Just For A Night

CHAPTER 1

Aniah’s POV

“I’m home!” I shouted as I entered our house. It’s been a while. 

“Iah!” Manang Saling welcomed me with a warm embrace. She’s been our housemaid since I was a kid. She’s like a mom to me already.

“Why you did not call? So that I can ask someone to fetch you at the airport.” She asked me after the warm embrace.

“I will surprise my sister Manang. By the way, where is she? Where is Inah?” I asked. I am pulling my suitcases with me as I walk near our staircase. 

“She left earlier. She did not say where she will go. Maybe she’s with her friends.” Manang answered like it was the usual thing that my sister does.

“Is she always with her friends?” I asked curiously. 

“Lately, yes. Maybe she is getting bored here. She is always alone, your parents are always out of town and she’s always left with us.” She explained. I nodded and asked again.

“What time did she leave? Is she long gone before I came?” Maybe she will go home anytime soon.

“She left early in the morning darling,” Manang said hesitantly. 

“Oh! What a life she has!”  I exclaimed. But maybe she deserves that, she needs to unwind sometimes. Most teenagers nowadays are always drained from schoolwork.

Manang assisted me up until my room. “Thank you, Manang!” She just smiled at me.

“Manang, I will sleep first because I still have jetlag. Wake me up as soon as Inah arrives or just wake me up if it’s already dinner time.” I want to sleep so badly. I am tired from the trip. I just go home here in the Philippines to unwind. I want to have a vacation, away from my work, away from my business, away from the stress. I hope this vacation will be worth it. 

“Okay, I will just wake you up later. By the way, what do you want for dinner?” Manang never fails to ask me what I want for dinner. It’s been years but the care Manang has for me is incomparable. 

“I want pork adobo Manang. It’s been a long time since I last tasted it. And of course, it is special because you’re the one that will cook it for me!” I smiled after that. I really love Manang. I cannot imagine my life without Manang. I don’t think I will grow into who I am today if not because of Manang.

“Okay, pork adobo it is.” She smiled again before finally leaving me. I can still hear her footsteps when I closed the door.

I just put my suitcases inside my walk-in closet before finally jumping into my bed. “It’s been a while my beddy bed!” I just put my handbag on my bedside table before settling in. I feel exhausted, really.

……

“Iah, ija, wake up. It’s already dinner.”  I slowly open my eyes when I feel someone slightly tapping my legs. I want to close my eyes again and I feel like I don’t want to eat because I want to sleep. 

“Okay manang, I will just freshen up then I will go downstairs.” I am still wiping my eyes as I answer manang. I am still sleepy. I feel manang stand-up and after a few seconds, she walks toward the door to leave me alone.