365 Days

Claire’s POV Claire is about to arrive at Cubao Bus Station. She looked at the busy road of Metro Manila on her seat, where she was facing the bus window. She saw many bystanders—vendors, selling any food or anything they could sell on the side of the road. Traffic enforcers are leading the traffic. People are walking on the bridge. I don’t know what will happen to me here in Manila. I don’t even know where to start, but I hope to get a job to help my family in Cebu. Claire started looking for a job after graduating from college, and she went to Manila to search for a job. She doesn’t know anyone in Manila, but still, she took the risk and started job hunting. The bus operator announced that they had arrived at the bus station. In a minute, they will alight from the bus. Before going to Manila, Claire asked her friend, who has been in Manila, to search for a bed space. It only cost her a tiny amount from her savings, so she took the offer. While descending, she took her phone and dialed the number of the owner, but to no avail. She walked towards the compartment of the bus to get her things while dialing the number of the owner, but still, no one was answering. The bus operator handed her small black luggage. “Here’s your things, Ma'am.” He thanked the bus operator and looked at her phone again. Clair walked towards the waiting shed while texting the owner of the bed-space and her friend. She then started calling her friend but to no avail. She called the owner once again. She was about to panic when the other line answered. “Hello?” The woman on the phone said. “Hi, this is Claire. I was the one who reserved the bed-space from you a week ago, Ma’am,” Claire politely said. “Oh. Are you here in Manila already? Where are you exactly?” She told the owner that she was at the bus station. “Oh. Okay. I will call my daughter to fetch you, okay. Just wait there and be careful of your belongings.” “Okay, Ma’am, thank you very much,” Claire said. Then hung up the call. Claire waited for almost half an hour when her phone suddenly vibrated. Someone is calling her. She answered the call. “Hello?” Claire said. “Hi. What is the color of your clothes?” The woman in the other line said. “It’s a white v-neck t-shirt, faded denim pants, and I have black luggage.” Claire hesitantly said. “Oh! There you are!” Then the other line hung up. She looked around and saw a girl waving from a distance. I think she's the daughter. Thank God she’s already here. The woman walked towards her while waving. “Hi! I'm Mia. I'm sorry if you waited for long.” Then Mia helped her with her things. “I was at my friend’s house when my mom called. I’m really sorry if you waited too long for me.” Mia said cutely. “Hello! I'm Claire. It's fine. I didn't wait that long.” Claire said. “Follow me. I brought my motorcycle with me.” Mia said. She then smiled at her. “Oh. Thank you so much.” They walked for a couple of minutes then arrived at the parking lot. She looked at Mia’s motorcycle. “Don’t worry. We will arrive at home safely.” Mia assured her. They both managed to ride the motorcycle comfortably. “I told you,” Mia said with a smug face. “Yes! I know that we will.” Claire said timidly. Mia started the engine and drove the motorcycle. Two months later “Claire. This room is too big to clean by yourself so that I will help you but later let’s clean one room per person, okay? You clean the bed, and I’ll do the comfort room,” Gina said, her trainer. It has been two months since she started working. She has a trainer to help her learn cleaning, setting up, making up the room. “Claire, when you get regular, you need to do this alone, without the help of others, okay?” Gina said. “Yes, Gina. Thank you so much.” Claire replied. She started removing the pillowcase, comforter, and sheet. Then, she got another clean sheets on her cart.