Chapter 7: Chapter 7

Ingrid's POV

10 years ago

"Please, Papa. Even just a small bill for Mama's medicine. Feel sorry for your children, Papa." Even if I kneel before him I will. The brothers and sisters always come before my dignity and pride.

"Why don't you ask your Mama? I only have enough money for your siblings' tuition," he told me.

"Wow, how come you think a lot about those step-daughters and step-sons you have but can even think about us, your real children, Pa?" I couldn't help but ask so he turned to me. I immediately saw the anger pass on his face.

They say that the child can tolerate the thought of being away from their parent but the parent can never help but think about their children but I don't think that it's true. Dad never really thought about us once. If I hadn't come here, he would definitely not remember us.

"Are you accusing me, Ingrid?!" He was immediately furious as he looked at me.

"It's not like that, Pa. I'm sorry, Mama doesn't have any money either, Pa... You know her condition," I replied calmly. As much as possible I want to be calm.

"Until now your mother is still a burden! Why can't she die yet, she's just persecution of—"

"Pa," I said calmly. He just blinked before he burst out handing some coins into his pocket. Some even fell on the cement so I just couldn’t avoid biting my lips.

I picked them up one by one. I just close my eyes as I hear the hurtful words from him. He was furious for giving money today.

"Thank you, Pa," I said.

"It's already a food that turned into stone because of you! Why don't you work? You always beg me for money!" My thought would give him a million to criticize but I just stopped myself from speaking. I should be thankful he even gave us my siblings even though I know his children with his new wife are the priority.

"Thank you, Pa."

He just cast me away in front of him.

Before returning home, I bought some medicine for my brother. I was just walking to our house, it's a few miles away from where Papa lived. Her new wife was rich but Papa never remembered us. His wife didn't want me to go there either, so he was angry when I went to ask for money.

If it's just me, I don't want to go there but it's okay for my brother and sister to eat, only their needs are important. I'm fine, just not them. I couldn't stand it when I see them being chased away just because they were asking for Papa's attention. I don't ever want to see that.

"Big Sister," Irah suddenly run towards me when she saw me.

"Irah, why did you go out? You should have just watched over Mama," I told her.

"We're waiting for you, Big Sister. Sandro has been shaking for a while," she said to me so my eyes widened. I lost the calm of my face and released the medicine. I saw Sandro chilling while lying on the bed. He even tried to smile at me when he saw me but I didn't smile back in a panic. I immediately picked him up to take him out of the house.

When the tricycle came, it immediately took me to a nearby hospital. I barely knew what to do as I watched Sandro chill.

"Miss," I called a nurse. I called a few more but they were too busy with the people in the hospital. When my brother was given attention, a doctor immediately attended to him.

"It's because of malnutrition, Ms. Galang." I don't know how to react. I know Sandro is getting thinner and thinner but I just didn't think it would be so bad that he would really chill.

There are even recommended vitamins that I don't know if I can buy. Even with those check-ups, we can't even afford to pay.

I have no other relatives to call but Papa so I borrowed a cellphone to call.

"Pa," I said.

"What's it again, Ingrid? You just came here to ask for money!" he angrily said.

"Sandro is in the hospital, Pa," I said.

"What? Why?"

"Why did you rush to the hospital? It will just cost you money! You should have just waited for a while, it's a waste of money!" he said so I just bit my lips so hard to stop myself from speaking. How can he say those things? His son is Sandro. Even if we say he has a new family, we are still his children.

"Well, don't be like that, Sandro was chilling when I came home," I told him.

"If you just hadn't left! You're so stupid too!" he shouted at me so I frowned. If he hadn't left us too. I just stopped myself from saying things that can hurt him. I just let him say hurtful words to me.

"I have no money! My money is already enough for your sister here!" he said dropping the call. I just wiped my face when I heard those words from him. I tried to call him again but he did not answer my calls.

"Miss, is it over?" the person I borrowed the cellphone from asked.

"I'm sorry," I said before handing it to him.

"Thank you," I said.

I just sat in the chair here in the hospital. I just stared at the hallway. I don’t know if I’ll call those old friends of mine. I didn’t want to call them because they all condoned my ex’s cheating on me. They all watched him flirt with Sarah, one of our friends.

But I had no one else to turn to for help. Even if I don’t want to, I need to.

"Steffanie," I greeted from the other line.

"Ingrid! As I mention you can't stand living without me!" Her laughter pierced my mind. I can't help but be annoyed by her voice but I can bear it especially when I'm going to ask for help. I can't do this alone.

"Can I borrow money?" I ask.

"Oh, you really can't live without us," she said accompanied by a small laugh. Right, no matter how much I guard my pride, I will still need their help.

"Don't worry, I'll give it to you. We're okay now, huh?" I did not speak and eventually took a deep breath.

"I'm really sorry about what happened. We didn't know that they were getting to the point where they were already sleeping with each other," she laughed. I just clenched my fist because of that. Damn. How can they be so evil to see their friends fooling around just to hurt someone else? Aren't they afraid of karma?

"Hey, are you still there?" Steffanie asked.

"Yeah, it's fine. We're fine now." Even if it’s not okay, I still can’t say no.

"Really? Thank you, Ingrid! I'll send your money now, you can just give it back when you already have one! Love you, Girl!" Before I could drop the call, I heard them laughing from the other line. She's probably with our friends or are they really friends who can I consider one? They're all disgusting. Plastic if plastic but we all need each other.

All of them treat me like just garbage but it's fine, that's how I feel about myself too.

Sandro was confined for a day and sent home. The doctor just didn’t forget to remind me of the vitamins he would need.

"Big Sister will leave first, Irah. I'll just look for a job. Don't leave Sandro, okay? This is the money to buy your candy later," I said. I handed her five pesos.

"Thank you, Ate! Be careful!" she said, kissing me on the cheek.

"Mama, I'm leaving," I said goodbye to Mama who was just looking at our broken ceiling. Mama was paralyzed so Papa got tired of taking care of her. He couldn't take care of her anymore so he looked for another woman and viola in a flash, and he formed a family. He just quickly forgot we were his children too.

I just look for a sideline, nothing would happen if I won't work. I will graduate from senior high just a few weeks ago and I don't know if I will go to college in this situation. Maybe not anymore, maybe I'll just help Irah and Sandro to study. I don't really know, I really want to graduate to get them out of this life but I'm not sure how life can fuck us up even more.

"We're looking for college graduates here, Miss. I'm sorry, just come back when they are hiring senior high graduates." I smiled and nodded. I was rejected several more times until late at night.

I was losing hope not until I saw the part-time job in a convenience store. I felt a bit of hope in myself before I went there. It's just also a distance away from our house so I can walk here if I want to. It will only take half an hour so it will be a great joy if I am accepted.

"Good evening, are you still looking for a part-timer?" I politely question. I presented my resume.

"Are you going to college, Hija?" the old woman asked me.

"I'm not really sure po."

"Are you really willing to work?" she asked me. I nodded one after another.

"You can work here then. You can start next Monday," she said so I stopped and looked at her. I was happy to receive it but it was so sudden.

"Why?" I ask.

"Ah, you're the first one to apply. Our part-timer is just leaving, he's going to work abroad," she told me with a smile.

I thought I was out of luck but now I think there is still even a little left. I couldn’t help but feel the joy that enveloped me.

"Thank you very much!" I said so the old woman smiled at me.

We just talked for a while until I go out to go home.

"Ingrid?" I know that voice very well. I immediately saw Jayvee who was looking at me.

"Can you hear—" Before he could finish what he was going to say, I turned my back on him and ran out. He chased so I hid. I don't want to face him. He doesn’t deserve the anger I have. I gasp in annoyance when I see his face. What right does he have to show his face to me?

I almost lost my breath when I felt someone behind where I was hiding.

"Did someone pass here?" I heard Jayvee ask the person behind me. I turned to the man who was looking at me. There was a grin on his lips as if we were close.

"She's wearing a black shirt. Her hair is exposed. She's pretty," Jayvee said. I saw the man simply look at me as I signaled not to speak. He seemed like a fool to even ask.

"Why are you looking for her?" he asked.

"She's my girlfriend." Wow, how can his face be so thick?

"Really? Why is she running away if she's your girlfriend?" the man asked.

"Why do you have to know?" Jayvee asked with an annoyed tone.

"Alright?" the strange man laughed. He's going to walk away as if he won't answer Jayvee's question.

"She's mad at me. She doesn't want to talk but I want to clarify things!" Jayvee frustratingly said. I winced slightly when I heard the man's laughter and turned to look at me.

"She's here," he pointed at me. My eyes widened there but the irritation returned as well. I just gave the man a bad look before I stood up to face Jayvee.