Mother's Daughter, Daughter's Home

Chapter 2: Flight from the Cage

The city was loud, bright, and terrifying. It was a completely different world compared to the quiet, dusty village of Bayangan. Tall buildings scraped the sky, and the streets were filled with endless streams of people, cars, and noise. Lina stood at the edge of the road, clutching her small bag tightly against her chest. She was only fourteen years old, alone, and had only a few coins in her pocket.

"I have to survive," she whispered to herself, her eyes filled with determination but also fear. "I have to be strong. I will not go back. I would rather die than be his wife."

She walked aimlessly until she found a cheap, crowded boarding house. It was dirty and noisy, but it was a roof over her head. She paid for a small corner to sleep, and immediately, she started looking for work. Her body was small and thin, but she had learned to endure pain and hardship since she was a child.

"Madam, do you need someone to massage you? I am strong, I work hard," she would ask politely at every house she passed.

"Sir, can I clean your house? Wash your clothes? I will do it for a small price."

She accepted any job available. She gave massages until her small fingers ached and cramped, but she never complained. She scrubbed dirty floors until her hands were raw and bleeding. She worked in busy restaurants, washing piles of dirty dishes until her skin wrinkled and smelled of soap. Every peso she earned was precious, hidden safely in the folds of her clothes, her only hope for the future.

One hot afternoon, Lina was called to give a massage to a customer in a nice house. The customer was a woman who looked gentle and educated. She was a teacher.

While Lina worked on her shoulders, the teacher noticed how young she was. She saw the sadness in her eyes but also the hard work she was doing.

"Child, what is your name?" the teacher asked softly.

"Lina, Ma'am," she answered quietly.

"You are too young to be working this hard," the teacher said, sighing. "Where are your parents? Why are you here alone?"

Lina stopped for a moment. Tears started to fall from her eyes. For the first time, she told her story to a stranger. She told her about being abandoned by her mother. She told her about the bullying, the hunger, and the pain. She told her about the boy who hit her, and how she was forced to run away to avoid a forced marriage.

The teacher listened with a heavy heart. Her name was Mrs. Cruz.

"My child," Mrs. Cruz said, holding Lina’s hand. "You have suffered so much. But you are still so young. You should be in school, not working like this."

She looked at Lina with kindness. "Come and live with me. I have a small house. You can help me with simple chores, and I will send you to school. You deserve to learn. You deserve a future."

"School? Really, Ma'am?" Lina’s eyes lit up like stars in the dark night. She could not believe what she was hearing. "Really? I can study? I can be a student?"

"Yes," Mrs. Cruz smiled. "Pack your things. Let us go."

Lina agreed immediately. She felt like she was in a dream. For a while, life was good. She wore a clean uniform, held heavy books, and sat inside a classroom. She listened to the teacher and learned how to read and write properly. She felt like she was finally becoming someone, just like she promised herself when she was little.

(Mrs. Cruz’s POV)

Lina is so intelligent, Mrs. Cruz thought while watching her study. She learns fast. If only she had a good life before, she could have been top of the class. I am happy to help her.

But fate was cruel again. Lina’s body, which had been weakened by years of hunger and abuse, could not keep up with her eager mind. She would feel dizzy while standing up. Sometimes, the room would spin around her, and she would just collapse.

THUD!

One day, she fainted right in the middle of class.

"Lina! Lina!" her classmates shouted in shock.

When she woke up, she was in the clinic. She felt so embarrassed and ashamed.

"I am sorry," she cried. "I am sorry, Ma'am. I am so useless."

"No, anak," Mrs. Cruz said gently, wiping her tears. "You are not useless. Your body is just tired. You need rest. You cannot continue studying like this. You have to stop first and get well."

Lina’s heart broke. Her dream was shattered again. She left school and went back to work. She was sad, but she was lucky. Her older cousins, somehow, found where she was staying.

They did not bring her back to Bayangan. Instead, they came to help her secretly.

"Lina!" her cousin called her softly when they met.

"Kuya! Is it really you?" Lina was surprised and happy.

"We heard you were sick," her cousin said, handing her an envelope filled with money. "Here. Buy medicine. Buy good food. Get strong again."

" But... what if the others find out?" Lina asked worriedly.

"Don't worry," her cousin smiled. "We won't tell anyone. You are still our family. What happened to you is not your fault."

(Cousin’s POV)

She looks so thin and pale, her cousin thought sadly. But she is still our blood. We cannot let her die alone here. Even if the others are angry, we will help her.

They stayed with her until she recovered her strength. When they left, Lina felt warm inside. She was not completely alone in this world. There were still people who cared.

Time passed quickly. Years went by, and the little girl Lina grew into a beautiful young woman. She was now eighteen years old. She had a gentle face, long hair, and kind eyes. She dressed simply, never used makeup, and carried herself with modesty. She was like a pure lotus flower growing in muddy water.

In the place where she lived, she made new friends. They were good people, and they accepted her. And among them, there was one man who caught her attention.

His name was Rico.

He was handsome, tall, and had a way with words. He was charming and knew how to make people laugh. He saw Lina working hard one day, and he was attracted to her beauty and her kindness.

"Hello, Lina," Rico would greet her every morning, smiling widely. "You look beautiful today."

Lina would blush and look down. "Thank you, Rico."

Rico started courting her. He did not give up. Every day, he came to see her.

"Lina, I like you," Rico would say. "I have never met a girl like you. You are so simple, so good. My heart beats fast whenever I see you."

He brought her food when she was hungry. He walked her home when it was dark. He listened to her stories, even the sad ones. Lina, who had never felt loved or cherished by a man, slowly opened her heart.

For the first time, she felt butterflies in her stomach. For the first time, she felt happy and excited.

One night, under the bright moonlight, Rico held her hand and looked deep into her eyes.

"Lina," he said seriously. "I love you. I don't care about your past. I only care about you. Marry me. Let us build our own family. I promise I will take care of you. I will protect you forever."

Lina cried tears of joy. "I love you too, Rico. Yes, I will marry you."

Soon, Lina found out she was pregnant. She was scared but happy. When she told Rico, he was overjoyed.

"Good!" Rico clapped his hands. "We will get married. Let us go to my hometown in the province. We will have a civil wedding. My family will welcome you. You will finally have a real home, Lina."

"Really? They will accept me?" Lina asked, hoping to finally belong.

"Of course!" Rico assured her. "They will love you."

Lina believed him. She packed her things. She held her dream close to her heart. She thought she was leaving poverty and loneliness behind. She thought she was going to a place filled with love and happiness.

She did not know that she was walking straight into a nightmare. She did not know that the family she was going to meet was full of demons waiting to destroy her.