Chapter 10 TRIALS

After more than two hours of conversation, it was already noon at our house, so I invited Jennifer to join us for lunch, which she gladly accepted. He bid me farewell when she finished her meal.

She excitedly told me, "By the way, we do not have classes until Thursday." Our professors have a conference in Batangas tomorrow, so we can go out and party tomorrow until Thursday. "

I raised an eyebrow at her.

"You like to party again, but we still have two social studies and two more art projects to complete. So stop having fun and get your projects done by Wednesday instead. "

She gave me a frown.

She even hugged me as she left, saying, "Looks like you are an old maid." "Haha, yeah okay, I'll go ahead, goodbye." Luckily, she kept my secret from them, and we both took precautions to prevent my family from learning what happened to me at the disco club. I didn't want them to be concerned about me.

As it was quite hot outside in the afternoon, I dozed off in my bed before I abruptly woke up to loud shouting outside our home. I was intrigued since it appeared that there was a battle. When I entered the living room, I saw Aling Felicidad holding a piece of paper while blushing angrily and cursing at my parents.

I walked up to them and said hello, but Aling Felicidad's sour disposition persisted.

"Can you simply come inside our house so we can talk about whatever you and my parents are fighting about? Aling Felicidad, why are your voices so loud? It's embarrassing for our neighbors. "

Aling Felicidad even gave me a raised eyebrow.

The woman's voice got even louder as she handed me the piece of paper I was holding. "No need. And one more thing: I told your parents clearly. They pay the rent here at home, and your family's bills are growing. For God's sake, you haven't been able to pay your rent for two months. Maybe you want to. I will send you out of here after three days. "

My mother remarked, "That's not fair. We'll pay as long as you give us enough days and time. "

She didn't wait for my father to respond. She frowned at the three of us and then waved before departing our house. "Hey, there's no other day and time. As long as it's Wednesday and you haven't paid the rent, leave the house. Is that clear? "

My eyes nearly widened as I read the number on the paper Aling Felicidad gave me. It turns out that because we haven't been able to pay the rent for two months, our house rent has increased by a significant sum.

I fretted and informed my parents, "Father, Mother, we have a lot to pay for the house rent. We need to pay by Wednesday."

"I have to pay off Roberto's debt or I'll just rent our boat," she said, adding that my salary is still due on Thursday. My father stated

"No, Father, don't do that. I will also find a way. " I will also find a way to persuade the manager of the restaurant where I work to lend me money.

I considered getting a loan from my manager at the restaurant where I work every Tuesday and Wednesday from the afternoon into the evening. I only make about three thousand pesos a month, which is not enough, but I will try to borrow money and I will only work to pay my boss. At the end of the month, I will still be able to get paid.

My mother said, "Daughter, isn't it awkward to borrow money from your boss?"

My promise to my mother was, "Don't worry, my boss is nice, and when I owe her the money, I will work to pay her."

My father answered meekly, "Daughter, I'm sorry and you are in trouble with our financial problems."

"Let us just keep on to God. He will not desert us and we will be able to conquer our issues, Father, for we are a family and we can solve whatever problems we have here if we support one another."

I gave my parents a hug and encouraged them to remain optimistic despite the difficulties we are currently facing.

Donna and Rafael had just entered the house from outside when they saw the three of us cuddling.

Rafael was going to close the front door when three men suddenly entered the house.

The first man to enter requested, "Edilberto, can we talk?"

He has other men with him who appear to be gamblers, and his voice has a baritone quality. He is tall and muscular, and I can see the cunning in his eyes.

My father was quickly startled and pulled away from the man when he heard his voice. He let the three men inside by opening the door.

The three males, who are harsh and don't appear to have much empathy for other people, are probably in their late 40s.

My father's voice said, "Come in."

I once experienced an odd sense of danger.

The large guy was grinning, looking attentively into my father's eyes, and said, "Ah, we won't be long. I just wanted to charge you for your loan."

My father tried to explain it to the man because he was a little perplexed.

"Facundo, can you give me a little more time to repay all the money I borrowed because I sincerely don't have the money to do so right now?"

When he heard what my father stated, the man's normally placid and cheerful visage abruptly vanished, being replaced by one of dark rage and irritation.

"The money you lend was about payment for our employer in the cockpit, so it is not possible to take another days or months,"

The man's icy, cutting voice was audible to me.

But...

My mother was shocked when the big man suddenly pushed our father and threw him onto our sofa; my mother was screaming. Donna was asking our neighbor for assistance, but the two men quickly grabbed her and covered her mouth. Rafael, on the other hand, attacked the big man, but because my brother was only a young teenage guy and not as strong as middle-aged man, the man quickly pushed him and his back hit the wall.

My brother stumbled to the ground and whimpered in pain. I rushed over to help him get to his feet, but the huge man moved swiftly and immediately grabbed my father's t-shirt and tightly choked him.

Due to my phobia of those situations, I screamed "STOP IT!" and nearly broke down in tears.

My father was lifted up by the stranger, who had his hands around his neck.

He tightened his hold on my father.

"You know what I am capable of and what my companion can do to a person who doesn't pay a debt, so don't bother us if we don't kill you."

"You have been unable to pay your loan for five months, and now you will ask for an extension of a few more days. Don't you know that half of my boss's funds were loaned to you?"

Since I couldn't stand to see my family in danger, I hurriedly went to the kitchen and grabbed a knife. I then swiftly fled away after cutting the huge man's arm skin just enough to let my father go.

He yelled, "AHHH!" and released my father.

He stared at me and seemed to be about to swallow me whole, but he couldn't get close to me since I was holding the knife I would use to stab the three of them.

I still couldn't stop crying, so I confidently told him, "Come closer and I'll snap your neck!"

I roared at the large man, "How dare you hurt my father?"

At the same time, as he stood, the large man grunted. Based on how he perceives me, I feel as though he is disparaging my entire nature.

"Do you think you can kill me with the knife you're holding? I don't think so. But I was impressed because you injured me and you seem like a brave woman, but if you really want to spare your father and your family from certain death, pay your father's debt, "the large guy roared.