LA

nger waited for

de it

d lecture notes before heading to class. Her schedule was packed-early classes, part-time shi

t for

need luxu

ded sta

eded c

o make sure her mother and si

ad seen what

verything cou

happiness

herself into som

rm beneath

someone to save you-it was about learning how to stand on yo

-

um unit in Quezon City with cracked tiles and thin w

was t

was e

er mother stored remedies passed down through generations. The furniture was mismatche

and others when the lights flickered during thun

was that they

hey we

ey were

o still remembered her name. Marianne, after months of silence and withdrawal, slowly r

re brok

y were

Be

came t

er when her mother came

reminded Mar

ept their hea

dreaming of

ng for someon

earned someth

r her if she didn't fi

-

ent, Bela had t

ng senior prom and turning down party i

get a part-time job, both he

ver a simple meal of fried rice and cann

I can

upted gently. "That's why

ned. "I'm

cross the table to touch her hand. "But you des

ocused o

tudie

f harder than

cholarship to study BS Office Administration

ll r

ion-

me in years that sh

sadn

fe

o

led with the UP logo. She opened it alone i

ice before allowing h

e

was

ad do

ght for her

-

e chan

iet girl who hid behin

s shar

confi

es-but not becaus

she chos

eered at community centers, helped organize charity events, and interned at small o

sn't f

wear

go ou

oversized shirts, and always

ates called

alled he

y respe

he got th

she sh

she ma

tes sought her advice. Employer

t seek va

found it

people lo

ey listened w

ood taller with e

just surviv

as th

-

ike pages in a book

g across a stage in a bl

or's d

Cum

other

ged her so t

sm

y sm

irst time

ng up at the sky. The sun was setting, casting golden light over the trees

ht about

irl who used to hi

ho once loved someon

woman she

her fingers

e

s her l

e

ne e

-

ianne surprised

holding up a store-bought chocolate cake and two mismatche

ed. "This

, talking about old mem

throw you a real party," Marianne

"We don't need to s

sponsible," Ma

ne has

was a

forward. "You know...

ooked

"You're stronger. More grounded. I don'

oftly. "Maybe

-

r best friend, Rica

B PARTY!! Everyone's go

ertising a rented club space, neon

red at t

been to a c

ced in jus

orn heels sin

ped a

not. I'm more of a ho

onded ins

Let loose for once! We'll take care of

lled he

u

asn't

s prac

ici

onsi

t.

she could be

a littl

-

et, pulling out clothes

e black

t h

al ma

round glasses,

the

tact lense

t herself in

fer

recogn

.. so

teppe

deep

ano

't about pro

bout cel

rs

jour

surv

e, just

self feel a

bbed he

acket over

ed out t

greeted her li

first time

felt

-

OF CH