CHAPTER 4 – A Family She Calls Home

“Elay, I am here now!” Calling her sister, the eldest amongst she adopted.

Elay is sixteen years old, followed by Tonyo who is fourteen years old and the youngest is Jun twelve years old……the three of them are real siblings.

The late mother of the three children is Glaiza’s friend.

When she was just new in the City of Manila the late mother of the three children was the first person she only knew because they were neighbors.

The thing was………the mother of the said children was a prostitute......a woman who engages in sexual activity for payment, which her children never knew.

The children have different fathers, Elay’s dad was a British national, Tonyo was a German while their younger sibling Jun was a Greek, they are stunningly beautiful and handsome kids.

Their mother was under a syndicate that running a whore house……..but the good thing about her work was, she can leave out……not staying in that forsaken house itself, as long as she can pay the amount required by the head of the organization monthly.

In a way she is free to live her life harmoniously with her three children, living their lives peacefully without any harassment from the said group.

Eventually, because of the kind of work she’s at, she can’t avoid customers who were sadist sometimes.

Unfortunately, a tragic incident happened.

She was killed by one of her barbarous customers.

Since her work was illegal, she was not given justice to pursue the man who brutally raped and savage her. Her children were left with nothing and the worst part was, the big boss of the said syndicate was interested in the woman’s children because of their undying looks.

And because of the children’s appearance and added that the woman still had a big debt with the organization, amounting to ten million pesos, that's why Gliaza has no choice but to intervene.

She decided to buy out the children and pay the woman’s credit, but unluckily the big boss was so cunning.

He wanted that Glaiza will work with them until she pays the obligation of the woman.

Glaiza doesn’t have a choice but to gratify what the big boss was asking from her, because if not…….she cannot take the children away from them……………she has no other choice but to oblige.

Even though she can pay the ten million in cash whenever and wherever………but because the group can gain more money from her, besides from the ten million debt, the syndicate didn’t accept her full compensation, and again she can’t do anything, but to do what they were asking from her.

And this is the secret she’s hiding from society and her siblings……………her being a ‘PROSTITUTE’.

“Big sister!” Rushing towards her elder sister and hug her tightly.

“Ow you already dress for school……I’m right on timing then, I brought sweet rice and mango for our breakfast. Elay don’t come close to me! I’m reek of fish, and your uniform will have the stink.” Smiled the young woman, she knows her sister is just being clingy since they didn’t see each other last night for the reason that she came home late.

“Okay if you won’t let go, you will be so smelly Elay.” She repeated again since she notices her sister has no plan to let go of her embrace from her.

“I’m sorry big sister I just missed you………we were not able to wait for you last night.” Elay tenderly expressed to her older sister.

“Me too, I’m so sorry Elay, if big sister came home late. Because of that, you are only alone looking out to them…….I’m really sorry………don’t worry, this Sunday, I will treat you wherever you want.” She emotionally talks to her sister, caressing her hair.

Her younger sister just looks up to her lovingly.

Because of her filled schedule, she was not able to focus on her younger siblings.

In the morning, she will wake up early in order for her to sell fresh fish……the young woman will leave some amount on their dining table for her siblings to buy breakfast or if she wakes up early she will cook for them.

And sometimes when she arrived from the fish market her siblings were already gone for school, unfortunately, they will not see each other for that matter.

At 8:00 AM she will prepare for her work as an Agricultural Scientist, yes she did reach her dream career not to mention she is successful in her field. Glaiza is one of the leading Scientists she’s working at and she master’s the art of breading a very healthy vegetables and fruits.

They would scientifically manipulate the reproduction of certain vegetables or fruits but in a very safe and non-toxic environmental-friendly…….and she became most adept at it.

After she graduates taking up Bachelors's In Agricultural Science, Biochemistry she immediately proceeds to take her Master’s Degree, after her master’s degree she then took up her Ph.D. in Plant Philosophy, Soil Science, and Agricultural Economics.

After she takes her proper Licensure for being an Agricultural Scientist which she passes with flying colors, she instantly searched for a job at a well-known and prestigious company in the field of Agriculture, before she meets the mother of her three adopted siblings.

This is really her job but sad to say because of certain circumstances, she’s now juggling three jobs.

First, her being a fish vendor, second her being a famous Agriculturist and third but not the least………her being a SECRET ‘PROSTITUTE’.

It can’t be denied that her salary of being an Agricultural Scientist in the company that she works for is huge but still it is not enough to pay the syndicate and her siblings' school tuitions. Added to that, are their personal and other necessities like food, electricity, and water bill plus school requirements.

“Big sister it’s nothing, don’t mention it………….as a matter of fact we should be the ones to apologize because sometimes we are being defiant not knowing that what you do is just for our own good. Look at yourself big sister, the dark circle in your eyes is getting so evident. It's really good that it won't be obvious because you're really beautiful. Your magnificence can’t be compared to local actresses here, you’re like a Greek goddess big sister created to mock us, mortals.” Admiration is evident in her sister’s eyes while untangling herself in her embrace.

“Oh Elay, of course not, you’re making my head big little sis…..nonetheless thank you if you see me that way, I’m flattered.” Shyly uttered the young Scientist with a flush face.

Yes, what her younger sister is true, Glaiza is an epitome of a divinity walking among mere beings, with her milky white porcelain skin, she also has the height, her slim figure that to die for. Her benign appearance, oh so stunning face, her round almond eyes, and her naturally red lips.

“Of course I’m telling the truth, big sister, you even have a lot of admirers and suitors but unfortunately your so dense and numb to notice them.” Smiling while getting her sister's things and bringing them in their kitchen.

“Tsk…tsk, you’re such a sweet talker….but…….thank you. Anyways, let’s stop talking about this nonsense, call the young ones so you can now eat your breakfast before going to school, hurry up before your bus will arrive.” Smiling to her younger sister while missing her hair.

She truly loves her siblings, even though they are not bound by blood but they are bound by their hearts and souls and for the young woman…….that is more enough than what they are saying ‘Blood is thicker than water.'

While the remaining three of her adopted were found on the street.

Betoy is eleven years old, Isang is eight, and the youngest was Nadya she is six years old.

Six of them were all enrolled in a very exclusive school by Glaiza.

That’s why here she is now, working like hell.

She’s glad that the house she lives in is big enough for all of them and in a very exclusive subdivision.

It is a two-story residential with six bedrooms each with a toilet and bath, a grand living room, spacious kitchen, a big dining area, a front yard, and a two-car garage.

You can’t even imagine that the people who live in this kind of house are a fish vendor.

Glaiza went to her room while Elay is calling their younger siblings, she needs to prepare as well for her work.

They are very happy while eating their scrumptious breakfast together, her heart’s warm up every time she sees her brothers and sisters all smile and happy.

Seeing their happiness is enough to take away her tiredness.

She has no problem sending and fetching them to school since they have a school bus to do that for her.

“Study well okay?.” Her last reminder to her siblings.

She kisses their foreheads, this is what she always does every time she send them to their bus.

This is what her late mother used to do to her when she was young.

“Yes, big sister!” Happily respond by the children.

She was waving her hand to bid goodbye to her siblings when her phone vibrates, indicating that she had an incoming message.

As she opens her phone to read the message she received………………

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‘Don’t be late Althea, you have a rich customer booking you……………it will be raining money tonight.’