Chapter 1“Problems over Problems”

It was early morning, and I had to prepare for work despite my body not being in good shape. I have a slight fever and I couldn’t do anything but drink medicine and go to work.

I have been working as a janitor in a company for a year now. I did not go to college and started working when I was eighteen. I need to help my mother sell vegetables in the market, as I have an irresponsible father who does nothing but gamble. They’re still my parents, so all I could do was understand our situation and strive for our future. 

As I opened the door of my apartment, a group of five men came to approach me. I rolled my eyes in annoyance, as they visited me almost every day.

“Good morning, Aurora,” one man greeted me.

He has this long scar on his right eye. He looks scary, but I don’t mind as I’ve known them for a month since the day my father died.

“What was good in the morning when I first saw your faces right in front of my apartment?” she murmured.

“What are you saying?” Their leader looked like he heard it and I could see him gritting his teeth. He is pissed. I know, and it was my fault to piss him.

“N-Nothing. I just said good morning as well.” I reasoned out and made a fake smile.

“I know you come here for my father’s debt. But I already told you. I don’t have that much money to pay you yet. I hope you understand. And don’t worry, running away is not my thing.”

“Sell your organs, sell your body. We don’t care. I need money by the end of this month.” He said, which made me look at them in disbelief.

Where could I get one million for a month? Even if I saved my salary for the entire year, it couldn’t reach a million. Damn. It’s all my father’s fault. 

I sighed out of my frustration. “I told you guys… I don’t have money here. If you’re in a hurry, why don’t you get my father from the grave and ask him to pay for his debts? It was him who spent your money and not me.” I blurted out, but what surprised me was their leader held my cheeks with his one hand and squeezed them as if he were squeezing a lemon and it made me wince in pain. Damn, it hurts.

“Are you mocking us?” His eyes were glaring at me as if he was ready to eat me alive.

I felt my heart beating fast because of fear as I noticed his other hand holding a knife. Where did he get that?

“Answer me!” He said while pointing the sharp edge of his knife to my neck, causing it to bleed. I winced.

Damn… It hurts.

“Okay! Okay! I will pay you by the end of this month. Please, spare my life.”

I can feel my eyes water, and suddenly my tears fall. Why do I have to suffer this kind of life?

The leader let go of me. “We will be back by the end of the month. Make sure you'll pay us or else I will kill your mother in front of you.”

It feels like my body shivers down the spine. I don’t want my mom to be dragged into this situation. She's the only family I have and I don't know what to do if she'll die because of me.

“Spare my mom, please. I pleaded as I knelt on the ground with my hand clasped, asking for him to spare my mom.

“Just bring us back the money. And your mom will live.”

I felt relief when he let go of me and left. I immediately returned to my house to heal the wound on my neck. Even though I was shaking, I continued to clean and bandage my wound and wrapped a scarf around my neck before leaving the house.

When I arrived at the agency where I work, I immediately frowned when I met other employees crying while leaving the building. Did something happen? Why are they crying?

I even saw my colleague, Lisa, looking at the paper she was holding.

“Lisa,” I approached her.

“Aurora, did you just arrive?” she asked. I nodded.

“Did something happen? I met another employee. The others are crying.”

“Haven’t you heard the news yet?” she asked, which made me frown.

“What about it?”

“Just go to the admin and see if your name is still on the lists of employees who will stay or if you are one of us.”

She showed me the paper she was holding and read the notice, only to find out that she had just been kicked out of the company. I looked at her in disbelief, but she just shrugged at me. I hurriedly ran toward the elevator and pressed the floor where our agency was.

I looked for our admin as soon as I stepped on the floor. My heart was racing like crazy. I’m nervous that I might be the one who got eliminated.

I can’t lose my job. I need it. It is my only source of income. If I lose my job, what about my mom? What about the debt that needs to be paid at the end of the month?

“Aurora,”

I immediately turned to the person who called me.

“Mrs. Wilkins.” I greeted her.

“Did you get the notice?” I frowned.

“Notice about what?” I asked curiously, hoping it was not about firing me out of the company.

“Come,” she said, and I followed her.

Mrs. Wilkins is our HR department head. She handed me a white envelope. My chest immediately thumped with fear as if it was going to come out of my rib cage. As I opened it, there was money with a letter inside.

“I’m sorry, Aurora. But that will be your last pay. You are no longer part of this company.”

It felt like my entire world was shuttered by the news I had just heard. I looked at Mrs. Wilkins with watery eyes. “Ma’am, can we talk about this? I need this job, Ma’am. Please,” I beg.

I reached for her hand and knelt on the floor.

“Ma’am, please. I need this work. I need money. Please, don’t fire me.”

Little by little, I lost hope when I saw her shaking her head.

“I’m sorry, Aurora. But we have to fire an employee. Because otherwise, it will also close. It will be more difficult to pay the employees,” she explained.

I stood up and wiped the tears from my cheeks.

I know I have no hope. I am only their contractual worker, and I have only been with the company for almost a year. What exactly am I up against? Maybe this is how life is. Since we didn’t finish school, it was hard for us to get a regular job.

I looked at Mrs. Wilkins and smiled bitterly. “Thank you, Mrs. Wilkins,” I said before I left the building.

Damn this life.

My crying didn’t stop even when I was on the road, wandering. I don’t have a job anymore. What will I do now? 

I suddenly remembered my boyfriend. Maybe my boyfriend can help me find a job. I hope he’s already in his unit.

Mico Mendez, my boyfriend. He always listens to my drama. And he is always there to comfort me. But even so. I never took advantage of him. Even though they were rich, I never once asked him for financial help. Especially for my parents.

I love Mico completely. And for me, he is the perfect boyfriend that all women long for. Handsome, kind, and above all, respectful.

In my excitement, I didn’t realize that I had arrived at the condo where my beloved boyfriend lives. It is close to the company I work for, so I often stay here with him. I cook for him and clean his condo.

I immediately rushed to his unit and opened the door. But my earlier excitement was replaced by surprise at what I witnessed. The bag that was attached to my back fell at the same time as my tears fell.

Is what I’m seeing real? It was as if a dagger had pierced my chest from what I could see now. I thought that getting fired would end my world. But it’s not. Because I witnessed this, not only did my world collapse. But also my heart when I saw my boyfriend was having an affair with his boy best friend.