All Chapters of The Not So Regular Cinderella Love Story: Chapter 31 - Chapter 34

I laced my fingers together, squeezing them in my lap as I stared out the bus window. I tried to steady the tight knot twisting in my stomach, but the closer we got to my destination, the faster my nerves spiraled.Every mile we passed seemed to peel away the little confidence I had left, reminding me that my entire life was about to change.Nearly two months before this journey, everything in our family began to collapse.My father came home one evening trembling, his expression carved with fear and shame. That night, he told us he had been fired. He had worked as a manager at a well-known hotel in our city—a job that had been our family's foundation. In the beginning, his salary was barely enough to sustain us, but he had worked tirelessly, climbed the ranks, and was eventually promoted. With the promotion came a higher income and a more comfortable life. He bought us cars, sent me to a good school, and even managed to secure a house that seemed far beyond what his position should af

I sank weakly onto the sofa in our tiny living room, my body finally surrendering now that there was nothing left to do. My legs throbbed, my shoulders ached, and my feet felt like they had walked every street in the barangay twice. After three straight days of running around for the fiesta—cooking, greeting guests, smiling until my cheeks hurt—this was the exact moment exhaustion decided to collect its debt. But it wasn’t the bad kind of tired. It was the kind that made you smile even while your muscles screamed in protest. The kind that came from shared laughter, endless plates of food, and the familiar chaos of family talking over one another. I was exhausted, yes—but deeply, undeniably happy. Because for once, I wasn’t rushing anywhere. I wasn’t performing. I was simply home. “Tired?” I paused and turned my head. Mom was walking toward me, wiping her hands on a dish towel, having just escorted the very last guest out the door. “A little,” I admitted honestly. “But it’s okay.