Chapter 1

Deanna Cervantes, a seventeen-year-old girl, lived in a small hut with her grandmother. She was beautiful, loving, and brave—a well-known figure in their community in Tabaco City, Bicol. Deanna was born with fair, smooth skin, and when she dressed well, she could easily pass as a rich man's daughter.

Her mother had died giving birth to her, while her father passed away due to heat stroke. She had already graduated from high school, but now, her grandma was in critical condition.

"Grandma, please eat something. Don't you feel bad for me? You won't even agree to go to the hospital. Come on, Grandma, you're so stubborn," she pleaded, holding a bowl of food.

"Hija, remember that I love you very much. If… if I pass away, call Doña Estrella. Be a good granddaughter to her," her grandma instructed, struggling to speak but still managing to joke around.

"Grandma, don't talk like that! You're not going anywhere yet. You're making me cry," Deanna said, her voice breaking. Her grandma had raised her since she was a baby, and if she lost her, it would feel like losing her own life. Her grandpa had also passed away just the previous year, making her grandma the only family she had left.

"Hija, I… I can see the light," her grandma murmured.

"Grandma, of course you can. It's daytime," Deanna said as she pulled the curtain to block the sunlight streaming through the window.

"I thought it was heaven. I got excited," her grandma coughed.

"What? Excited?" Deanna grimaced. Every day, she prayed for God to grant her grandma a longer life, and yet here she was, eager to leave.

"Of course… I want to be with my abunjing-abunjing, your grandpa," her grandma said with a forced smile.

Deanna scratched her head. "Wow, so that's how it is. I thought you wanted to live longer for me, but it turns out you'd rather, well, kick the bucket for Grandpa. Fine, you won't make it to heaven if you leave me like this because I'm mad at you," she pouted.

"Hija, I love you, but please understand. I miss your grandpa so much. Don't be upset, don't worry—you'll join us someday," her grandma said with a mischievous grin.

"Fine, whatever, Grandma. I still want to live a long life. Go ahead, you can die now if you really want to be with Grandpa. But you're getting minus points in heaven because I'm still sulking!" she huffed and turned away.

Silence.

She turned back.

Confused, she approached her grandma. "Grandma? Grandma Delilah? Grandma?! Noooo!" She hugged her tightly.

It was the most painful moment of her life—the loss of the person she loved the most.

"That's so unfair, Grandma! You really left without giving me a chance to stop you!" she sobbed, clinging to her grandma's lifeless body. After a moment of grief, she rushed outside, desperate for help.

"Help! Somebody help me!" she cried out as she stepped out of the hut.

"Deanna? What happened? Why are you crying? Where's your grandma?" a concerned neighbor, Mrs. Cora, asked.

"M… Mrs. Cora, my grandma is gone. She passed away," Deanna said through choked sobs.

"Oh, dear Lord! When did this happen? Come, take me to her!" Mrs. Cora exclaimed, hurrying inside with Deanna. Soon, more neighbors arrived, offering their condolences and assistance.

By the afternoon, people had brought tents and made arrangements with the village chief for help. The embalming was done, and the wake began.

"Poor Deanna. She has no one left," a woman murmured.

Deanna sat by her grandma's coffin, crying endlessly. She had no appetite and ignored everyone around her.

A woman named Mrs. Fe approached her.

"That's life, dear. People leave, and new ones arrive. Stay strong, everything will be alright. We're all here for you," Mrs. Fe said, gently patting her shoulder.

"Thank you, Mrs. Fe," Deanna replied, tears still flowing.

Her grandma's wake lasted three days. She requested that Grandma Delilah be buried next to her grandpa, behind their house. Many people came to mourn and help with the arrangements.

Once the funeral was over and everyone had gone home, Deanna sat alone by her grandparents' graves.

"There, Grandma! You got what you wanted. You're dead now, finally reunited with Grandpa. Hmp. Fifty-fifty chance of heaven for you because I'm still mad! That was so unfair, Grandma. Abunjing-abunjing!" she pouted like a child before turning her back on their graves.

When she entered the hut, she was alone. She started tidying up and suddenly remembered her grandma's last wish—to call Doña Estrella.

She grabbed her old keypad phone, searched for the number, and dialed.

"Hello. This is Lilia from Ashford de Mansion," a voice answered.

Deanna swallowed nervously. "Hello, this is Deanna Cervantes. May I speak with Doña Estrella?"

"Okay, Ma'am. Please hold on for a minute," the woman replied.

Wow, they really sounded rich. They even had someone answering their calls in English! Good thing I understand English.

She sighed.

What kind of life awaited her in Manila?

She could only hope it wouldn't be full of trouble.