Chapter 47

"Mom," Patricia began, her voice tinged with a mix of nervousness and determination, "I've been thinking about... getting a part-time job."

Her mom, who was spooning a mouthful of rice, momentarily paused mid-air.

The atmosphere at the table turned cold, and even her younger siblings, who were usually noisy, kept silent and pretended they weren't there

Slowly, she turned her head to her daughter, the weariness in her eyes momentarily replaced by a flicker of concern, then tinged with a hint of anger.

It was clear she had many questions and reservations about this sudden announcement, but she tried her best to mask her emotions and address the matter rationally.

She composed herself and swallowed the rice before speaking; "Why?"

"I... My classmate offered me a job, and all I had to do was assist in his work, and he'll pay me ₱13,000," Patricia nervously explained.

Her mother's eyes bore into Patricia's, searching for any sign of deception.

"₱13,000, that's a lot. Are you sure it's real? What if it's fake? There's a lot of scammers lately. Your cousin was promised a job at a restaurant for ₱20,000, but before the month ended, she was fired by those scums and they did not even pay her half of it!!" Patricia's mom concern shifted to a simmering anger at the memory of the incident.

"D-don't worry, Mom, it's real. Remember the guy I told you who paid me ₱5,000 to do his schoolwork? It was him who wanted to hire me," Patricia explained in a rush, her eyes wide with anxiety.

Her mother's gaze softened slightly, sensing the truth in Patricia's words.

"Is that Edward you always talk about?" she asked, her tone softening.

"I don't often talk about him, MOM!" Patricia replied, a mix of exasperation and a faint blush coloring her cheeks.

"Hmmph, watch your tone, young lady!" her mom scolded, but if you looked closely, a slight smile was visible on her lips.

"I... sorry, but mom—"

"Never mind, whatever, I don't care if you like a boy or not, you're old already. Just tell me if he hurts you otherwise..."

"M-mom, w-we're not like that, we're just friends," Patricia stammered, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"Tsk, what job is he offering you anyway?"

"Personal Assistant. He's doing a business, and he has a lot of things to do, so he needs someone to assist him, and he thinks I'm okay, so he offered it to me."

"Doing business, how old is he? What kind of business?"

"He's my age, and he's doing music."

"Music? Like those who sing at events like festivals and weddings or like those rappers with tattoos?"

"I... he didn't elaborate, but he didn't have tattoos, Mom, and his job only involved indoors, no need to visit various places, so it's not affecting his studies."

"Oh?" Hearing what her daughter said, Patricia's mother nodded in approval. "He's not bad. Bring him home if he has time, I want to talk to him."

"M-mom, it's not like what you think, we're really not in a relationship, we're just friends," Patricia stammered, her embarrassment deepening.

Hearing her daughter's statement, Patricia's mother had her doubts. However, seeing Patricia's anxious expression, she decided not to press the matter and just shrugged.

"Anyway, how do you plan on handling your studies if you indeed take a part-time job?"

"The work starts after class..."

Seeing her mother opening up to the idea, Patricia grew excited. She eagerly went into the details of Edward's offer.

As she explained, her mother's surprise was visible. Patricia could see her mother mentally calculating how this would affect Patricia's already packed schedule.

In the end, her mother sighed and nodded, revealing a blend of concern and understanding.

"Times have changed," she sighed and shook her head. "Back then, if I had finished my studies, I might have also landed a job in a big company... unfortunately, things didn't go that way.. your father came.. and..."

Hearing this, Patricia paused, absorbing the sadness in her mother's eyes. She chose to stay silent, understanding the pain her mother had carried for years.

Like Patricia, her mother was also a top student in her youth. While she didn't achieve the titles of valedictorian or salutatorian, the numerous awards, medals, and certificates in the chest/trunk showcased her accomplishments.

Back then, her mother's future was promising, and their family held optimistic expectations. She was a dutiful daughter and a role model within the family.

However, fate took an unexpected turn when Patricia's father entered the picture. He captured her mother's heart, leading them to elope and start a new life together.

In the years that ensued, Patricia was born, followed by her siblings, seemingly creating a joyful and contented family, until Patricia reached the age of nine.

During that time, Patricia awoke one night to the muffled cries of her mother coming from the adjacent room.

In the days that ensued, her father's absence turned into a painful reality. He stopped coming home, leaving an emotional void in the household. Her mother, heartbroken, avoided speaking about him, and the uncertainty of his departure weighed heavily on their hearts.

At first, they struggled with a blend of sadness and anger, mostly directed at their mother for the unexplained departure. However, as time passed, they gradually learned to adapt and accept the void left in their lives.

During those times, Patricia often felt bewildered as her mother chose not to share the complete truth. However, after years of piecing together fragments of information, Patricia eventually discovered details about her father's new family.

"Tsk, never mind..." Patricia's mother sighed and then turned her head toward her daughter and said seriously, "₱15,000 is very good considering you're only 17 years old, and the fact that this guy, Edward, has already paid you, proves his credibility. However, you still have to be careful. Unlike me, you have a brighter future. You can date him if you want, but you must never elope with him, understand!?"

Hearing her mother's words, Patricia let out a sigh of relief. But as her mother continued speaking, the second half of her sentence made Patricia blush deeply, and she started to panic as she tried to explain herself.

"M-mom, it's not really what you think, we're only friends!"

"Whatever, just remember what I told you."

"O-okay.. then, are you okay with it?"

Her mother let out a sigh, her expression softening. "Alright, as long as it doesn't interfere with your studies."

"Then, is it okay if I can only visit every weekend?"

"That's fine, D is already 14, she can take care of your younger siblings, and there's also S next door. I can ask her to keep an eye on them."

"Thanks, Mom!"

The tension in the room eased, and Patricia sighed in relief.

After dinner, Patricia and her younger sister, D, teamed up to wash the dishes. The clinking of plates and the flow of water became a mundane melody, a routine they had perfected over the years.

As they worked, the chatter revolved around school, friends, and the things that recently happened in their neighborhood.

Once the dishes were done, they all gathered in the living room, and the atmosphere changed.

On the television, a drama that has been aired for months played.

"Endless Love," a GMA TV drama, lit up the screen. The storyline followed the typical GMA pattern—a tale of childhood friends who drifted apart for undisclosed reasons, only to cross paths again. However, this time, there was a twist—the girl had moved on and was already committed to someone else.

As the familiar drama "Endless Love" played on the television, the siblings sat together, their reactions mirroring the plot's predictable twists and turns.

"Damn, I really don't like GMA dramas. They keep using the same actors, and the plot routine is always the same," D, her younger sister, exclaimed, expressing her frustration at the formulaic nature of the local dramas.

Defending her favorite actress, Patricia retorted, "What's wrong with the actors? I love Mariane, she was great in Marimar!"

"I also like her, but I mean in general, the other actors. They're so old-fashioned. Why don't they make dramas like those K-dramas?" D questioned, hoping for something different in local TV.

"What K-dramas?"

"Like 'Boys over Flowers' and 'Meteor Garden!'" D excitedly mentioned.

"Tsk, 'Meteor Garden' is a Taiwanese drama," Patricia playfully teased, and the siblings laughed, their banter providing a light-hearted escape from the routine of daily life.

At around nine, Patricia said goodnight to her siblings and headed to her room to work on her school assignments, including the tasks she'd agreed to complete for Edward. The room enveloped her in a hushed atmosphere of concentration. The clock on the wall ticked on, measuring time as Patricia delved into her assignments.

As the night advanced, Patricia stretched and let out a yawn. Glancing at the clock, she realized it was well past her usual bedtime.

Turning off the light, she settled into her bed, ready to welcome sleep. The events of the day slowly faded into the background, replaced by dreams and the promise of a new day.