Chapter 2

• Peri wanted to thank the man at least, but he was already gone.
• Mrs. Gandola glared at Peri. “You’re lucky that man paid for what you’ve given away,” she grumbled, walking back into the restaurant.
• ‘Paid? It’s more like he gave the restaurant charity,’ Peri thought with a rebellious tone in her mind.
• Mrs. Gandola instructed her to take the clients’ orders upon her return. Peri noticed the manager pocketing the money the stranger had given earlier. It was clear that she hadn’t contributed even a tenth of what Peri had given away in dishes. Peri sighed and focused on her work.
• Her job finally came to an end, and Gina inquired about what had happened outside when she exited the restaurant. Peri recounted the events, leaving the older woman baffled.
• “Did she really?” Gina asked once more.
• Peri nodded with a grim expression.
• “Oh, well... She’s the manager, so...” Gina shrugged and rolled her eyes.
• They bade farewell to each other and went their separate ways. To avoid being late, Peri hailed a pedicab to drive her to the state university where she was studying. Pursuing a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management, she was in her second year. Due to her daytime work schedule, she attended evening classes, and she was fortunate to have subjects offered at night, catering to working students like herself.
• Her first class began at six in the evening and was Hospitality Accounting, which lasted for an hour. This was followed by Services Marketing and Food and Beverage Operations Management. Her other subjects were scheduled on different days of the week.
• “Miss Tolentino, can you explain why financial statements are important?” her teacher asked her out of the blue.
• All eyes turned to Peri. She stood up and provided an explanation based on her understanding. The teacher seemed satisfied and moved on to another student’s question.
• The hours passed faster than anticipated, and it was time for her to return home. She heaved a sigh of relief, feeling her body craving rest.
• “Hey, Peri!” A man’s baritone voice startled her; it was familiar, though.
• As she exited the campus gates, she turned to her right and saw Remrod Bautista, her best friend Denize’s maternal cousin.
• “Hey,” she replied nonchalantly, noting his casual attire of jeans, a shirt, and sneakers. His citrusy and spicy scent was unmistakable. “What are you doing here?” she asked, nonetheless.
• The twenty-four-year-old responded, “What do you mean? I’m here to send you home. I drove my motorcycle.” He smiled charmingly, running his fingers through his short, dark hair, with his deep eyes fixed on her.
• Other students passed by them, and Peri couldn’t help but notice a few girls stealing glances at him. With her average height, he towered at five feet and nine inches, and he had a lean build. To onlookers, they might have seemed like a couple, with her slender figure that complemented his.
• “No, it’s unnecessary, Remrod. I’ve told you many times that I don’t need you to send me home. It’s almost midnight already. You need to rest; you have work in the morning, don’t you?” She felt irritated by his persistence.
• “And how many times do I have to tell you that it’s okay? I’m reassured knowing you’re home safe, Peri,” he insisted.
• She shook her head. “No, thank you. I’ll walk to the main road and take a public transportation home,” she stated, starting to walk away from him.
• He held her hand briefly, which she immediately pulled away. She had been raised in a conservative family, and she had been taught not to touch or be touched by the opposite sex. Even with her best friend, she rarely engaged in physical contact.
• “I told you, don’t touch me!” she reminded him, almost hissing.
• “Sorry, I just—”
• “Remrod, I’ve made it clear to you. I don’t want you to pursue me anymore. I’ve been telling you this for three years. I’m still studying and working to support myself and my family. I don’t have time for you or any guy at the moment. Besides, Denize is my best friend. I don’t want any complications in the future. You know my situation. I thought you understood,” she stated firmly.
• He was left speechless.
• She continued, “Look, I don’t want to hurt you. I don’t want to give you any false hope because that’s not the kind of person I am. Please, go home and stop pursuing me like this.”
• She resumed walking, leaving him behind. She noticed the slump in his shoulders before she turned away.
• However, he caught up with her as they crossed the street. “Peri, I won’t stop until you say yes,” he declared.
• She shook her head and chose to ignore him. Under the streetlamp, she waited for a public jeepney. The ride home would take about thirty minutes. She didn’t pay much attention to Remrod anymore.
• Once home, she made an effort not to wake her grandmother or her father. It was already half past midnight. She quickly took a quick shower, changed into her pajamas, and brushed her teeth. Afterward, she entered the shared room with her grandmother, who was already asleep. In the adjacent small room, she could hear her father snoring. Tonight, he seemed to be sleeping better than usual. She hoped it would continue that way.
• She closed her eyes and offered a prayer of gratitude for her safe return home and a request for a good day ahead.
• The next morning began like any other. Peri’s blind father was grumpy.
• “Ma, where’s the fork?” Irritation tinged his voice as his hand felt the plastic table but couldn’t locate the fork.
• Hearing his request, Peri spotted the fork under a plate. She quickly retrieved it and gently handed it to her father, saying, “Here it is, Pa.”
• Her grandmother, Maurice, sighed. The elderly woman, in her sixties, served some food on her son’s plate—fried rice and omelet. Patricio couldn’t eat fish with the bones, so they had to remove them. However, for dried fish, it had to be fried until crispy, eliminating the need to remove the bones, making it easier for him to chew and swallow.
• Peri and Maurice watched as Patricio started to eat.
• “Your coffee is on your left, Pa,” Peri added, placing the cup carefully next to her father’s plate.
• “Okay,” he replied curtly.
• “How’s your work and study going, apo (grandchild)?” Maurice quietly asked her as they ate.