CHAPTER 06

“Darling, you’re already home! It’s good you came home early, that’s good.” My father said happily as I opened the door. I approached and greeted them both, my mother and father, who were waiting for me in the living room. They were watching TV.

“Yes, papa, hi mama. By the grace of God, I was lucky tonight, this is my earnings, my dear parents.” I handed them my earnings. I set aside the change from the boss in case he comes back later, or tomorrow, or whenever he remembers. He knows our house anyway.

“Thank you, Unique. We don’t know how to thank you because you’re the one supporting us now, you and your mother.” My father said again, blaming himself.

“Papa, one more word like that, and I’ll work even harder, just you wait.” I threatened, making him frown.

“Sorry, I just can’t help it. Don’t worry, when I’m better, I’ll make it up to you and your mother.”

“Oh, papa, don’t worry about those things. You always make it up to us, especially before your accident. You worked so hard back then.” My mother said while listing the night’s balut earnings in a small notebook.

“That’s right, papa. Okay, I’m going upstairs now, I feel sticky.”

I said goodbye to them to change clothes and go to sleep because it was already late, and so were they.

I opened the door and entered my small room. “Thank you, self, for today’s successful journey, you made it through your work and now…the room is life, Lord.” I whispered to myself. I immediately grabbed some clothes and went to the bathroom outside the room.

After doing my routine, I changed into clean clothes. A t-shirt and white pajamas because it was a little cold. When I came out of the bathroom, my parents were already inside the room. I smiled and went back into my room.

While combing my long hair, I remembered the grumpy guy earlier. To be fair, he was handsome. Too bad I didn’t know his name so I could stalk him on social media, maybe he has an account.

I got my touchscreen cellphone that I put in the small drawer next to my small bed. I opened it. When I have errands, I leave it in the drawer, especially when I sell balut at night, and I just use my keypad phone. It’s risky if I lose this phone that I saved up for for months.

I saw Budang’s chat, so I immediately tapped and read it. My friend just asked how I and my family were doing, so I immediately chatted back. Because we’re both talkative and open with each other, my reply was immediate, saying that I and my parents were fine.

I also told her that I met a grumpy guy, so she teased me, saying that he might be my destiny or soulmate.

I thought I’d go to sleep early, but it was already eleven o’clock because my friend Budang and I were both gossiping.

Morning came, and I woke up early to find work for the day. I need a job because we need money not just for daily expenses, but also for father medicine.

“The food is ready.” Mom called me when I came out of the room. I saw my father in our small store because someone was buying. This is one of our sources of income.

“Yes, mama, have you eaten?” I asked and got a plate and sat down.

“We’re done, go and eat your food.” I immediately followed my mother’s instructions. I ate heartily because my mother cooked champorado.

“Are you going out today, Unique?” papa asked, using his cane, he slowly walked and sat down where Mom was folding our clothes.

“Yes, papa, I’m going to Budang’s house. She has a condo unit to clean with two other people, and they’re short of one person, so she asked me last night if I’d be willing to help, and of course, I said yes because that’s money.” I said happily while still eating breakfast.

“Is that so? Be careful.” I smiled at my father’s words.

“I always take care, so don’t worry about me. You guys be careful here, and text or call me immediately if something bad happens or anything.” I said.

After eating, I helped with the housework. I don’t want to leave and clean for others but don’t do it in my own home.

“Will I be late?” I asked Budang when I arrived at her house. She texted that she would just wait for me so I wouldn’t get lost.

“You’re just on time, come on, our colleagues might already be there, and we might get less pay later,” she said.

She immediately said goodbye to her mother, and so did I, and we rode a jeep to the condo unit we were going to clean.

When we arrived at the condo unit, I cursed in my mind how dirty it was, like it hadn’t been cleaned for a decade, papers were scattered everywhere, I saw a trash can, why didn’t whoever that creature put it there? Hays. Lazy person, to be fair. I’m your mother, I’ll scold you.

We started cleaning, Budang and I in the rooms, and the other two downstairs. We’ll receive one thousand five hundred pesos today if we do our job well.

“There’s another cleaning job next Saturday, will you come?” Budang asked me while she was wiping the windows, and I was removing the blankets and pillowcases to replace them with new ones.

“Of course, I don’t have any plans then, so I’ll go with you, Budang. It’s a waste of money, you know.”

“Right, I’ll text you again so you can come to my house earlier.” She said.

“Okay, thank you, Budang, if I find the best job, I’ll treat all my friends.” I said, smiling.

“Seriously! It’s like I’m your only friend. Are there others?”

“No, just you—the others are just loiterers, and I even fought with them on the street.” I said, and we both laughed.

I suddenly closed my eyes because my phone, which I put in my pocket, rang. The ring was quite loud, I didn’t even lower the volume. I immediately got it and read it.

“Oh my God. Ahh..my goodness. It’s true!” I tried to keep my voice down because of what I read. Budang approached me because of my reaction.

“What happened to you? It’s like you won the lottery.”

“I wish, Budang, I wish it were true. But this is it, I got accepted for the job I applied for the other day. Look.” She read it, and my friend smiled.

“I told you, Budang, it’s really you. Congrats!” She said excitedly.

“Omg, what I just told you about the treat will come true.” I whispered softly, and we laughed.

Finally, thank you, Lord.

It was afternoon, and we received our pay. I immediately set aside the money for medicine, and the rest for our food.

We stopped by an isawan because we missed eating it. I was happy because of the good news, I can start on Monday. Even if I don’t know what my job will be yet. But as long as it’s a decent job, I’ll do it. It doesn’t mean that selling balut isn’t decent work, but for a woman like me, it’s become dangerous, even though I can say that I have more customers, but it’s still different when you’re on the street at night.

I happily went home and immediately gave my mother the money for Dad’s medicine, and the food I bought. Dad can’t eat meat, so we eat more fish or vegetables.

“You’ve been smiling since you got home, what’s up?” Mom asked me. We were eating dinner, the three of us.

I drank some water before answering them.

“Because, Mom and Dad, guess what? I got accepted for the job I applied for.”

“Is that so, wow, congrats, Unique.” They said happily.

“That’s why, your smile is different, since you arrived.” Mom said.

“It’s good news, so we should be happy.” I said.

After eating, I immediately went to my room, I immediately looked for clothes that would suit me when I go to the company on Monday, we should still be elegant in simple clothes, and I might be called weird or a nerd because of my clothes, other people have nothing to do but judge, whether it’s your face or your clothes.

You’re not bothering their lives.