Unromantic Love

Chapter 1

Natasha Abuelo Pov.

I silently watched the closing of the bakery on the side of the road, just a few weeks after my mother kicked me out of the house, my job was going to close.

My boss said that someone has already bought the place here, that is a large amount so that they can move there to Rizal. But I can't be there anymore, it's too far away and I can't look at my father.

”I'm sorry and this is all I can give, how about it. Helda took all of your salary from me.." I nodded to my female boss, she is kind. He's the type who will really help you as much as he can.

"Thank you.." he smiled at me, that was the last smile I saw before they completely left the place where I had my first job.

I sighed, It was only ten o'clock in the morning and it was already very hot. Add to that the unpleasant smell in the surroundings that I passed.

I tried to walk and thought of looking for something to go to again, On the other side there was the newly opened supermarket. I walked there and immediately went to the cashier.

"Did you catch it?" The woman with thin eyebrows looked up, she stroked my body before stopping again with her eyes.

"Your resume?"

"I don't have a resume.."

"Are you a high school graduate?" I was stunned, I couldn't answer right away because I didn't finish high school. I want to graduate as much as my brothers, so I study with them.

I shook my head. "N-no.."

"Then you can't come here, and then I guess you're not of the right age yet.." I looked down, I'm only fifteen and tomorrow I'll be sixteen, but here I am looking for a job instead of studying .

I should have graduated by now, but when I was fourteen I stopped studying because my father was unable to work due to an accident.

I let out a violent breath on my way out, took the hot road again and resumed my job search.

But in my few hours of searching it seems that my day was unlucky, I was not hired because like my first attempt they were looking for my resume.

"Please buy it.." I was at the side of the market where I bought ice buko, the man smiled at me before giving me five pesos buko.

"Did the bakery close?" I nodded while drinking, he often buys there every morning. We have made him a customer at pandesal, but it's just sad that I won't be able to enter the bakery again.

”Are you looking for a job?” I put down the empty glass.

"Yes, I wish.."

"I know something, just in case. The pay is low..”

"Really, where?"

”Over there at the cellphone store, he's looking for a salesperson..” he easily got my interest, so I almost agreed and let him help me that day.

We went to a cell phone store, it was small but my new boss said that the food is free but the salary is only one thousand per week, it depends on the sales every day.

"How old are you?" My boss asked a girl, that same day I started because they needed a babysitter.

"Fifteen.."

"You're still young, aren't you studying?"

I shook my head. "No, I need to work."

He sighed, I noticed his soft gaze on me causing me to look away.

"My son is almost the same age as you, he will graduate from high school in Fatima.."

I didn't say anything anymore, I knew it was a good school but there was no chance for me to get into it. Besides, I'm more focused on work now and how to earn money just so I can give something to my mother.

Especially with dad's diabetes medications.

This is your only salary.." you can hear the displeasure in my mother's voice, I nodded. It's been a week since I got a job, and even though the shop's income was low, my boss still gave me a thousand.

"The salary is low there because the food and snacks are free.."

"It's good that you're having a snack, while we're not here!" I held my breath, I wanted to scold him for gambling. Instead of buying a snack, why didn't he just gamble?

But I can't answer him, I don't want to be kicked out again just because of that. And then I have respect for him even though he treats me like this.

"Change your job, go to Dahlia's!"

"Yes!" My eyes rolled. "I don't want to!"

"What don't you want?" mom's voice is high. "Look abby, your daughter of Juliana, the salary is high and she has already built a house!"

"But mother, I don't want to!"

”No, follow me because I know you will earn a lot, a thousand is not enough for medicine and expenses here at home!”

My heart was bad, my mother turned away from me while the tears gradually formed in her eyes.

From the curtain, the father removed it as he was leaving the room, I came closer so that it would not be difficult for him to roll the wheels of his wheelchair.

"Why are you still awake?" I pushed his wheel chair in our small living room, our barong baro house seems like it's going to fall down because it's been too long. Since my father lost his job, there was no chance to build this house.

"I'm sorry, son.." I sat on the wooden chair and smiled at my father.

"Where are you asking for forgiveness?"

"Because you scrubbed for me, I'm sorry because I can't help you.."

I smiled. "It's okay, don't think about that. This is really what the eldest does.."

Father sighed. "Your daughter is very kind, Natasha. Forgive your mother if she often scolds you.."

I looked down. "that's nothing." I was still upset even though I said that, I was doing everything but for him it was nothing.

"I will never get tired of working, father. Just like what you used to do with this family, I will save money so that you can walk again.."

"Don't stop, son.."

”I will do that, father. So let's go to sleep so you can rest.."

I took my father to the room, the house is small and has three rooms. In one, the mother and father were together, in the other, my youngest siblings, Chloe and Brandon, were separated.

I helped father to lie down, I opened the fan and I put the mosquito net myself while mother was away.

I don't know where he went, but I have a bad feeling from our last conversation.

The morning, there was a car horn in front of the house. The breakfast that I cooked before I went to work is ready.

The mother came out of their room, she peeked through the window and I was surprised to see a beautiful smile on her face.

"Come here. Come in!” he opened the door while I was watching from the side of the kitchen, a woman his age and three men with big bodies entered.

"Sit down, I'll make you something to drink."

"Don't worry, we're just passing by here to get what you're talking about.."

Mother's guests were no longer seated, she turned to me. He walked smiling at me before taking me on his arm to his guests.

”Here he is, already dressed..”

I turned to my mother, my eyes widened as she pressed her hand on my shoulder.

"This is a good child of mine, dahlia. Your head won't hurt..”

"Oh okay, I gave you the money last night so we'll take him with us.."

"B-but!" I pleaded, but the mother didn't listen, instead she herself pulled me out to where they were riding.

”Stop being so mean, Natasha! You will not be taken there!”

"Mother, I don't want to say!"

Life is unfair?

Being poor is unfair too?

But the saddest part is being dumped by your own family, is that the unfair part.

You almost did your best but for them, it's still nonsense. You're still the unlucky person who is willing to give your best, but unfortunately. They don't care, none of them appreciate your effort.

How poor are we? Right?

It's sad when you realize you aren't as important to someone as you thought you were. It's sad, but it doesn't mean you already give up.

I'd never give up because of this bad chapter of my life, I'll keep going. Keep the flow to the normal and get the joyful life you want, because I know someday. I've gonna be finding the most amazing chapter part of my life.

"Said I don't want!" it's almost ten pm in the evening but the show is still not opening, ma'mang lacks a dancer. And since this new girl can't force herself to get dressed, I motioned for Abby to leave, who is forcing the new girl to get dressed.

"It's me.." Abby sighed, she stood up and turned her back.

"Too bad, you're still beautiful!" she almost hissed the new girl, new and it looks like her aunt also sold her here.

Thank you

I shook my head while leaning on the side and looking at him, It's almost a year. How many years have I been here?

Four years? Maybe that's how long I've been here.

I have learned, I earn money by the others man wallet. Just a table, sit next to them and share a drink.

And I can say it's a bad influence if you work here, why? Because you can learn to drink, be with any guy and be wild, but I'm not that wild. Maybe it's just my brain that has been infected by my friends.

Do you get what I'd point out?

I'm still a virgin, but my mind is already creating a lot of imagination.

That's it!

”If you just cry all night there you won't get anything..” that's what I said to the beautiful girl, she was miserable. Why do you have such an attitude girl? I cried too, maybe I had about ten buckets of tears but there was nothing I could do.

Here I am, my mother has thrown me up looking like ten thousand.

Look, I only cost him ten thousand, it looks like money.

"You can't force me, I don't want to be here!"

"Oh, you don't want to. But I'll tell you, ma'mang won't let you go because he paid a lot to your aunt..” he looked up at me, his cheeks wet but still beautiful, tsk. Poor girl. His future will be ruined here.

”You know, almost everyone who works here is like you. You have no choice but to follow the wishes of that old man.." I turned back, I could not convince him because I knew it would be difficult in the beginning.

But I know that he will also accept in the end if there really is no other choice.

"I really don't want to, ma'mang.." that was my opening to Mrs. Dahlia, that has changed. It's a bit old but still looks like money.

"Alright, start it even if it's not enough.." I nodded, I didn't want to dance. Because I'm just for the table and that's what Mrs. Dahlia wants because besides being an entertainer for the customers, I also help to take their orders.

I know how to dance, I just don't know how to dance.

"There are many customers, The three will be the first to dance." kate nodded at what I said, followed by faith who entered here with her.

We women are in the sampo here, the new one is eleven if he agrees to dance.

But I think it's unclear, how can I convince him? All the newcomers want to escape, only limited to them who are lucky enough to get out of it because of the large amount of beading.

”We need to add women..” I sat on the side while watching them dance, the old men were comforting as if they didn't have a wife to go home to.

To Be Continued...