The Hired Daughter

Chapter 2

Too merry for my first pay day, I homed with a huge smile around my face. I glanced again at the money in my hand and sighed before placing it down along with my other savings here beneath my mattress, I have five thousand now. I was more comfortable to put it here than the cabinet coz I had a history of money ghosting. I gave Barbara one thousand and five hundred for Mario. As I promised to give share from my pay check, I also gave Dianne two hundred but she seemed not happy with that small amount. Then half of my salary, I saved for my transportation and food allowance, since I bought groceries right that day.

"Sheina, can you please clean the living room? Dianne will bringing her friend later, she already left to get them." Barbara said.

I went out of my room quickly to start cleaning, I have work today but I always have spare time for house chores.

"Right away."

I finished cleaning quickly then I started preparing for my work.

"I will go now." I told Barbara before I headed out.

Once I arrived at work I hurriedly changed into my uniform or else I might get late.

"Thank you, Sir! Enjoy your meal!" smiling at the customer after giving his order.

"Good afternoon, Ma'am, may I take your order, please?" I greeted the next customer, my forehead creased when she seemed familiar to me.

"Two pieces of chicken and pineapple juice." she politely smiled.

I dubbed her order but then she had to wait. "Can you wait at least eight minutes?" smiling at her.

"It's alright, hija, I am not in a hurry." she smiled softly. She took her tray of juice and walked away.

My day went well, when I got home I even all smile greeting Barbara and Mario in the living room. I looked at the wall clock, Dianne isn’t here yet.

I headed to my room to change then prepared our dinner. I cooked vegetables and some meat as Mario’s request. Just few minutes for table and we started our dinner. While washing the dishes, Dianne just arrived, I could even heard my Godmother gushing about the present’s Dianne bought for her same with Mario.

After doing all the house chores I peeked at the three and saw Dianne smiling widely while sharing her day to her Mom and Dad.

I sighed and walked towards my room, it was impossible that Dianne bought something for me. I have more chances on winning the lottery than Dianne buying me some present.

I laid down on my bed and started dreaming about my college life.. when suddenly I thought of my money under the mattress. I tried to feel my wallet under the cushion and it felt empty, I sat up and now trying to see it more clearly by pulling up the cushion. My heart started to pound when I found nothing under. My sleepy state suddenly gone when I could not find my wallet anymore, I was almost flipping up and down the entire room but no black wallet was here. A bit panicked but I tried to calm down and looked under my bed and so the cabinet, again.

My last hope was my bag why I quickly tossed it to empty but no black wallet came out. I went out of my room and saw the three happily chatting.

I walked to them. "Barbara, have you seen a black wallet? I couldn’t find it under my bed. I already looked in my room but I couldn’t find it anymore." I was quivering coz of my premature tears.

"No, why not go back and check it again, you might misplace it or something." she told calmly.

"I already did but I couldn’t-"

“What are you trying to say?" Dianne butted in. “Were you insinuating that we took your wallet?”

"No-"

"Are you charging us about your misplaced wallet, Sheina?" Mario growled, backing his daughter.

"No, I didn’t. I was just asking!" I croaked. "But I could not find it in my room-"

"But you’re sounding like you were accusing us! Put this in your little head, you are not the only one who’s working here. I am too." Mario spat.

"Yeah, you were accusing us! Just because you have that cheap work of yours it doesn’t mean you can accuse my family!" Dianne shouted at me.

"I was just asking, Dianne.. that money is for my-"

"Just try to check your room again, Sheina. You might put it somewhere in your room.." Barbara said in a flat tone.

I was stopped by that and just nodded, but the two continued blabbing, Dianne and Mario. With a heavy heart I tried to look for my money but then I found nothing. I cried that night, I think I lost my savings.. I lost the money for my college.

Lazily I get up from bed and still hoping to find my black wallet. I even checked the entire house but I found nothing. Even I was not in the good mood, I politely say goodbye to Barbara and when she asked about the wallet, all I could do is just shook my head.

I left the house and went to a park, this one was close to a park coz of so many kids who playing around. I silently sat on the bench and just looking at the boys who’re playing basketball in the nearby covered court.

I suddenly remembered my missing wallet, it means I lost the opportunity of attending college now. My tears started to well and I did not bother to wipe it, I lost my strength on even wiping my own tears.

Looking at the sky and thinking sad about my future, it felt like I lost everything now. What am I going to do?

If I would persist in college I needed five thousand for down payment. I rubbed my face, I thought on spending my next pay check for books and uniform. But right now I was poor like a rat, coz I lost all of my money including my savings since high school.

Could not help but to sob silently, I pitied myself. I did not intend going at work today coz I could not think of being productive when I felt like s**t. Being short from cashiering was the least thing I wanted to happen today, coz the first I had, five hundred was deducted from my day. Why I sent my manager a text message that I skipped the work today.

Suddenly a white hanky appeared in front of me that made me hushed from crying. I wiped off my tears and looked at the owner of the hanky, my eyes widened a bit as I looked at her beautiful face. She’s the same woman who asked me for a direction and the woman in the fast food. Due of not moving, the woman took my hand and placed down the hanky.

"Mind, if I sit beside you?" she asked politely.

I just moved as she sat next to my but she remained silent.

It took a few moments before she started talking. "Sometimes you have to cry, to lessen the burden in your heart." she said and looked at me.

I continued to cry coz I think I had to do this to feel better, later on I looked back at her. "I lost everything, even my dream." my voice croaked because of my sob.

"Where are your family? Are you alone?"

I just stared at her before I sighed. "My parents died when I was young. And yes, I’m alone." I felt somewhat comfortable being with her, she looked nice why even she’s a complete stranger I answered her.

When she invited me for a coffee, I agreed instantly. She seemed a good company and I needed someone to talk also, Astrid was still in duty why I better take the opportunity. She’s really a nice woman as we continued on chatting later on.

"I have a proposition for you, Sheina.. are you fine with first name basis?" she smiled at me. She’s like a breath of fresh air.

"Yeah." I nodded, a while ago she introduced herself as Dorothy Dela Francia. And I found out that she was one of the delegates on my Graduation day.

"What is it, Ma'am?" knitting my forehead.

"I want to offer you a scholarship.." my eyes almost popped out at her proposition.

"Really?" still with my wide eyes then I cleared my throat. "In exchange of what? Why do you want to help me?"

"Coz I can.. simple as that. You dreamt of going to college? You even cry a river because you lost your chance.." she shrugged.

"Yeah, are you one who works in some social welfare? Of course you will not buy a story just like that. And don’t hope high on me, I was not that smart but only an average student, not the scholar type." my face twisted, she better knew that I was not the Valedictorian type, and if she really serious about it.. who am I to refuse? She might be my guardian angel from heaven.

"It’s all right, hija, as long as you strive to get good grades then that's enough for me." she said in a serious tone.

"Are you really serious, Ma’am? And why me? For sure you found more awesome candidates from last Graduation." I got curious, she was not looked like a scammer coz she had a driver and a good ride. And like what she said, she was a volunteered also and a representative of her foundation.

She was just staring at me before she sighed. "Like what I have told you, hija, I have foundation and our objectives and visions are to help less fortunate and yet aspirant students." she paused. "But yeah, the truth is, you got my eyes on you that day.. when I laid my eyes on you on that stage." her face became soft.

"Why?"

"You looked like her." she whispered, eyes glistened looking at me.

"Her? Who’s her?" I moved near her so I could hear her more.

"My daughter.. you looked like her." her eyes remained cloudy. "And now.. I feel like I'm looking at her eyes.. you both have the same eyes, she had a brown eyes too." she took a deep sigh.

Had? Why had? "Where is she now?"

"She was gone." she uttered coldly. And wiped off her tears.

My mouth hung open. She lost her daughter, that might be her reason for having foundation.. to cope up. I was about to give her back her hanky but then I slowly pulled it away, I already used it.

"I apologise for your loss." I bit my lips, me and my mouth. Now I made her cry.

"It's okay, hija, that was a long time ago actually. Thirteen years to be exact." S

she pulled a smile.

"And how old is she if..?" I trailed off.

"She'll be turning eighteen years old by now, if she’s still alive. How about you?" she was calmed now.

"I turned eighteenth just last march, and I almost as age as your late daughter." smiling a bit.

"Yes, and you two have some resemblance.." she looked at me like she was reading my soul. "Anyway, back to my proposition. I want you to be my scholar.." she paused. "But on one condition.. you have to move in my house." she paused again and drank on her cup. "And you will be Venus, my daughter.." she added looking at me in a serious way.

And my destiny has started from then.. I'm Sheina Dela Francia.. The hired Daughter..