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A tumultuous scene unfolds as Natasha navigates her way home through a lively atmosphere of rain, gambling, and revelry. Upon reaching home, she faces the harsh reality of her responsibilities, her meager earnings being demanded by her mother. The tension escalates, leading to a confrontation and ultimately, Natasha being cast out into the rain by her own family. The emotional toll is evident as tears mix with rainwater on her face.
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I quietly watched as the bakery on the side of the road closed, just weeks after my mother asked me to leave home, and now my job is closing too.
My employer said someone already bought the place, a significant amount for them to move to Rizal. But I won't be going with them; it's too far, and I won't be able to see my father.
"Sorry, this is all I can offer. Helda took all your wages from me," my female boss apologized. She was kind, the type who genuinely helps you as much as she can.
"Thank you," I smiled at her, that being the last smile I saw before they left the place where I first worked.
I sighed; it was only 10 in the morning, and it was already scorching hot. Combine that with the unpleasant smell around, and it wasn't a pleasant walk.
I tried walking and thought about finding another job. On the other side, there was a newly opened supermarket. I went there and headed straight to the cashier.
"Do you accept applicants?" The woman with thin eyebrows raised her eyes, scanned my body before stopping at my eyes.
"Your resume?"
"I-I don't have a resume."
"Are you a high school graduate?" I hesitated; I couldn't answer immediately because I didn't finish high school. I wanted my siblings to finish their education, so I supported them.
I shook my head. "N-no."
"If so, you can't work here, and I think you're not of the right age." I lowered my gaze; I was only fifteen, and I would turn sixteen tomorrow, but here I am, looking for a job instead of studying.
I sighed heavily as I left. I walked again on the hot road, continuing my job search.
But after a few hours of searching, it seemed like luck wasn't on my side. I wasn't accepted because, like my first attempt, they were looking for a resume.
"Can I buy..." I was on the side of the market where I bought coconut ice, and the man smiled at me before giving me a five-peso coconut.
"Did the bakery close?" I nodded while sipping. He used to buy there every morning. He became a regular customer for our pandesal, but sadly, I won't be able to work there again.
"Looking for a job?" I lowered the empty cup.
"Yes, I am."
"I know of one, but the pay is low."
"Really, where?"
"At the cellphone store. They need a saleswoman." He easily caught my interest, so I almost agreed to help him that day.
We went to a cellphone store, small but my new boss said meals were free, and the weekly salary was only a thousand pesos, depending on daily sales.
"How old are you?" My new female boss asked on the same day I started because they needed someone to guard.
"Fifteen."
"You're still young. Aren't you in school?"
I shook my head. "No, I need to work now."
She sighed, and I noticed her gentle gaze, prompting me to look away.
"You're almost the same age as my daughter; she'll finish high school at Fatima."
I remained silent; I knew it was a good school, but I didn't have the chance to enter there. Moreover, I'm more focused on work now and how to earn money to support my mother, especially for my father's diabetes medication.
"This is your only salary..." I could hear the sadness in Mother's voice; I nodded. A week had passed since I got close to that job, and despite the low pay, my boss still gave me a thousand.
"The salary there is low because meals and snacks are free..."
"Well, aren't you lucky to have snacks, while we have none!" I sighed, wanting to bring up her gambling habits. Instead, I held back; I didn't want to be kicked out again.
"Switch jobs, go to Dahlia's!"
"No!" My eyes widened. "I don't want to!"
"Why not?" Mother raised her voice. "Look, Abby, Juliana's daughter is earning well and even built a house!"
"But Mother, I don't want to be there!"
"No, listen to me, I know you'll earn more. A thousand isn't enough for medicine and expenses at home!"
Feeling upset, I turned away, tears welling up.
Father, emerging from the room, parted the curtain. I approached to help him with his wheelchair.
"Why are you still awake?" I pushed his wheelchair into our small living room; our once sturdy home now seemed to be falling apart. Ever since Father lost his job, there was no chance to repair it.
"Sorry, my child." I sat on a wooden chair and smiled at Father.
"Why are you apologizing?"
"Because of your hard work for me, forgive me for not being able to help you..."
I smiled. "It's okay, don't worry about it. That's what the eldest does."
Father sighed. "You're a very kind daughter, Natasha. I'm sorry if your mother scolds you often."
I looked down. "It's okay..." I said, though I still felt hurt. Despite everything I did, it seemed insignificant to her.
"I won't get tired of working, Father. Like you did for this family, I'll save money to get you walking again."
"Don't, my child."
"I will, Father. Let's sleep now so you can rest."
I took Father to his room; our small house had three rooms. In one, Mother and Father shared, while Chloe and Brandon, my younger siblings, had separate rooms.
I helped Father lie down, turned on the fan, and set up the mosquito net while Mother was away.
"I don't know where she went, but I have a bad feeling after our last conversation."
IN THE MORNING, a car honked outside our house. Breakfast was ready, which I had prepared before heading to work.
Mother came out of their room, glanced out the window, and to my surprise, I saw her smiling.
"Come here. Come inside!" She opened the door as I watched from the kitchen. A woman, about her age, and three burly men entered.
"Have a seat; I'll get you something to drink."
"No need, Helda, we just stopped by to get what you mentioned."
Mother's visitors didn't sit. She looked at me and walked toward her guests, smiling.
"This is her, all dressed up."
I looked at Mother, my eyes wide, as she emphasized her grip on my shoulder.
"My daughter is kind, Dahlia. She won't give you headaches."
"Alright, I gave you the money last night, so we're taking her now."
"But!" I protested, but Mother ignored me, pulling me towards their vehicle.
"Stop the drama, Natasha! You won't be mistreated there!"
"Mother, please, I don't want to!"
"They've already paid, and whether you like it or not, you're coming with us to work there!" My mother turned away from me, and as I tried to leave, the men quickly approached, forcing me into a black car. I could only cry silently, feeling helpless and questioning why they treated me this way just because I wasn't their biological child.
I couldn't help but pity myself as I bowed my head. Were they treating me like this just because I wasn't truly their child? Yes, I am the child of my father from another woman, but I accepted my mother when she chose to be with my father. I never imagined this would be my fate at her hands.
"Hasn't she dressed up yet?" I heard the leader's voice from the door. I didn't respond or look at him. The girl next to me spoke up, stating that I didn't want to dress up. The women here seemed almost my age.
Young, yet working in this club.
"That useless girl is not worth it! She said she'll quit because her daughter is talented!" The man protested, but I continued avoiding eye contact. I refused to comply with what they were asking.
"Yes, take the money from Helda. If she can't pay, take one of her daughters!"
I quickly raised my gaze, stood up, and approached Mrs. Dahlia.
"No, please, not my sister..." I pleaded. She raised an eyebrow.
"If that's the case, why don't you work and contribute something to me!" My lips trembled as I held back my tears. I bit my lip before nodding.
"All right."
"You'll earn a lot, and we'll split the percentage. You won't dance, just accompany the customers at their tables!"
I swallowed hard, the fear in my chest lingering. And in the end, all I did was change into the clothes Abby gave me.
She was my neighbor and a former classmate in fifth grade.
"Who would have thought we'd end up here?" I remained silent as she tied my hair. "The pay is high, Natasha. Fantastic! Not only that, there are handsome guys too!" My eyes rolled.
"Any guy, even if he looks like a beetle, is handsome to you, as long as he has money."
"Well, you know. Nowadays, money is what matters in life, and that's what I worship."
"That's why you look like money. They should call you 'Benchingko.'"
"Wow, she's something."
I stood up, not in the mood for this because it went against my principles. I didn't want to be here, but I had no choice. I didn't know how much my mother took because Mrs. Helda didn't mention it to me.
"Go to the guy sitting at the end; he has someone with him."
I nodded, amidst the noise of the music and the bright lights hurting my eyes.
"I'll accompany you." Abby guided me to the customer I was assigned to, and when I saw him, I almost froze in my place.
He was the guy I saw in the rain.
He was also the one who gave me the jacket that I now wore.
Who is he, Nico? Noah?
Noah.
"Natasha!" Before the guy could turn and call me again, Mrs. Dahlia approached and pulled me away. Before we completely moved away, I looked back at him.
And there, our eyes met again, both of us equally puzzled.
Ashton finds himself captivated by the simplicity and hidden beauty of Winter, contrasting her with the flashy Trixie. Despite initial disinterest, he realizes his feelings for Winter have grown, even attempting to rekindle things with Trixie to no avail. Winter occupies his thoughts, and he hopes she reciprocates his feelings.
Thankfully, someone with a kind heart assisted me. I stopped at a large gate and peeked inside. I was a bit sweaty from the heat of the sun. The gate opened, and an old woman with a garbage bag came out. I approached her, and she looked at me. "Can I ask for some water?" I boldly asked, my face almost begging, feeling thirsty with only a hundred pesos left in my pocket. I'll budget it until I find a job, so for now, I'll beg for water from the lady staring at me. "Water?" I nodded, my eyes pleading, and she seemed compassionate, so she nodded. "Come inside," she said, and I followed her, my lips craving for cold water. The gate was grand, sturdy even when hit by a truck. The luxurious garden welcomed me, and I couldn't help but smile. "Is this lady living in a palace?" "Follow me," the fairy white-haired mother said. I followed her, my eyes sparkling at the marble floor, ready to smile and admire myself. The stairs were shiny, and you could practically smile and see your reflection. The kitchen door opened, and the spacious area was almost as big as a house in the province. "I'm grateful for the water," I said, taking the glass she offered. She placed the pitcher on the table, and I poured another glass. "May I have more?" I asked. "Sure, dear. Water is free." "Really? Can I take this with me?" "Yes, you can. I'll give you a bottle," she smiled as she searched for a container for my water. While she was busy, a phone rang in the living room. Pausing her search, she stood before turning to me. "I'll answer the call. Wait for me here," she instructed. I nodded, holding four glasses of water, standing near the table. I could even admire myself with the sparkling marble floor and the vast kitchen. Everything was neat and clean compared to the houses I've been to. "Here's the water," she said with a smile, handing me the glass. "May I take some more?" I requested. "Sure, dear. Water is free." "Really? Can I bring this?" "Yes, you can. I'll give you a bottle," I smiled at my fairy godmother while she searched for a container for my water. But as she was busy, a phone rang in the living room. Realizing she was occupied, she stood up before turning to me. "I'll answer the call. Wait for me here," she said. I nodded, holding four glasses of water, standing near the table. I could even admire myself with the sparkling marble floor and the vast kitchen. Everything was neat and clean compared to the houses I've been to. I gazed around the kitchen, impressed. Unlike the places I've been to, this one was spotless. The kitchen's tiled floor was white, and there were two large refrigerators on the side, next to a half-naked man. "Wow!" I exclaimed, thinking he was a handsome ghost. He wasn't. He wore only a towel around his waist to cover his lower body. "Can you help me find my longsleeve?" he asked in English. I thought my encounters with nosebleed-inducing people were over, but apparently not. "I can't find my favorite longsleeve. Can you look for it?" he continued. "But I'm not-" "I don't want to ruin my hair. Just find it and go back to your work," he said, pulling up my sleeves. He was indeed good-looking. I couldn't believe I was in a celebrity's room, especially a shirtless one. "Make it quick, yaya." I pointed to myself, unsure if I heard him correctly. After looking around, I grabbed the white longsleeve I spotted earlier. "Why are you so fast to find this?" he asked, looking puzzled. I wanted to say that eyes should do the searching, not the mouth, but I didn't know how to express that in English. I might embarrass myself. "What are you waiting for? Dress me up and don't bother to mess my hair," he ordered. I was stunned. After dressing him, I planned to leave immediately. However, just as I finished, he stood up and placed the phone on the bed. Without any regard for my presence, he lowered the towel, completely ignoring me. And that was the first day I encountered a cobra's life. I rushed downstairs, carrying my suitcase, and sprinted along the street. I bent over and gasped for breath, feeling my heart pound
After three years of loveless marriage, Kira was slapped with divorce papers. She has shown him her unrequited love throughout her entire marriage with him, but he decided to turn blind eyes all because of his lover. Distraught and heartbroken, Kira choose to sign the divorce papers with bitter heart. But then and there, she promised herself that when she's back, he will come crawling to her, but she will make him pay for hurting her. Join Kira as she transform to a wealthy heiress and soared as the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar empire, a remarkable healer and make her ex-husband pay!
On their wedding night, Rogelio wrapped his fingers around Marian's neck and spat at her, "Congratulations! From now on, you live in hell!" The reason for his wrath was that he believed she was responsible for the death of his elder brother. So, he married her but refused to touch her, determined to make her suffer for the rest of her pitiful life! However, due to an unforeseen accident, Marian was forced to sleep with Rogelio in order to save him, and she ended up getting pregnant. Concealing her pregnancy, Marian lived cautiously under Rogelio's watchful eyes. He hated her and relentlessly humiliated her, yet he would never allow anyone else to lay a finger on her— "Mr. Bailey, your wife got into a fight with someone!" Rogelio secretly took action, eliminating that person completely. "Sir, your wife claimed that all of your family's wealth belongs to her!" Rogelio quietly transferred all the shares to her. Unaware of all this, Marian only wanted to escape, but Rogelio pulled her into his warm embrace, whispering, "Mrs. Bailey, where do you intend to go with our unborn child?"
Sandra Hill, the long-lost real heiress of the Hill family, was shunned by her own kin. Instead of embracing her, they bestowed their affection upon an impostor. They even arranged her to marry a vegetative man in place of her so-called “sister”. Sandra sneered, refusing to put up with this humiliation, cut off ties with the Hill family immediately and ran into the flash marriage with Wesley Cooper, her unconscious billionaire husband. With her incredible medical skills, she defied the odds and revived him. Little did she expect that her husband spoiled her with all his love... A medical genius, a computer prodigy, a national treasure in painting, and a racing legend... Her husband revealed her various identities, leaving the Hill family regretful. Her father came pleading, "It's Dad's fault. Please come back." Her mother wept, "Mom will protect you from now on. Please come back." Even her five brothers knelt before he, begging for forgiveness. Yet, Sandra's smile held a hint of mockery as she vowed, “Never!”
Melanie married Ashton out of gratitude, but she quickly found herself entangled in a web of relentless challenges. Despite these struggles, she stayed true to her commitment to the marriage. In the hospital room, Ashton indifferently attempted to draw her blood, disregarding her discomfort. This callous act was a harsh revelation for Melanie, awakening her to the grim reality of their relationship. Resolved to prioritize her own welfare, she decided to sever ties. With newfound resolve, Melanie filed for divorce. In the process, she unveiled her concealed identities, leaving everyone in shock. Throughout these turbulent times, Melanie realized that Derek, Ashton’s uncle, had been discreetly protecting her all along.
Elin spent twenty years deeply loving her husband, finally marrying him just as she'd always dreamed. But reality shattered her illusions—he wasn't the man she believed. Instead, he callously destroyed her family, crushing her heart beyond repair. At her lowest point, Ruben, equally betrayed that night, approached her steadily. "Marry me, Elin. I'll help you take revenge." Yet, after their wedding, she quickly discovered he was dangerously unpredictable. "I made a mistake. Let's divorce..." Ruben slid his arm possessively around her waist, whispering a chilling promise, "Only in death."
"Ahh!" She was in a moaning mess. She did not want to feel anything for this man. She hated him. His hands began to move all over her body. She gasped when he pulled down the back chain of her dress. The chain stopped at her lower waist, so when he zipped it off, her upper back and waist were exposed. "D-Don't touch m-ummm!" His fingers rolled around her bare back, and she pressed her head against the pillow. His touches were giving her goosebumps all over her body. With a deep angry voice, he whispered in her ear, "I am going to make you forget his touches, kisses, and everything. Every time you touch another man, you will only think of me." - - - Ava Adler was a nerdy omega. People bullied her because they thought she was ugly and unattractive. But Ava secretly loved the bad boy, Ian Dawson. He was the future Alpha of the Mystic Shadow Pack. However, he doesn't give a damn about rules and laws, as he only likes to play around with girls. Ava was unaware of Ian's arrogance until her fate intertwined with his. He neglected her and hurt her deeply. What would happen when Ava turned out to be a beautiful girl who could win over any boy, and Ian looked back and regretted his decisions? What if she had a secret identity that she had yet to discover? What if the tables turned and Ian begged her not to leave him?