Chapter 1
Apricity Shae Buenavista
"HEY ASHA!! GET UP AND COOK ALREADY!! YOU'RE NOT A PRINCESS HERE TO JUST LIE AROUND!!" I woke up to my mother's shout coming from outside my room.
I forced myself to get up even though my body ached from the beating I had received from Mama.
I opened the door and was immediately met with a slap. My face turned to the side from the force of it.
No matter how many times she hurt me, I still couldn't become numb to the pain. Was I so bad in my past life that I was given this kind of new life?
"You're really pushing it, you girl!!! What time is it already and you're still not up?! I'm starving here and when I wake up, there's still no food cooked!" she yelled at me.
I averted my gaze, lowering my head to avoid the intensity of her angry stare.
"I'm sorry, Ma. I'll just wash my face and then I'll cook," I said softly while still looking down.
She didn't say anything and just left my sight. I heard the front door of our house open and then slam shut loudly.
I sighed and picked up my cellphone from beside my bed and checked the time.
"It's already 11:13 am." I whispered to myself.
No wonder she was so angry with me. I grimaced when my stomach rumbled.
I was really hungry.
My mornings were always like this. If it wasn't a slap...it was a hair pull that would greet me.
I entered the bathroom and washed myself. I then brushed my teeth and applied concealer to my cheeks to cover the redness.
I didn't want to go out and be gossiped about by the busybodies here just because of my red cheeks.
I left my room and went to the kitchen to cook lunch. I opened our refrigerator and only chicken and a few vegetables like papaya were left, so I decided to cook tinola (a Filipino chicken soup).
After cooking, I took a plate and a glass to eat. I would eat first because I knew Mama didn't want to eat with me.
After eating, I went to my room and took a shower. I needed to find another job, as I had been recently fired from my position as a waitress at a local coffee shop. Unfortunately, I seemed to have a streak of bad luck.
I didn't mean to spill coffee on that woman.
She was just so dramatic. I already apologized even though it wasn't my fault; she suddenly stood up just as I was about to place their ordered coffee on their table.
The nerve of her to slap me.
My immediate expulsion was likely due to the woman's influence. I had only been working at the coffee shop for two months when this incident occurred. It was a small, newly opened establishment, and the owner likely wanted to avoid any negative publicity.
But was it right to immediately fire their employee?
Hayy!! Why am I even dwelling on the past?
After showering, I fixed myself up and got dressed. I also covered the bruises on my body and the one on my cheek with concealer.
I just left a note on the table even though I knew Mama wouldn't read it anyway.
I left and waited for a tricycle at the roadside.
Our house was a bit far in. It was just a one-story house, but it was just right for a family. Not too small, not too big.
Just as I got out, a tricycle passed by, so I immediately hailed it and told the driver to drop me off at the jeepney terminal.
When we arrived there, I paid and got off the tricycle. I immediately boarded a parked jeepney, and it was just about to leave. I paid my fare and told the driver my destination.
I got off when I saw that we were already in front of the place where I was going to apply.
City's Haven
This was a restaurant where I was going to apply. I had been looking for a job on Facebook and saw that this restaurant was hiring waitresses, so I called the manager.
Before entering the restaurant, I first asked the guard on duty where the manager's office was.
"Kuya, where's the office of the manager of CH? I'm here to apply," I asked.
The guard pointed me in the right direction, so I went inside.
Second floor. Black door.
I went up the stairs and looked for the black door. I quickly found it because it was the only black door and it was right at the end of the hallway.
The other doors were all brown.
I knocked on the door and heard someone say "come in," so I entered.
I saw a woman in her mid-40s focused on some papers that I assumed she was signing.
"Good afternoon po," I greeted her.
She looked up.
"Good afternoon, miss. What can I do for you?" she asked, looking puzzled.
"I'm the one who called you, ma'am. I'm applying here for a job," I replied.
Her eyes widened as if she realized who I was.
"Oh, sorry, miss. I forgot about that. Come, take a seat." I immediately sat down across her table.
"So? Where's your resume?" I handed her the resume I brought and other necessary documents.
She read it, and I was nervous because I knew my past experience wasn't very good, especially since I didn't finish my studies. I only finished senior high school due to lack of money.
"Okay. It says that you're just a senior high school graduate." I nodded. "Hmm. Only waitress and janitress positions are available here. So, what do you prefer?" she asked me.
"Either of the two is fine, ma'am. I can also do both; I can multitask," I replied. She nodded.
She returned the papers I gave her, and I immediately took them.
"You're hired. You can start tomorrow. But if you really can do both of them, then go ahead. We're short on staff right now, and our customers are increasing," I was happy with what she said and thanked her.
"Oh, thank you very much, ma'am. I will do my best, ma'am," I said, the joy evident in my voice. The manager chuckled.
I said goodbye to her. When I left the restaurant, I greeted the guard and thanked him before waiting for a ride.
When I got home, I was so happy because I was immediately accepted for the job I applied for. My lips almost tore from how wide I was smiling.
But those smiles disappeared from my lips when Mama greeted me with a slap.
"YOU SON OF A BITCH!! WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN AGAIN?! DIDN'T I TELL YOU YESTERDAY TO CLEAN THE HOUSE BECAUSE VISITORS WERE COMING?! BUT WHAT DID YOU DO?! YOU WENT GALLIVANTING AGAIN, YOU ANIMAL!!!" my mother shouted angrily at me while pulling my hair into our house.
I could only cry in pain when Mama pushed me hard, and my waist hit the sofa.
"I-I'm sorry, Ma. I-I just applied for a j-job because..." I couldn't finish what I was saying when Mama pulled my hair again.
I screamed in pain. My hair almost came off my scalp because of her tight grip. I knew our neighbors could hear us, but they couldn't do anything because I knew they were no match for Mama.
Bruises. Slaps.
That's what I always experienced inside this house. After my father left us and went with his mistress, that's when my own mother's abuse began.
I couldn't ask anyone for help. For 15 years, this was always what I experienced.
It was hard.
I really wanted to give up, but I was waiting for the day Mama would change.
I was waiting for the day Mama would go back to how she used to be.
The way she used to treat her only child, who was none other than me.
The way she treated me before, like I was a princess.
But it seemed like the past would never return.