A FATEFUL CHANCE

CHAPTER 1: DEANDRA BURLINGTON

Deandra's POV

I entered the room and my sisters came rushing towards me. They all looked very excited as they showed their open palms at me.

“Did you have something for us, our dear sister?” Dina asked in a very polite manner.

“You’re all adorable! How can this older sister resist all your cute, little charms?” I can’t help but to giggle after they showed me their pleading eyes.

"Yeah, of course. How can I forget all of my sweet little darlings?" I entered the house and I put all the food that I bought after working for many hours. I can't help but be happy because her smile took all my tiredness away. She smiled from ear to ear as soon as she saw me.

“You’re all too adorable for me to forget. You deserve all of these foods.” She smiled as she put all the foods on the table for them to clearly see.

"Yippiee! Thank you sister! I love you!" She hugged both of my feet. She's still very young but she's very sweet.

"Where's mom?"

"She's in the room already."

"Where's Dee and Dina?"

"They are in their rooms too, sis."

"Thank you so much for the information my cute Dahlia." I even pinched her cheek as she smiled sweetly. When I let her cheek go, I noticed that she massaged it while getting the fried chicken from the

paper bag I bought a while ago.

I slowly entered mom's room and I can see her massaging her head. There's still a towel wrapped around her wet hair, obviously she took a bath just now. She's closing her eyes but when she felt my presence, she opened her eyes right away.

I can see her eyes glistened as soon as she saw me coming towards her.

"Where's the money?" She said while opening her palms in front of me. I l met her eyes but I won't give her what she wanted.

"M-Mom, I already gave you the money the other day, right?"

Her facial expression suddenly changed. She frowned right away as she looked at me with an icy stare as soon as she heard what I said to her.

"So, what do you want to say? I took the money away?"

"Mom, it's not what I mean." I looked down. I don't want to look at her and offend her.

"Then what?" She got off from bed and came near me as she put her hands on the side of her hips. I can see her raising one of her eyebrows.

"I am just asking if where's the money I gave you. It's almost five thousand pesos."

"I already paid it to Mrs. Leeway's for our debts."

"Huh? What debts?"

"Why are you asking nonsense questions? Give me the money now!" She's already mad. I really stopped myself from crying as I secretly closed my fists.

I slowly put my hand inside my pocket as I get the two-thousand peso bill from my salary this afternoon.

I wanted to get angry at her, too. I want to tell her right in front of her face that I am the one who paid our debts to Mrs. Leeway when I was on my way here a while ago.

***flashback***

I can't wait to go home and give money to my mom. Dahlia also wanted to eat some fried chicken. I knew she wanted to eat that food for a long time. I even promised her to buy one when my salary will be given to me. I was happily walking on the footwalk when someone stood in front of me all of a sudden.

"Deandra..." Mrs. Leeway appeared in front of me like an unwanted ghost. She's folding her arms as she gives me an angry look.

"Good evening, Mrs. Leeway."

"My evening will only be good if you will pay the debts of your mother to me."

"W-What? Debts?" I admit, it's kind of surprising because I know I never had any of it myself. How come we had debts all of a sudden?

"How could you not know? Are you stupid to not know that your mom has been borrowing money from me ever since that mahjong started across our store?"

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Leeway. I have no idea about what you're talking about."

"No idea? Your mom told me that if I will just tell you about her debt to me and you will be the one to pay it for her."

"S-Sorry, Mrs. Leeway. I never knew about it. I will pay you now, don't worry."

"You are full of dramas. You will pay the money but you blabber a lot." She said while frowning. She took the money bills from my hands in a swift motion before I even knew it.

***end of flashback***

Those words still echoed my mind. I paid three thousand pesos to Mrs. Leeway right away because there were people who started to listen to what we're talking about. Because I consider myself as a good daughter that wants to avoid any form of scandal, I paid a debt I don't even know.

I am facing my mother right now and I am looking at her palms that's opened in front of me while she's getting very mad. With shaky hands, I am able to give him another two-thousand peso bill.

"You will give me your money and yet you're asking me a lot of nonsense questions. Don't be an idiot, Deandra. Use your common sense. You're already ugly, use your tiny brain at least."

Those words crushed my heart into millions of pieces. How could my own mother say this to me after what I am doing for this family? I've been working the whole day. I've been waiting tables, ran endless errands and even stood long hours as a receptionist. I am physically tired and now? This tiredness even added up to the disappointment I am feeling because she couldn't even appreciate the efforts that I am putting into my job. I am doing my very best to give the money that she wants.

Is this how my mom shows her gratitude to me? Does she really care for me or the money that I give her? When I entered the house, I even noticed there's no cooked rice. No food is placed on the table and the house is a real mess.

"I will eat with Dahlia, mom." I excused myself as I got back to our small dining room and kitchen in one.

"Dee, Dina...let's eat." I gently called them. I turned my gaze to the door of the room where my twin sisters are sleeping. It opened and Dina's head peeped outside the window while she's still rubbing her eyes.

"Dear Deandra, Dee's forehead is hot."

"What?"

"She's only lying on our bed, sis." She said while showing her weary look. My heart suddenly beat fast as I looked at my younger sister's face.

The twins are aged twelve years old now. I know if Dina looked weary, something is also wrong with Dee. I tried to look calm as much as possible. I smiled as I let her come near me. She only looked down as she stepped forward. When she's in front of me, I lowered my body to her height as I kissed her forehead. I can see that she's about to cry while touching her stomach. I closed my fist again as I can't help but grit my teeth.

What is mother doing all along this time?

"Hello my beautiful Dina. Please go to Dahlia and eat with her. I will go to Dee and give her a half bath so that she'll feel fine."

"Yes, dear Deandra. Do we have fried chicken?" My sister asked innocently. I can't help but bitterly laugh. With this scene, I noticed the tears already streaming down my cheeks as I looked at her. I wiped it right away with my hands as I smiled at my skinny-looking sister.

"Yes. I bought a lot for all of us." I said as I tapped her shoulders.

My sister responded with a weak smile. She went to the table where Dahlia is eating now. I could hear them giggling while eating the crunchy fried chicken I bought for them. If mother can't be a mother for

all of us and my siblings, I'd gladly do it for her.