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Lahat ng Kabanata ng I Finally Chose Myself: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 9

9 Kabanata

Chapter 1

Mom cleared her throat pointedly.Celia Kessler looked up. When she saw me there, she quickly changed the subject."Mom, Dad, I got you both presents!"She pulled out several custom-made dolls. "Look! Don't they look like you? I got ones of Bryan and me too. Now the whole family's here!"The snide look Mom had been giving me vanished instantly, and her face lit up."Celia, you've got plenty of expenses of your own, and you still bought us gifts. You're nothing like some people who only ever think about themselves."I couldn't help asking, "Mom, doesn't Celia only make 2,000 dollars a month?"Before Mom could answer, Celia waved me off dramatically."Naomi, I only made 2,000 dollars a month for two months. Stop teasing me. That barely covered anything, so I begged Dad to pay to get me into Briarwood Group!"I was stunned. I knew that company. It took at least 100,000 dollars to get your foot in the door, and even then, you needed connections.But when I graduated and started l

Chapter 2

Everyone nearby was gathered around Celia, looking at the photos.I pulled out my phone and texted my boss, Trevor Freeman. "Is that partnership offer you mentioned yesterday still on the table?"His reply came almost immediately. I could practically hear the sarcasm through the screen."Oh? So you can actually leave for five years after all? What happened to being the one holding your whole family together?"Trevor had offered me the same opportunity the year before. But when I told my family it would mean spending five years overseas, they all immediately said no.Mom said, "This family depends on you. If you leave, everything will fall apart."Bryan looked conflicted too. "Naomi, we're not getting any younger. I'm not asking you to be the breadwinner, but you can't move that far away."Back then, I thought Mom, Dad, and Bryan needed me, so I gave up the opportunity without a second thought.But now, as I watched the four of them together, looking like one happy family, I cou

Chapter 3

That weekend was our monthly dinner with the Alston family, and it happened to fall on my birthday.When I got home, Bryan's mother, Marissa Dunne, was talking to Mom about Celia."Celia's such a sweetheart. She's so lively, and she always knows just what to say."Mom waved her off with a smile. "Bryan's a great guy too. He's young and successful.""The three of them grew up together. I still don't understand how Bryan ended up falling for Naomi."Marissa sighed regretfully. Then, as if trying to make herself feel better, she added, "Naomi's not bad either. At least she's practical."Apparently, being practical was the only good thing anyone could say about me.A little while later, I heard voices by the door.Celia walked in with her arm linked through Bryan's. As soon as she saw Marissa, she rushed over and threw her arms around her."Mrs. Alston, I missed you so much!"Everyone laughed, and the whole room felt warm and cheerful.I stood off to the side, feeling oddly deta

Chapter 4

The living room fell silent.Dad frowned. "Naomi, what did you just say?"Celia froze too. The concerned look from moments ago vanished as she stared at me in surprise.Mom shot up from the couch. "What's with the attitude? Are you really going to stop helping this family? Did I raise you all these years for nothing?"My voice rose before I could stop it. "Then why doesn't Celia have to chip in?"Mom's expression darkened. "That's different. Celia has enough expenses as it is. Why are you comparing yourself to her?""How is it different? You bought her a car, and I'm still expected to help pay her way? Look at the clothes she wears and all the things she has, then look at me. I'm her sister, but I live like I'm her mother!"Before I knew what was happening, Mom slapped me across the face. My cheek burned, and tears finally spilled down my face.Her hand trembled as she sat back down on the couch, clutching her chest like she was the one who'd been slapped.Dad snapped at me. "

Chapter 5

Mom was still angry by the time they got to the Alstons'. She went on and on about all my faults, making it sound like Celia was better than me in every possible way.Celia slipped her arm through Mom's and said sweetly, "Mom, don't be mad at Naomi. She'll come around once she's had time to think."Mom looked at her approvingly. "At least you care about me. If Naomi were half as thoughtful as you, I'd be happy."Marissa brought over a plate of fruit and laughed. "You're too hard on Naomi. She's just quiet. Every time we come over, she's the one who cooks all that food, isn't she? And didn't she buy you that mink coat too?"Honestly, when have you ever asked her for something and had her say no? She's just not as lively as Celia. You've got two daughters who love you. What more could you ask for?"Bryan nodded, clearly agreeing with Marissa.She wasn't wrong. Aside from work, I was almost always with Mom and Dad.I watched every dollar. Unlike most women, I never made much of hol

Chapter 6

By then, I was already on the plane heading overseas.Trevor had been chewing me out the entire way. "Naomi Kessler, I swear, you're going to be the death of me! I thought you were about to stand me up for the third time! I was ready to show up at your place and strangle you myself."You're stubborn as hell at work, but you actually let your family lock you in your room? How many times have I told you to dump that guy? I knew he was bad news back when we were in school!"Even as he complained, he didn't stop working on the phone. He put on a screen protector, snapped on a case, then tossed it over to me."And you're paying me back for this next month!"Trevor and I had gone to the same college, and he'd graduated before me. I joined his company right after graduation.Back then, there were only four of us in the entire company. Somehow, I was the only one who was still just a regular employee.Trevor knew what things were like at home. He knew I gave Mom and Dad part of every pa

Chapter 7

Back home, things only got worse after I left.No one reminded Dad to take his blood pressure medication anymore, and no one was there to help Mom around the house.Mom kept pushing Celia and Bryan to find out where I was. They went to my company several times, but Trevor had already made sure they weren't allowed inside.After another wasted trip, they came home empty-handed.Finally, Mom turned to Celia. "Celia, why don't you move back home? It's too quiet here. And maybe you could give me part of your paycheck too. I'll save it for you."Celia had always been the obedient one, but she refused without hesitation."Mom, are you kidding? I'm an adult. I can manage my own money, and I have my own life. You can't expect my whole life to revolve around you!"Mom was clearly unhappy. "Naomi did it before, and she was doing just fine!"Celia rolled her eyes. "Fine? She had to get someone to unlock the door just so she could leave the country. I'm not her. Don't push me until I leave

Chapter 8

By my third month abroad, I'd finally gotten used to the pace of life there.Trevor even gave me a raise.It started during a video call one day. The moment we connected, he caught me eating a plain peanut butter sandwich for dinner.His eyes widened. "You did that on purpose, didn't you, Naomi? Trying to make me feel bad for overworking and underpaying you?"Another longtime employee sitting beside him laughed. "She's out there all by herself in another country. Why don't you give her a raise? Don't worry, I won't complain."I swallowed my bite of sandwich and stayed quiet. Honestly, I just hadn't gotten used to the food there yet, but I didn't feel like explaining.I hadn't had much in savings before I left, so the extra money would definitely help. Besides, I still hadn't paid Trevor back for the phone.In the end, Trevor gave me a small raise.After that, whenever I checked in with Trevor, I'd casually let him see how rough I had it. But after a while, he just started prete

Chapter 9

After that, Bryan showed up a few more times.Sometimes he waited outside my office. Other times, he brought me food from back home.I ignored him every time.Then one day, Trevor called me on video just as Bryan showed up again. I spotted Bryan in the distance and sighed in annoyance.Trevor immediately protested, "You're not even a partner yet, and you're already sick of me?"I couldn't help laughing.Trevor was always stone-faced around everyone else. But with me and the other two who'd been there from the beginning, he was a total chatterbox.I didn't bother explaining. "Let me borrow you for a second."I walked over to Bryan and held up my phone so he could see Trevor's annoyed face."My new boyfriend. Can you stop coming around now?"Bryan froze. His mouth opened, then closed again.I walked away before he could say anything. After that, I never saw him again.Trevor was a different story. He suddenly wouldn't look me in the eye, and his voice got noticeably quieter.

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