rs had

a's restaurant and selling school supplies and gift items, she also tried her hand at tailoring-mending torn clothes like ripped je

d would occasionally hand them money, but it was never more than two thousand pesos since most of his earning

gracing his face. He came back with his girlfriend, who had spent a month's va

with Aling Marietta. She planned to

etta, okay?" she told them. "Mama'

Carina bo

't be

with a cheerful smile. The li

Marietta. Please take care of

h us." Aling Marietta smiled, and Cherry

t toward the counter. Without realizing i

t at different times. Later, they even cross

hen she heard a commotion in the living room. She c

eldest daughter. The child immediate

he asked, soothing the li

g me," Alfred snapped. "I told her I

her calmly. There was no need

u don't discipline her pr

just carried the children in

rina-so different from how he treated Cyprus. To Cherry, it didn't matter that C

crossing a crowded pedestrian lane. They brushed past each other, a

e was going to bother me aga

seeing him. He looked different-

clothes no longer had the neat,

gh." She shook her head and turned aw

reeted her with anothe

pped. "I'm going to work and this is what I'm eating? H

proper meal. I didn't get en

uh? What exactly did you

s last night. I was exhausted from cleaning t

even take care of the house properly or the kids, and yet y

ng it honestly. You're the one who's alway

weren't for her children, she would've left him a long time ago. She realized

to answer like that, huh?

way, refusing t

re going? We're not done talk

chores before Daryl came home. She needed to make the most of h

to her job. The moment she stepped into the ki

ned here?" she ask

Aling Marietta explained. She then handed Cherry a slip of pap

arietta," Cherry rep

ow how to use

tation. "Yes, ma'am. Do

ht then, just wait a while. Th

iting and stay at the counter

now. I need to go to the market with Trina

ake care, Ali

lly ready. Cherry checked the address o

y. When she arrived, she parked the motorcycl

o her surprise, she r

retended not

e's your order," s

ed smile. "Thanks

ng words. Still, she said nothing

at the house, mom

learly come

from the restaurant again-but this time,

o him instead? Please, Dina?" She no

" Dina ask

supposed to do." The confusion was clear on D

though? Wha

ntless questioning. Why can't she just say yes instea

y ex-boyfriend." She finally confe

if he's

oice was pleading now. "Come on. If it were you, would you want to

than she intended-thanks to D

sis. I'll del

more chances of running into Jared. But then, fate had othe

ained. "I'm begging you, please not me. I'll gladly

" another coworker asked, p

he order at that address last tim

own?" Aling Marietta teased. "Maybe it'

e, just let someone else handle it,

igned delivery staff now. It'll ease your load in the restaurant, especially since I know you're

nside than be the one delivering food

herry. Just t

nting to test Aling Marietta's

drove off toward Jared's place. Once there, she pa

, the gate swung op

huh," Jared said t

" Cherry handed him

d to leave. She didn't want to linger any longer, and Jared seeme

out. She turned

other restaurant," Jared admitted. "I thou

herry, but she di

t say something, yo

ought to keep her composure. "There will be someone else who bring your

back on her motorcy

he immediately noticed his wife'

look like

ect me to look like a walking corpse in fr

a job now." He jabbed his finger against her temple. "Don't for

aining the truth

irting with someone else now that's why you're all

accusing me of-not even once. Even with all the pain and hardship I'm going throu

sleep for the night. She turned on the light and caught a glimpse of herself in t

h her, throwing harsh words about her mistakes and shortcomings? The house was a mess. The laundry was piling up. The kids needed her. She

loud sound of the front door. Moments later, her pa

a? M

Cherry," said her o

ng around the living room and into the

his isn't our house!" Jes

We're starving now after t

t on the sofa with the rest of the siblings. "Did marriage make you forgetful ab

ld..." Jessa murmured, her vo

now they followed me," Daryl apolo

herry forced a smile, though i

s from the living room to the kitchen. The sight of it all only intensified Cherry's stress. The house that once had a semblanc

all the food stucks that Cherry b

a loss, unsure of

be here, Jessa?" the eldes

share your food and house with us anym

use. Look at this-everything I bought are gone. What am I supposed to tell

band thinking matters more th

Pa," Jessa tried to clarify,

ore Cherry's eyes, their voices over

voice silencing the room. Daryl stood f

" she screamed louder again. "I was completely exhausted and struggling, wh

ied you in my womb, brought you into this world, raised you with everything I ha

ore," Cherry snapped, her voice breaking. "From the very begi

n softening briefly. "Watch my kid

Ate?" he asked in co

replied, glancing coldly at the rest o

and ran away. Eventually, she reached a quiet park and sank onto a

r when his eyes caught a familiar f

, Jared," as he whi

at he had to stay on this path, to keep moving forward. After all, he was alrea

his phone rang-it was K

y I couldn't pick up right away," he sa

ng unknown-some invisible thread-kept pulling them back into each othe

ay, to let them have passed and pretend he didn't notice but this time, something in him t

her st

mile, she spoke rudely with irri