"Are you okay?" Cheska asked with a smile, giving her a gentle pat on the shoulder.
"Huh?" Carmen was startled. Her mind suddenly drifted back to her memories with Tristan during elementary and high school.
"I just pointed out that handsome classmate of ours, and you suddenly went silent," Cheska said, laughing. "What do you think his name is? Never mind, we have orientation tomorrow with the seniors. I'll find out!" she added, squealing a little.
Carmen sighed. "Sigh… I still have a lot to do at home. Tita might get mad at me again. But that's outside school..." she whispered to herself.
After class, Carmen hurried home. Outside the gate, she saw Tristan getting into a Ford Mustang GT.
"Must be nice for him," Carmen muttered. "He gets to go home comfortably. While I have to squeeze into a jeep during rush hour."
When she got to Tita Belen's house, she was greeted by Mira, her older cousin by four years and a graduating Business Administration student. Mira also worked at their Tita's canteen, alternating with Carmen as cashier, waitress, and sometimes even babysitter to Tita Belen's two children.
Tita Belen was kind, she was the youngest sister of Carmen's father—but could be moody at times. She owned both a canteen and a grocery side-by-side, and her employees were mostly relatives working students she helped by providing allowance, meals, and a place to stay.
"Change your clothes quickly, we have a lot of customers," said Mira.
Carmen nodded and went straight to the back of the house where their shared bedroom was. She and Wendy shared a bunk bed, while Ate Mira had her own single bed. Their room was clean, spacious, and had air conditioning and a TV. In the next room were Rey and Lito, her male cousins. At the far end of the house were the quarters for the household staff and driver.
As she stepped out of the room, she ran into Tita Belen.
"Eat first before you start working," her aunt said.
"It's okay, Tita. There are already lots of customers," Carmen replied.
"Oh no, Mira and Ate Nora can handle it," Tita Belen insisted, referring to her maid. "You'll get weak if you work on an empty stomach."
Carmen had no choice but to obey. She quickly ate before heading to the cashier.
The canteen was always full not just because Aling Gina and Aling Siony were great cooks, but also because the meals were affordable.
By 8:00 p.m., it was clean-up time. Carmen helped with wiping tables, sweeping the floor, and counting the day's earnings at the cashier. She handed the money over to Tita Belen.
"Tiring, but necessary. Laziness isn't an option," she told herself. "Thank goodness Tita helps us. That's why, as much as possible, I don't want her to have anything negative to say about my work. I need to give my best."
Carmen lay on the bed, exhausted. She picked up the small picture frame next to her pillow. She stared at the photo of her family her mom, dad, and youngest brother, Justin. Tears welled up in her eyes.
"I miss you all so much. But I need to endure."
Every now and then, her parents would visit from Nueva Ecija, bringing rice and vegetables from their farm. Her father was a farmer, growing different kinds of vegetables.
She didn't realize she had fallen asleep.
THE NEXT DAY – 4:30 A.M.
A loud alarm woke Carmen.
"So noisy!" complained Wendy, her cousin of the same age, who studied at a different school. Wendy didn't get into Brent University, so she enrolled at PMI for Customs Administration.
"What time is it?" she asked irritably.
"Four o'clock. As usual," Carmen said as she got up.
"Geez, you're always up early. I'd rather be lazy than always tired. It's not like Tita gives us extra pay—she's so stingy!" Wendy grumbled.
"Lower your voice. She might hear you," Carmen warned.
She left the room and headed to the kitchen. Aling Siony and Aling Gina were already there, preparing ingredients for breakfast.
Carmen looked at the two women. "Even when you're old, you still have to work. Just like Mama and Papa back on the farm."
"People with money live so easily. While people like us work endlessly for a small salary. Maybe that quote I read was right: 'Work smart, not hard.' You have to be wise, not just hardworking."
"Carmen, you don't need to wake up this early, especially if you have class," said Aling Gina.
"It's alright. I went to bed early last night," Carmen replied with a smile and helped chop ingredients.
Tita's canteen ran almost 24/7—breakfast, lunch, and dinner. That's why Wendy often complained. She said Tita Belen was making the most out of their ₱300 daily salary.
But for Carmen, it was okay. They had enough manpower. And she knew Wendy was simply lazy. Wendy preferred to be assigned at the grocery so she could use her phone. But according to Tita Belen, they were supposed to rotate shifts.
Neither Carmen nor Ate Mira complained. They both preferred working in the canteen anyway.
After helping out, Carmen got ready for school. It was already 6:00 a.m.
"Oh no, I forgot to tell Tita Belen that I'll be coming home late. There's a party after the orientation."
She knew Tita wouldn't wake up until 8:00 a.m. So she grabbed a piece of paper and wrote a note.
"Wendy, please give this to Tita. I'll be home late. We have a welcome party," Carmen said as she packed her things.
"Can I come too?" Wendy asked, already in uniform.
"No, you can't," Carmen replied quickly. "Anyway, I'm leaving now!"
Wendy frowned. "Okay fine. Take care!"