Chapter 24

The next day, it was four o'clock in the morning and Alondra was already awake because she was going back to the city early so that she could be on duty when she arrived. And maybe Mrs. Abra can see her maybe she will fire her from work. She got up from the bed but when she turned to her side, Mathilde was gone. She left the room and took the towel, she would take a bath first and then eat after. She entered the kitchen and saw Mathilde cooking. Her back was to the other side of the door so she didn't see her enter the kitchen.
Alondra was smiling upon seeing her sister grow up to be a beautiful girl. She wore a baby pink blouse paired with a pair of thin leggings. And it's comfortable to stand while stirring something in the kettle placed in the pan. Maybe she was too happy because she was already awake at four o'clock.
"Aren't you going to talk there, sister? Are you just going to stare at my back until I melt?" Mathilde asked.
Alondra laughed. She thought Mathilde didn't see her. That's why she just waiting for her to speak.
"I thought you didn't know that I entered the kitchen. Why did you wake up this morning?" Alondra asked.
"Of course. Now you're going back to the city, right? I should just prepare you something to eat so you won't be hungry on the travel. It's just a small thing compared to what you've done and given me." Mathilde answered and put the rice and dish on the plate and placed it on the table.
"Thank you."
"Take a bath there first. Then we'll talk again while we eat." Mathilde said.
"Okay. By the way, are mother and father awake yet?" Alondra asked.
"They are no longer here at home."
"Where did they go?"
"They were already awake at three o'clock and left to pick up fruits and vegetables in the other barangay to start their business. Dad woke up Hebrew early because he was going to use the tricycle. Good thing that boy was kind and didn't even complain." answered Mathilde.
"Okay."
Alondra entered their bathroom. She winced in pain because she suddenly slipped and fell. Her butt hit the large wooden floor of their bathroom. She cried because of the pain but she didn't scream anymore. She stood up slowly as she endured her butt which seemed to be swollen from the impact of her fall. That's why when she returns to the city, she will do twice as much because she will build a house. It's not that big, but they will be comfortable, not the kind that will hurt the butt or any other part of the body if goes wrong like this. She sat down on the wooden bench and took off her clothes. And started taking a shower.
The door of their bathroom opened with only a sack of rice hanging over it and it had holes in it. Alondra smiled bitterly. She saw Mathilde's worried face.
"Why?" she asked.
"Nothing. I bought you shampoo and soap at the store outside. They ran out when mom and dad took a bath." Mathilde answered and gave her the soap and shampoo she bought.
"You go out?"
"Yes. It's not dark anymore and the sunlight is high when it's close to five o'clock," answered Mathilde.
Alondra nodded and continued to shower. Then Mathilde left in front of her and closed the bathroom door.
"Is there someone inside? Yahoo!"
Alondra heard someone outside their house.
"There is someone outside, please see who it is. Please also get me my clothes to wear when returning to the city, including undies, Mathilde. Thank you."
"All right."
Mathilde was already covered in a towel as she combed her hole with her hand. Mathilde gave her her dress and she immediately put it on.
"Hebrew is outside. Looking for you."
"Let him in first. Maybe he hasn't eaten yet."
"Okay."
After Hebrew entered, Alondra came out of the bathroom. And he went straight to the living room.
"Are we leaving?" Hebrew asked.
"Not yet. I'm going to eat. You're done eating right?" Alondra asked as she wiped her hair with a towel.
"Not yet. Maybe I can go home and eat. It's the morning when your father goes home." replied Hebrew.
"You just eat here. I have cooked a lot of dishes. It probably won't be enough if you are the only one to eat." Mathilde joked.
The sweetness of Hebrew's smile when Mathilde looked at him. Alondra just shook her head at what she saw.
"Really? That's better because we don't have any dishes at home. I only eat a little when I'm at another house." replied Hebrew.
"Good. Let's go to the kitchen." Mathilde said.
And the first to enter the kitchen, then Alondra followed and Hebrew entered last. He sat in front of the two of them and Mathilde gave him a plate.
"Thank you. This dish is delicious. I just now know that you know how to cook, Mathilde." Hebrew said with a laugh.

Mathilde's eyes rolled.
"Whatever. We just met." Mathilde answered and started eating.
Hebrew just laughed.
"Your father and I have been friends for a long time since we were little and he never tells us what his children's interests are," replied Hebrew.
"Dad doesn't like to talk about us. You know that with the hardships of our lives, he thinks more about what we will eat every day." Mathilde replied while chewing.
"We're both poor in this place, Mathilde. The only neighbors we have who haven't experienced hardship are the rich ones from childhood," answered Hebrew.
"Yes. You're right. By the way, have you ever experienced how to fall in love? I mean having a girlfriend. I see people our age here in the barangay have a sweetheart even if they have nothing to eat." Mathilde laughed.
Alondra saw how Hebrew frowned at Mathilde's question but was replaced by amazement and suddenly smiled.
"Really? As much as you can ask me, is it like that?"
"Yes. Is there anything wrong with me asking that?" Mathilde asked.
"Not really. It's just that I've never been able to fall in love and have a girlfriend because my father is too strict. I'll get a belt back if I do that. They say our life is hard and then I'll add more. Why?" Hebrew asked Mathilde.
"Nothing. I'm just thinking. You are very hard working, if you ever get a girlfriend, you'll be able to give her money if you get married shortly." answered Mathilde.
"Neither, Mathilde. I have many dreams in life. I want to graduate. I want to be an astronaut." Hebrew answered with a laugh.
"Really?"
"No. It's just a joke. I want to be an architect. I like to draw houses and different buildings."
"You'll be an architect too."
"I hope so."
They ended up eating breakfast with only Mathilde and Hebrew talking. Her sister found a brother in the person of Hebrew. She stood up and entered the room and took her sling bag. She had nothing else to bring. They were already outside the house and Mathilde was just inside on the balcony.
"Come with me to drop off your sister, Mathilde. You'll be alone here. Your parents will be home later tonight." Hebrew shouted at Mathilde.
"'Really?"
"Yes. Hurry up. Just lock the door of your house."
Mathilde ran towards them and they went out the gate together. Alondra just smiled at Hebrew's kindness.
The three of them got into the tricycle and Hebrew drove it away.
"Next time, don't stay alone in your house. Even if you've lived in this place for a long time no need for you to feel at ease. Why didn't you tell me you were coming with us?"
"It's embarrassing if I say more," answered Mathilde.
"It's okay if you come with me every day. I won't burden you." Hebrew answered with a laugh.
"Are we going to take your parents to the market, Alondra?" Hebrew asked later.
"Yes. If it's okay with you. I'll just say goodbye." answered Alondra.
"Can I come with you to the terminal, sister?"
"Yes. You can."
"Okay thank you."
Half an hour later they reached the town. Hebrew's tricycle turned towards the market. And they went straight to the end. And she saw her mother and father busy entertaining many customers. Alondra just smiled because she could see the sweet smiles on her parents' lips. She waits for the customer to disappear before approaching.
"You have a lot of customers. You just started your business but it's been successful." Alondra said.
"Yes."
"I'm going back to the city. I'll just call when I get there," answered Alondra.
"Always be careful there, daughter. We'll miss you." her mother said and hugged her tightly.
"Be careful here too."
"Where is Mathilde? You left her alone at home?" asked his father.
"I'm just here, father," Mathilde shouted.
"What are you doing there?"
"I'll go with you and sister," answered Mathilde.
"Alright. Go ahead, Alondra. You might be late for work."
"Thank you, father."
She hugged them and returned to the tricycle. Hebrew drove it. Alondra waved at her parents and watched as they left. A few minutes later they reached the terminal. Mathilde immediately hugged her.
"Be careful. I'll call you or you'll call me."
"Yes," she replied.
"Thank you, Hebrew. Shall I pay more?"
"No need."
After Mathilde and Hebrew left, Alondra immediately boarded the bus that was about to leave. In the end, she took a position near the window. The morning is cold and she feels the wind hitting her face. She looked at her phone to see if Daisy had messages for her or a call that she didn't hear. But still nothing.

At exactly seven in the morning, she reached the city. She immediately went downstairs to find a taxi to take her to the coffee shop. A few minutes later she was outside the establishment. She breathed a sigh of relief because it was still closed. She immediately paid the driver and went to the side of the house where she and Daisy were staying. But the gate was locked when she arrived. She was about to open it when Sir Yohan passed in front of her.
"You have arrived, Alondra."
"Yes. Just now, sir. Isn't Daisy in?" she asked.
"Daisy is no longer there with you," answered Sir Yohan.
"Huh why?"
Alondra started worrying. What will she do if Daisy is no longer here?
"Mrs. Abra fire her from work. Because she has been absent for two days. And she came back this morning but then she was fired and she brought all her things. Just call her. And then hurry up and we will open a Coffee store." he said and continued to go inside.
Alondra went inside and went straight to the front door. And sir Yohan is right, Daisy's things in the living room are gone. She opened the room and her clothes were gone in the cabinet as well as the bed and the foam was gone. Alondra suddenly became depressed and she didn't realize that her tears suddenly fell. She slowly sat on the bed, she didn't know how she was now that she was no longer with Daisy. But she can handle it for her family. She got dressed and looked for her uniform. She saw it in the closet next to many clothes that were unfamiliar to him. And she was sure it wasn't Daisy's dress and she knew it was just bought new. She looked at it and at the bottom, she saw a small note indicating that those clothes were hers and that Daisy had to go shopping and buy her new dress and told her to always be careful and be strong.


And he will only call her when there is an opportunity. Alondra wiped her tears and put a little powder on her face and light lipstick. Then she left the house and closed the gate. She went straight to the kitchen. When she entered, she saw a lot of dirty plates piled up in the sink. She put on the apron and started washing. She felt exhausted as if she had had a long journey but the truth was that Daisy was being kicked out by Mrs. Abra made her lonely. She looked like she had a broken wing and a leg that seemed like she would be crippled for life. Daisy was so good to her that she is sad that she is no longer with her. She just continued with her washing. And she always turned to the door hoping it would open and Daisy would come in smiling with coffee or food for her but nothing. She even beat a woman who was being left by a boyfriend in the middle of the problem.

An hour later he was done with what he was doing so he wiped them with a clean wipe and put them in the cabinet. He rested for a while and thought of drinking coffee. He removed his apron and went out and went to the other side. He hesitated whether to push the door open or not. But they hadn't decided yet when the door opened and the woman they were with came out of the bar house.
"Hi, Alondra. Do you need something?" it asked.
Alondra simply smiled because she couldn't remember what this girl's name was.
"I was going to ask for coffee," answered Alondra.
"I'll get it, okay? Mrs. Abra is inside. You might get scolded. Go back to your workplace first. I'll get the coffee." answered the woman.
"Thank you."
Alondra returned to her workplace. Her chest trembled when she heard the name of their manager. Good thing that woman opened the door. She sat down and leaned on the chair. She stood up first and drank water. She was just sweeping while waiting for her coffee. A few minutes later the door opened and the woman entered.
"Your coffee and cookies are here, Alondra." said the woman while smiling.
"Thank you, ma'am," she answered and took what she was carrying and placed it on the table.
"Just call me Laureen. Too bad because Daisy has already been fired from here. I don't know why our manager behaves like that. She could have just given Daisy a warning so that she won't be absent without saying goodbye, but she fired her right away. Go ahead. I'm going back to my workplace." Lauren said.
"Thank you."
After Laureen left, Alondra sat for a while to have coffee and eat cookies. She seemed to have lost the will to move and now she felt the silence all around her. She wonders where Daisy is now or maybe she has gone back to their house. Alondra didn't realize that after eating, she was just sitting down and fell asleep. She quickly got up when she saw that there were many dirty plates in the sink.