Chapter 22

"So thank you very much because we are very lucky because you became our child. Not all children care about their parents. Because other children, when they work elsewhere, they have no plans to return home. It's okay if we don't eat for a few days but Mathilde is always crying. I feel sorry for her." said her mother.

"Mathilde is also always on my mind. That's why I'm trying to work hard so that she doesn't suffer anymore. Life in the city is not easy. I'm very lucky because I have a very kind roommate. And I'm also thankful because we stay in. Everything of the expenses is covered by the owner so I won't have to spend my money. Because I don't have to look for a boarding house and pay a lot." Alondra said smiling.

"What kind of job did you get?" asked her mother.

"At the Coffee shop. I'm a dishwasher," answered Alondra.

Her mother looked at her with pity.

"Are you okay there? Aren't you having trouble?" her mother asked.

"It's tiring because there's so much to wash, but it's worth it because the bed is nice and there's air conditioning that I can't experience in here," answered Alondra, smiling.

"Really? That's why you're turning a little whiter." said her mother.

"Yes."

"Alright. Go back to sleep, daughter. Because you have a walk tomorrow." said his mother and stood up.

"All right."

Alondra returned to her room. And she saw Mathilde sleeping peacefully. She approached her and stroke her hair. She wishes Mathilde to be successful in life. She doesn't want her to be like her who will work too much just to make money. She wants her to finish college and find an easy job. Mathilde is beautiful and it would be a shame to lose the opportunity to study and finish a good course shortly. As if it will no longer suffer like it is now for them in the days to come. She also lay down next to her and closed her eyes.

The next day,

Alondra was awake late. Mathilde was no longer by her side. She left the room and entered the kitchen and she saw Mathilde preparing food.

"Good morning. Where are mother and father?" she asked Mathilde and she pulled up a bench.

"They went to town early. They didn't say what they were going to do. Do you know since you left and worked in the city? They are no longer quarreling. They are too close to each other now. Father doesn't leave that he won't take the mother with him. I just found out that they love each other when we don't struggle much anymore. Maybe the difficulties in life caused the couple to distance themselves from each other. Back then they would sleep apart but now they hug each other when they are sleeping." Mathilde said smiling.

"It's good that way. That's how I used to notice them. And I'm happy with them." answered Alondra.

"Is what you cooked ready? Let's eat so we can go to town."

"All right."

Mathilde gave him a plate and filled his plate with rice and dish and handed it to him. He smiled.

"You don't have to do this, Mathilde. I can get food and serve myself." Alondra said laughing.

"Leave me alone. Serving you is the only thing I can do for now with all that you have given to me. Do you know that I am so happy that even in my sleep I smile?" Mathilde said.

"I'll give you what I can afford. I love you so much that I don't want you to have too much trouble," answered Alondra.

And they started eating. An hour later they also showered to go to town. They are now outside in the living room and Alondra is putting a little make-up on Mathilde's face and a lip tint to keep her lips from drying out. And the hair is in a ponytail. She made her wear a fitted blouse and black leggings paired with white sandals. Alondra smiled when she saw Mathilde's look when she wear a new dress and used new things.

"Look at yourself in the mirror. Is it beautiful?" Alondra asked.

"Yes. It makes me look like a human. Now I realized that I can be beautiful where ever I want." Mathilde laughed and answered.

Alondra laughed.

"Why? What were you before?"

"I didn't feel like I was a person before because I did take a bath all the time, but there was no shampoo and scented soap, so it was useless. My body would come out smelling. And I would wear very old clothes because there was nothing to buy." Mathilde answered shakily.

"From now on you will not wear old and tattered clothes," Alondra said.

"Thank you."

The two of them were walking out of their house now and looking for a ride to town.

"I'm so excited to see what our town looks like now. I've never been there before." Mathilde said.

"You'll see later what it looks like," answered Alondra.

After a while, a tricycle stopped in front of them.

"Will you ride?" said the driver who was just Mathilde's age.

"Yes," answered Mathilde.

Alondra frowned as the boy stared hard at Mathilde as if amazed by her appearance.

"Let's go," Alondra said to get rid of the little boy's stare.

While Mathilde doesn't seem to care. He is always looking at his phone.

"Where shall I take you?" asked the driver.

"In town," answered Alondra.

A few minutes later they reached the town. He and Emerald went down after paying. He and Mathilde were walking when the teenager shouted.

"Should I wait for you here?"

"Not anymore. We'll go home later," answered Mathilde.

But she didn't even look at the teenager. Alondra saw how she smiled sweetly when she heard Mathilde answer. Alondra laughed in her mind.

"It's like this here in town. There are a lot of goodies selling anything and everything and food," said Mathilde while taking pictures around.

"Stop that picture taking of yours. Let's go to the store that sells bags and school supplies."

"All right."

As they walked for a long time, they saw the store. They went inside and searched for something. A few minutes later they had bought all of Mathilde's things. She needs to make sure she can buy everything and enroll them because tomorrow she will be back in the city. And she does not know when she will be able to return here again.

They were leaving the store while Mathilde was carrying all the things they bought.

"What else do you want to buy?" Alondra asked.

"No more. You bought it too much for me," answered Mathilde.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. By the way, where can I study, sister?" Mathilde asked.

"Here in town because there is no high school in our barangay," answered Alondra.

Mathilde looked at her.

"How is that? Is this town far from our barangay? We don't have a tricycle for me to ride to school?" Mathilde asked worriedly.

"Don't worry. I will find a way for you to study," answered Alondra.

Alondra is not yet sure where she can find a tricycle that Mathilde can use as a driver for rent. She will only pay monthly. First, they went home and then she prepared for Mathilde's enrollment requirements. And she saw that her mother and father still hadn't come home. When she finished everything, they returned to town. Alondra wonders if the tricycle they rode earlier is the same now.

The boy smiled at her. That's why she recognizes him.

"Where are you going now?" the boy asked.

"At school. We're going to enroll," answered Alondra.

"You two are students?"

"No. It's just my sister who goes to school. I work in the city. I just went home to join her." he answered.

"It's too far if your house is still there. Does she have a ride to school when school starts?"

"Not yet. I'm still looking for a place where I can rent a tricycle. I'll just pay monthly. It's just that I don't know many people in our barangay." answered Alondra.

"Is that so? I can be the one to send her and pick her up when she goes home from class," he said.

Alondra didn't say a word. She looked at the boy carefully. She won't just trust this time because Mathilde will be harmed if she is not careful. But she sees that this boy is kind.

He smiled at her.

"If you think that I will do bad things to your sister, you are wrong. I have many sisters and I love them so much that what you are thinking is impossible. I am working hard to give them money to send them to school." answered the teenager.

Alondra was suddenly embarrassed by what she thought.

"I'm sorry. I just can't help it." Alondra said.

"It's okay. It's not good to just trust anyone right now. But we only live in the same barangay." the boy answered.

"Where is your house?"

"Just over there. Around the corner and then I know your father."

"That's good. How much will you ask for monthly?" Alondra asked.

"It's up to you to set the price."

"$80. Is that okay?"

"Yes. That's okay. The amount you said is too big."

"Didn't you study?"

"I just finished high school. And I don't have any money for college yet. Maybe when I save up, I'll continue my education."

"It's good. I'm Alondra and this is my sister Mathilde," she says.

"I'm Hebrew."

"Can I hope my sister will be safe with you driving," Alondra asked, worrying?

Hebrew laughed.

"Of course. Besides, his journey to school won't be boring because my brothers who are already in high school study here," replied Hebrew.

"That's good."

A few minutes later they reached the school in town. It was big and he saw many students enrolling and entering inside the gate.  She carried the brown envelope and held Mathilde by the arm.

"I'll go with you because I know where you're going first," Hebrew said.

"All right."

The three of them went inside together. And they found the room where Mathilde could enroll. Fortunately, her teacher is kind, they had the same age, and very approachable. Alondra smiled if she hadn't been poor when she was born, maybe she would have a sensible job like this now, but she knew it wasn't too late for her.

They left the school gate. And they got inside the tricycle. Before Hebrew had even started he had already given her money for Mathilde's first month of entering the class. So that he can be sure that he will pick up Mathilde at their house.

"What is it for, Alondra?" Hebrew asked.

"My first payment for the first month," answered Alondra.

"You should pay tomorrow. It can be done at the end of the month." Hebrew said with a smile.

"It's okay so you can use something too. Besides, it's tomorrow. I'll ride again because I'm going back to the city."

"Sure. No problem."

"Are you coming back, sister?" asked Mathilde who was silent by his side.

"Yes."

"Why? You didn't even stay a few days at home." Mathilde said sadly.

"I can't be absent for a few days, Mathilde. They might fire me. You know I've only been working for them for a month. I only came home to deliver money to you. Don't be sad because you have a phone and you can call me when you're sad." Alondra said.

"Yes."

After an hour of their travel, they reached their barangay. They got off the tricycle. Alondra would have paid more if Hebrew stopped her.

"Don't pay. Because you gave too much."

"Okay thank you."

Hebrew looked at Mathilde for a moment before leaving so Alondra smiled secretly. So they are now walking hand in hand into their wooden gate. They saw their mother and father sitting on a bamboo chair outside their house. She and Mathilde smiled at both of them when they saw them.

"How are you two doing?" asked his father.

"It's okay. Mathilde is already enrolled. And then I looked for a tricycle driver to pick and send her up from school." answered Alondra.

"Who?" asked her mother.

"Hebrew."

"I know that boy and he's nice so there's no problem." answered her father.

"Yes. Because I'm going back to the city tomorrow. I'll only be absent for two days." Alondra said.

"Why? Isn't okay to extend even just four days?" asked her mother.

"It's not possible because I haven't reached a year of working there. It's a good thing that our assistant manager allowed me to go home today," answered Alondra.

"All right."

"If you want to talk to me, just call me. Mathilde has a phone." Alondra said smiling.

"That's exactly what we're going to do." said her father.

Alondra nodded.

"How was your walk earlier? Where did you go?" he asked.

"It's okay. We went to the market and we looked for a space to display various fruits and vegetables." her mother answered.

"So? Did you find anything?" Alondra asked.

"There is. So tomorrow your father and I will start selling." her mom answered smiling.

Alondra smiled. She was happy with the outcome when she returned home. Her salary for a month is not bad. They went inside the house because it seemed like it was raining. But Alondra stayed outside because she wanted to feel the cold air. It was dark all around and not a single star came out. It looks like it's going to rain tonight. A few minutes later her father came to her side. When she looked back at her, she was smiling at her.

"Aren't you going inside the house yet?" it asked.

"Not yet. I'll be here first. How is our rent here on the lot? Are we charging yet?" Alondra asked.

"Not really. But I know the amount we have to pay because we never paid. It's good that the owner understands us." answered her father.

"You talk to the owner, maybe he will agree to let us buy this lot. I'll just call here when." Alondra said.

"All right."

Her father looked at her and smiled.

"Do you want to tell me something, father?" Alondra asked.

"What I want to say is thank you. Your mom helped us to get out of trouble little by little. I'm happy because I had children who are very smart and hardworking in life." said her father.

"We have to work together to get out of trouble."

"Yes."

They both decided to go inside the house. She entered the kitchen and saw vegetables on the table. She sat down and asked Mathilde for a knife to help her cut vegetables. Tomorrow she will return to the city. She was happy to be with the family even for a small time. Just now she thought that she forgot to buy some load. She couldn't call Daisy.