"Stop that blaming already!" Angely irritably said to her two companions.
"We're still here, and you're still blaming each other. We only have one goal here, which is to escape and get out of this place." Angely told them that they had a severe argument after Manuel's niece went to Leah's place.
"One more thing, Felicia! We still haven't been able to get out of here." She once again expressed her frustration to the woman accompanying her.
She just stared at her and raised an eyebrow.
"I'm just holding back because of your attitude, Angely; don't act like you're innocent in what's happening between us." Felicia even pointed it out to her back then.
She didn't back down. "You created your own problem, Felicia, not me. I just offered you some help at that time." She even glared at the elderly woman as she spoke.
"Enough!" Manuel's voice echoed, full of anger. "Enough is enough!" he said to them.
He didn't say anything more.
Tsk! If you weren't acting so foolishly, we wouldn't end up here. Angely just thought that to herself.
She just sighed. She was worried about her youngest sister, Sheila, especially since Manuel's niece already knew her true identity.
I don't want my efforts to be in vain! I died in an accident caused by that annoying man after working hard to get what I had. She could only say it in her mind.
We were both dazzled by the wealth of those clans, so I need to come up with a successful plan to enter their world.
Leah became her close friend when they were studying high school in the province of San Mateo.
She was self-sufficient and put herself through school. They were not classmates with Leah because she studied at a prestigious school, while she studied at a public school.
Due to the hardships of life, sometimes she works as a maid or collects plastic waste to sell and make a living. She also accepts laundry to earn additional income.
Many were interested in her because of her beauty; sometimes, she ended up in the wrong jobs because she needed quick money.
Back then, her classmates used to call her a leech and a prostitute. But she didn't care, because that's how she and her younger sister Sheila survived and filled their stomachs.
Fate brought them together when Leah hired her as a laundress in her household. She was also a beautiful young lady, and she knew she was no match for her because she came from a wealthy family.
Angely thought she was a snobbish person, but she was surprised when she talked to her while she was washing clothes.
They were fifteen years old when their paths crossed.
"What is your name?" Leah inquired about her name.
The question surprised her, but she responded succinctly, given that she was now her supervisor.
"Angely."
Leah suddenly smiled at her. "Leah, nice to meet you." She said to her.
Angely didn't reply anymore because she was busy at that time. She was not disturbed again, and when she finished and was resting, she suddenly brought her something to eat.
"Eat first." Leah urged her, noticing that she was carrying a three-year-old boy.
"Ah, this is Lawrence, my cousin." She introduced him to the boy.
She only nodded then. "Don't bother, ma'am."
"Ma'am?" She laughed at her. "Just call me Leah. I know we're about the same age, right? And, don't worry, your companions are also eating; we know how difficult it is to do heavy tasks."
Her stomach growled, and Leah just smiled at her. Even though she was embarrassed, Angely still ate the food Leah gave her.
"Do you have any siblings?" Leah asked her curiously.
Angely just nodded weakly. "I need to go home early today," she just said.
"How old?" Leah asked.
"Lawrence's age." Angely answers Leah directly.
"Eh? Next time, bring the child here; it's pitiful if they're left behind." She heard Leah's concerned voice. "I won't bother you anymore; besides, our housekeeper will hang the clothes. You need to go. Wait, I'll just let Mom know." Leah hurriedly ran inside the mansion with Lawrence.
It didn't take long before Leah's parents spoke to her, instructed the maid to let them do the laundry, gave her the appropriate payment, and even overpaid her.
Angely couldn't believe that such a family would be kind to someone as poor as her; they even sent her food to share with her siblings. Her heart was delighted then.
Their friendship blossomed during that time, with no jealousy mingling in her heart as she became friends with Leah. Later, she became a regular laundress while studying, distancing herself from worldly desires that led to desperation when she met her.
Angely's life gained direction. But that happy time together was only temporary, because when Leah finished high school, she and her parents went to another country so Leah could attend college there.
She was sad and cried because she would be left behind; since she had become a close friend, she saved money because of that opportunity.
Leah completely left her, and she tried to support herself when Leah left the town of San Mateo; she tried not to commit any sins. She had to return to the job she had left before because she was in a tight spot, her savings were depleted, and her youngest was already studying.
She works at the club, clinging to the edge until she had to stop her studies; she prioritizes Sheila over herself.
Angely ingratiated herself and squeezed in to be showered with the wealth of the men she spent the night with; she became daring in the world she inhabited.
She taught her sibling to live and fight against the challenges of life. Sheila is still young, and she admits that she hasn't raised her youngest well.
But who is she? She's just a woman mired in mud, struggling to rise.
Until she met Manuel's father, the wealthy Santiago family of San Mateo, she became one of his women. She knew it was dangerous where she fell because he was one of those who hide in the dark and run big syndicates.
Raymundo Santiago cautioned her that no one else would know, but if she reported to the authorities, they would pick up her body.
Angely didn't care back then; she clung to Raymundo just to squeeze out money to satisfy her worldly desires.
Raymundo still gives her everything, even though he has two children her age and a daughter. She knew he could no longer escape the mess she had gotten into.
"Does Manuel know about this?" Leah suddenly asked her, staring at her intently.
The person in front of him caught his attention with just a blink, and she even gave him a sincere smile.
"Maybe he doesn't know what you're hiding either, right?" Leah whispered those words to her.
He couldn't answer back then. "I will keep that secret, but hurry; I might get bored again, Angely." The sentence made her laugh.
It came out of its cage and looked at her, gave her a sweet smile, and signaled that it wouldn't make a sound. She even laughed as she left the darkness.
That damn woman! She could only say it in her mind.