SGM 3

MARTHA POV

2020 PHILLIPINES

"Savage love….got somebody breaks my heart…!" my cousin named Jan Jan who always loves TikTok.

"Hey Jan, enough of that, Justin will arrive soon, you know the drill once he caught you still not preparing for breakfast!”

I shouted while silently smiling since I always enjoy seeing him doing the TikTok and then interrupting him.

Justin and Jan Jan are siblings, they are my cousins the sons of my mother’s eldest sister, they only have a normal life and live simple, so far aside from my other relatives only these two helped me and let me live here.

It has been 4 years since the incident, currently, I need to help Justin with all the bills, since he still owes money from Mr. Mando, for that I present myself to work there as a waitress in Mando’s Bar.

I also work as a promo girl or promo staff in a supermarket in the morning starts 8:30 am until 2 pm then as a waitress in the evening until midnight, I perform two jobs a day, I can’t go back to school anymore due to financial reason.

If I were to describe my life, it is much better now that I am living with them than what I have experience in Pampanga, here in Manila, I feel safe though I never have any more information about what happened to my father and it hurts me every single day when I think of it, I just spent my time and focus to my new life now.

"Hey Jan, I’ll be going now, inform Justin that I have prepared a breakfast for him, and mind your voice or music since your brother needs to take a nap,” I said before going to work.

Justin is a call center agent on the graveyard shift so he will arrive at home morning then take a nap and prepare himself to work in the evening.

It’s kinda hard to take a commute since I don’t have my own car; I need to ride a public vehicle to get to my work which is really hard especially when traffic is all over the place and so most of the time I am late.

I arrive at the mall with only 30 mins left before my shift; I prepared all the stuff that I need as a promo agent.

"Hello everyone...as of now we have a 50% discount on all our products....the 14k worth of Magic sing mic is now down to 7k...so what are you waiting for grab one now with our promo discount!!....” my everyday tag line, sometimes I do a sample on it, I sing a different song just to catch the customer’s attention.

I was about to sing when I heard my name was being called by one of my supervisors and a close friend to me.

"Hey Martha, I have a favor to ask, there will be a meeting later with the bosses including all the department head, Ms.Maan is not here to be with me and this is the first time I would join this meeting, so can you go with me later? You see I am not comfortable with these kinds of stuff I don’t know if I could understand everything about the meeting, I know you have a very good comprehension, so please… save me…huhuhu" She explained and of course how can I say no to my supervisor….sigh….

After saying yes to her, she immediately goes back to her office to prepare her report for a later meeting and, I continue to sing.

While singing, I suddenly remember my parents to this song, we used to sing this together, my emotion arises as I hit the high notes, every lyric comes to my mind and a little tear is now forming in my right eye.

After singing the song I heard the crowd clapping and whistling, I was surprised to see that there is already a crowd formed as I sing.

One hour later, my supervisor already approaches me to come with her to the meeting which will be held at one of the big convention rooms that this mall owns, I heard that the owner suggested it.

As we enter, all of the department heads are there and other employees, we manage to place ourselves at the back though we can still see the front.

The door opened and a handsome guy with a grey suit enters, I can’t believe that this guy is the owner of the mall, I mean he is too young to be the owner if I will base on his looks, I guess he is just two years older than me.

My eyes were buried on him, Gosh!! He is really handsome as a CEO, I met a lot of CEO in different companies and organizations and most of them were old and worst is, in a wheelchair!

The CEO starts his speech, his accent is a little sound like old English, British like if I will describe it, and the amazing part is he also knows how to speak in Local Language.

After his speech, all the department heads were being introduced one by one and explain their function and drop their updated reports.

Most of the products and shops inside the mall were also owned by the CEO, only a few stores and shops that are owned by private clients.

The meeting lasts almost two hours, my legs start to hurt since I was remained standing at the back when my supervisor needs to be blend in with the other heads.

After the meeting, I already prepared my stuff to go home, I can't waste time since I still have another job to do at Mando’s Bar which is in the evening, two pm the end of my shift here at the mall, I get home at two-thirty in the afternoon so I still have enough time to sleep before evening.

Instead of riding going home, sometimes I take a walk saving up my money, and to enjoy my thirty minutes walking, I always make sure I have a snack with me and eat it until I got home.

I also enjoy watching Jan’s TikTok compilation on my messenger which he used to send me and seriously I love it.

Hooked up to what I am watching, I was suddenly bumped by someone that makes my cellphone drop to the ground, I was shocked to see that the screen was cracked, I try to look to whom that person is but he still continues to walk.

Hmmmp…!! It doesn’t mean he is taller than me I would let it pass just like that!

I run towards him then snap the hood that is covering his face just to see him wearing a mask and only his bare eyes.

Looking at him, his eyes are red like ruby stone, it is indeed fascinating to look at but I was stunned when he pushes me to the wall and it hurts my back, I try to look at him but he suddenly disappears.

Dang..!!! my back hurts….pretty sure it will swell later….tsk!

When I got home, Jan si sleeping tight on the sofa, I quickly get some linen to cover him, looking at him while sleeping I kinda felt at ease as he is sleeping peacefully if only I could go back to being a child again…

Still staring at him, I noticed his hand holding a paper, I check on it, it is his tuition to be pay, suddenly I felt sad since we really have a tight budget if only I could find a better job that would sustain our everyday living..

"Mar, I prepared you a lunch so you can eat and have your rest, I will transfer Jan to my room,” Justin said seeing me just got home.

"Yep, thank you, Justin, you can eat first I will just have to change my clothes,” I said

"Alright, and by the way, Grace just got here earlier and looking for you,” Justin said

I kinda wondering what was she wants, unless she has another short job for me…well Grace always helps me get a sideline job sometimes.

After taking my lunch, I head my way to Grace’s house.

"hmmm, Grace…?? Knock knock.." I knock and the door opens and it's Grace.

"Hey, Mar! Good thing you come here! I have a new sideline Job, come in let's discuss it.” She said

"Really? Gosh! I was just thinking of how I can earn extra this month for Jan’s tuition" I said as I sit on her couch.

I feel safe every time Grace would offer me a sideline job since it is usually legal and simple like the last time when I was just commanded to deliver the suitcase at a certain hotel and I was paid 5k PHP! And the other one when I was hired as a whole day driver of an old woman who can't anymore do the driving, she pays me 10k PHP!

"Well Mr. Asthon who is the son of the millionaire Ashton Senior, needs someone who can be with him and be his date at the upcoming grand auction this Saturday, the catch is, he wants a girl that can make his ex-girlfriend be jealous since he wants to win her back and since I always find you gorgeous and elegant even in your simplest attire, I believe this job is an easy peasy for you!, his ex GF will also be present at the Auction.”Grace explained.

A little, I felt worried for my safety; I don’t want to be involved in any other people’s personal thing…

"Wait, are you sure it is safe?" I ask again

"Well, I am not, but what I am sure is, the 50k that he will pay, also Mr. Ashthon will provide you all your needs like dress, shoes, jewelry, and I know he is a good man since he is so romantic by doing this, I mean he just only want to win her back… it's sweet.." Grace explained that makes my eyes wide hearing the 50k that I will surely receive…

Hmmmmm Grace has a point, he should be a good man since his goal is really sweets and romantic…and besides, I need this job for Justin and Jan.

"When it’s going to happen again? “I ask again

“On Saturday, you still have two days to prepare, I will inform Mr. Calisto so he can inform Mr. Ashthon about this” Grace said and I confirm it.

After dealing with Grace, I head back to the house, I only have few minutes left to at least rest even one hour of sleep before going to Mando’s Bar.

I am glad that somehow Mr. Mando pays me 2k PHP even Justin still owes him money.

I take a nap for one hour still thinking of the job that Grace offers me, I hope it will turn out fine….sigh…

At exactly 7 pm when I woke up, I quickly take a bath and prepare all the things I need going to my evening job.

Jan is waiting for me on the couch since I always bring him with me whenever I work at Mr. Mando, no one will look after him at the house as Justin will also need to go to work.

“Hey, Mr. Ren, where is Mr. Mando?” I ask Mr. Ren the bartender here.

“Inside his office Mi Amore,” he said with his adorable Spanish language, Mr. Ren is just 2 years younger than Mr. Mando and so we all respect him as well.

We head our way to Mr, Mando’s office

“Mr. Mando..Can i—“ I cut myself from talking when I saw a man from Mr. Mando’s office that just get out, I look at his face though it seems he is trying to hide it, at some point I feel like he looks familiar to me.

“ Hey Mar, do you need something? Hi Little Jan!” he said and greeted Jan

“Oh yeah, as I was saying, ahhmm, favor sir, can you lend your couch again for Jan so that he could sleep, he still has his school tomorrow.

“You know Mar, you are always welcome here, and also Jan, I know you are aware of my great friendship with your

mother and Jan’s mother, I always see her in you, how adorable you are, If only we could find the lead and mastermind of that tragic event in your house, we can still get revenge for your mom and save your dad” he seriously said.

I can see his sincere concern for what happened to my parents, but I am thankful that Mr. Mando becomes my second father in so many ways.

“Hmmmm No need for that Sir, You, Jan, and Justin is the only family that I have, I can’t lose any one of you to those bad people, I love my life now especially being with all of you” I explain

“Look Iha, Almira, your Dad, and Fiona, we are all best friends and we all promised to defend and take care of each other as well as our children from any harm and since they are all gone now, I will take care of you, Jan and Justin,” Mr. Mando said and tears fall from my eyes as I can see in him my father, the sincerity and love to his children.

I hugged Mr. Mando and thank him for being a father to me at some point.

Aunt Fiona also died a long time ago, her children are Grace and Misty, Grace is the eldest.

The Mando’s bar just open and as usual same and new customers filled the whole area; it’s always been like this every night.

Other customers are already familiar to me, so far no one tries to take advantage of me or cause some trouble since they are all scared of Mr. Mando.

It’s a no joke making Mr. Mando as an enemy, people here in our place knows him so well, most of them said that Mr. Mando has a powerful and influenced person on his side which is his previous boss, they also believe that he works as a butler for this person ten years ago.

Still, he is getting protection from them even he is already retired.

So far this business of him earns a lot, not just a simple person and people who used to go here but the well-known persons, this bar accepts different celebration as well as it has its own set of bands and singers or entertainers.

Almost five hours have passed and it's soon to be the end of my shift, I wake up Jan for us to go home and Mr, Mando always offers us to ride on his motorcycle going home for our safety.

As we got home, I place Jan inside Justin’s room in his bed, then managed to take a bath, when I look in the mirror, I saw my back, the part that hit the wall, it is seriously swollen, Tsk! That bastard!

Sigh……I need to cure this before Saturday, I can’t go there with this condition..

Tsk…what if I need to wear a backless dress, I can’t be like this with that gorgeous dress!

I just really hate that man! So full of himself! He didn’t even say sorry despite that I am a girl! I hate him even he has that beautiful ruby-gem-like eyes…

Well…I can’t do anything about it anymore, I just hope I don’t see him again anymore!

TONDO PHILLIPINES

SELENE POV

In the 4th Section street of Tondo where the Factory for plastic was being made, hides a dirty secret that kills a lot of children in the city...

"Sen are you sure you want to do this?" Gust asked

"Just lead my way for me to get in," I said in my most authoritative tone

“Alright... I can see that there are two men in the front. Three at the back and a few scattered inside, the boss are inside too and the children.. “Gust explained

"Good...it’s my turn now," I said then jump from roof to roof until I get near the gate of the Factory

The gate is big and has barbwire attached at the top but I ignore it, I just jump at the top of the gate.

Landing in front of two-man guards, I manage to slit their throat before they can even use their gun.

I slowly enter the factory and it has a different row where all the plastics are placed....

At the bottom part of the factory, you will hear the sound of a raging machine and chainsaw...

When I try to look closely at what is going on...I saw the face of the kid with no life being cut open by those men and gently separate the organs from the body.

I began to feel angry with what I saw, the anguish inside me is getting into my nerves that makes my eyes literally turning into the red...

Almost five men are assisting the cutter and two men are the lookout..

With my ability, I quickly slit the neck of the two lookouts, then crashed the head of the rest who is assisting the cutter,.

The cutter does not know what is happening due to the loud sound of the chainsaw he is using to cut the limbs of the child...

When he noticed that suddenly no one is assisting him, he slowly turns around to check but he was shocked to see me wearing black standing in front of him..

"wh—who are you?" the man shockingly ask

I keep my silent while looking at the face of the little girl lying on the table with only her upper trunk left.

"I said who are you!!??..wh—what did you do with my men??" the cutter shouts while shaking in fear. But he never gets a response from me as I slowly walk towards him then hold his hand...creepily caress him while my other hand is reaching the chainsaw behind his back..

The cutter is so confused with the action that I am showing him...when he tried to look carefully at the side corner of the factory his eyes widened seeing others lying on the ground with crashed head and a slit throat.

Out of fear, he tries to run away from me but he can’t even do a single move...I grabbed his hand tightly while placing the chainsaw at the back of his head and when he turns around the chainsaw cut his face between his upper and lower lips...

The upper part of his head drops on the ground while his body remained standing with a gushing burst of his blood.

Having the same anger inside me, I walk towards the office of the factory owner..

I try to open the door, the owner pulls a gun and shoots me in the forehead...I passed out on the floor

“Look at you now bitch! No one can stop us even a slut like you!” the owner said while looking down at me lying on the floor..

When the owner is about to escape bringing his bag of money, he was stunned to see ahead of him, I am already standing in his front still having the whole in my head....

“Ho—how come you are still alive!!??” confuse and scared the owner shoot me again but I move quickly like wind and already an inch away from his face, he was shocked to see me having my red eyes and the bullet slowly coming out from my head as nothing happen.

Sweat dripping down from his head, he kneels down in front of me, pleading for his life...

“Plea—Please spare me…I will surrender myself to the police, just don’t kill me.. Please!” The owner is crying for his life but I instead grab him and put him at the table...and only his scream surrounds the whole factory...

Dawn sets in....an old woman screams her lung out seeing a chopped body of a man that I hanged at the gate of the factory-like a puppet with all barb wires attach his limbs and trunks..

I manage to save all the children from the factory..

"Sen Where are you?" Gust asks

I did not reply instead continuously walk at the side part of the road and bumped into a woman...

I was stunned to see her face looking closely at me but when I realize that my eyes are not yet getting back to its normal color,

I push her away and walk fast as I could.