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One

-ONE-

Gosh. Wala na kong pera. Bakit kasi nakikisabay pa yung mga project na yan? Ugh! So frustrating!

Where's Mama when I needed her the most? Money problems. Hayy...

I tried to call for help but they keep on ignoring me like I sort of a virus. Argh!

My tummy started to growl. I huffed out a breath and stared blankly at my little room. It's not that bad. Malinis naman, ah. Walang kalat, lock lahat ng cabinets, hindi dusty yung windows, pero wala pa din akong food! Dati naman makalat pero may food. Gosh, life is totally weird.

Naupo ako sa gilid ng kama and think of ways how to survive another month of being utterly 'independent'. No cars, no ATMs, no credit cards. No nothing. Just FEW clothes. Literally, nagkapag-ulit ako ng damit unlike before.

There's a light knock on the door. Sighing, I opened it.

"Magandang gabi, Ami. Pwede ba tayong mag-usap?" Said the Landlady. I forgot her name.

"Sure po." I flashed her my friendly smile. Dad told me to smile always, especially if you're going to ask a request on someone. Tumalab ka!

"Ahh...kasi---pano ba to---nagka-sakit kasi yung tatay ko. Alam mo na, pwede bang i-advance mo yung bayad mo?"

I dropped my jaw. I'm in a crisis. Wala akong pera! Nevertheless, I smiled nonchalantly to hide my dilemma. If I give her the money, wala akong pera. Mag-tatagal nalang ako ng two weeks. Buti nalang walking distance lang yung school. No fare needed. If I don't give her the money---oh my gosh! Baka ako yung maging cause of death! I can't afford to let this woman down. She's been good to me. So far.

"Ate, ano po ba yung sakit niya?" I asked a little worried.

"Na-paralyze yung kalahati ng katawan niya," sabi niya na parang ma-iiyak na. Okay. I need to weigh things. Maybe if I explain the situation to my parents I can borrow some money to them. Or Talia could help me!

I sighed. This is it.

Half of me doesn't want to give the money. It wants me to be selfish.

"Talaga?" Sa sobrang saya, hinawakan niya yung kamay ko.

"Opo. Saglit lang po." I stood to fish my wallet. I made this decision, mamaya na yung consequence.

It took me more than a minute to give her the money. Lumabas siyang nakangiti. Yellow nalang yung natira sa pera ko. I never realize 500 can be so important.

Lumabas ako para maka-langhap naman ng fresh air. May trabaho naman ako pero kasasahod ko lang. Nasa huli talaga ang pag-sisisi. But thinking back, I saved a life.

"Hello, Ma?" I greeted excitedly. Baka i-babalik na niya ko!

"Oh, still alive?" Ang sungit minsan ni Mama.

"Opo naman," sabi ko. "Pero Ma, pababalikin mo na ba ko?" Konting push lang.

"Excuse me? What are you saying?" My mother could be a tease sometimes. Ugh. She has no plan of bringing me back.

"Nothing."

"Are you up for some modeling?" Wow! Thank you, Lord! May money na ko!

"Yes! Saan po?" Silently, I was praying and crossing my fingers.

"It's for some charity work. We're getting you for free."

Oh goodness. Free?

I sighed. Before I can say yes to anything because money's not a problem but in times like this, I can decline but I wanna help too. Nakaka-miss mag-charity.