Chapter 5 The Searching

• "Big sister, I'm hungry..." Maymay said while sobbing. She sat on the floor while holding her aching stomach. I approached her gently and bend my knees in front of her to make an eye level.
• "Uhmm... Maymay, wait a minute. I'm just waiting for your Auntie Bel's reply." I explained to her. I turned my attention back to my phone and fiddled with it.
• To Bel:
• Bel, can you lend me even one hundred pesos? We just wanted to buy something to eat tonight. I run out of money.
• Sent!
• This is the third time I texted Bel but there's no reply. What happened to that woman?
• I stood up and went back to the kitchen. I massage my temple out of frustration I felt.
• My boss didn't give my salary to the club for this month. This is how they work. They treat me like that. Just one complaint, someone will point a gun at your forehead and you will receive all kinds of insults but- I worked for that money. I work for it but they didn't give it fully.
• "Big sister..." Maymay called while crying at the sala.
• "Maymay, can you please stop! Your voice is annoying!" Kokoy shouted. He was lying on the mat.
• I immediately left the kitchen and approached Kokoy.
• "Kokoy! Don't shout at your little sister." I reprimand him.
• "She's noisy!" he irritatingly answered while covering his face with a pillow.
• At that moment, I sighed. Even if he acts like that, I know he's hungry too. It just goes through annoyance and anger. We haven't had food since lunch and now... it's already dark.
• "Big sister, I'm really hungry..." Maymay cried again. Her tears flowed from her eyes which she immediately wiped away by her small hands.
• Honestly, I've wanted to cry too. I'm hungry too but I can tolerate it but them? I feel sorry. I feel sorry for the kind of lifestyle we have. They have a prostitute sister. Because of my profession, I know they got bullied in school. Fortunately, they don't think of leaving someone like me.
• I gently approached Maymay's place.
• "Sssssh... Stay here. Big sister is going outside to get some food, huh? Just wait for me." I smiled back at her and wiped the tears streaming down her face.
• "Really?" she surprisingly asked.
• "Of course, little sis. So, stay here, huh? Don't leave the house. I'll be right back." I answered gently and kissed her on the forehead.
• "Kokoy! Watch your sister, huh? I'll just go out to find food." I requested as I took a jacket from the cabinet and wear it.
• Kokoy nodded in response.
• After seeing it, I quickly left the house.
• * * * *
• "Hello?" I called in front of the store. I rubbed my two palms because of the embarrassment and awkwardness I felt.
• "Hello?"
• "Wait!!!" I startled and close my mouth after hearing a person inside the store. I just patiently waiting and puff out an air that coming from my chest-just to take off the nervousness I felt.
• "Oh? What's bring you here, Angge?" The owner of the store addresses me by my nickname.
• "Uhmm... Can you kindly lend me-"
• "Oh my gosh! I don't have sales today! It's already late-night, Angge. Just go!" She pushes me away from her store.
• "Please... Please... Lend me some food. I promise I'll pay you once I receive my salary from the club. My siblings are really hungry-" She cut me off by raising her right hand. I didn't finish what I was supposed to say.
• "Oh my gosh, Angge! Do you know how much your debt to my store?" she exclaimed and raised her drawn eyebrow. I bow down out of embarrassment.
• "Please... Lend us some food. I'll pay all my debts soon. I will pay in instalments." I whispered weakly but I know she heard it because she sighed and stared at me intently.
• "Fine! What are you going to owe? Fuck this life!" she irritatingly said while saying those words. I smile upon hearing it and took a deep breath.
• "One can of sardines, one kilo of rice, one garlic and msg." I replied. The old lady quickly complied.
• "Here!" A large bag containing a food was handed to me.
• "Thank you very much!" I said happily to the old lady.
• "Don't say thank you and don't thank me! That's a debt! You should pay for it." she shouted in front of me.
• "Yes, I'll pay it." I answered right away and smiled. Even if she's shouting at me, it's okay. The important is we already have food to eat tonight.
• "Go ahead... Go away!" She waved her hands and massage her temple as if her head was aching.
• Now, I was relieved to be back at home.
• * * * *
• Kokoy open the door for me when I came home.
• "Wow! Big sister!" Maymay shouted happily and hugged my thigh.
• "Wait Maymay... I am going to cook our food." She immediately removed her grip on me and nodded with a smile. I walked to the kitchen hurriedly.
• "Bel?" I was surprised to see her.
• "Hey, Angela. I'm sorry. I read your text message late. By the way, take this." She handed me a purple piece of paper. A money.
• "No, no, no, no... We have food already. I've found a way." I smiled and put down the food I owed to the store.
• "Come on, Angela!" she rants and even kicked her feet on the floor. I looked at her in surprise.
• "How about your breakfast, huh? So, take this! Don't hesitate to ask for help, okay?" she explained and pulled me closer to her. She put forcibly the money into my pocket. I breathe deeply.
• "Thank you, Bel." I said and my eyes start to become teary. Bel pulled me closer to her and hugged me.
• "Oh! First things first! Where did you come from? It's a debt to the store again?" she asked as she helped me to cook.
• "Yeah..." I shortly answered.
• "Angela! Before I forgot!" she said sharply as if she suddenly remembered something.
• "Some men came here earlier in the house. Three men in a black suit are looking for you." she said after she sprinkled the msg on the stewed sardines.
• "Me? They are looking for me? What time?" I asked in surprise and leaned against the wall.
• "It's been a while. When you came, they just left a couple of minutes ago. Seriously, friend, they're scary so when they asked me if you live here, I lied. I said that Angela doesn't exist here. At first, it seemed like they weren't convinced yet and their gaze wandered inside your house."
• I suddenly fell into silence at what she said.
• Me? They are looking for me? Who's the one who will do such an effort to find a prostitute like me?
• I couldn't help but feel nervous and at the same time scared.
• "Uhmm... Bel, why you didn't tell them I live here?" I asked and started to put the dishes on the table.
• "Of course! I'll hide you! What if those are syndicate groups? Or another prostitution? Or maybe your big-time demon clients are looking for you? Most likely, I will hide you. It's enough you entertain at one club." she explained.
• After hearing it, I shrugged my shoulders and shook away that thought inside my head.
• I just called my siblings to eat dinner.