The Idol and The Manager

Carmela’s Struggle

Carmela's POV

Two years and six months later

Carmela withdrew her salary from the ATM, the cold, hard cash slipping through her fingers as she carefully budgeted her expenses.

WOW! My salary just came across the palm of my hand. She thought, the usual excitement now tempered by the reality of living paycheck to paycheck. As she checked her bank account, she felt a small sense of relief.

Hmmm, at least I still have savings. But, what does it feel to spend some money for myself? Hmmm...maybe next time.

Her eyes lingered on the account balance. It wasn’t a fortune, but it was enough to keep things running. And things were running—barely—but they were running.

Thank God the twins were now in their third year of college. Her youngest sister, too, was already in her first year. Things were looking better than when she started, but that didn’t mean she could let her guard down.

The road ahead is still far, but we’ve made it this far.

Almost three years ago, Carmela remembered, she had been torn between two choices: Starbucks or McDonald's? The path seemed like it would lead to the same end, but fate had a way of throwing curveballs.

The memory of that fateful day came flooding back—the frustration of being late to her Starbucks interview, of arriving to find the door closed, and the sense of defeat as she had to turn around, her hopes dashed.

Fifteen minutes late? Really? That’s the difference between a dream job and... nothing?

The sting of rejection hadn’t been easy to swallow. She remembered the doubt that plagued her afterward—Maybe this is all I’ll ever be. Maybe I’ll just be stuck working part-time forever.

But then, in a moment of clarity, she’d decided to send a message to McDonald's. She had hesitated for a moment before hitting send, feeling the weight of her decision. But she had done it. And to her surprise, they had responded.

Happiness rushed through her. She was so happy to know that she could still have a second chance. A chance to work that she rejected.

That was so ironic.

Carmela let out a soft chuckle at the memory of her excitement when she saw the message from McDonald's, granting her another chance.

I did it! I got it!

The crowd around her on the MRT station that day had watched her, their eyes curious as she almost screamed in joy.

“Oh my God!” Carmela whispered, as if to keep the moment for herself. She quickly apologized to the people around her, feeling a bit self-conscious. But in her heart, she was dancing with joy.

That moment changed everything.

Present time

Here she was now—two years later—a department manager at McDonald's. She ran a section of the restaurant, overseeing shifts, training new employees, and managing the team. It felt surreal, even though it was exactly where she had worked so hard to be.

Manager? Me?

She was still in disbelief, even as she made the schedule for the week. As the People Manager, she was responsible for her crew, for making sure everything ran smoothly. She had earned this position with countless hours of hard work, late nights, and plenty of sacrifices. But despite all that, she couldn’t help but feel the weight of the responsibility pressing down on her shoulders.

She hadn't wanted to accept the position at first. She thought that she was still too young to manage people—especially at such a young age. But her restaurant general manager had insisted. “You have the potential, Carmela,” he had told her. “You’re ready for more.”

Too early? She thought. What if I fail?

But she couldn’t deny herself the opportunity. Becoming a restaurant general manager was a dream, one that came with not just a bigger paycheck, but more recognition. Her salary would increase, which would help with her family’s needs—her sisters' education, the bills, the never-ending responsibilities.

But a salary increase means more work, more stress, more overtime. Will I be able to handle it?

She laughed at herself, shaking her head.

You’ve handled worse, Carmela, remember? You can do this.

Standing up from her desk, she walked toward the counter to grab a cup of coffee, still thinking over her promotion.

Can I really do it?

"Going home now, Ma’am?" Remar, her crew member, called out to her, breaking her thoughts.

"No, I am just going to get a cup of coffee," she smiled, shaking her head.

"You should’ve just told me, Ma’am, I would’ve gotten it for you." Remar said.

Carmela smiled warmly at him. "It's okay, Rem. I’ve got it. Thank you so much for the thought." She replied.

The comfort of the familiar routine gave her a moment of peace. As she poured hot coffee into the cup, her thoughts wandered again.

Will I really be ready to manage my own restaurant? She still has so much to learn, so many challenges ahead. But something told her this was just the beginning.

She closed her eyes for a moment, the warmth of the coffee in her hands grounding her. When she opened them, she smiled to herself.

Yes. I can do this. I’ll be fine.

With a renewed sense of confidence, she returned to her desk, ready to face the next chapter of her life—one that would take all her strength, dedication, and passion.

For my family's future, for myself? Let’s do this.