In Zamboanga City, hours later.

Lily arrived at Zamboanga City. She then immediately steps down from the bus and goes out,

“Hello Auntie?” Lily said as she was speaking to someone from her phone, “I am already in Zamboanga.” Lily then added up.

“Alright, going to meet you later at my restaurant. Be there at seven o’clock, Lily.” said the auntie of Lily, who Lily was speaking with on the phone.

Lily is walking towards the exit of the terminal, “Yes, Auntie. I will at seven pm sharp.” Lily replied as she replied to what her auntie had just said.

“Okay sweety, bye.” The auntie of Lily then said, “See you later auntie, bye.” Lily replied as her auntie ended up the call.

Lily made her way out of the terminal as she was walking while doing something on her phone and, suddenly, she stumbled upon someone. “Oh, my goodness! I am so sorry! I wasn’t looking well in the way,” Lily said as she hit someone on her way out of the terminal.

“Can you please pay attention to the way you are taking in? Do not use your mobile phone while walking.” Said by the stranger who Lily hits while walking. “Now? What am I going to do with these broken eggs?” said by the stranger.

Lily got so anxious because of what she had done to the stranger because of her clumsiness. “I am so sorry sir, I am just going to pay for it. I still have some cash with me, enough to pay for the damages,” said by Lily as she was opening her pouch to get some money. “Oh, my goodness. This is just enough money for me to ride a trip going to my auntie’s restaurant,” In her thoughts, Lily said with a worried facial expression.

“This will cost you two hundred and fifty pesos. It is a one tray egg after all.” said by the stranger as he looked at Lily. “What is the matter? You said you would pay for it.” The stranger added up as he looked towards the worried face of Lily.

Lily is looking towards the stranger who is wearing a hat, shades and hoodie.

“Do not think of running away, there is a policeman right there. I can report this to him.” Said by the stranger as he spoke with Lily and pointed out that running away would not be a good idea.

The stranger then sat down as he was picking up the broken eggs on the ground. “Pay me already so we can both go now.” The stranger then said towards Lily.

Lily is just standing as she is doing something in her bag. “Here sir, this is the payment. "Pardon me again, for causing you trouble.” Lily said as she handed over the payment towards the stranger and immediately continued her way.

“Hey wait,” the stranger holds the payment of Lily in his hand. He then opens it up. “She is weird.” the stranger said as he was looking at the money that Lily paid him. “Hundred and… A Hundred and a sorry letter on a paper!” the stranger was so shocked that the payment Lily gave him was not enough. He then stood up after picking up the broken eggs and chased Lily to where Lily ran. “That girl, she wrapped the hundred pesos on a paper to make it thicker.” The stranger was so annoyed that he could not chase down Lily. “Sorry for the trouble. I do not have enough money. Hope you understand. Pardon Sir.” These are the words on the letter that Lily wraps up with a hundred pesos and hands over to the stranger as a payment for the damages she did. “She could just say she could not pay for it. It was an accident after all. Never mind, I hope she will do well,” the stranger said as he took a deep breath after he sighed. He then walks away while carrying the broken eggs.

…

Later that night, hours later.

Lily is walking outside a restaurant. “I am already late, it is already seven thirty and my phone was already drained its battery. " Is auntie still here?” Lily said as she is walking towards her auntie's restaurant. “Hello? Good evening.” Lily said as she entered the restaurant.

“Good evening ma’am, sorry, but we are already closing.” Said by the restaurant staff member as she greeted Lily.

“Oh, sorry, but can I ask if Miss Martinez is still here?” Lily then asked the staff if her auntie was still in the restaurant.

“Yes ma’am, Ma’am Victoria is in the kitchen.” The staff replied, “Do you have any appointments with her?” the staff then added up as she asked Lily.

“Yes, I do have. Can you kindly tell her that I am Lily, and I am already here?” Lily then asked for a favor towards the staff as she said these words in a nice and polite way of speech. “Sure ma’am.” The staff replied.

The staff of the restaurant then go in to the kitchen.

The auntie of Lily, who is Miss Martinez goes out of the kitchen saying “Lily! You are late!” said by Miss Martinez. “You said seven o’clock pm sharp. What happened to you? Did the traffic catch you up?” added by Miss Martinez as she is now walking towards Lily. “You are so sweaty sweety, what happened? Did a dinosaur chased you down?” Miss Martinez said jokingly as she continued to ask things about her niece Lily.

“Good evening Auntie Victoria.” Lily greeted her auntie, “I just walked my way from the terminal towards here auntie. Sorry I am late.” Lily then added up as she clarified the things why she was late.

“My goodness Lily! Seven kilometers!? You just walked seven kilometers!? Why you did not call me, so I can fetch you up, Lily!” the auntie of Lily is shocked to hear why her niece was late. “Here, come here and take a sit.” The auntie of Lily then added up as they went towards a table at both of them sat down. “Anne? Can you please give us some water, a salad for me and a meal for Lily? Thank you.” The auntie of Lily then spoke to the staff for some favors.

Lily set her bags and staff aside.

“Auntie, I am very sorry again for being late.” Lily said her sorry again to her auntie. "My phone’s battery is empty, and I already do not have any money left. That is why I just walked towards here.” Lily then added up with a worried and tired tone of voice.

“Do not worry sweety, I have no other meetings or whatsoever this evening,” The auntie of Lily said, “After here I will take you to my small house near here. Where you can stay for the rest of your days here in Zamboanga, after we talk and eat, of course.” The auntie of lily added up as she said these words to her niece.

Lily smiled, “Thank you Auntie Victoria,” Lily replied after what her Auntie Victoria had just said to her. “By the way, Auntie Victoria, about the thing you wanted to speak about.” Lily then added up as she reminded her Auntie Victoria why she was meeting up with her.

“Yes, about that, of course,” Auntie Victoria then replied. “About that Lily, I have an offer to you.” Auntie Victoria then added up. “Thank you, Anne,” Auntie Victoria said as she thanked Anne for serving them the foods that she asked a while ago, for her and for her niece Lily.

“What is it auntie? What will you offer me?” Lily then replied and asked her Auntie Victoria about the things her auntie just spoke up.

“You are already going to college, right?” Auntie Victoria asked Lily.

“Yes, Auntie Victoria, I already took a college entrance exam yesterday.” Lily then replied.

“Good. Then I have a job for you.” Auntie Victoria then said as she is going to offer a job opportunity to her niece Lily. “This will help you up on your tuition and some of your college things.” Auntie Victoria then added.

Auntie Victoria Martinez and Lily are having a conversation while eating.

“While you are studying, you will also earn by just living in my mansion. You will take care of it while I am not here in Zamboanga.” Auntie Victoria said, “You will live there and be the care taker of it. I will give you a monthly salary and will give you everything you need.” Auntie Victoria then added up.

“Auntie Victoria, you do not need to give me a salary. Living there is enough already, it will save me a lot of money instead of renting out some dormitories.” Lily then humbly replied to what her Auntie Victoria just said and offered her.

“I refused your refusal. Do not decline the offer. Let’s not call it a salary, but instead an allowance.” Auntie Victoria said, “For you to maintain the mansion, for your food, bills and everything.” Auntie Victoria then added up as she makes things clearer for her niece Lily. “I need someone to take care of my mansion, who I can trust. And also, this restaurant. I want you to manage this while I am away,” Auntie Victoria then said.

“But Auntie Victoria, this is a business. I can’t just handle it by myself.” Lily then replied with a shocking tone of voice.

“You are an intelligent girl, you can do it. Besides, my staff here are all good people and you can trust them. They will help you out managing the restaurant.” Auntie Victoria then replied to what her niece Lily, had just spoken up.

“Auntie, I have no problems with your offer, but do you think I can really do it?” Lily then asked her Auntie Victoria.

“Of course, you can! You are a Martinez!” the auntie of Lily then replied, “Look at me sweety. I do not have a husband or a boyfriend, but I have achieved a lot of things by myself, because I always believe in me, and I am a Martinez to begin with.” Auntie Victoria then added up as she said these things to her niece Lily with pride and proudness in her tone of voice.

“I know sweety, it will be hard for you to even think about it. But when you start doing it? I know that you will learn a lot, and you can do it and manage it eventually.” Auntie Victoria then said as she held Lily’s hand. “I do believe in you sweety.” Auntie Victoria then added up with an encouraging word.

“It will also help you financially in your studies,” Auntie Victoria then said.

“Thank you, Auntie Victoria. I will speak about it with Mama and Papa.” Lily then replied as she smiled towards her Auntie Victoria.

“I do not have any other families left, aside from your father who is my first cousin,” Auntie Victoria then said as she also smiled towards her niece Lily. “And you are my only niece. Which is pretty and beautiful, like me HAHAHAHA!” Auntie Victoria then added up as she said these words to Lily and laughed.

“By the way, Auntie Victoria, if I am going to manage everything that you will leaved here in Zambaonga? Where are you going Auntie?” Lily asked.

“HAHAHAHA!” Auntie Victoria laughs, “I am going out of the country to enjoy life traveling and find my Romeo.” Auntie Victoria then added, “It is time for me to find the love of my life, Lily, the flower of mine is already getting older. I can’t afford to not taste the pleasure of… Of love, care and things that you will later on understand.” Auntie Victoria then said as Lily smiled, smirking with awkwardness in her face.

“Alright Auntie Victoria, I will speak with Mama and Papa about this. I will consult to them, if they will let me.” Lily then said to her Auntie Victoria that she will first tell her parents about the offers.

“Alright Sweety,” Auntie Victoria then replied.

...

N: Victoria Martinez is the auntie of Lily Martinez. She is the first cousin of the father of Lily, Andres Martinez. Victoria Martinez is a forty two years old single woman. A successful businesswoman and a former university guidance counselor.

Auntie Victoria and Lily continued their meal as they shared the evening together.