Three days passed but we were still at Tary’s house, and I couldn't help but question what would happen the next day. We could not live in his house forever.

"Darling, we're going to find a new place. We can't stay here long."

"Mom, why?" she asked seriously while staring intently at me. Perhaps she already knew how difficult it was to move from one place to another. There were many things to carry around, it might be even harder to find a house to rent that would be cheap to rent.

"Because I feel bad for the owners of this house, darling. Maybe we're becoming a burden to them. It’s perfectly fine if we live in a small house as long as we don't become a burden to other people," I explained to her before I caressed her shiny hair.

“I’m going to miss the playroom,” she said.

"It's okay. We can play even without a playroom. You always remember that the most important thing is that we are together."

"Yes po, that's what matters."

While I was cleaning Magdalen's room, a maid suddenly called me because Tary wanted to talk to me. I just asked the maid to watch over my daughter while I was away. When everything was set, I went to the living room. I found Lavender and Tary together as they were sitting quietly on the same couch. For a change, Lavender didn’t stick to him.

"Glad you're here. Have a sit," Lavender said.

I sat on the couch located in front of the couch they were sitting on. I didn't say anything because I had nothing to say. I was just looking at the floor.
"Lavender's birthday is tomorrow," Tary announced.

"Happy birthday," I sincerely greeted before I smiled at her.

"Thanks," she obviously forced an answer. "Well, my wealthy friends will come here tomorrow. Actually they're already here in Coron. They're just staying in a well-known resort, but they'll surely come here to celebrate with us."

"I see. Was that the good news you were pertaining to, earlier?" It didn't seem like good news to Tary. He didn't seem happy.

"Yes, babe! Meyra will come and of course, her rich fiancé too! I'm really excited for their gifts!"

She’s more excited with the gifts ah. I thought she was excited to see them and talk to them. Maybe she’s just really excited on what they would give, she said they were rich.

"I'm happy for you," Tary said briefly before smiling a bit.

That time I questioned if they were really a couple, but that just happened in my mind. It seemed like one of them was being forced to be in that relationship. Or maybe I was just thinking nonsense. Oh, that's enough.

"Yvo, my party will start at 7:30 pm. Do you want to attend?" It seemed like I wasn’t invited.

Should I still be asked if I want to attend? It really seemed that I wasn’t invited.

"Hmmm. Is it okay if I don't attend? It's embarrassing for your guests to have me in your party, they are all rich. I also can't leave my daughter because there is no one to watch over her, especially when your party will be held at night."

"Well, it's okay. It's up to you," she said.

"Thank you," I said smiling.

"I guess Yvo can't really attend anymore, babe."

"Are you sure, Yvo? We can ask Manang Reylyn to look after Magdalen, so you can attend tomorrow night. Don't worry about your outfit, I'll take care of it."

"I'm sure, Tary." I smiled at him after I spoke.

About the outfit, he knows the size of my feet, the size of the clothes I wear, and the size of my waist. But I still didn't want to attend because I didn't want to mix with people I didn't know. My daughter needed me more, so I wouldn't really attend. I was sure that’s also in favor of Lavender.

"It's your choice."

"All right, I'm going back to the room. Magdalen must be waiting for me. Thanks for the invitation, Lavender."

"W-welcome."
"Bye to the you two."

I turned around after I spoke and I didn't look at them again. Maybe Tary called me because Lavender ordered her to. Also maybe to make sure that I couldn't attend. She made me feel that I was not welcome at her party, so I would just let her do what she wanted.

"Aling Reylyn, thank you so much for watching over Magdalen." I first sat on the couch near the door because Aling Reylyn was also sitting there.

"Welcome, hija. Your daughter is very beautiful and very kind. No doubt you are lucky to have her."

"Indeed. She's my only treasure," I said proudly as I looked at my beloved Magdalen.

Magdalen didn't notice that I had arrived because she turned her back on the door and it looked like she was wearing earphones because she was watching something on Aling Reylyn's cellphone. Aling Reylyn often let Magdalen use her cellphone, so she could watch and hear some nursery rhymes. I had a cellphone but it’s not touchscreen, it didn't have a YouTube app.

"Your daughter can be a beauty queen when she grows up so it's good for her to have a good education. She should start studying because she's five years old, right? Next school year, maybe you'd better enroll her. It's important that you always prepare her birth certificate. It's easy to buy a bag, paper, and pencil because I can help you with those."

"Thank you, Aling Reylyn. There's no doubt that you're really Elton's mother, both of you are very helpful. Don’t worry because Magdalen will study at the right time. For now, I'll be the first one to teach her to write. Please buy us a pencil and a paper for grade 1."

"Let me buy right away later. Don't give me money because I'll take care of the purchase. I know you don't have a job yet so save the money you have. It's hard to be poor at this time. It's better to save rather than grab nothing at a time when spending is really needed. "

I wondered if I would continue my plan to find a house to rent and leave Tary's house. It’s difficult when you have to hide from someone and you don’t have enough money.

"Thank you very much, Aling Reylyn."

"You’re welcome, hija. By the way, have you been told about Ma'am Lavender's birthday? Has she invited you yet?"

"Yeah, she already invited me."

"What did you tell her? Can you attend?"

"I said I wouldn't attend because I might feel shy to her rich guests and Magdalen wouldn’t have someone to accompany her in our room if I attend."

"You shouldn't be shy and don't worry about Magdalen because I can accompany her here while you're gone."

"Thank you, but I already told Lavender that I wouldn't attend."
"You can join and surprise her with your presence, she'll definitely be happy."

That's where you went wrong, Aling Reylyn. Lavender would never be happy because of my presence.

"I want to accompany Magdalen here."

"Okay, it's up to you. Elton is also invited. Sir Tary invited him yesterday. I'm sure he'll attend because he doesn't refuse Sir Tary. It would be nice if you could be with him because he is also shy."

"Let me think about it," I briefly said before smiling. I was also shy to say right away that I didn’t really want to attend.

"All right, hija. Just tell me when you change your mind."

"Noted. Thank you very much again."

She just nodded and smiled in response. I approached Magdalen to tell her to return the cellphone to Aling Reylyn because she was leaving. After we returned his cellphone, she said goodbye.

When Magdalen and I were alone in the room, I talked to her about my plan to teach her to write. It was heartwarming when she said that she was excited to learn to write. And of course, I was even more excited because I would be her first teacher.

Hours passed quickly until nightfall. Magdalen and I went to bed early because I trained her to go to bed early, so she could grow up more easily. There was a television in the living room for the all and for those who want to watch but I didn't want to use it. I was satisfied with what we had in the room we were staying in.

We also woke up early the next day. Almost everyone was busy preparing for Lavender’s party. Inside Tary's yard was a large covered court and that was utilized to be the venue of the party. I heard it would be a masquerade party. I just helped cook inside the house because I couldn't go out. I told my daughter to stay in our room and never come out. Tary and Lavender were not at home, so no one stopped me from cooking.

"Yvo, this is your chance to poison Ma'am Lavender through the food you’re preparing," Nemya jokingly said.

"Hey, you even taught Yvo to be bad. You think we don’t know that you like Sir Tary," Joan jokingly said too. "All right, put some poison on it, Yvo."

"You two are really joking a lot. Keep working because we still have a lot to cook. As for you, Yvo, you can go back to your daughter soon. Maybe she needs you. We can handle this," said Aling Pia. Aling Pia manages the kitchen and she is kind to everyone.

"Thanks."

After I helped with the cooking, I also told Aling Reylyn that I really couldn’t attend. It's good that she understood me. I also talked to Elton and he said it was okay if I couldn't go with him. He said he was used to being alone... Going to the party alone.
It was 7:30 pm and the masquerade party had already begun. I could see the lights which seemed to dance along with its changing color from Tary's house. The loud music and voices of the hosts were very audible to us as well.

I played some music using my cellphone to Magdalen so she could fall asleep. I successfully put her to sleep despite the noise outside. Perhaps she also fell asleep right away because she was used to going to bed early. Before she went to sleep, she also tasted some salad we prepared for Lavender’s party. Buko salad and carbonara are Magdalen's favorites. Those are Aling Francine's specialties, so my daughter always tasted them when we were still in Manila. As long as it’s Aling Francine who prepares it, she will like it.

I was about to sleep but...

"Everyone, let's welcome our special guests for tonight! Let's clap our hands for Mr. Constance Artiles and Miss Meyra Doraliza! Mr. Artiles is the CEO of CA Corporation and he's with Miss Doraliza, his beloved fiancé."

I heard a series of applause and screams as I felt like I was being drowned in a cold water. Fear crawled all over my body until I realized that I was already hugging Magdalen while she was sleeping soundly.
Her father found our place.