Chapter 1

Lyka

"Are you sure that you'll just be fine there, my daughter?" My mom keeps asking me the same question for the nth time. I know she's worried for me, though.

I laughed hard to lighten up the atmosphere. My mom gave me a sharp look, "Oh, mother! Yes, I'll just be fine there! Just believe in me, okay?"

She sighed and I know what that mean. She's really worried.

"Hey mother, this is Lyka Montefranca— your daughter. I'm just going to work on that mansion, okay? Stop worrying about me. I'm old now and I can handle myself. . ." I said and gave her a smile.

I applied as a maid on Gustavo's mansion. Today is my trip to their humble abode, I hope it's really "humble" though. I need to ride three buses just so I could arrive on that place. Nanny, maid or whatever you call it, I am just so thankful that my job application for that was accepted. Thank God.

My mother's face lighten up on what I've said, a smile plastered on her lips. She moved closer to me. I was expecting a hug but instead I was welcomed with a pinch on my cheeks. Aw, that hurts!

"I am your mother, and it's just natural for me to be worried about you, kid! I will surely miss you, my naughty daughter! Always take good care of yourself there, promise?" She reminded me and I nodded. Aw, Mother's love is really the best.

I was about to continue packing my things but a shout from the other side of the room was heard. I know where that shout came from— from Father. He's bedridden and he couldn't walk due to his health condition.

"Lucia!" He shouted my mother's name in anger.

"Lucia! Where are you?! You have to fuckin' go here! How I hate this kind of life!" He again, shouted. Argh, he's throwing his tantrums again. Mother's expression changed, she held my hands and looked at me in my eyes.

"Hey Lyka. You promise to take good care of yourself there, alright? Mother's not there to take good care of you. You promised, okay? I'll just go to your father. . ." She said and ran towards their room.

Hays. I do not have any choice but to continue packing my things. I put all my t-shirts and the like on my mini-bag. Aw, this bag has a sentimental value for me because I bought it with the money I worked for.

I was about to close the bag and ready myself to leave but a small hands held mine.

"S-sis?"

"Sis? Do we have something to eat? I am so h-hungry, I need to e-eat," He plead. The little kid looks malnourished, lacks with nutrients and vitamins.

Hunger is visible on his eyes. I almost teared up thinking what life we're in. I pity him. I pity myself. I pity my family. He is Dodong, my li'l brother.

This is life. We are, I guess the "poorest of the poor". Food— the basic needs to survive and live, we are lacking of food. Actually not just with food but all the primary needs to survive life. Well, we are still lucky though because we have this house.

"D-dodong, ahm w-wait. . ." I said and scanned the pocket of my mini bag. I have placed a piece of Rebisco biscuit there. I'm planning that this biscuit will be my snack for my trip but then I know that my brother needs this more.

"Here Dong oh, that's just one. I am sorry. I'm sure that would still fits your little stomach, I guess, right? "I joked and received a weak laugh from him.

Now, happiness is visible on his eyes. I love how his facial expression change because of some sort of small things.

"Thank you, sis! I still haven't eaten yesterday, I just gave the food I found in the trash can to ate Datdat. . . ."

". . . But ate Datdat's condition would not be affected because of the food I gave, right? When I found it on the trash, the owner just past by to throw it in a split of seconds. I guess bacteria won't be that fast to scatter, right?" He innocently asked while eating the biscuit like a monster.

Suddenly, my chest ached and weighed down at what I heard. My desire to work increased even more so that I could at least feed my siblings.

Ate Datdat. He was referring to our another sibling. We are just three siblings but despite of that small number, our parents still have difficulties in terms of feeding us, three times a day. Again, because we are poor.

I am the oldest among us three and Dodong is the youngest.

"Hmmm, yeah, I guess it's just all right. By the way, Dong, where's your ate Datdat?" I asked as I wandered my eyes on our not so very humble abode. I wore the mini bag. I guess, I'm ready to go?

"In our room, sis," I nodded and walked towards our room. A silhouette of a figure lying can be shown. At first sight, you will really know that she is suffering, she is so skinny to the point that her bones were already shown. She's our priority here in our house. It is okay even if we can't eat three times a day as long as she can eat.

"Datdat. . ."

". . . Have you eaten yet, my dear?" I asked softly. I know that this girl is fragile inside and out. She showed me with her weak smile.

"Is it time for you to leave. . .for work, sis?" Instead of answering my concerns, she answered me with another question. Hays.

I sighed before smiling. I answered, "Yes, I'm going to that mansion now. I will buy food and medicines when I get paid, okay? You will recover fast, okay?" I concernly asked while rubbing her hair tight.

She nodded, "I will, sis. You take care, okay?" She reminded me. I smiled and planted soft kisses on her forehead.

I immediately went out of the room after our small talk. I looked at my watch and saw that it was past seven in the morning.

The first bus was still about eight o'clock so I decided to say goodbye to Papa. I'm afraid of Papa's attitude, he was always mad as if he's carrying the whole problem of the world.

"Pa. . ."

"Oh?" That's what he just said, he didn't even make a glance at me.

Papa was just sitting on the chair in one side of the room while looking out the window.

"Papa, I'll just bid my goodbye. I'm leaving for wor—"

"Bullshit!" I instantly cut my words when he interrupted me with a profanity.

"HAHA! What? You're going to be a maid? Just a fucking maid and you're proud of that? What kind of profession is that? You will serve other people?! Just stay here and serve your family, stupid!" He shouted, mockery on his voice was visible. A tear escaped my eyes. Argh, now I'm crying! I hate it, you're so vulnerable Lyka!

"Huh! What's with being a maid? You're just degrading yourself if you're going to serve other people for money. And HAHA— the salary. . . Maid's salary is real small, it couldn't even let a rat live. You're making me laugh, my daughte—"

This time, I'm the one who interrupted him with my shattering voice.

"N-no Papa. . . Could you at least be happy because your daughter wants to help? Look at you? What can you do? You're just sitting there— No! I am not blaming you nor your condition but please Papa just be thankful because I care for you, Mama, Dodong and Datdat. I just wanted to help, what's wrong with that?" I explained while throwing out my feelings. I'm crying infront of my father. I don't want to talk back but it's just that. . . he reached my limits.

I was just crying on my heart content but my Papa was just sitting there, looking at me like I am no one. He just looked at me with those angry eyes. He was just looking as if I am just a stranger. He changed a lot. He really changed. He used to huggged me and pinched my cheeks when I was little. He used to call me "princess" when I was a kid. But I guess, people really change.

I was still sobbing and wiping my own tears. I even comforted my dear self on my mind. "Wh-whether you like it or not, I will work as a maid, Papa. I just wanted to help, hope you appreciated that. Bye," I bid goodbye and walked towards the door. I sighed when I saw Mother and Dodong infront of Papa's room, they were actually listening awhile ago.

I smiled weakly when Mother tapped my back. "Mother. . . Dodong, I will go now. . ."