stabbed with her response. My greatest fear had

were cut off as the door opened and Cla

to hug Kalix. She must have noticed me watching, as s

re, why are you saying sorry? Do you know this lady? I think she

Kalix, can't you remem

me, "You're Claire's friend? I'm sorry, I d

ng! Stop pulling p

ed myself and quickly left the room. I heard h

ut not the people around her? Why me? Did she

dare you spread false information!" I woke up to the loud

f our house, including the district captain and the mayor, w

're the mistress of the mayor! Esther saw you two!" My mom shouted

! My mom's gossiping tendencies escalated again! Da

ving room, seemingly indifferent to what was happ

ut she continued arguing, so I approached the captain and the mayor. "

for her gossiping, but I never expected her to rile up even

my office several times! I've talked to her nicely several times," I just looked at my mom as if she was the one agg

scratch my head. "

ha, if your mom were sane, she'd know that the election is ne

nd more people gathering around us. This w

I thought my mom would be scared, but she just rolled her eye

s, gradually dispersed. Some of the fake sweepers who pretend to sweep dry lea

age our image, mine and the captain's, you know we're both running, right?" I

yor, "I'm sorry about my mom. Can you ta

s, always never learned, always managing to slip away from these things. "I'

lection is near, you could have finished it before gossiping about

me, promise me, you can find a way. You owe me your life, Samantha, maybe y

s are coming over later, what are we going to drink? Are you going to embarrass me

drinking for now?" I have a job in town as a cashier, but my salary is minimum, for my fourteen-hou

? Just because you're the one supporting us?" I shouldn't have told him, "Give

ddenly stood in front of me, and I couldn't avoid his huge hand that landed on my left cheek, "Don't answer me like that, Samantha! I've been

ee hundred pesos that were supposed to be my allowa

their luxuries too. My father was addicted to alcohol, gambling, and cigarettes, and my mom, gossiping

of her gossiping. I don't even know why many still want to gossip with her, knowing what's hap

e back of the door. "Mom, I'm leaving." I said goodbye to my mom, who was talking to

y stop, it took almost thirty minutes before

as soon as I entered the locker room to change into my unif

I heard Lexi calling me, but I just ignored her and went stra

he shortest lane, "Good morning! This way, it's open." The

wearing a crochet-style top and black fitted jeans, carrying an expensive

omer, I noticed my boss walki

ed and grabbed my "Closed" sign board and briefly ex

n't feeling good about what he was g

miled, and she nodded in response, and that's when I noticed her seem

e." I breathed a sigh of relief as it se

at work. I'm not hiring additional staff. Just