voice filled with desperation, para akong a

mingly weighing the situation. I could see the struggle in h

ng magt-trabaho bi

I hadn't been doing anything productive other than resting. Puros higa, tulog at

welcome ako sa bahay nila Xia hindi k

their own, which fueled my eagerness to reciprocate their kindness. Naiintindiha

ers, especially now that I needed to provide for my baby. Ay

fficult choice for her to make, masyado kasi 'tong nagaalala sa'kin, sa'min ni baby.

d nurse na ako ng department namin, mas kaya ko na kayo tulungan ni baby," Xia said, her voi

g ang ak

nness, there was a softness reserved for a friend. I wiped away m

god! Exercise din sa amin 'yon ni baby, Please?" I plead

lve finally weakening. Alam kon

maagang puputi buhok ko!" I could see her eyes roll at

. I jumped up and down, clapping my hands in excitement. Sa wakas m

n going to the hospital, shaking her head slightly ti

orm, she was preparing to start

relessly she cared for others, often sacrificing her own rest. Despite t

d niya. They are selfless people, laging in

ng hita ng Dinosaur ha," natawa ako sa tanong

mga gusto namin kainin ni baby at dal

kaliwang paa," biro ko na nagpatawa naman sa kaniya. "Ano na lang

ita ko ang pagkaway niya sa'kin bago tuluyang makalayo ang t

g cook sa bayan, I couldn't help but notice the dark circles under my eyes, evidence of my restless nights

ood for me or the baby. But it was beyond my control. Nahihirapan din ako sa mga cravings

frustration kasi hindi ko ma

ia, had provided me with these clothes. I tied my long black hair back in a casual fashi

L300 na pagaari nila Manang Myrna at ang nagmamaneho ay ang asawa nito na ang trabaho ay taga-delive

eses makarating dito, maliit na bayan lamang ang Sta. Monica ngunit may

abaho bilang cook, hindi ga'no kalakihan pero ma

bilang cook," Pakilala sa akin

noong minsang nagluto ako sa promotion celebr

"Magaling ba are magluto, mare?" tanong

man daw talaga sila, magaling daw magluto pero kinailangang umuwi sa prob

ing po akong magluto," I couldn't wait

to prove myself lalo at mahirap makahanap ng traba

, hala sige start ka na!" I let out a deep breath I ha

d thanked her for her trust

o kayo sa paguwi," I said wit

s given the task of preparing six dishes—th

kados. Agad kong ginisa ang bawang at sibuyas. Halos maduwal ak

kong pagluto, I even found myself humming a t

ti? o 'di kaya culinary a

The kitchen was hot, and the work was undeniably exhausting. Nakatapos

It brought me joy and contentment to see them enjoying the food I had prepared. Knowing that my cooking w

ko sa pagluluto

naman nito,

d container bukod sa mainit ay mabigat ito dahil gawa sa metal

tutulong sa akin dahil kaming dalawa lang ng babaeng kahera ang tao sa karenderia, hindi ko rin inaasahang magb

uceene," I whis

y ko... Kak

mga ala-ala at matatandaan ko kung sino tal

o ang mga oportunidad na dumating sa aking buha