SWEET SINNER (ENGLISH)

"I'm okay here Dad, don't worry about me," Erik replied laughing while talking on the other line to his father, Fidel, who was with his mother who was left behind in Canada.

"Come on, give me the phone and I'll talk to that son of yours," he heard his mother Aurora's voice which caused Erik to laugh softly.

"Mom, don't argue with Dad, it's just the two of you left together there," he joked and then laughed softly as he continued to separate the white and colored clothes that he was going to wash.

"What are you doing there and what is taking you so long to come back here? Well, it's been a year since you left, when will you come back here? Your grandfather never stops asking us questions about when his favorite grandson will come back. Nor did I or your dad know how and what to answer," his mother's long litany caused him to laugh weakly again.

"Mom---," but his mother quickly cut off everything else he wanted to say.

"Why are you laughing at me? Hey Enrique, maybe or have you ever forgotten your obligations here? In your grandfather's business. Your cousin is having a hard time shouldering all the work. Be thankful and you're not like other people out there who need to go job hunting to find one. All you have to do is to work hard and just have a good life. You have everything and yet they seem nothing to you!" his mother's continuing sermon to him.

That's when Erik bit his bottom lip to stop another soft laugh from escaping his mouth. He knew that when that laughter reached his mother's ears, her litany and sermon would be even longer.

Well, he's used to her.

His mother has been like that since he was a child. And when she didn't get angry and she didn't scold him, he knew something was different.

What he said is true, it has been a year since he left Canada and returned to the Philippines. That was to court and marry Keira. His best friend is now happily married to a rich businessman, Charles Salveron.

That plan was formed for the benefit of Nadine.

His former girlfriend left in Canada.

Like him, she is also a Canadian citizen.

But his family, especially his Grandfather Solomon, did not like what he did.

Nadine was the ex-girlfriend of his cousin Albert who committed suicide when the former broke up with the latter.

He knew that Nadine was not at fault for his cousin's decision after all. But he also cannot blame his family who was hurt so much because of the loss of their loved one.

He planned that he will marry Keira to get the part of the property that his grandfather will soon give to him as his inheritance. And the money he will get will be used to pay the debt of Nadine's father to his friend who owes him a lot.

Does he really love Nadine that much and is he ready to do something bad for her?

Erik just shook his head at the thought.

He even planned to disturb his own best friend from her quiet life because of his greed.

Erik once again felt a strong pinch of conscience that seemed to remain in his chest and only woke up when he thought about that plan for the past year.

He hasn't asked for Keira's personal forgiveness about that yet. But to the Lord God? There hadn't been a night that he did not mention it in his prayers.

"Enrique!" again, his mother yelled at him from the other side of the line. "Are you listening to me? What are you doing? You don't seem interested in what I'm saying?" Aurora continued in the same tone.

"Mom, I'm fixing my laundry, I'm sorry if I cannot give you my full attention," he answered then laughed. "Please tell Grandpa I will go back at the right time. Right now I am still busy here and enjoying being an Architect," he added.

He heard his mother's deep sigh from the other line. Then she spoke again. But this time in a kind tone.

"Alright, I'm sorry if I scolded you again. I know that since childhood that's what you really wanted. Your father and I are just, well you know feeling regretful of the good life that awaits you here, son. Because of your profession, well, you can practice that whenever you want. Your grandfather's business is what you need to focus more on right now, what you need to study more," his mother continued to tell him.

Erik smiled at what he heard. "I know that, Mom. And don't worry, even though I'm here I can find a way to help Robert in running the business and farm.

That's true, using the internet he is still able to talk to his cousin Robert about running their Grandfather's Dairy Factory. Also, about the farm where they get the milk they use to produce dairy products such as cheese, yogurt, butter, and many others.

"Mom, I have to put the phone down, I'm going to do laundry and later I also need to clean the house. I don't have any free days except Saturdays," he informed his mother.

"Okay, well, it's better if you can find someone who can clean and do your laundry, son, so you don't have to do those things anymore. Well, you're already tired from working for a week, and you still going to do things like that?" now he felt the concern in his mother's tone.

"Hey, Mom thank you for that. That's why I love you so much, and maybe that's the reason why Dad loves you so much too," that was true inside him.

"Flatter me more, go ahead. You take care of yourself, alright?" she instructed before the line was completely cut off.

Shaking his head while smiling, Erik dropped his phone on top of his bed and then continued what he was doing. After a few more moments, he decided to put his white clothes in his automatic washing machine.

He actually bought it even though the old washing machine they used before they migrated to Canada was still okay.

It's better when it's automatic, while he's busy, he still has time to cook and clean the house. He saves more time.

Just like before, he preferred to clean the house and cook at the same time while doing his laundry. After all, when it rings, all he needs to do is hang up the clothes.

He started sweeping his room when he noticed the old cabinet in the corner of his room. He remembers, his mother used to put all his old belongings there including his old books and also his high school yearbook.

At the last thought, Erik's heart was suddenly filled with a strange kind of emotion. That's why he approached it and opened it.

Books and old notebooks, as well as posters that used to be attached to the wall of his room, are inside the cabinet. But his aim was different, so the young man did not pay attention to everything that he first saw.

He immediately picked up a thick book with a hardcover.

It was his high school yearbook.

Erik opened it and looked for the page where he was and his Salutatory Speech.

He even laughed softly as he looked at the young version of himself as if it was the first time, he saw an old photo of him from high school.

As expected, the ambition written there is to be an Architect.

No regrets because he fulfilled his ambition in life.

When his eyes moved to where a beautiful face greeted him, Erik smiled.

Mia Licerio, their Class Valedictorian.

The girl that no matter what he did, he couldn't beat her in all subjects. Because she's really brilliant.

Ambition: To be a veterinarian.

Erik couldn't understand.

Where is Mia?

Where is the only girl he doesn't find at least a little bit of admiration in the eyes every time he looks at her?

That's true. Because he thinks that she was the only girl who is immune and doesn't care about his charm.

"Give me that," said their old maid who took from her hand the towel that Mia was using to dab the warm water on the bruises on her arm.

Bernie, the man whom she was living with, had hurt her again earlier.

"I don't understand why you can't leave that demon man, Mia! Look at yourself! Look in the mirror, don't you feel sorry for yourself when you see your reflection? Because you are going to ask me I feel so sorry for y-you!" with the last words she mentions. The old woman broke her voice.

That's when Mia looked in the mirror absent-mindedly. And that was when her tear rolled down her face again.

Yes, she felt sorry for herself. She's been feeling sorry for herself for a long time.

But as the saying goes.

With whom she stumbled, so she has endured everything.

"I-I don't have any money, Nanny Ising, even if I wanted to leave, I don't have a single cent in my wallet," she said truthfully, then burst into tears.

That's when the old lady hugged her pitifully. "Get dressed, I'll take care of it. We'll leave here right now. We have to take advantage of the opportunity that Bernie is not here to spend time with his mistress. I can't stand to serve him any longer, so I'm going back to my province to live there with my nephew," said Nanny Ising.

Mia looked at Nanny Ising's kind face for a moment. In less than eight years that she has been with her, she can say that the old woman has become very close to her heart. And she can say that even though she lost his Mama Rosita, Nanny Ising filled her longing for her late foster mother.

She was twenty years old when Bernie got her pregnant. At that time he was already working as a Sales Agent at a high-end car store. While she was a waitress in a nightclub.

How did she get into that kind of job? Long story. But she can only say one thing. Even with the job she went to, she did not agree to be tabled by any customer. Bernie was the only one whom she allowed doing that because she had known him since childhood. Because they were classmates in high school.

Bernie came from a well-to-do family. His family was left in Manila and that's why they ended up in Laguna because of her partner's call of duty. Because Bernie was assigned there, so to save money, the man chose to live there.

As she said. She was twenty years old when Bernie got her pregnant.

The young man was very happy because of the idea that he was going to be a father. In addition to that, she knows that even with her job, there is no other man she gives herself to except him who was her boyfriend at the time.

At that time, her Mama Rosita had been dead for two years and she has no one in her life. She has been working as a waitress in a nightclub for two years and it has been two years since Bernie became her boyfriend.

In the beginning, everything went well with her and Bernie.

He gave her a nice house and that's when he took Nanny Ising to be with her.

But unfortunately, she had a miscarriage.

She was three months pregnant at the time and Bernie didn't take that lightly.

Mia thought that maybe her partner was just mourning the loss of what should have been their first baby. But that's not what happened. Bernie's change was fast, and she wasn't the only one who noticed that then but Nanny Ising as well.

Until he reached the point where he often came home drunk. There are also times when he doesn't come home for days. And when he comes home, he is always angry and lays his hands on her.

She doesn't know where she got her strength and patience because it took her six years to be with a man who couldn't love her until the end. He is different when he says that they will still be together until they get old.

That's when Mia burst into tears.

A few moments later, she felt Nanny Ising hugging her. Like her, she is also crying.

After a very long time, why did she feel completely exhausted just now?

Was it because of the hard slaps on the face that Bernie gave her earlier this morning when she tried to stop him from leaving? Or because of the two traveling bags full of clothes that the man hit on her head?

A bitter smile broke Mia's lips.

Maybe, that's why she came to her senses and woke up.

Recently a woman came to their house and told her that she was Bernie's girlfriend. She also mentioned that she is pregnant and Bernie is the father of the child she is carrying.

Mia's world seemed to collapse because of what she had found out. And when she asked the woman how long she had been in a relationship with her partner, that's when she cried even more. Five years.

Five years, which means from the time she had a miscarriage that's when Bernie started cheating and betraying her.

That same day, all the questions that had been playing in Mia's mind for a long time were answered.

That's why the man treated her like that. Because he has an obsession with another woman.

Just as Nanny Ising wanted it to happen, they left together that same day. Carrying the sufficient amount of money that the old lady had saved, they boarded a jeep to catch the bus to Manila.

At the terminal, Nanny Ising handed her money that she could use to start a new life.

"Take care of yourself sweetheart, here's the money, use it too," she said as her eyes stared at her.

Even though she didn't want to accept that money that she knew the old woman had been saving for a long time, Mia was still forced. Just like she said earlier. She didn't have a single cent in her wallet.

"Here is my nephew's phone number, call me if you need anything," she said, handing her a small piece of paper with a cellphone number written on it.

Mia nodded then cried and hugged the old woman. "Someday I promise to repay you," she was referring to the money handed to her by Nanny Ising which she estimated was over ten thousand pesos.

The old lady shook her head. "Just be okay and be safe. That's all I want to hear once you called me, and I'll be happy. All right, go on, the bus might leave you," she pushed her away and then tried to smile.

Mia took a deep breath and then turned around to board the bus. But she still couldn't stand it. Nanny Ising was her only ally for a very long time. She stood by her as her mother treated all the cuts and bruises she got from Bernie.

That's why she couldn't help but turn back to the old woman who was sobbing and then hugged her tightly.

"Everything in your life will be okay. And I know we will see each other again," she said crying while gently caressing her back.

"Mom, mom," were the words that escaped Mia's lips.

She is very eager for the love and care of a mother. And since her Mama Rosita died, Nanny Ising has been her parent.

That's when the old woman loosened her embrace. Then she caressed her cheek which was still swollen due to the strong slap that Bernie landed there.

"We'll meet again, call me. I love you so much, my child. Always remember that," she said kissing her forehead.

It was then that Mia took a bus out of Manila with a sigh of relief. She knows that if she does this, a lot can happen. It can be good or can be bad. But out of all that, she only wanted one thing. To get the peace of mind that had been lost to her for a long time.

Erik smiled as he looked at the picture of the woman who owned the social media profile he was looking at. None other than Nadine.

Then the young man quietly felt himself.

Is he still hurt?

He smiled again then turned off his laptop.

He was happy, and he was happy for Nadine, and the same for Keira.

And from what he sees, Nadine is the same. It seems that in the end she also learned to love for a short time the man her father preferred for his ex-girlfriend.

He has been single for a year now. Because like he said before, he wanted to focus on his career first, and that's exactly what he did. It's Saturday so he doesn't have work.

He wakes up late and that's just how he is. Rest, he needs that too. Erik went to the kitchen to prepare something to eat.

But he was not in the mood to cook so he decided to go out of the house to buy something to eat. His feet took him to an eatery. His favorite is Sinigang na Bangus there so that's what he ordered.

After he ate, he walked home again.

That's how he lives every day. Sometimes he goes out and joins his colleagues to enjoy himself but that's about it. Because as he said earlier, his career is his priority now.

He was about to enter the gate when he saw the Mrs. Ramos' store that he often hangs out with. He remembered he asked the woman to help him look for someone who could do laundry and the other chores in his house. It will not be a stay-in job, so he wants someone who also lives here in their village as much as possible.

"Good evening, Mrs. Ramos," he greeted the woman as he ordered a cup of hot coffee.

"It's good that you are here, I have found someone that I can recommend to you," she told him smiling.

Erik smiled at that. It seems that she already knows that that is his purpose for going there.

"Really? Thank you so much," he said as he paid for the coffee, he ordered in a paper cup.

Mrs. Ramos nodded. "I don't know if you still remember her, I knew she was your classmate since you were in elementary school," she added.

Erik's eyebrows met then he lit a cigarette.

"Who is she?" he asked.

"Mia. That beautiful but shy girl that Ms. Sanchez took care of," she said.

That's when Erik remembered what the woman was saying. Then he smiled when he remembered whom she was referring to.

He still remembers that she was the Queen of the Night at their Prom when they were in their last year of high school while he was the King of the Night.

How can he forget the shy but very beautiful and intelligent Mia?

She was their Class Valedictorian, and their teachers often paired her with him because he comes second to her.

Smart, kind, and beautiful. Everything a man wants in a woman can be found in Mia.

It's not that he didn't notice it at the time. The truth is that Keira was occupying her heart and mind during those days so maybe she didn't pay attention to others. He has had many girlfriends but usually, they are the first to show him a motive.

"Life has been so unfair to Mia and I can't help but feel sorry for her," said Mrs. Ramos interrupting Erik's thought.

"Why? What happened to her?"

*****

ONE WEEK BEFORE

IMMEDIATELY, Mia's chest trembled when she heard her phone ringing one after the other.

She was on a bus out of Manila to escape the hellish life in the company of her demon ex-partner.

Bernie.

It was just a number that registered there so she chose not to answer it. She will not go back to her partner. She's done with him, and she can't take him anymore. When her phone stopped ringing, she turned it off.

She will not use this phone again until she was able to buy a new sim card. Mia quickly felt her impending tears when she remembered all the cruel treatment, she had experienced from her former partner. Maybe he just doesn't love her.

That was contrary to what he often told her since they were in high school, and the man was still courting her. In her mind, Mia thought of taking out her purse from inside her bag.

Inside it was a photo that when she saw it, her tears filled her eyes completely. It was a photo of her with her Nana Rosita. The old woman who took care of her since childhood.

Since she was abandoned by many people who adopted her. But they were not able to stand up for her. So in the end they just gave up and gave her away.

Maybe if the old woman hadn't died, the incident in her life wouldn't have gotten this bad. Maybe she's happy now with her and maybe Bernie isn't the one she chooses to be with. At the last thought, Mia started to cry.

She doesn't know if she still has a hope to get up after everything that she's been through. Especially now that she knows and is sure that everything will not be easy because her ex-partner will find her. But she is tired.

She was tired of believing all his lies. She was tired of forgiving him over and over again. And she was tired of loving him.

That's right, in the end, she also learned to love her partner. But that was not the same as the love she had for a person she had known before. A guy that she knew would never see her, so she was able to be content by simply looking at him.

Her first love.

Erik.

Then Mia smiled bitterly.

Not even once. Even though Erik didn't notice her before, even though a long time had passed, he never left her heart and mind.

And at their last prom in high school where she won the Queen of the Night title while he was the King of the Night, more than once she replayed in her mind how close she was to holding his hand. And how they dance.

But that's over. she knew that it was a good memory that she could go back to in her mind and that's all. Because if Erik hadn't seen her when they were young.

It's even more so now that she is like a broken plate that even if she tries to return to the way she was before, it's no longer possible. Because some parts of her have been pulverized due to her fall.