"Even though the place was small and the burden of the loan heavy, I still felt excited knowing we wouldn't have to see that animal's face again ever.
The next day, I went out looking for a job to lessen Mom's burden.
We knew we needed to pay the loan quickly, or the interest alone would kill us.
But I was too young at that time; no one dared to give a job to me.
Some even gave me weird looks, asking where my parents were.
A few days passed like that..."
Nerissa sighed, then continued, "Compared to me, Mom got two jobs.
She worked as a store clerk, then at night as a waiter in a cafe.
Every day, I saw her return with a tired face, and she still forced herself to smile, saying everything was alright and I should go to school.
She had already applied for me.
I'm not stupid, you know. I can count."
Malacai could see Nerissa's burden in her eyes. Unknowingly, he started combing through her golden hair.
