Tethered by Almosts

Chapter 2

The whole store was quiet. No other sound except the soft buzz of the lights above and the occasional passing car outside. I sat at the cashier, just staring. I was here, but I wasn’t really here. My mind was still stuck on what Ms. Therese and I talked about earlier.

I didn’t know if it was right to accept her offer. I wanted to help her, yes. You can tell she’s a good person, and what she’s going through… it’s painful. But why does everything feel so easy? Like… she’s just giving me things I didn’t even work for?

Suddenly, the store door opened. I looked up, and a guy walked in — clean-looking, neat posture, and clearly not from here. He looked rich. Fair skin, wearing a shiny watch. The kind of guy who, even if he didn’t talk, you’d know right away he had something big in life.

“Good afternoon, sir,” I greeted quietly, almost in a whisper. I wasn’t in the mood, but I still had to work.

I just quietly watched as he walked around the store. He didn’t take long, just picked up two packs of tissue and went straight to the counter. He placed them in front of me.

I slowly sat up straight. I wasn’t in the mood, but I still typed them into the POS. I noticed a stain on his shirt — looked like sauce. Just one customer. Hopefully this ends fast.

“Seventy pesos, sir.”

He nodded silently. I thought he was about to pay, but I saw him take out his wallet. But instead of money, no cash, no coins — he pulled out a card.

I blinked. “Sir… we only accept cash here.”

He looked inside his wallet. “I see. But I don’t have any cash with me right now,” he said, voice soft but kind of classy.

I massaged my temple. Great. Just what I needed today, sir.

“I’m sorry, but you really can’t buy these if you don’t have cash,” I explained, trying to stay calm.

“Then what’s the point of running a*****e like this if you don’t accept cards?” he said with a slight raise of his brow — not rude, just confused.

Lord, please give me patience today.

“Sir, it’s just that… here, we really don’t accept credit cards. You’re actually the first to use one here,” I said.

“Still…” he said, a little unsure. “You should accept cards. What if it’s an emergency like this?” He pointed to the stain on his shirt.

I let out a sigh. That’s an emergency to you?

“Hmm?” he asked. “What did you say?”

I turned away quickly. I think I said that out loud. “Nothing, sir.” I just grabbed the tissues and handed them to him.

“Take it, sir. I’ll pay for it.”

He frowned a little. He looked confused, but he still accepted it. “If we meet again, I’ll return the money. I hate having debts,” he said with a half-polite, half-awkward smile.

I stayed quiet. I just watched him turn around and walk toward the door. Before he stepped out, he looked back at me for a second.

After he left, I turned my eyes forward again and leaned slowly against the chair.

Ms. Therese...

I closed my eyes for a moment. I had so many thoughts that even a 70-peso tissue felt heavy to me.

I sat there quietly, trying to list all the things I had to do… but everything just felt like a mess. My mind was still spinning about Ms. Therese — the things she said, her offer, the life she suddenly laid out in front of me.

Then my phone vibrated.

It was Marisse.

“Where are you?” she asked right away, her voice sounded nervous.

“I’m at work, why?” I asked, frowning a bit.

“Why are your things outside?”

I froze. “Huh? What things?”

“Your stuff, Katris. It’s outside! Scattered in front of the boarding house!”

It felt like something slammed into my chest. I stood up fast and looked around the store. I called the guy fixing the stocks inside.

“Kuya, can you watch the store for a bit? I just need to go out.” I quickly took off my uniform and ran outside.

I flagged a tricycle and rushed to where I was staying. God, please… I hope this isn’t real...

When I arrived at the boarding house, I saw Marisse already arguing with Aling Setta. My stuff was all on the side of the road. Some of my clothes were even on the ground.

“Marisse!” I shouted as I ran. “What’s going on here?”

I started picking up my things from the street. I didn’t know what to feel first — the embarrassment or the shock of what was happening.

“She suddenly kicked you out!” Marisse was furious. “No warning at all! And she threw your stuff like trash!”

I turned to Aling Setta. “Aling Setta, what happened? Did I do something wrong?”

She took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Katris. Someone else wants your room. They offered more money. I didn’t want to do this—”

“But why throw her things?!” Marisse yelled. “Is money really everything to you people?!”

“Marisse, stop,” I said, though my voice was already shaking. “Aling Setta, I have nowhere else to go…”

“I’m really sorry, dear.” Then she shut the door right in my face, like nothing I said mattered.

It felt like the sky and ground fell on top of me.

Marisse slammed her hand on the gate. “That old woman has no heart,” she muttered angrily.

After she calmed a bit, Marisse tapped my shoulder. “What are you going to do now?”

I looked at all my scattered stuff. I didn’t know. I had no money. No place to sleep. I didn’t even have a stable job anymore...

“Do you want... to stay at our place for now?” Marisse asked softly, her voice full of worry.

I looked at her. I didn’t want to be a burden. But… do I have a choice? I didn’t want to think anymore. My mind was already too full of problems.

I just nodded quietly.

She helped me carry my stuff. Even though there was a lot, we managed to pack everything and find a tricycle.

When we got to Marisse’s house, her mom hugged me right away. “Come in, dear. Stay here for now.”

Tita was kind. Always caring, even when I only visited once or twice before.

We entered Marisse’s room, bringing in all my things — the mess, the clutter, the weight.

Once the door closed, I just sat down on the floor.

I couldn’t hold it in anymore.

Tears just fell, like a broken faucet. I covered my face with both hands, trying not to sob out loud.

“Shhh… don’t cry anymore,” Marisse said while gently rubbing my back. “I’m here, Kat.”

But it was heavy. It hurt.

I’m so tired. So tired.

Then my phone rang. It was in the side pocket of my bag. I checked — it was my boss at the store.

I picked it up right away.

“Katris,” his voice was cold. “I heard you left your post earlier. I don’t need an irresponsible worker. Don’t come back.”

I couldn’t say anything. The call ended. I dropped the phone on the bed. I cried again — louder this time. It hurt more.

I had no job.

I had no place to stay.

We both sat on the floor of Marisse’s room. She was quiet now, just watching me. Trying to comfort me even when I wasn’t crying anymore. I think I had no tears left.

“Just tell me if you can’t take it anymore, okay?” she whispered. “I’m here. Mama’s here too, we’ll help however we can.”

I couldn’t answer. I didn’t know how.

I had so many thoughts. I didn’t want to bother them. They were a family. They had their own problems too. I wasn’t the only one suffering in this world.

What if I’m just in the way here? What if Marisse gets embarrassed because of me?

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. It opened, and Marisse’s mom came in, carrying two glasses of milk.

She quietly placed them in front of us and sat down for a moment. She gently brushed my hair. A soft touch I haven’t felt in so long.

“I know it’s hard to carry all that, dear,” she said softly. “But our door is open for you. You’re not alone, okay?”

I couldn’t help but close my eyes. Just her voice… it already made the heaviness inside me feel a little lighter.

What if I had a mom like her? What if my real mother never left me? Would I still be going through this now?

She stood up. “Get some rest, okay? Talk about your problems tomorrow.” Then she left the room.

It was quiet again. Marisse and I didn’t speak while she fixed the mattress and blanket on the floor. She looked tired too, but she made sure everything was ready for us to sleep.

As for me, my thoughts just kept spinning. Louder and louder.

Ms. Therese’s offer…

It’s like my brain is telling me that’s my only way out. I have nowhere else to go, no job, no money. And now, no home.

But… why now?

Why is this so hard? Why does it feel like life is forcing me to choose something I don’t even know is really for me?

Should I accept Ms. Therese’s offer?

But I have so many doubts. I don’t know if I can. If it’s real. If I can handle a life I didn’t work for… a life that’s not even mine.

I just closed my eyes. My head was hurting from all the questions with no answers.

So many thoughts, but not even one certainty.