Chapter 1

"This is not enough," Leonora expressed her dissatisfaction showing the Five Thousand Pesos to Carnatio. She couldn't look her stepmother in the eyes, she was very ashamed. Even if she wanted to give more, she didn't have anything to give.

"Tita, I have nothing left. That's all I get from working part-time at the convenience store and the gas station."

"I know you're doing everything you can to make us money, but it isn't enough. Five thousand pesos was not enough for your daddy's medicine alone."

Carnation remained silent and crouched over her head. She couldn't reason out. Leonora was right in all she said. But does she even have a choice? Even if she wants to get full-time work with a high salary, she cannot do so due to her lack of experience and education.

"By the way," Leonora said hesitantly, "Galel came by earlier and asked when we were going to pay him." Galel Vegas is her father's business partner, who pulled his investment two weeks later for some personal reasons. Galel was the one who helped them out by lending them money to cover the cost of his father's treatment.

"But, tita, I'm afraid I can't afford to pay him right now. I already got my salary from this month, and I still had a cash advance from—"

“Just borrow money from your friends,” Leonora suggested, referring to Carnation's high school friends.

"But... They no longer want to lend me because I failed to repay them for the money I borrowed when we ran out of dad's medicine."

"You made it sound like I'm a burden to this family. If I could just leave your father here in the hospital to help you make money, I would have done it! But take a look at him; he can't even stand on his own!"

"Tita, I didn't say anything—"

"Find a way," Leonora said, interrupting her. "We're both aware of Galel's capabilities. If we are unable to provide him with the money. He'll going to kill us!" Leonora turned her back, her stepmother walked over to his father's hospital bed and arrange the messy blanket.

"I'll find a way, tita…"

"Make a way, not just find a way," she urged strongly. Despite Leonora's lack of interest, Carnation nodded. This is insane! How is she going to get Five Hundred Thousand Pesos?

"Okay good, then."

"All right, tita, I'm leaving for work," Carnation said, smiling at her half-brother Carlgem, who was five years old. The adorable kid was playing with his mother's phone on the hospital couch.

     

      

~

"Hello, sir! What's your choice?" Carnation smiled as she asked the male customer. 

"Hello, I'd like one tall iced coffee, please." 

"Is that all, sir?" 

"Yes," the young man replied with a small smile on his lips.

"What is your name, sir?" 

"Sloan," the male customer replied. Carnation wrote down the customer's name on the clear plastic cup instantly.

Every day, the cafè was crowded because it was close to Luzon's largest university, where students hung out and study. Carnation works at the café on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. She had to lie to get in and work because the cafe is only accepting working students. Fortunately, Carnation's boss understood her situation when she decided to tell the truth.

"Hey, you're spacing out again," Carnation's coworker Angelo observed. She was standing near the edge of the counter, holding a rag and staring blankly at nothing.

"Are you thinking about your father's  hospital bills?" Angelo asked, and Carnation responded with a nod.

"I'm not sure where I'm going to borrow money, Angelo." Carnation expressed her frustration to her coworker. In what way will she be able to pay their debt to Galil? She can't borrow money from her friends. They won't lend her money anymore.

"Why don't you simply ask Sir Peter? Maybe he can lend to you again, or to your college friends? They must have been wealthy, didn't they?" Angelo encourages. Right , why did she forget about RJ? Perhaps she can help her!

During her lunch break, Carnation tried to call her former college friend, but the number was unattended. Her hope was extinguished in an instant, now what? Apparently, she'll have no choice but to ask her boss for a cash advance once more.

"But you only took out a cash advance last Monday." Embarrassed, Carnation bit her lower lip. This is it, she's already spoken to her boss, but it appears that his response to her request has been a no.

"Because, sir, I'm in desperate need of it right now.' I'll promise to work double—"

"I know you will work hard for it, but that's not the problem here." Her boss let out a sigh. "Sorry, Carnation, but your cash advance has already exceeded Four Thousand Pesos. I will unable to grant your request. I'm sorry, but I can't help you."

"It's all right, sir," Carnation said, forcing a smile. However, it only shows how nervous and embarrassed she is at that moment. She wished the earth would devour her. 

"I apologize, Carnation."

She walked out of his boss's office, her shoulder drooping, drained and hopeless. She waited for her coworkers to leave so she could talk to her boss alone, she's too embarrassed to borrow money; now she has to go home alone because the others have left. It's so sad and lonely.

Carnation was walking to the bus stop when it began to rain. She snatched the umbrella from her bag and dashed to the waiting shed, almost slipping in the process! As she waited for a ride, it began to rain heavily.

"Why does it have to rain now?" Carnation grumbled as she wiped the raindrops away from her arms and face. There was a strong wind blowing, so even though she was sheltered in the bus stop, she could get wet from the rain.

"Where have the buses gone?" She couldn't keep the tears from welling up in her eyes. It's extremely frustrating! Her life is a shambles, her day is ruined, it's freaking raining, and there are no buses on the road.

Carnation had been soaked for two hours in rain and cold air. She was drowsy and tired, and she was still dressed in her wet clothes! There hasn't been a bus in a long time! She's exhausted. She'll stand up, then sit back down, as if she's an idiot trying to console herself in her loneliness and boredom. Until there was a flash of light from a car in the distance. The vehicle stopped in front of the waiting shed and blew its horn twice, then the backseat window suddenly opened.

"Lady! Do you need a ride? Because of the heavy rain, there are no buses," yelled an elderly man, peering out the back seat's window.

"N-no! Thank you, but I'm fine!" Carnation yelled back, rejecting the old man's offer. Seriously? Did this old man think she'd just go with someone she didn't know?

"I know you're hesitant, but I just want to help you! We're on our way to St. Luke's Hospital; perhaps your destination is just along the way?" Carnation didn't have the opportunity to respond to the old man when her phone vibrated, and when she read the message sent by her stepmother. She accepted the old man's offer without hesitation.