MARIMAR OQUENDO
"You shameless bastard! You good-for-nothing man! Get out of here! Leave!"
What was that racket? It was still so early, but it sounded like my alarm clock had been replaced by a shouting match. Were the neighbors at it again? Why was someone throwing a fit this time?
"You animal! You brute! Worthless freeloader—you bastard! You actually went chasing after another woman! You've never had any decency at all!"
I stretched, fighting off sleep. The shouting didn't sound like it was coming from next door; instead, I recognized the voice of someone who lived in our house.
"Please forgive me, Crisma. That woman meant nothing—I'll always come home to you. Come on, please let me make it up to you."
I let out a soft laugh at what I heard. Why did I stay up late watching soap operas when there was live drama right here under this roof? It was like listening to a radio play.
"Forgive you? You want me to forgive a brute like you?" I shook my head to myself. Please don't be weak again, Aunt Cris. "If you want my forgiveness, come here. Step closer so I can cut off your balls—then you won't be able to use them anymore, since they're always itching for trouble!"
I shot up from my bed at that. I scrambled out the door faster than lightning, searching for where the noise was coming from. And there it was—Aunt Crisma stood outside our front door holding a large kitchen knife. I also spotted our neighbors gathered around like they were watching a live show. They were all hovering nearby, but no one stepped in to stop it.
"Honestly, they act like kids. Should I just take that knife and use it on both of them?"
I turned at the sound of the voice—it was her daughter, Crishna. She had one hand on her hip and was yawning, clearly woken up by her mother's yelling.
"Crisma! Stop this, please! You'll regret it if you cut him—you won't have anything to enjoy anymore!"
I grimaced at the words. I couldn't tell if Uncle Mario was joking or serious, but his comment only made Aunt Crisma angrier.
"You absolute fool! Your sweet talk won't work on me anymore. What would I even do with that tiny thing of yours? It's smaller than a eunuch's!"
Crishna and I stepped aside as Aunt Crisma stormed into their bedroom. A moment later she came back out carrying armfuls of clothes, which she threw at Uncle Mario's feet.
"Here! Now get out! Go run to that woman who acts like a Vivamax actress! You bastard! I don't need you here—I can raise Yna on my own!" she shouted at the top of her lungs.
Crishna crossed her arms and sighed. "This is so embarrassing. They make a huge scene like this, then end up making up anyway!" she grumbled before heading to the backyard.
"Please don't do this, Crisma! Let's talk it out—I can't live without you!" Uncle Mario pleaded, nearly dropping to his knees.
"How many times do we have to talk about this, Mario?! I'm tired—I've had enough of your pathetic excuses! Get out now, or I'll report you and your mistress to the barangay captain!"
I let out a long breath and turned to head for the bathroom to splash water on my face. It was morning anyway, and I needed to get moving—Yna had school at eight o'clock.
"Marimar?! Where are you? Hurry up and cook—Yna has to leave soon!" I heard my aunt's angry shout from the other room.
See? Just as I thought.
"Just a minute, Auntie! I'm washing my face!" I called back.
"Hmph! You think soap will change the fact that you're ugly?!" she yelled again.
I walked out of our wooden bathroom—we had a toilet, but waste flowed straight down to the space under the house. That was just how it was here; our homes sat on stilts above the water, right on the shore, so the space beneath us was the sea itself.
"My soap is just a local brand, Auntie," I said, glancing at the mirror nailed to the wall.
"Hah! I don't care! You still look as ugly as my sister," she snapped. "Hurry up—I didn't take you in to feed a freeloader."
I pouted and made my way to the kitchen at the far end of the room. The house was fairly big for a wooden structure—our house? Because the land it stood on used to belong to my family.
It's been seven years since the big fire swept through our neighborhood. I was eighteen then, and my family was among those caught in the blaze. Yes—my whole family. My mother, father, and twelve-year-old sibling all died that day. I never knew why they couldn't escape, but I saw their charred bodies with my own eyes. I lost all hope that they might still be alive and accepted that I was alone in the world.
After the tragedy, Aunt Crisma—my mother's sister—claimed our land. She built her own house here without asking me. In the end, I was the one left homeless, and now I "live with them" as if I were a guest.
"Well?! Are you done yet, Mara?!" I heard my aunt's shout again—she was already on edge even this early. Not that I could blame her; she'd just kicked out her husband after catching him cheating once more.
"Almost done!" I flipped the eggs in the pan. I was making breakfast for them—I wasn't included in their meals.
She was wrong earlier when she called me a freeloader, too. I used my own money to buy food for myself. I'd never once eaten at their dining table. I was more like a maid who also happened to stay here. If I could leave, I would—but I had nowhere else to go. They were my only living relatives in this place.
—
"Come, come, my lovely and handsome customers! Fresh catch today—plump bonito, round scad, and tilapia! Perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!"
My loud, cheerful voice was one of the first sounds you'd hear at the market.
This was my job—I sold fish for Nay Linda, my older employer.
"How much is this?" a customer asked as they approached our stall.
I broke into a wide smile. "Only three dollars for any of these beauties! What'll it be—tilapia, bonito, round scad… or me?" I teased.
The customer laughed. "Oh my, you're quite the flirt! Just one kilo of tun, please."
"See how good my vendor is?" I heard Elder Linda say as she arranged plastic bags for our goods.
"Absolutely! And she's so pretty—do you have Spanish blood?" the customer asked me.
I laughed softly as I weighed and wrapped the fish. "None at all, ma'am! Pure Filipino through and through—this is real Pinoy beauty!" I said with a grin.
"Your looks are special, and you have such charm! Why don't you try modeling?"
I laughed even harder as I handed over the bag. "Oh no, that's a too expensive path! I'm happy here at the market. I make lots of money every day! And Elder Linda is the best boss around—her fish are always top quality, so make sure to come back and buy from us!" I winked and gave them their change.
"You're such a delightful young woman, but I mean it, modeling would suit you," they said before waving goodbye.
I waved back. "People these days are such smooth talkers," I said, turning to Elder Linda.
"She's not flattering you, child. You really are beautiful. Your skin is as fair as milk. It's a shame you're stuck in a place like this." I pouted at her words.
"I don't have anywhere else to go... you know what my situation is like. I'd rather stay here in the province," I said.
The older woman shrugged. "But I have a feeling you'll become rich one day. So keep working hard, okay?"
I smiled. "If I ever get rich, you'll be the first person I share my fortune with!"
"Alright then, I'll hold you to that!" she said, and we both laughed.
This was how my days went. I'd wake up to cook for my aunt's family, then work at the market or fish dock from ten in the morning until five in the afternoon. When I got home, I'd cook dinner for them again, wash the dishes, and only then could I sleep.
For now, I'd say I was content with my life. I didn't have much of a choice anyway—but if an opportunity ever came my way, I'd grab it with both hands.
I hoped Elder Linda's hunch was right and I'd find success someday. So Lord, please give me a sign! Was there really a chance I could become rich even with my life the way it is?
"Good, you're finally home."
I looked up to see Aunt Crisma sitting on our wooden sofa. She wore a strange smile, and another woman sat beside her—they'd clearly been waiting for me.
"Good evening, Auntie. What is it?" I asked politely as I stepped inside. I'd just come from work, so I still smelled of fish and kept my distance from them.
"This is the one I was telling you about, girl. What do you think? Is she good enough?" Aunt Crisma said excitedly.
I furrowed my brow—I didn't like the way she was acting. "Huh? What are you talking about?"
The woman snapped her fingers. "Perfect! She's exactly what we need!" she said.
"What's going on here?!" I asked, my voice a little louder now.
"My friend here just came from the Streeter mansion—you know them, right? The tycoon family whose head of household passed away. They're looking for a new house helper to replace my friend, so I told her you'd take the job. That way you'll finally be useful to us and can pay us back for letting you stay here!" she said, beaming.
Shock was written all over my face. Did she really think I wasn't useful, after all I did to take care of them?
I let out a sigh and looked at her friend. "How much is the salary?" I asked right away.
The woman grinned widely. "Five hundred dollar a month, child!"
My eyes went wide. Twenty thousand? That was a fortune!
"W-Wait—will I be doing regular house chores?" I asked, still reeling from the number she'd mentioned.
"Yes! If I were you, I'd take this in a heartbeat. Plus, they'll even give you a free ride to the mansion in their van tomorrow," the woman said, her eyes bright. "So? Are you in? I need to add your name to the list of people leaving tomorrow."
I still couldn't believe what I was hearing.
Lord? Is this the sign I asked for earlier? Is this the start of my journey to a better life?