All Chapters of BETWEEN THE KITCHEN AND THE MASTER'S BEDROOM: Chapter 1 - Chapter 5

The heavy iron gates of the Harrison Estate swung shut behind me, and for a long moment, I just stood perfectly still, clutching my small, worn bag tight against my chest. My fingers dug into the frayed fabric, grounding me as the reality of where I was truly settled in. This was it. The place I had prayed would take me in. The job that would keep my family afloat, that would stop the bills from piling up, that would keep my brother’s dream of college alive. Nandito ako dahil wala na akong ibang mapuntahan. Ilang buwan nang nakaratay sa banig ang aking ina. Ang bawat pagpapatingin, bawat bote ng gamot, at bawat pagbisita ng doktor ay unti-unting kumakain sa lahat ng aming naipon. Halos wala na kaming natira pambili pa ng bigas at asin. Ang bunsong kapatid kong si Kiko ay nasa huling taon na ng hayskul, at sa tuwing nababanggit niyang gusto niyang maging inhinyero, kumikinang ang kanyang mga mata — habang ako naman ay unti-unting nadudurog dahil alam kong wala kaming maibibigay sa kan

The grand chandelier overhead cast a warm, golden glow over the long dining table, but it could not chase away the quiet heaviness that filled the room tonight. It was the anniversary of the day his parents had passed — a date Mrs. Reyes had quietly mentioned to me earlier, saying, “He locks himself away most years. Tonight… he tried to face it instead.” Guests had come and gone hours ago, leaving behind only the faint scent of expensive wine and heavy conversation. Now the house was silent again, save for the soft clink of glass as I cleared the table. I moved quietly, careful not to make a sound — I knew how much he valued peace, especially on days like this. Nang mailagay ko na ang huling plato sa lalagyan, may narinig akong gumalaw sa kabilang dulo ng mesa. Nandoon pa si Yael, nakasandal ang siko sa makintab na ibabaw nito habang mariing idinidiin ang mga daliri sa kanyang sentido. Ang bote ng pulang alak sa tabi niya ay halos ubos na. Higit pa sa nakita ko kailanman ang nainom

In the days that followed, life within the high stone walls of the Harrison Estate turned into a quiet, relentless torment. Mara made it her sole purpose to make every moment of my stay as difficult and humiliating as she possibly could. There was no task too small, no excuse too petty, no chance she would ever pass up to remind me exactly where I stood — and exactly how little I was worth in her eyes. Kapag napakintab ko na ang mahabang hapag-kainan hanggang sa maging makinis na parang salamin, dadaan siya, sadyang itutumba ang plorera ng mga bulaklak, at sisigaw na pabaya at hindi maingat ako. Kapag naghahain na ako ng pagkain, itutulak niya ang plato palayo nang hindi hinahawakan, magrereklamo na matabang ang niluto ko, sunog, o kaya naman ay walang lasa — at uutusan akong gawin ulit ang lahat mula sa simula. Ipinapagawa niya sa akin ang mga bagay na hindi naman sakop ng trabaho ko: paglilinis ng pinakamataas na bintana nang walang hagdan, pagbubuhat ng mabibigat na kahon mula sa