" I cut her off. I hated hearing things like that. It always felt like someone was saying goodbye forever.
"Oh, why? I'm just saying," she chuckled, but I didn't laugh. That wasn't funny. Life was no joke.
"I just want to see a grandchild from you already, anak."
"Mother, I'm only 27."
"So what? You're old enough to get married and have a child."
I may be old enough, but how can I build a family when the man I wanted to build it with was taken from me?
"Is there really no one you like, sweety? No one courting you? Or maybe… you already have a boyfriend and just haven't told us yet?"
"There was…"
"Then introduce him to us, sweety," Mother said with a smile.
I gave her a bitter smile. "That was the plan. But… my little sister took him from me."
"What did you just say?"
I shook my head. "Nothing. Please, go downstairs first. I'll follow. I just need to finish my requirements."
She nodded and finally left. I closed my eyes. I don't think I want to be in a relationship anymore, Mother. I can't take the pain again. Not anymore.
I glanced at my reflection and gave myself a half-hearted smile. I gathered everything I needed, especially my phone. I ignored all the unread messages from that man.
Because now… I had to be careful. I was too afraid to take a chance again.
I opened my door and was about to go downstairs when I saw Shaira rushing out of her room to the bathroom on the second floor. The moment she opened the door, she began throwing up—though she wasn't even bringing anything up.
Pregnant?
Should I feel satisfied seeing this? Knowing she'll get scolded? Is this my revenge?
Or should I feel scared… because they might kick her out?
Why is it that instead of feeling happy… I feel this heavy sadness?
"You're pregnant?"
"S-Sister?" she said in shock, hearing my voice behind her.
I stared at her seriously and observed her. She had gained weight.
"You're pregnant?" I asked again.
She swallowed. "I-I don't know…"
I raised an eyebrow. "You don't know? Something happened between you and my boyfriend—oh right, ex-boyfriend. Because you STOLE someone who was SUPPOSED TO BE MINE."
She turned pale at every word I said. I wasn't threatening her exactly… but maybe it felt like it.
"Did you know I spoke to Mother? She said you're not even allowed to have a boyfriend. What will they say when they find out their youngest daughter is pregnant?"
"S-Sister, please…" she shook her head. "D-Don't tell Mother and Father…"
"Is this what they call karma?" I muttered sarcastically, rolling my eyes before walking past her.
But even if I was angry at her for stealing from me… I couldn't help but worry.
She's still my sister, after all.
She's too young for this.
"Aly!"
As soon as I got off the jeep, I saw Alora waiting outside the hospital.
"Morning!" I greeted.
"Good morning!" she replied.
"Come on. You're just in time. The owner of the hospital is here."
I checked my watch. "Really? They're late."
Aly laughed. "You know how bosses are."
I shrugged, and we talked as we made our way inside. Aly was still as talkative as ever—but I didn't mind. I was used to it, and her stories were actually fun to listen to.
"Aly, we're here," she said as we arrived on the floor where the interviews were being held.
"Dra. Velo!"
Aly and I both turned when someone called her name.
"D-Doc?"
"Shouldn't you be in your department? What are you doing here? Do you want to—"
The man, who I assumed was a doctor, didn't finish because Aly quickly turned to me.
"Okay, I'm leaving now! Good luck! I already have a job, hehe. Ba-bye!"
She kissed me on the cheek before running off with the man who called her.
I shrugged and took a seat next to the other applicants. But before I could even settle in, someone called my last name.
It was my turn.
I knocked three times before entering. I was immediately impressed by the office—it was clean, stylish, and had a beautiful view.
"Good morning, M— You?!"
"Oh, good morning too, Miss Grumpy," he greeted with a wink.
"We meet again. Is this what they call… destiny?"
Destiny, my ass.