Not Just Lies

Chapter 1

"Are you sure, Loli?" Rose asked. I sighed then nodded.

"I need it, Rose. There are a lot of expenses at home and mama feels bad," I said.

I watched across the ground of our school. Rose and I sat on a bench sheltered by a mango tree. I can see how students laugh as they talk to their friends and colleagues.

I lowered my gaze to the books on my thigh.

If only I could smile like them. If only I could forget my problems now. I wish I was just a normal student that the only problem is increasing grades. Case in point, I have a lot to think about.

She sneezed next to me. "I really don't understand why you are still lending your aunt nothing to do but a gamble. Then when she runs out of money where will she go? To Aunt Meldrid?"

I adjusted my seat. I could not answer her because I knew she was right. Even me, I am annoyed to my mom why she still lends aunt even though we are running out of money.

"Why do you live in their house? There are apartments there at the corner or you can just rent, Loli," she said again.

There I looked up at her. I thought about that too but mama really didn't want to. We can save more if we live with my aunt, that's what she always tells me.

"Mom doesn't want to, I don't know why," I replied.

"Unbelievable, Loli! You could have built your own house if you weren't living with your aunt who always doesgumbling! Aunt Meldrid's earnings at the sari-sari store can make that happen! You and Aunt Meldrid can have your own house again!"

I averted my eyes from her and did not answer her.

Those things once worked in my mind but mama was always the barrier. She prefers to stay with her sister who happens to be my aunt who always owes to mama. And mama has nothing else to do because auntie accuses us of living in her own house and it is my mom's responsibility to give my aunt money.

Mama is the second of three siblings and aunt Ludi is the eldest, we are staying with. Uncle Gasper lives in the other town and got married there.

We used to have a house but when papa left us, mama sold it. It's not big but I can say it's not small either. Dad built that house for us. We are happy, mama and dad are married and I am the only child. But when I turned nine, my dad suddenly left us. I didn't ask mama about it even though I wanted to know.

I saw how mama's world collapsed in those days. She was almost always awake and just watching the door. She waited for papa to arrive but a year later he was really gone. He never came back.

It was also almost three years before mama recovered. After that, she decided to sell the house that Papa had built. Mama said she wanted to start again with me so I agreed to what she wanted.

Since then, mama and I have lived here at aunt Ludi's. Aunt Ludi is no longer married and I do not know what the reason is.

When mama and I first arrived at the house where aunt Ludi lived, I immediately knew her habit. Even then, mama and aunt did not get along. They have a past that mama does not tell.

During my almost six years of staying at Aunt Ludi's house, I have memorized her gesture. She will wake up at noon to eat, after which she will ask mama for money and then leave. Midnight goes home smelling of wine. But unlike the others, Tita just went straight to her room and went to sleep. Mama always opens the door for Tita Ludi to enter.

*

"Class dismissed!" Mrs. Sujera announced. I watched her fix her belongings. Some of my classmates helped her carry her things.

"Hey, Loli!"

I jumped at Rose's sudden appearance in front of me. I did not realize that there were only a few of us in the room.

"You might forget. At seven, I'll just pick you up so we can be together," she said. I just nodded and then put away my belongings.

"Will you tell Aunt Meldrid?" she suddenly asked. I almost fainted because of that. I quickly turned to her and shook my head.

"Rose, don't tell mama. I know she won't let me so I'll just run away later," I said.

Rose's eyes narrowed at me then nodded.

"All right, but how long will you keep it a secret? Hey, Loli! Remember that Madam Beki does not accept without parental consent!" she whispered softly.

I just sighed. "Then let's not tell him, let's just say that mama is willing. We are not doing anything bad anyway."

Rose snap at me. "Are you crazy? You plan to work at the bar and there's a lot of rude and maniac there especially since we are only wearing short dresses!"

I quickly looked around then covered Rose's mouth.

"Don't make any noise, Rose! Maybe someone will hear us! But we won't go down the stage, right? I'll go straight backstage just in case!" I said.

She pulled my hand that covered her mouth. She just stared at me with her sharp looks.

"Ok then."

After that, I went straight home. I have done our assignments and our research for tomorrow. I also don't have anything to clean here at home because mama has already cleaned everything. Aunt Ludi's house is just next to her small sari-sari store. Whenever mama is helpless, she cleans the house, especially when the buyers are just a few.

The market is only close to us and others prefer to shop there because it is cheap. If in sari-sari stores, vendors like mama still put profit.

When I finished what I was doing I immediately took a shower. I still have half an hour before Rose picks me up.

"Mom, do you have anything else to do?" I asked her when I found her in our room.

I caught her counting some bank money and some money. She was still wearing a lens glass even though she was too young for that.

I understand mama because the room light is not that strong. The lightbulb also flickers because of the oldness. We haven't replaced it two years ago.

"Huh? I don't have anything else to do. I'm going to rest now because I did laundry with Fred, a lot of laundries. I guarded the store with Siseng and it looks like sales are slowing down again." She shook her head.

I looked down at the bills she was holding. I saw only four hundred pesos, one of fifty pesos and only three of twenty pesos.

"Siseng said someone had bought but the money is one thousand pesos earlier, there was no rebuttal so it was just a loan. More than two hundred were obtained, maybe that is the reason," she added.

It was as if my heart was pounding while watching mama. I did not know how to tell her this. I have known for a long time that Siseng takes the money before she hands it to mama. I once saw it and told her but she did not believe me.

Siseng is only my age, we are only one year apart. She lives opposite and has stopped studying. I still remember when mama once told me that she felt sorry for Siseng so she took her to guard the sari-sari store while my mom does the laundry in our neighborhood.

Like everyone else, Siseng receives a salary. I just don't know how much mama gives even though she shouldn't be giving it anymore. I saw Siseng take some of the money from the sari-sari store then and I know that even now it is still the same. She does it still.

Mama just doesn't believe that. And I was annoyed because of that, she was too numb.

"Is that so? Just rest ma, tomorrow I will be the caretaker of the store. The class is only half a day because the teachers have a meeting tomorrow," I suggested.

"Don't be a child, Siseng will come in tomorrow so you should take a rest-" I didn't let her finish. Tomorrow I will make sure that sales do not slow down because no one will take money.

"No ma, I can manage."

I couldn't wait for her to say anything because I left the room quickly. Maybe I'll just wait for mama to fall asleep first because I know that after what she was doing, she will fall asleep.

I don't want mama to know what I will do and the job I will get into but I need it. I'm doing this not just for me, for her as well.

To be Continued.

Please leave a comment if u still want me to continue the story<3

Thank You for reading<3