Chapter 5: The Weight and the Whispers

Chapter 5: The Weight and the Whispers

Janine walked briskly through the hospital corridor, her legs still sore, every step a sharp reminder of what she had done the night before. But she forced herself to move, to stay composed, to keep breathing. She clutched her sling bag tightly to her chest, the envelope inside carrying the money that cost her far more than she ever expected.

She reached the billing counter and handed over ₱50,000 in cash.

The woman behind the glass looked up at her in surprise. “You’re covering half the outstanding bill?”

Janine nodded. “Yes. That’s all I can do for now.”

The nurse hesitated, then gave a small smile. “It’s a big help but there is still a remaining bill. We’ll keep your mother in care and continue the medication. But…”

“I know,” Janine interrupted softly. “It’s not enough. I’ll work it out.”

She didn’t wait to hear more. She just turned and made her way to her mother’s room.

Inside, the beeping of the monitor was steady. Her mother lay pale and motionless, but breathing—alive.

Janine approached slowly, brushing a few stray strands of hair from her mother’s forehead. Her fingers trembled.

“Mama,” she whispered, voice cracking. “Hold tight, okay? Fight. We still need you.”

A tear rolled down her cheek as she forced a smile.

“I still need you.”

She kissed her mother’s temple, lingered for a few seconds longer, then turned away before her emotions could drown her. There was no time to fall apart. Not now.

---

The sun had already risen by the time Janine got home. The smell of eggs and rice drifted from the kitchen. She found Kyle and Sheila dressed in their school uniforms, laughing quietly as they packed their bags.

“Good morning, Ate!” Sheila chirped, running over to hug her.

Kyle followed, giving her a kiss on the cheek. “Did you just get home?”

“Yeah,” she said, forcing a grin. “Work kept me up.”

They sat down for breakfast. Kyle had cooked—he always did when Janine couldn’t. It warmed her heart, even if she was too tired to eat much.

Kyle watched her closely. “Where do you work again?” he asked carefully.

Janine took a sip of water, not meeting his eyes. “Just… a side job.”

He frowned. “Ate, you didn’t do anything wicked, did you?”

She laughed, even if it sounded hollow. “Of course not. What kind of question is that?”

He didn’t push. But she could feel his gaze linger—worried, protective. She changed the subject quickly.

When they were about to leave, Janine called after him. “Kyle, wait.”

He turned around, and she handed him an envelope.

He opened it, eyes widening. “₱28,000? Ate, where did you—?”

“Just take it,” she cut him off, her tone firmer this time. “Pay the remaining tuition. I don’t want any delays.”

He opened his mouth to argue, but she gave him that look—one he couldn’t refuse.

“Graduate, okay?” she said softly. “Make me and Mama proud. Don’t waste my hardship.”

Kyle’s face softened. He pulled her into a tight hug, and for a moment, they just stood there—quiet, steady, holding each other together.

“Thank you, Ate,” he said, voice low.

“Go,” she whispered. “You’ll be late.”

When the door closed behind them, Janine exhaled. Her legs gave out and she sat on the couch, burying her face in her hands.

She had done what she needed to do.

But at what cost?

---

Meanwhile, in the towering glass office of Guevara Holdings, Theo sat at the head of a long mahogany table, surrounded by men in suits and glowing screens full of charts.

He should’ve been focused. This was the quarterly board meeting. His reputation demanded precision. Strength. Presence.

But his eyes kept drifting. His jaw clenched slightly. Every now and then, his fingers tapped the table—impatient, distracted.

Across from him, Kevin, his closest business partner, finally leaned forward.

“You okay, bud?” Kevin asked casually, but his voice had an edge of concern. “You’re unusually quiet today. Want to reschedule?”

Theo snapped out of his daze and shook his head. “No. I’m fine. Continue.”

Kevin raised an eyebrow but nodded.

As the presentation resumed, Theo leaned back in his chair, crossing one leg over the other. He clasped his hands, trying to push the image out of his mind—but it was relentless.

Her.

The girl from the club.

The virgin.

The way she moaned, the way she wrapped her legs around him, the look in her eyes when she said, “It’s just a job, sir.”

He hadn’t even gotten her name. But she was burned into his memory now—red dress, red lips, smudged lipstick and trembling defiance.

He should’ve let her go.

Hell, she was gone, and that should’ve been the end of it.

But now she was haunting his thoughts like a drug he hadn’t meant to try.

When the meeting finally adjourned, he returned to his office and poured himself a whiskey, even though it was barely noon. He stood by the window, looking out at the city, fingers tightening around the glass.

“I shouldn’t care,” he muttered.

But his curiosity was growing louder than his restraint.

He didn’t know what she looked like..

But he wanted to.

And Theo Lucas Guevara III always got what he wanted.