Cinderella's Endgame

ONE

CINDY ELEANOR PARISI’S POINT OF VIEW

“Cin, do you want to be a princess?”

I turned to my side when I heard him ask that. I thought for a second before nodding slowly. I took the lollipop out of my mouth before answering, “Who wouldn’t?”

“But aren’t princesses supposed to live in castles?”

His question made me think for a bit. My lips started to pout as I frowned. “Then I can’t be a princess? B-Because we don’t live in a castle,” I said softly.

“But you can still be a princess if you have a prince charming. I saw it with my mom, the girl kissed the prince and then she became a princess,” he said matter-of-factly. I glanced at him, still frowning. “You don’t have a castle, so you just need to find your prince charming to become a princess.”

“What about you? Are you a prince charming? You don’t live in a castle either, so you’re not one too.”

His brows furrowed as he looked at me curiously. I put the lollipop back in my mouth while thinking about what he said. “That means I need a princess too. Then we’ll kiss at the end, and I’ll become a prince charming,” he said proudly as he stood up.

“When can we kiss so we can become a princess and prince charming?” I asked innocently.

“When we’re old, like Mom and Dad!”

My brows furrowed again as I tried to figure out how old his parents were. “When we’re in Grade Two? That’s old, right? Mommy said we’ll be in Grade One next school year. And Grade Two is still far. Are your Mom and Dad in Grade Two already, that’s why they’re old?”

He paused for a moment before nodding eagerly. “Right, right. They’re old already, that’s why they’ve kissed. Mom said we’re still babies since we’re just in kindergarten. She said babies aren’t allowed to kiss yet.”

“When we’re old, will you kiss me? Then I’ll be the princess and you’ll be the prince charming?”

He grinned widely and nodded. “Of course! Cindy will be the princess, and Gideon will be the prince charming when we’re old. Promise!”

“Hey! What are you sleeping there for? Cindy Eleanor, it’s already late morning, did you forget?”

I immediately opened my eyes when I heard my aunt, Tita Eula, yelling beside my bed. She was holding a broom, ready to hit me with it. I quickly sat up before she actually did it.

“Good morning, Tita—”

“What good morning? There’s nothing good about it, damn it! Get up and cook breakfast. You know I have work. Do you want me to do everything here while you sit around? You’re already freeloading, now you’re lazy too? Move!” she scolded loudly, so I hurriedly got out of bed.

I tied my hair up and glanced at the clock. It was only four in the morning. I still had two hours to finish the chores before going to school.

I rushed down from the second floor of Tita Eula’s small house and found her friends already sitting in the living room, drinking coffee. I couldn’t help but sigh quietly. She didn’t even have to say it; I already knew I’d have to make breakfast for her friends too.

She always said I was a freeloader, yet her friends were no better. Why was I the only one getting blamed? I just shook my head and put on my apron.

I made coffee for Tita Eula and prepared some bread to fill. I couldn’t help but smile when I saw there was one extra slice left.

“Cindy, I’ll eat two pieces of bread.”

The smile instantly disappeared from my face when I heard her. I quickly hid one slice of bread in my apron pocket before looking back at her. “Tita, there’s only enough for you. No extras left,” I lied softly, trying to sound pitiful so she wouldn’t suspect anything.

She squinted at me suspiciously, trying to see if I was lying. I swallowed hard but kept my gaze steady—if I looked nervous, she’d know. After a moment, she scoffed and looked away, and I finally let out a silent sigh of relief.

I turned my back, spread the filling on the remaining bread, and quickly ate the hidden slice while no one was looking. Once I finished, I served their breakfast as if nothing happened.

While they were eating, I excused myself to take a bath before school. She didn’t even answer me—just rolled her eyes—so I went straight to the bathroom and cleaned up.

I took a quick shower and got dressed, knowing she’d call me any minute to wash the dishes after they were done. I looked at myself in the mirror, pulling down my skirt that had gotten shorter over time. I’d been wearing it since I started high school. I’d even removed the hem at the bottom to make it look longer. Just a few more months until senior high, so I didn’t bother asking for a new one.

“Cindy! Cindy!” she yelled from downstairs, so I immediately stepped out of my room and went down. They were already standing by the door, about to leave.

“Clean this up and make sure the door’s locked before you leave, understood?” she ordered strictly.

I nodded quietly. She turned to go when I cleared my throat. “A-Ah, Tita, my allowance?” I asked softly.

She looked at me with one raised eyebrow. I smiled faintly, and she rolled her eyes before digging into her pocket. Like earlier, my smile vanished when I saw how much she gave me.

Twenty pesos.

I didn’t say anything since she was already walking out the door. I just shook my head and slipped the money into my pocket. As if I had a choice. I’d probably spend it on a piece of turon later.

I washed the dishes quickly before leaving the house. I brought some water from home since bottled ones at school were expensive. There wasn’t any food left in the house, so I didn’t bring lunch either.

I jogged toward the school, which was a few minutes away. When I was about to cross the street, a car honked loudly, so I stepped back quickly to avoid getting hit.

I pursed my lips when I saw who was inside. The car window was down, and he was leaning against it with that familiar smug look. Our eyes met briefly as the expensive car passed right in front of me.

That same teasing smirk didn’t escape my eyes. I sighed heavily and shook my head. Of course. He’s rich now.

I subconsciously pressed my lips together as I remembered my dream before Tita Eula woke me up. It was about him. Gideon. The same boy from that memory. We used to be childhood friends, but when I became poor, we stopped talking. I’d see him drive by sometimes, but he never stopped to say hi.

All I ever noticed about him now was that smug smile. He changed so much. He wasn’t the same best friend I once knew. I scoffed and continued walking.

He once told me to wish that I’d become a princess someday. And I guess he was right, in a twisted way. My life did turn into something like a fairytale.

Because here I am now, living like Cinderella—

a former princess turned pauper.