TAINTED HEARTS 02
1745 Words
Chapter 02
I slept for a few hours. But I woke up right away to help Mama take care of my siblings. I checked the pot, which now had only a little food left. I wasn’t hungry yet, so I decided to leave it for my siblings.
“Ate, you have a cut on your lip.”
I smiled when Rico touched the wound he noticed while I was preparing food for them.
“It’s just small! Ate can handle it!”
I handed him his food. Playfully, I poked his side with my finger, which made him laugh. They had just started eating when Mama entered.
“I’ll take in laundry, Xena—”
Before she could finish, I shook my head. I refused while putting food on her plate. She wanted to accept laundry from neighbors and wash it by hand, in exchange for payment. She’s sick. If I let her, she can’t handle it.
“No, Ma. I can handle it. I might earn again tonight. I’ll buy more food and medicine before I go home.”
Mama sighed, helpless. I went out to fetch water so I could bathe and head to work early.
“Your uncle is really shameless!”
“He’s not our uncle,” I answered with a scowl at our neighbor’s remark.
Aling Minda, from whom we often borrowed food, laughed. They could hear what was happening but couldn’t report it to the police. They were afraid that if they interfered, that beast of a man would turn on them instead.
“Are you leaving for work now?”
“Yes.”
“Oh my! You’re covered in bruises! How can you go to work like that?”
“It’s fine. Makeup can cover it.”
“All right, all right! Just be careful—you might run into Amel again!”
I nodded and left. There were many loiterers outside—women gossiping, men drinking. The alleys were narrow, the canals lined up, stinking, the paths unpaved. Trash and animal waste were scattered everywhere.
Even though life here was chaotic and Mama’s former partner kept coming back, we couldn’t move away. We had no money for rent elsewhere. My siblings were still studying. One of them, a special child, had a heart condition. I couldn’t bear more expenses on my own.
“What happened to you?” the manager from yesterday asked as soon as I arrived.
“Nothing.”
She shook her head. Even though I denied it, she already had a guess.
“Beaten up again? Cover it with makeup because your yesterday’s guest will be coming back.”
I nodded and started getting ready. I danced to one song. Afterwards, the manager called me again to go up to the same room I had gone to last night.
I tried to cover the wounds and bruises on my body, but no matter how thickly I applied makeup, they still showed through.
“Good evening, Mr. Andromeda,” I greeted with a smile.
He had introduced himself last night, and according to him, that was the name I should call him. I smiled again as I sat down. His body was indeed impressive. Even in formal clothes, his muscles were visible. Yes, he was handsome. But I admired him not in an attractive way—just that I felt at ease around him.
When I sat, my eyes landed on the table. I hadn’t eaten all day because I saved the food for my siblings and Mama. I endured the hunger, drinking only water before leaving, so now I couldn’t help but feel hungry while staring at the delicious food on the table. I planned to eat here, to save and not spend.
I was lost in thought when suddenly both of us heard a growl. My face flushed when I realized it was my stomach. After starving myself, my own body protested.
“Are you hungry?” he asked, chuckling.
I smiled shyly and nodded. He laughed again and pointed at the food. Once he told me to eat, I didn’t hold back. I reached for the dishes and ate nonstop until I was full and satisfied.
Afterwards, I looked at him. His brow was furrowed, his eyes fixed sharply on me—on my body.
“Are those bruises?”
He grabbed a tissue from the table. Without warning, he held my arm and wiped the makeup that covered it. It came off quickly, revealing the dark bruises. He raised his eyes to me.
“What happened?”
I pulled my hand back and shook my head in embarrassment. I had no intention of telling him, especially since I had only met him last night. Even if he gave a lot of money, that wasn’t enough reason to share my private life.
“Who did this to you? Who hurt you?” He noticed my hesitation. His eyes dimmed. “Don’t worry. It’s okay. I won’t judge and I’ll just listen. Tell me, what’s happened?”
I stayed silent, but as he kept insisting—asking the same question again and again—I was forced to explain what happened. At first, he listened calmly. But as my story went on, I could see anger slowly rising in his eyes.
Even after hearing everything, he didn’t comment. We talked a little more, and he ordered food for me to take home to my family. I was so happy—he was truly kind and asked nothing in return.
When I got home, my siblings were overjoyed. Even Mama was smiling. He also gave money, part of which he asked the manager to keep for me so I could withdraw it little by little. That way, if Mama’s former partner came back, he wouldn’t get anything. He also told me not to go to work, at least for a day, so I could rest.
“Ate, I got so much medicine!”
“Ate, so much food! And it tastes so good!”
My siblings were jumping and laughing with joy. Mama and I just watched them as they ate heartily. Usually, we could only afford simple meals, so this was rare.
“You said this came from your guest?”
“Yes, Mama. I also hid some money at the club in case we needed it.”
Mama grew quiet, watching me carefully.
“He gave you food and money? What did he ask in return?”
I laughed and sat on our old wooden chair in the living room. There was doubt in her voice, and she was staring straight at me.
“He asked nothing in return, Mama!”
She followed and sat beside me.
“Are you sure? You’re not hiding anything from me? I let you do this job because you said it would only be dancing.”
I turned on the TV and frowned at her. Did she think I had given my body in exchange?
“Nothing, Ma. Not even a single touch on my body. Maybe he's just one of those rich people who likes to give away money?”
She breathed a sigh of relief and looked back at my siblings. This time, they didn’t have to fight over food—there was plenty.
“That’s good, if that’s the case.”
I took some money from my pocket and handed it to her.
“For you, Ma,” I said.
She quickly shook her head.
“What’s that? Just keep it. Amel might take it from me if he shows up again.”
“Have a checkup tomorrow, Ma. Buy your medicine too, and whatever food you want.”
She shook her head again, pushing the money back. Her eyes looked both sad and happy.
“Just keep it, Xena. Don’t add me to your worries.”
“Can I really do that? Please, Ma. This is for me too—for my peace of mind.”
After some insisting, she finally agreed. She will get a checkup tomorrow. My siblings and I, on the other hand, would spend some time at the nearby park.
“What if your money runs out?”
“He said he’ll be back tomorrow. So it’s okay—I can buy what the kids want, at least just this once.”
The next day, we went to the park while Mama went for her checkup. We would meet her there afterwards.
I smiled wide as I watched my siblings. They were so happy picking toys at the stalls. Along, being the eldest, asked only for food.
That night, I was going back to work since I had only taken one day off. Mr. Andromeda had given so much—I had to thank him and tell him how happy my family was because of his gifts.
“X!” someone called.
I nodded and headed up to the VIP room. He was already smiling when I entered. He reminded me of Papa. He immediately asked me to sit beside him, as if we had something important to discuss.
“I will not stay here for long. I just want to talk to you for a minute.”
I grew curious because his eyes sparkled. I nodded quickly and asked what it was about.
“I have a business meeting after this, so I will get straight to the point.” He stared at me before continuing. “I want to move you and your family to a safer and better house.”
I just stared at him, not understanding at first. My brain had to process it before I realized what he meant. My lips parted as I looked at him in confusion.
“Move? Safer house? What do you mean? You’ll move us to another house?”
I wasn’t sure of my question. I was still confused. I only confirmed that I understood right when he nodded. My throat tightened, my heart suddenly pounding.
“How? Will you pay the rent for the house?”
He shook his head and smiled.
“I will not move you to an apartment to rent. I will buy you a house with your name on the title.”
“What? Not rent? Buy? In my name? I’ll be the owner?”
It felt like my breathing stopped when he nodded again with a smile. For a moment, my head went numb, as if all my blood had rushed upward.
- Writer
