“How was work?”

She took off her heels and went inside the house. Her feet hurt after walking around the classroom all day. She even had to handle two classes because her handsome partner didn’t show up. The Captain said they would share the salary, but the man didn’t even appear on the first day. That was unfair.

She sighed with relief after removing her heels. Tomorrow, she would just wear doll shoes, even if it made her look shorter and less like a teacher. Who cares? As long as her salary wouldn’t be cut. She already had to share it with someone.

Her mother greeted her with a smile and took her bag.

“It went well, Ma. The kids were cute,” she said as she sat on the sofa.

But things would have been better if that man had shown up. Maybe her feet wouldn’t hurt so much. It was all his fault her day turned out this bad.

Calm down, Ella. Calm down. Maybe he had something important to do, that’s why he didn’t come.

Her eyes wandered to the TV. Of course, her mother was watching another Korean drama. If there was one thing her mom couldn’t live without, it was K-dramas. It was like she had become a teenager again.

Still, she was glad. At least her mom had adjusted to life without her dad.

It had been a long time already. But moving on was never easy. Healing a broken heart wasn’t the same as healing a simple wound. If only there were band-aids for the heart, she would have bought one.

Suddenly, she smelled something strange. She tried to ignore it, but the scent grew stronger. She looked at her mom, who was still focused on the TV.

“Ma?” she asked. “Do you smell that?”

“Yes. It’s your feet. They stink a little.”

She pouted. Her poor swollen feet were being blamed. “No, Ma. It’s a different smell. Are you cooking something?”

Her mom froze, turned her head, and her eyes grew wide. Her mouth opened but no words came out. She swallowed hard. “My rice! It’s probably burning!”

Ella just shook her head. So her mom was cooking after all, yet she still blamed her poor feet.

K-dramas, she thought with a laugh. Always stealing Mama’s attention.

The next morning, she woke up early again. This time, she cooked breakfast because no matter how many times she tried to wake her mother, she was still snoring. She cooked rice and prepared food before deciding to take a bath.

She checked her mom’s room once more, but her mother was still asleep. She tried to wake her again, but nothing. Maybe her mom stayed up late finishing her drama series.

Well, if only everyone were worth losing sleep for.

Back in college, she also liked watching series, but she never stayed up too late for them. She shook her head. If only she had wasted sleepless nights on Korean actors, that would’ve been better. At least they were worth it. But no, she lost sleep over the wrong person. She had been so, so wrong.

She grabbed her towel and went to the bathroom.

Sometimes, you only realize mistakes after they’ve been done. Sometimes, you need to go through pain before you know if something or someone is really meant for you. Maybe it’s better that way. Better to experience it than regret never trying.

“Mama!” she shouted from the bathroom. “Can I borrow shampoo? I forgot mine!”

“I heard your co-teacher is handsome,” her mother teased with a wink.

She stopped eating and looked at her mom, who was smiling mischievously. She wasn’t sure if her mom meant the same male teacher who ruined her day yesterday.

“Yes, Ma,” she answered cheerfully, returning her mom’s smile. But before she spoke further, she placed a spoonful of food into her mouth. “Kuya Marlon is really handsome. My classroom is sparkling clean because of him.”

Her mother’s smile disappeared. Good. She had beaten her mom at her own game. Kuya Marlon was the janitor at the Barangay Hall. The hall had two floors, offices upstairs, and two daycare classrooms downstairs.

Her mom facepalmed. “I didn’t mean Marlon.”

“Then who, Ma? Kuya Marlon is the only handsome guy there. You can even check if you want. I’m not lying.” She winked.

She wanted to laugh at her mom’s reaction but kept eating instead, stabbing a slightly burnt hotdog with her fork. She decided to eat it herself, it was her cooking anyway.

This was why she never took up a course in cooking. She and the kitchen tools never got along. Maybe she was only meant to eat, not cook.

“Captain dropped by yesterday,” her mom continued. “He said your co-teacher is very handsome.”

Ah, she thought. So that’s who.

“Oh, the teacher? I didn’t really see his face,” she answered quickly, hoping her mom would drop the subject.

But her mom kept staring at her, waiting.

“Is he handsome, anak?”

“I told you, I didn’t see his face.”

“How can you not see his face? Did you close your eyes? What’s his name? Maybe I know him.”

There she goes again.

She hurriedly finished her food, wanting to escape. But her mom didn’t look away, clearly waiting for an answer.

“I didn’t see him because he didn’t show up yesterday,” she said with a sigh, standing up with her empty plate. “There. Happy now?”

“What’s his name?” her mom pressed again.

She didn’t bother replying and left her mom at the table. The truth was, she didn’t even know the guy’s name.

~

“Good morning, Teacher Ell!”

Three children were sweeping the classroom when she arrived. If only it were always like this, she thought, she would never get mad at them.

She remembered her own days in school. In public schools, there were no janitors. Students had to clean their rooms in the morning, after lunch, and before going home. If they failed to do so, they would face an angry teacher.

“Good morning, girls,” she greeted, placing her bag on the desk. “You’re early today.”

“Yes, Teacher. I came with my mom,” one said, still sweeping.

“Me too, Teacher.”

“Same here,” added the third.

Her students were from rich families. Yet here they were in the barangay daycare. Back in her day, she thought rich kids only went to private schools. But she guessed it all depended on the parents.

“How about you, Teacher? Why are you so early?” one of the girls asked when they were done cleaning.

She smiled, thinking. Why was she early? “Do I need a reason?”

The three girls laughed. “We’re just asking,” they said together.

More students arrived, and soon it was almost time for class.

She decided to step out and check if the other teacher had arrived. He skipped yesterday, and if he skipped again today, she would just have to take his students.

When she stepped outside, she saw a man walking unsteadily toward her. He looked drunk. She froze, staring at him.

He really came to work drunk.

She heard Kuya Marlon call out, “Oh no! That’s Sir Rafael!”

Marlon rushed to the man’s side and guided him away. What was he thinking, coming to school like that?

Ella shook her head and turned toward his classroom. It looked like she would be handling his students again.

“Why not just let me do it?” Rafael shouted, even as Marlon dragged him away.

“Ha?” Kuya Marlon asked in surprise, turning to face her with his spoon still in the air and his mouth slightly open.

Was her question really that shocking?

Well, maybe it was a little out of the blue. Who suddenly throws out a question like that in the middle of a meal?

But her mind wouldn’t rest, not after what she saw yesterday. Rafael was drunk, actually drunk, inside the Barangay Hall and even shouting like that. Something must be weighing heavily on him to show up in such a state.

And honestly, anyone with problems could lose control sometimes. Still, she couldn’t stop replaying it in her head.

She grabbed her glass and took a sip, silently praying that Marlon wouldn’t read too much into her question. What if he thought she meant something else?

The kids had already gone home after class, so now it was just her and Marlon again. He winked at her with a grin. She quickly looked away.

“Nothing, I’m just curious,” she said, trying to brush it off.

Which was true. She was curious. What’s wrong with wanting to know more about a co-worker? It didn’t mean anything deeper than that… right?

Marlon raised his brows up and down playfully. “Hmm, I smell something. Maybe it’s not just curiosity. Don’t worry, just say the word and I’ll help. Rafael and I are kind of close. He’s easy to talk to.”

She forced a laugh, even though part of her wanted to smack him. Why was he twisting her words like that? That thought never even crossed her mind! “For goodness’ sake, Kuya, don't make up stories in your head . It’s really just curiosity, okay? Nothing else. You’re jumping to conclusions too fast.”

“Asus,” he chuckled, taking another bite before continuing. “You know, I was like that too when I first saw your Ate Mia. She was so beautiful in this long white skirt, with a rose tucked by her ear. I couldn’t help myself, I kept asking questions about her. Sometimes I even asked her mom directly. Good thing her mother liked me, even if I'm just like this.”

He laughed at the memory before shifting back. “But anyway, about your question. What’s up with Rafael?” He rubbed his chin as if thinking hard. “Aside from being kind, there’s really nothing bad I can say. He’s a good teacher at least that’s what I keep hearing. Students admire him. But… the people around him? Not so kind.”

She looked at Marlon closely. He stopped there, as if purposely holding something back. Strangely enough, he’d said more about his wife than about Rafael’s life.

By then he was already done eating, and he stood to wash his plate.

“What do you mean, Kuya?” she asked, not wanting to be left hanging. She hated unfinished stories.

Marlon chuckled. “Give me coins to unlock the next chapter.”

~

Her morning class ended earlier than expected. But when she peeked into the other classroom, Rafael was still teaching. Good, at least he showed up today. Yesterday was another story, storming in drunk and shouting like that because he wasn’t chosen.

She thought of how she herself reacted when someone left her. She hadn’t screamed. She hadn’t begged. She wasn’t chosen either, but at least she had held on to her dignity.

Even if she got abandoned again, she knew she wouldn’t make a scene. She’d rather not become tomorrow’s gossip.

But the truth? Some questions in life never get answered. Not even the smartest person could give those answers. Maybe they were meant to stay hidden, to protect us from pain. Maybe the truth was just another sharp blade that would cut us again and again.

She sighed deeply, about to head back to her desk, when she nearly stumbled. A woman had suddenly stepped in front of her, smiling knowingly.

“Peeking, huh? Why don’t you just talk to him?” the woman teased. She was one of the moms from her class. “It’s not healthy to just keep glancing.”

“Oh, my goodness, no!” Ella waved her hands quickly. “I was just checking if his class was done.”

The woman only grinned, clearly unconvinced. Ella shrugged and turned away, ready to grab her bag and head home. She still had work waiting, illustrations to finish for tomorrow’s class.

But then the woman spoke again, her tone suddenly serious.

“You know,” she said, still watching Rafael, “he’s an excellent elementary teacher. No bad record to his name. Kids love him because he’s so kind and fair. But…”

Ella leaned closer. She wanted to hear it all. “But what, po?”

“But fate wasn’t kind to him.” The woman sighed.

“What do you mean? Did something bad happen?”

The woman looked at her, forcing a smile that never reached her eyes. “Ella… has love been fair to you?”

Her lips parted, but no answer came. She couldn’t bring herself to say that love hadn’t been fair. Maybe Kenneth just wasn’t meant for her. Maybe someone else was.

Some people spent their whole lives searching for “the one.” Some even turned to dating apps, just to find the person destiny had set aside for them.

Ella met the woman’s gaze. Those brown eyes were lovely, but empty.

“When it comes to love, Rafael got the short end of the stick,” the woman continued. “Everyone thought he and his fiancée would end up at the altar. Everyone expected church bells to ring. And yes, there were bells… but—” She paused again, eyes on Rafael. “He was left behind. Right there at the altar.”

Ella’s jaw dropped.

That explained it. That explained everything. No wonder he seemed broken.

“But… why?”

“She found an American,” the woman chuckled bitterly. “You know the Four M’s?”

Ella blinked. “Four M’s?”

“Matandang Mayaman, Madaling Mamatay.” (Old, Rich, and Near Death.) The woman laughed, though her eyes betrayed the pain of the story. “Some people will always choose money.”

Ella sat there quietly. The words stuck.

She thought about Kenneth again. About how she would’ve accepted his decision to leave if he had just been honest. She would’ve understood. It was for his future, after all. Who was she to stop him? She was just his girlfriend. Nothing more.

Her phone suddenly buzzed. A message. She quickly pulled it out, heart racing.

Maybe it’s Kenneth, she whispered to herself with a hopeful smile.

But her world froze when she saw the screen. She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t even blink.

Why? Why was it so painful? Why were they together? Why was his arm around her?

Questions swirled, stabbing her heart, and only Kenneth could answer them.

Her phone buzzed again. Another message, this time from Kenneth’s sister.

> “We’re already at the airport, Ate Ella. Kuya Kenneth told me to keep it a secret, but I can’t. I can’t betray you.”

She shoved her phone into her pocket and ran. She didn’t know where, she just needed to run. To scream. To slap someone.

She could accept anything… but not this. Not betrayal. Not with her best friend.

Her knees buckled, her body meeting the scorching pavement as car horns blared around her.

~

“That’s also why Rafael never went back to his old school,” the woman said softly. “No one knows where that girl is now. But maybe… maybe Rafael just doesn’t want to remember her.”

“Because remembering would hurt too much?” Ella whispered.

“Maybe.”

Just like me, she thought, almost too quietly for even herself to hear.