The Greatest Love

Chapter One: Mourn

[Amy’s Point of View]

One week had passed since our father's untimely death due to a sudden cardiac arrest. It was a week that had irrevocably changed our lives. Everything about our home felt different. The four corners of our once-happy abode had lost their vibrancy. Our father's booming voice, which used to fill these walls, was now but an echo in our memories. His laughter, the warmth he brought into our lives, all of it was now painfully absent. The way he used to pick me up from work every evening had become a cherished memory. Oh, how I missed him, my dear Dad.

"Why are you still here on a Monday morning?" I asked my younger sister, Amanda, who was picking at her breakfast but not really eating.

"I just don't have the energy to attend class," she replied in a tone laced with exhaustion.

"Amanda, you're twenty years old and in your third year of college! You can't just keep skipping your classes," I scolded.

Amanda shot back, "And yet, here you are at 24, yelling at me."

"I have the authority to do so because I'm your elder sister, and don't forget I'm the one responsible for paying your tuition," I said, hoping to make her realize the effort I put into providing for her education, hoping it would motivate her to take her studies seriously.

"Don't worry, I'll look for a part-time job so you can stop controlling me," Amanda retorted.

"I'm not controlling you, and by the way, it's only been a week since our father passed away. Why are you drowning your sorrows in bars and booze, Amanda? What kind of woman are you becoming?" I couldn't help but worry.

"My life, my rules—got it?" She said, before walking away.

My sister had changed since our father's passing, and so had I. I worried about her, and she was a constant challenge to deal with. At only twenty-four, I often felt like I was carrying the weight of someone much older.

"It's already 8:30 in the morning; you're going to be late for work," my mother spoke as she continued to gaze out the window.

"I'm planning to submit my resignation," I whispered.

"Are you sure?" My mother asked, and I simply nodded in response.

Just as I turned to leave, someone started shouting at our front door.

"ANA MARTIN! Hey, can you pay back the money I lent to—"

I asked my mom about the commotion I just heard, and she admitted to owing a debt.

"I didn't realize Amy was here; I'm sorry," she said, giving our neighbor a sheepish smile.

"Did my mother borrow money from you?" I inquired.

"You can head to work now, Amy, dear," she said, gently shoving me out the door.

"No, please tell me everything, including how you spent the money," I demanded, not used to her asking for anything I didn't already provide.

"It seems she used it to indulge in her vices by frequenting casinos," our neighbor explained.

"I'll take care of it; she's my mother, and she's currently unemployed," I declared.

"I'm impressed that your younger sister can earn money while studying at the age of twenty. It's only $200 since your sister Amanda has already paid the $500," our neighbor added.

Amanda had paid $500? This was news to me.

"Tomorrow, I'll pay you," I replied, and our neighbor simply nodded before walking away. My mother couldn't even meet my gaze.

"Mom, can you please refrain from causing me more trouble?" I sighed, tired of providing for them and watching them squander my hard-earned money.

And then, she slapped me. I was taken aback. She had never done that before.

"Watch your words, Amy. I'm your mother, and I'm already 36 years old," she cautioned.

I chose to ignore her words and left. With only one sibling, Amanda, who was twenty and working toward a career as a flight attendant, my mother had me at a young age, which explained our close age difference. I had earned my degree in Business Administration two years ago and had been working at the same corporation since then. Now, it was time for a break, and I had decided to resign.

As I headed to work, three boisterous men followed me onto public transit. They were loud and obnoxious, and I had had enough. I confronted them, asking them to speak more quietly. Two of them recognized me as Amy, their former math classmate. One of them, Leo Lee, greeted me with his fiery red hair.

But there was another guy, Troy Lewis, who claimed to be my "life's love," which caught me by surprise. He wasn't my crush back then; he was just an assumption.

The third guy, Benjamin Cruz, introduced himself, and his intense gaze made me uneasy. I wasn't familiar with him and wanted them to keep quiet, so I put on my earbuds and tried to take a nap.

When I reached my workplace, I greeted my colleagues with a smile. I had already handed in my resignation letter, which my big boss had signed. I was leaving the company for good. I'd worked here for two years, and I'd grown close to my colleagues, who treated me like family.

"Goodbye, everyone! I'll miss all of you," I shouted to the accounting department, where I felt like part of a family.

"Amy Martin, you'll always be missed!" they replied.

They were right, and I hadn't been in a relationship since.

"The no-boyfriend from birth is now signing off," I teased, and we all chuckled.

With my resignation settled, it was time to leave. My colleagues helped me clear my desk, and after an hour, I bid them farewell. Letting go of some things and trying new ones was part of life's growth.

I arranged for a delivery person to transport my belongings home while I headed to Adamson University. I'd received an email asking me to visit the discipline office. Amanda must have gotten into trouble again.

[Adamson University]

I found myself at Amanda's university, where I had enrolled her, even though she was struggling to focus on her academics. I approached a guard to ask for directions to the discipline office.

"Continue straight ahead, and when you reach two hallways, take the one on the right to the first building. The discipline office is on the second level," he guided.

"Thank you very much," I replied, muttering something less polite under my breath.

I followed his directions and soon spotted Amanda. She was smoking, and I swiftly approached her.

"Pak!" I slapped the cigarette out of her hand.

"How did you get here?" she asked, rolling her eyes.

"Why in the world are you smoking?" I said, trying to keep my anger in check.

"Who are you to ask, and how?" she retorted.

"Amanda Martin, show some respect. I'm your elder sister," I reminded her.

She simply adjusted her skirt, gazing at me. "I don't give a damn."

Amanda's defiance irked me. Why did I have a sister like her, causing trouble wherever she went?

"Now what?" she asked.

"I've quit

my job, and I'm no longer paying your tuition or allowance. You need to start taking care of those expenses on your own," I informed her. "And you'll stop using my money on your vices. It's time for you to learn to make money and cover your own costs."

I left her in the living room, unwilling to tolerate her squandering my hard-earned money.

It was time to teach Amanda a lesson.