Why Does Love Hurt?

Mariely started walking because she was going home. Her brother doesn't know she's leaving, so she'll also be commuting home. Luckily, she decided to visit Shaina and learn about the situation with the child under her care.

Poor thing. Mariely could only think to herself when she heard the young woman's true reason. 

Suddenly, a heavy rain began to pour.

Oh goodness! She exclaimed in surprise and quickly took shelter in a waiting shed. The rain was pouring heavily, so she might get stranded where she was, which is why she was running and walking towards the jeepney stop where the route to their home passed.

Mariely didn't bring an umbrella, so her small bag became her weapon against the rain. The ride is full again, and the rain is pouring down heavily.

No matter how Mariely tried, she couldn't stop; she was feeling cold and needed to get home.

Suddenly, a car stopped.

"Hop in, the rain is getting stronger." A man said it.

She didn't think twice, so she got in right away; she was soaking wet, and her clothes were still dripping onto the vehicle.

"Here." Frank was immediately given a towel so she wouldn't get cold.

Mariely hugged herself. The man looked at her and just shook his head.

"What's gotten into you? What are you doing there? You're drenched in water." Frank asked her while driving.

"Nothing." Mariely said this sparingly. She had just realized that her wallet was left at Shaina's house.

When you're really unlucky. She said to herself.

"Oh, I don't have money for fare right now; I'll just borrow it. Is that okay?" She was prompted to ask Frank.

Frank stared at the side mirror, smiled at her, and laughed at her.

"I don't need it." He shook his head at her.

She furrowed her brow and stared at the man who was driving. "What do you want?" She asked Frank, irritated because Frank had laughed at her.

Frank turned to look at her. "To be your friend." Blunt answer: she heard of Frank.

She raised an eyebrow. "What friends? Even back then, we weren't friends." 

"You really can't forget what I made you do back then, can you? Your brother told me you're forgetful, but look, you haven't really forgotten that yet." Frank shook his head at her.

"When did you and Nathan become close? Also, I won't forget that behavior of yours." She even looked at him and saw him shaking his head at her.

"Well, as they say, people change, right? Let's see if you've really changed." Frank still managed to say it.

Mariely noticed that the rain was also starting to let up.

"I wish you remembered what happened between us too," Frank smiled at her meaningfully.

Mariely looked at Frank. "You know, that arrogance of yours still hasn't changed." She just shook her head.

"Oh, really? Do you like my cocky attitude?" The situation is really getting on her nerves. "I heard you really can't stand talking to a man; people change." He also said to her.

"Yep, and I still can't stand your behavior." Mariely just blurted it out and rolled her eyes at Frank.

Mariely had already seen the path; she peeked outside to see if her brother was there.

"Right here." She hurriedly says it, and she wants to do it quickly.

"I bet your brother didn't know anything. You're really a bad girl now." Frank teasingly said it and even laughed at her.

"It's just for today. I am doing this for your benefit also, you idiot." She immediately got out, thankful that it was drizzling and weakening. "Also, I'll borrow my fare first, thank you." Mariely walked quickly. 

She also saw it leave and honk at him. Mariely quickly opened the gate; she's still cold even now.

"Ely? Why are you soaking wet?" Her brother asked in surprise because of her look.

"Yes, brother, I got caught in the rain on my way home." She said so.

"Just go into the room and get dressed; you really are something." Her brother shook his head.

As Mariely entered her room, she began to feel cold. Now she needed to get warmly dressed. 

On Monday, it was fortunate that Rodel returned her wallet. Rodel just sighed at her.

XXX

"Oh! My best friend looks so beautiful in her uniform!" Veron said when she saw her wearing their teacher's uniform.

"Goodness, stop it." She only shook her head. "Does it suit me?" She asked Veron again.

"Yes, of course, the color of our uniforms today suits you. Perfect." Veron said this while observing her uniform and giggling happily at it.

"I don't have any money right now." She even laughed at her while jokingly saying it.

They're both free right now.

"Did Ma'am Becca agree with Shaina's situation?" Veron asked her curiously.

"For a while, it's still under observation, poor child." Veron heard Mariely and sighed.

"Say, Mariely, is Shaina interested in being a working student?" Veron couldn't help but ask about it.

Mariely turned to look at Veron. "Working student? Oh, do you know anyone?" Mariely asked her in turn.

"My mom is looking for someone to work with her at home. My mom said she wants someone to keep her company at home," Veron explained to her friend.

"Eh? Where are you staying?" Mariely asked her curiously, and her face looked confused while she looked at Veron.

"I live in a condo; my home is quite far away." Veron explained it.

"Socially, this crazy woman lives in a condo." Mariely teased her again.

"Is she interested? That's just the thing; it's quite far when she stays there." She added, sighing.

"Shaina has younger siblings, so she might not be able to stay at your mother's house." Mariely just told her and wondered again.

"I know, I'll take Shaina later, along with his little siblings; maybe my mom will like Shaina." 

"Veron, don't give the child false hope, okay? She is working." Mariely reminded her.

"That's why I'll talk to Shaina about staying there temporarily."

"Okay, I'll call Shaina during lunch break so you can talk to the child." Mariely said it to her.

"Thank you; I often see you with that man. Yes, you two are in a relationship, aren't you?" She even elbowed Mariely.

"What are you saying? You know, your vision is really clear. Even in the midst of yesterday's heavy rain, don't you look different?" Mariely's brow arched because of what she's saying.

Veron just laughed. "Oh, just remember what I always tell you." She reminds Mariely again.

"You know, I don't know what's wrong with you." Mariely only shook her head.

Veron talked to Shaina during lunch break, and her face was beaming with joy. So she accompanied her to their place. She instructed the young woman on her tasks, and every Saturday and Sunday she could go home to rest. 

Shaina nodded in agreement. 

For several weeks, Veron noticed that Shaina was no longer absent on Mondays and Fridays, and she saw that it seemed happy where it was staying, with its younger siblings. Veron heard that her mother, especially her younger siblings, loved it. 

Veron also said that Shaina was good to her mother in the big house.

"I noticed she's not skipping school anymore, and besides, I asked Shaina how she was doing, and she said she's happy and loves her job there, and she's not being taken advantage of because she's young. Veron, thank you for giving her hope again." Mariely thanked Veron for her assistance.

"What are you saying? I was just suggesting to Mom that Shaina become a working student under her care, and I know that child is a good person. I'm glad she's happy to be a working student." She even smiled at her friend. 

"Another one of our jobs is to make sure the children under our care are doing well, especially since we are advisors. I was just doing my job." She added it.

Mariely nodded at her and just smiled at her. 

"Let's eat first; I'm so hungry." She said it.

Mariely just laughed at her and followed her to the canteen.