Even when her aunt was confused with her sudden resignation, she still agreed for her to do so when she said that she would already be working in Manila. She was surprised but had no choice but to be happy for her.
When the night came, she talked to her grandmother. They just finished eating by then, and they were currently sitting, watching a show on the TV. It was because the old woman no longer accepts customers beyond five in the afternoon.
“Grandma?" she started.
"Hmmm?" the old woman answered, her eyes were still fixed on the TV. She seemed passionate about watching as the show that was airing was her favorite telenovela.
Natasha swallowed the lump on her throat before opening her mouth to say something again.
“I-I’ll be going to Manila this Monday.”
"Will you stroll with Shirley there?” she asked with no hesitation as her eyes never left the TV.
It was almost a five-hour trip from their place to Manila, and Shirley and she had already gone there to truant. She even remembered that they only stayed in the house of Shirley’s relative for a single night.
“I plan on applying for work there,” she said, using up all of her courage even before they dried out.
In an instant, her grandmother turned the TV off using the remote control before facing her.
"What work are you referring to? You still haven’t gotten your board exam, right?” the old woman asked with confusion plastered across her face.
"I am not applying as a teacher,” she said with a hint of worry in her voice.
"Oh, so what are you applying for there?” the old woman asked. She knew that her grandmother was already serious, making him utterly nervous because of it.
She froze for a brief second, thinking of an answer. Now that she realized, she didn’t even know what work she was applying for.
"Ahm, i-it’s an office job, grandma. Do you remember your rich customer before whose grandsons were twins? You know, the grandma of the guy that I’ll marry?”
The old woman’s forehead creased as she was looking at her with a slightly amused countenance.
"Marry, you say? But no one ever asked to court you. Don’t tell me you go around everywhere hitting your shots with random guys?” Her glare
"My goodness! Of course not, grandma. Do you remember that I told you how head over heels I am for one of the twins? You even told me you’d support me if I finished my schooling,” she reminded her, hoping that she’d remember the things that she said that time.
Her grandmother took her time remembering what she just said, and just after a moment, she seemed to remember everything.
"I thought you’ve already forgotten about him as they never went back here again.”
There was a huge smile on her face as she shook her head.
“Grandma, I’ll never forget the guy that my heart screams and longs for,” she answered.
"I hope you’ll allow me to. You promised me that you’ll support me with what I feel for him once I’m at the right age to do so. Grandma, I’m already twenty-five. I am already in the right age to be picked like a ripe fruit,” she pleaded.
“What ripe fruit are you talking about? I didn’t raise you to think like that. You wait for someone who will pick you, not the other way around,” she said, annoyed at her remarks.
She rubbed her sides.“Grandma, do you think that someone would pick me if I wouldn’t do anything?” she said. She couldn’t help but feel a little sadness on her chest after she asked that question. The expression on the old woman’s eyes softened as she stared at her before grabbing her face gently.
"Tasyang, you’re prett—"
She cut her off as she grabbed her hands that were still cupping her face.
"Yes, grandma. You tell me I’m pretty every single day, and I’ll force myself to believe that even when I know to myself what’s the truth. I haven’t told you how people pick me because of how I look. You’re the only person who makes me feel like I’m beautiful. I have no physical beauty to be proud of, but I have the courage to fight for what I feel even when I know that it’s a punch to the moon. Please, grandma. Give me a chance. If it doesn't work out, at least I tried, right?” she pleaded.
Her grandmother stared at her for what felt like an eternity. But after a while, she let out a sigh.
"What about your work in the town library?" she asked.
She could no longer stop herself from smiling after hearing her question.
"I already told auntie first hand, and she has already found someone who would replace me,” she answered with a huge smile on her face.
“How much do you need? Do you have clothes to wear already?” She let go of her face before attempting to stand, probably to get some money that she could spend, but she was quick to stop her before motioning the old woman to sit once more.
"Grandma, I was able to save money from my income, and I have clothes to wear, right? You always buy me one,” she said before embracing her tightly.
"If I get hired, grandma, and once I’m able to look for a place to stay, I’ll bring you there with me,” she promised.
"Oh, I’ll just stay here. You know my customers would be looking for me. I’ll allow you to go there as long as you’d go back here from time to time, okay?” She was already smiling as she grabbed hold of the hands that were embracing her.
“You’ll be alone here, grandma,” she said, worried, realizing that no one would be there if her grandmother would need something.
"I’ll let Meding’s daughter stay here. I remember that she was having problems as they wouldn’t fit in their house still, and her daughter has already been becoming a young lady. You know, puberty. Her daughter is studying in town and is also an obedient child so I know that it’s best for her to be here as you’re far away.” She smiled, staring at her.
Aling Meding was their neighbor before who was already staying in the town. The woman had a dozen children, and the house that they were staying in wouldn't be enough to cater to all of them at once. She was happy that she would finally be at peace as she worked in Manila knowing that her grandmother wouldn’t be alone when she’d be far away.
Yes, she was confident that she’d actually land a job in Clyde's company. She wasn’t certain what her job was, but she could feel deep inside her chest that her day would be filled with happiness, and she’d go back to her grandmother and Shirley bearing good news.
Clyde...
Our paths will meet again. I know that we are meant to be together ever since I caught a glance at your handsome face.
Her eyes were even closed as she was embracing her grandmother. She was imagining the guy’s face, but she quickly opened her eyes when the countenance on her mind slowly changed into someone with piercings and was wearing a pair of ripped jeans.
Grrrr...
Why does his twin, Kyle, always ruin the moment?
She sighed once more, forcing herself to stay calm.
Starting now, Tasyang, you need to start learning how to manage your annoyance with that guy because you’ll be part of their family in the near future. Accept him with all your heart so that your relationship with Clyde would go smoothly.
She smiled once more.
Yes, Clyde. I could face and accept everything for you. I would do anything for you. I wouldn’t mind if I’ll get you with love potions. The important thing is that it’s the both of us in the end.
Natasha recognized that she wouldn’t even stand a chance without the help of love potions.
It was only three in the morning, but she was already up to start preparing for the day. There was an uncontrollable feeling in her chest that she couldn’t stop feeling even when she told herself to. Manila was still a five-hour ride away, and that was already the day that she had been looking forward to.Natasha jerked awake, and immediately went to the bathroom to take a shower. She didn’t mind even when the water was utterly cold. After showering, she changed into the clothes that she prepared for herself. She wore a yellow blouse that had a pair of long sleeves. It was also her first time wearing a skirt that didn’t go beyond her knees, making her decide to wear black stockings as she didn’t feel that comfortable with the length of her skirt as if it was too short for her own liking. She just wasn’t used to it. Her shoes, on the other hand, were flat and were red in color. She also put her long, curly hair into a bun to keep herself from look
She quickly followed the guy, the cup of coffee was still in her hands. She even burnt herself in the process as she really did just follow him without really giving it a second thought. Even before the elevator door closed, she was able to stop it from closing.“Oops! Sorry about that.” The guy quickly pressed the button of the elevator in order to stop it from closing, but it was already too late as she was already in between the two closing doors of the elevator itself.She was quick to get inside before fixing her bag on her shoulders, and the cup of coffee that she was still holding."T-thank you," she muttered before smiling at him when she finally stepped inside the elevator.They were the only ones inside the elevator that really made Natasha’s heart beat hard against her chest."What floor?" the guy asked."H-huh?" She couldn’t help but be confused about the question that he just asked."Which fl
Her smile still hadn’t faded away even when she was already inside the elevator, and was already heading down. She finished every last droplet of the coffee from the paper cup and even kissed the cup itself. She had no plans on throwing the cup in the trash bin. Why would she? The ghost of Clyde’s lips was still there.She could no longer count how many times she kissed the paper cup before the elevator door opened. When the door opened, she was face to face with a man who probably saw her kissing the cup as confusion was evident in his countenance. Two of his companions even stared at her as well. The timing wasn’t really on her side as when the door opened, she was still kissing the cup, and who knew how strange she could’ve looked for doing so even when she was quick to stop what she was doing. She was already on the ground floor.Shit! It was Clyde who saw her doing that strange thing!Wait!But Clyde was upstairs, right? Why w
Just as her grandmother told her, she slept in the house of their relative who was living in Manila before she went back home the morning after. The moment she stepped inside the house, she immediately told her grandmother about the good news. The old woman was happy, but she still couldn’t help but be worried as it would be the first time that she’d be far from her for a long time, but she chose to strengthen her guts because she was already adamant with her decision. She also told Shirley that she was accepted in Clyde’s company. Her friend was also happy for her.Her work would start on Monday already. Luckily, there was a room that she could rent that Joy had found for her since it would be too troublesome if she’d stay in her relative’s house as it was far from where she would be working.She was even having a hard time picking out clothes in the thrift store that she could wear in the office.She knew that it wouldn’t be
It had already been an hour since she started staring absentmindedly at her phone because he couldn’t find the address of the company’s owner. It wasn’t mentioned in the interviews, of course. She had been scratching her head because of the frustration that she was feeling that only made her curly hair even messier.She got her phone, hoping that the address of the house of Clyde’s grandmother would miraculously appear on a search engine, but of course, it wasn’t online. When she searched on her social media account, looking for her name, the only thing that she saw was the page of the company, and what was the company all about.She was already feeling the strong urge to call her boss, Zara, but she was afraid that she’d scold her more. She didn’t even bother searching for Clyde because she knew that the guy didn’t have any social media accounts. She had already tried searching for him before.How about Kyle?
The next day, she woke up at four in the morning. It was her first day at work so she was adamant to do things well. She was wearing green polka dots and a pair of pink slacks. Meanwhile, she put her thick hair into a bun, making it look as if she was carrying a big ball of hair in her head again. She also put on her big glasses to complete the look.She only drank a cup of coffee because she still didn’t feel like eating as it was still very early. Before the clock struck five, she had already left the boarding house. There were already a number of people outside the apartment as there were stores lined up nearby. She was only walking, reading the address that was sent to her. She didn’t want to hail a cab because it would only cost her more money.As she was standing beside the road, waiting for a jeepney, she asked people for directions, and she was told to ride a jeepney twice before she could finally reach her destination. Even when it was still early,
She froze on the spot the moment she reached the higher floor. She counted the rooms in there, and she saw that there were six big rooms. Which room was the head maid referring to? She was doomed. She couldn’t remember what the old woman said.She slowly walked into the hallway, trying to remember what the old maid said.Did she say right or left?She gathered a deep breath. She didn’t have any other choice but to guess. Whatever room that wasn’t locked, that was probably it.She walked towards the first room on the left side before slowly turning the knob of the door. It didn’t turn completely, locked, so it wasn’t the right room. She walked towards the right side instead and did the same thing, but just like the left room, it didn’t open.Breathing deeply once more, she walked towards the direction of the third room from the right. That room was also locked.What a pity! She couldn’t really remembe
While they were on their ride to the company, Natasha kept looking at Clyde whose reflection she could see in the rearview mirror. She knew that her face was already red because of how she stared at his handsome face. She wasn’t really thinking as she put a few strands of her hair behind her ear even when there weren’t really any strands that were all over her face. As she did that, she couldn’t help but smile, acting cute.She was even surprised when Kyle, whose forehead was creased, blocked her view, and a few seconds after, he saw her annoying smile once more."I knew it," he said softly before sitting properly and looking at his brother who was in the front seat as well.She followed his gaze and saw that he looked really amused. She fixed her countenance, and just looked outside the window of the car, feeling slightly ashamed. She didn’t hear a single word from the guy again until they reached the office.She was quick to get