Chapter 1: Success

"Good day Miss Claire Sydney Agustin! We would like to inform you that you passed your final interview in our company. We are hoping to see you working with us tomorrow or within this week. Congratulations and Good luck! Greetings from Paradise Island Corporation. "

I just opened my email and this is what popped up to me. I felt mixed emotions while reading that email. It was as if I was going to cry with joy, which I didn’t know.

"Oh My God! Oh My God! I got it! I got it!" Overjoyed, I couldn't stop myself from screaming while I was still jumping on top of my bed.

"Yes! Finally! Yes!" I still jumped while hugging my cellphone, where I received that email.

Finally, after six years I will be able to work for a company. I can also use the course I finished.

"Momma! Why are you so noisy in there? Gosh!" A frowning girl's face stopped me from having fun on the bed.

"O M G baby! Gosh! come to momma hurry!" I hurried off the bed to approach my daughter. When I finally got close to her I immediately hugged her tightly.

"Baby, momma has a job! Finally!" I still can't hide the joy and excitement I feel.

"We already have to pay our rent every month!"

"Momma can buy you lots of toys too!"

"Then, when momma's day off we can go shopping together! Isn't that fun?" I said feeling excited to her.

"Momma, you don't have to buy me a lot of toys. I am happy and contented with barbie.." she showed me her old barbie. She still played with it when she was only one year old, until now she is five years old.

"...you are enough for me momma. I love you!" I cried at my daughter's message. I hugged her again and gave her many kisses on the cheek.

"You're so sweet baby. I love you too." After our drama I decided to take care of our breakfast because Sunny needs to go to school.

Sunny Andrea Agustin was my five years old daughter. She's now in kinder and I am happy that I raised her well.

Six years ago, after I found out that Andrew had cheated on me, aunt Fely also kicked me out from the house.

My situation was very difficult during those times. I became a vagabond on the road. I tried to beg just so I could have something to eat and not affect my baby.

Until Aunt Rosie found me, Aunt Rosie was Dad’s older sister. She took me home to their province of Masbate. That's where I gave birth to Sunny, after I gave birth, Aunt Rosie sends me to school so that I can finished my study.

Despite being abandoned by the people I love, I also found the true love I sought, and that was in the company of my aunt Rosie.

Aunt Rosie is an old woman so she didn't hesitate to take me in, even though I got pregnant early. I was sixteen years old that time. I was only sixteen, when I experienced various kinds of hardship and pain.

At that age, I experienced true love, which also led to the destruction of my heart. But I don't regret that time, that I loved and gave everything to the man I loved ... because Sunny came into my life.

I thought, my continuous quiet and happy life in the province but I was wrong. When I was graduating from college, Aunt Rosie suddenly fell ill, and soon she left Sunny and me.

It's hard because I feel, little by little my heart is destroyed again. I felt twice the pain of losing Aunt Rosie, compared to Aunt Fely kicking me out and Andrew cheating on me.

Once again I lost my family, I feel the world hates me because I am so outspoken when it comes to parenting.

At the age of seven both mama and papa died due to an accident. Grandma raised me, but after seven years she left me, she went with mama and papa to heaven. After my grandmother's death, Aunt Fely decided to take care of me, I was fourteen that time.

I was also in the care of Aunt Fely for more than two years. If only maybe Andrew hadn’t come into my life, maybe Aunt Fely and I would still be together. But destiny is playable, so it's hard to say what can and can't happen.

After I graduated in college, I decided to return to Manila. Aside from Sunny starting school, I also need to find a job for our daily expenses.

I found a cheap and small apartment in Las Piñas, where my daughter Sunny and I now live.

I'm glad because even though it's hard, I still raised Sunny as a good and kind child. I am proud of myself. I can also say that Sunny is the greatest achievement and best gift of my life. I was thankful to God that after those struggles and difficulties I had faced, still he gave me Sunny, my little angel.

"Momma I'm nervous, it's my first day!" My daughter frowned after I dressed her in her uniform.

"It's normal to be nervous baby, so that's okay. Just behave and be nice at school, okay?" I smiled to reminding her.

"Yes momma, didn't you say that when a child is kind, she is blessed! That's why I don't want to be bad, maybe Papa God will punish me." She said cute which made me smile especially.

"My baby is so smart. Kiss me!" I said smiling.

"Of course, I'm my momma's daughter!" She said proudly.

After our little chit-chat, I decided to leave the house because she might be late.

Sunny's school is close to home so we just walked. It's also one of the reasons why I chose to rent here, it's because I'm close to Sunny's school.

"Baby, momma's going home okay? Behave yourself and be kind to your classmates." I reminded her again when I delivered her to her classroom.

"Yes momma, I'll promised."

"Very good. All right, take your seat." I kissed her on the cheek before I turned my back on her to get out of their classroom.

"Uhm, you're the teacher who will take care of my daughter, okay? Thank you." I just wanted to make sure of Sunny's safety so I also handed her over to her teacher.

"Your daughter? I thought she was just your little sister," I just smiled at the teacher, she gets that. Even Aunt Rosie seems like Sunny and I are just sisters.

—

"Momma!" I was immediately greeted by Sunny's hug when she saw me outside their classroom.

They only come in until 10:00 AM, so I'm here to pick her up.

"Have you been waiting for momma so long?" I asked her with a smile. She shook her head in response so I kissed her on the cheeks.

"We just got out momma," she said. I patted her back to see if the towel I put there was wet.

"Didn't you play with your classmates?" I asked her. Because the towel I put behind her didn't get wet.

"We played! But we didn't chase. Instead, we read teacher's alphabet toys, momma!" She was very happy with the storytelling.

"My baby is very good." I gently squeezed her cute cheek.

"You know what momma? I'm their pretend teacher!" She added.

"Aww, my baby really is." I took her bag and I carried it.

"My first day is awesome momma! I suddenly lost my nervousness after we introduced ourselves. Besides, momma, I'm the only one who didn't cry earlier in the classroom." Proudly she said that caused me so much excitement. I can't imagine myself without her. She's my everything since I gave birth to her. She's my life.

"Because my baby is very good ... let's have lunch outside!"

"Wow! Really mommy?"

"Yes!" We stopped walking for a moment when she suddenly frowned.

"What's wrong?" I wondered why she was frowning.

"Momma, you don't have to spend money just because I'm very good in school. We don't have to eat out just to treat me ... besides, it's a waste of your money because foods outside will be expensive." I was touched by what she said. If she speaks as if she is not a child. The matured of her mind.

I knelt down so I could face her. I first hung her bag on my left shoulder so that I could talk to her properly.

I touched her face and began to explain to her what I wanted.

"Baby, momma's money will never be wasted, especially if it's for you. You're the reason why momma tries to work."

She listened intently to me. It feels like I am talking to someone older than her. I don't feel like I'm talking to this child right now. How lucky I am for having her.

"Momma does all this for you. So, don't think like that—that momma's money will be wasted because momma will never regret coming to you. Besides, I'm going to start my work tomorrow, meaning we can save more, okay?"

I had a long explanation to her. She nodded as if she understood everything I said.

"Okay momma. I'm just worried and it's just you,"

"My baby really is really sweet. Okay, let's go." I took my daughter to her favorite eatery, in the jollibee. Ever since her favorite is jollibee so every time we go out we go here. She loves fried chicken and potato fries a lot.

"Momma thank you so much for the foods! I'm full to the brim."

"You're always welcome baby!" I squeezed her cheek slightly. She's so cute.

"After momma pays, we'll go to the mall. We'll buy our church dress." I smiled and told her.

"Yes!" She just answered. I can just see that my daughter is happy, double the pleasure that I immediately feel.

"Momma will also buy you your favorite..." I added.

"Cotton candy? Wow! Thank you momma!" She suddenly got down from her chair to approach me to give me a tight hug.

"The child is so sweet."

"Daddy look, they're having fun. I hope we'll be like that when my baby comes out." The pregnant woman next to us said. She was holding onto her belly, which if I’m not mistaken would soon give birth as well.

"Yeah, they're sweet and cute." The man also smiled and promised his wife.

After I paid our bills, Sunny and I immediately left Jollibee, and as I told her earlier, we went to the mall to buy our dress.

A white off-shoulder dress I bought for us. We wore a suit so Sunny was very happy, she said she was excited to wear it on Sunday.

At 6:00 PM we went home. I wonder if Grace was there, she's from the province and she's the one I got with Sunny at home, especially when I'm at work.

As I expected, my daughter Sunny and I caught up with her outside the apartment.

"Sister Grace!" When we got off the tricycle, Sunny immediately met her sister Grace.

Grace is our only neighbor in the province, so Sunny and I have been close to her ever since.

"Sunny!"

We've only been here in Manila for a few months, but if they hug it's like they haven't seen each other for a year. I was just shaken by the closeness of the two of them. So I also didn’t hesitate to take Grace as Sunny’s nanny. Aside from the fact that I have known her for a long time, I am also sure that I can trust her when it comes to my daughter.

Grace was carrying a large suitcase and backpack, probably full of her clothes.

"Have you been here for long? I'm sorry, my daughter and I went for a walk." I apologize to Grace.

"Oh my sister, it's really okay. I'll just come too."

"Is that so? All right, let's go in."

"Uhm, Grace, there's food on the table. I cooked it this afternoon. You just ate there, okay? Don't worry about me and Sunny, we've already eaten outside for dinner. I'll go upstairs because this daughter of mine, I know she's tired, and she still has class tomorrow." I have a long line with Grace.

"Sure sister, don't worry, I'll take care of it." She said smiling. But I'll just wait for her too.

"I'll just go down again after Sunny sleeps. Eat there." I say again. Before I finally walked upstairs up to Sunny and I's room.