"Ma? Bakit gising pa kayo ni bunso?" Karina asked and put her bag on the table nearby. 

"May ibibigay sayo si bunso," nakangiting sabi ng nanay nya. Her mother is currently holding a bottle of beer.

"Ano yun?" Karina asked. Umupo sya sa may sofa at ngumiti sa kapatid nya. Iniupo nya ito sa lap nya. She hummed as she opened the letter. 

Napakunot ang noo ni Karina. A promissory note? Nagbigay na sya ng pambayad sa nanay nya, a week prior pa nga. 

"Bunso, pasok ka muna sa kwarto. Mag-uusap lang kami ni Mama," sabi ni Karina at inalalayan pababa ang kapatid. Lumapit sya sa nanay nila na nakaupo sa upuan sa may maliit nilang kusina. She sighed.

"Nabigay ko na po sainyo yung pambayad ng tuition, Ma. Bakit po may promissory note na naman?" Mahinahon nyang tanong. 

Her mother did not bother to answer her question, instead, she got up and took a beer. 

"Ma naman. Gusto ko lang naman malaman, Mama." Her mother looked at her straight into the eyes.

"Sorry, 'nak. Akala ko kasi mananalo ako sa bingo." Karina pinched the bridge of her nose before smiling. She excused herself at pumasok sa kwarto nila. She saw her younger sister reading a book. 

"Ano yang binabasa mo, Lee?" She asked. The younger proudly showed her the book. 

"Nag-aaral ako, Ate! I want to be like you someday!" Karina smiled. Ginulo nya ang buhok ng kapatid. Somebody like her? She is a nobody. She failed herself and her family. And now, she needs to make more money. She needs to find jobs. She knew na hindi naman sya sobrang maghihirap kung ililipat niya ng school ang kapatid, pero that is out of the question. She wants what is best for her sister. She wants her sister to have things she never had as a child. 

"Gigi! Ano na pala balita don sa trabaho?" Tanong ni Karina nang makasalubong nya si Giselle sa hallway ng hospital. Her friend is with someone, smaller. She looks Chinese.

"Oh tamang-tama! Yizhou meet my friend, Karina. Sya yung tinutukoy ko sayo na pwedeng Private Nurse!" Ngumiti si Karina sa jowa ni Giselle. 

"Hey," bati nya. The stranger hummed and looked at her from head to toe.

"Pwede, pwede." Sabi nito at tumango tango pa. Napatingin si Karina kay Giselle, pero umiling lang ang kaibigan nya.

"Let me call a lawyer for the contract." The smaller girl said. 

"Thank you so much! Ilang taon na po ba yung aalagaan ko?" Karina asked with a huge grin. Mas mataas naman kasi talaga ang nagiging sahod nya sa mga private duties nya kaysa hospital.

"We'll talk about that some other time. I better get going na pala. I'll get your number na lang kay Gi," she said. She turned to her girlfriend and give her a peck before walking away. 

"Salamat talaga, Gi!! Hulog ka ng langit!"

"Hintayin ko yung libre mo ha! Samgyup dapat," Karina scoffed playfully.

"Kapag naging Doctor ako, kahit ilibre pa kita ng isang buong baboy." Sabi nito. 

"Hanap ka kaya AFAM o Sugar Daddy!" Giselle suggested and pulled her towards the hospital's cafeteria. Napailing na lang si Karina. She is not so interested in men. Or anyone in general. She still got a child to send to school and a drunk mother. 

"Gaga! Masyado akong busy para sa love life no!" She said. 

"Loosen up, Mars! 26 ka na pero wala ka pa ring nagiging jowa." Umupo sila sa isang table. Karina ordered a sandwich and a bottle of water, while Giselle ordered pizza and a soda. Sobrang unhealthy.

"Kilala mo ba yung papaalagaan nung jowa mo? Ano ba name nun?" Karina asked. Hindi nya kasi sure kung ano name ng jowa ni Giselle.

"Hindi e. Ningning na lang tawag mo sa babae na yun!" Proud na sabi ni Giselle at ngumisi. 

Sometimes, Karina asked herself if she can be happy. Don't get her wrong. She is happy, but she wonders if someone can make her feel happy like how Ningning makes Giselle happy. Is she capable of loving someone other than her family? Is she capable of love at all?

"Huy! Bakit natulala ka na dyan? Alam kong maganda ako, Mars, pero may jowa ako ha." Sabi ni Giselle. Karina rolled her eyes.

"I was just thinking!" She groaned and took a bite on her sandwich. Now, where can she find 20,000 pesos? May babayaran pa syang kuryente at tubig. 

"Need mo ba money? Pautangin kita," Giselle offered. The taller girl raised a brow and shook her head.

"I appreciate the offer, Gi, pero kaya ko naman. I can work three jobs a day kung kailangan." Giselle wept for her friend. They have known each other since College. She was luckier than Karina. Her parents are both alive with stable jobs that pay more than what they need. 

"Nahihirapan ka naman. I have savings na hindi ko naman gagamitin kaagad. You need it more," Karina smiled at her friend. She really appreciated the gesture. Pero she does not want to ruin things between them because of money.

"Karina! Hinahanap ka ni Dr. Bae."