C5 Five

Alondra has boarded a bus back to their town. Good thing she still made it to the last trip. She bought a dish and some food for her parents and Mathilde. She was grateful for that woman's kindness. She was very lucky because she already has money for the fare tomorrow when she returns to the city.

She looked around and she knows that it was near evening, she would have been able to get a ride to their house. The passengers on the bus were so quiet that Alondra couldn't hear anything. Maybe they will reach the terminal immediately because the speed of the bus is so fast.

While Leandre continued to drink until his vision began to spin.

"We're going home, Nicholas," he says.

"Sure."

"But you'll take me to your house. I'll sleep there, maybe you have empty rooms. And I promise that I won't make any noise to disturb you." he said.

"Damn you. You make me think badly." Nicholas complained.

"Of course not. That's normal."

Nicholas laughs.

"Let's go. Can you still stand?" Nicholas asked.

"Sure. I'm just drunk but I'm not paralyzed," he replied.

"You're heavy, Leandre. If I'd known right away that you were going to get drunk like this, I wouldn't have come here." Nicholas complained.

Leandre just laughed. Even though he was very drunk, he still did not lose his senses.

"Common sense. If I tell you right away. I know you're not going." he answered.

"Damn you! Fix your walk if you're not I call Jade to get you here," Nicholas said.

"Shit! Don't joke like that Nicholas it's not funny," Leandre said.

"Of course not. Why would I joke? It's like she's going to continue raping you."

So Leandre stood up suddenly and staggered out of the bar house as he left Nicholas inside. He doesn't care if Nicholas laughs at him, he just doesn't want him to call Jade and come pick him up.

It was seven in the evening when Alondra arrived at their place. She got out of the taxi after paying and she was walking slowly while carrying the plastic bags. When she look on the front side she saw her mother, father, and Mathilde craning their necks looking somewhere. Alondra smile because she is the one her family looking for. Their faces lit up when they saw her approaching.

"How was your trip to the city, Alondra? Any good news?" her mother asked as she approached them.

"Yes. I have found a job and I can start tomorrow," Alondra replied.

Her mother looked at her as if she was about to cry. Alondra feels that her parents didn't want her to work especially in the city and far from their sight because of the shame they feel. Maybe they thought that they didn't do a plan for her to study and go to school and now she is the only one still looking for a job for them. If Alondra waits for a miracle, it's impossible. Luck will not come if it is not accompanied by effort so she is the one who will look for a job. She's not doing it for herself, but she's doing it for all of them. Her father just smiled while looking at her. So the four of them entered their house together.

"How is the city, sister?" Mathilde asked.

"It's okay. It's beautiful and there are many beautiful sights and things you can buy but you can't go there if you don't have enough money. Don't worry because when I save money I'll take you there." Alondra said.

Mathilde smiled and her eyes twinkled like stars.

"You said that, Sister. So I'll wait for you when you take me there," answered Mathilde.

"Yes, but the first thing we will do is for you to study first. Here you have long dreamed of being able to study like our neighbors the same age as you?"

"Yes, thank you," said Mathilde and suddenly hugged her tightly.

"That's enough. We're going inside the house because it's getting cold at night." said their mother.

While their father was just looking at them silently.

"Have you eaten?" Alondra asked as they entered the house.

"Not yet, Sister. We waited for you to come home," Mathilde replied.

"All right. I bought a dish in the city. Prepare it on the table, Mathilde. I'll just get dressed in a moment." she said.

"Okay."

Then Mathilde took the plastic bag she is carrying and go to the kitchen followed by her mother and father.

Alondra entered their room to get dressed. She put the money the woman had given her earlier in her old wallet. The woman was very kind to her, she always fed her and gave her money. They did meet in the city unexpectedly She wanted to ask her why she was always helping her but she didn't have the chance. She took off her clothes and looked for something to wear while turning her back to the door. She hadn't even put on her clothes when she heard someone sniffing. She quickly put her clothes on and turned around. She saw Mathilde crying while looking at her.

"What's wrong, Mathilde?" she asked, frowning.

Mathilde didn't say a word but she continue crying.

"When are you coming home?" Mathilde asked.

Alondra forced a laugh. She had an idea why she was crying.

"Mathilde, I'm leaving tomorrow. You're going to ask me now when I'm coming home?" Alondra asked.

"I'm going to miss you so much. No one comes home here every day with delicious food for me." Mathilde said.

Alondra approached Mathilde and wiped away her tears.

"I'm doing this so that you won't have experienced any difficulties in life again, Mathilde, so that you can have and wear nice clothes and things. Also, you can go to school. And I'll bring home plenty of food for you and we won't have to struggle hardship anymore. So stop crying. Don't give me concern that when you are sad I will not leave. But always bear in mind that we need to experience a comfortable life." she said.

"Yes. I can't help but be sad. We've been together here at home for a few years and I'm not used to you suddenly leaving and not being able to come home for a long time." Mathilde said.

"When I save up, I'll buy you a cellphone. So that if you miss me, you can just call me," he says.

Mathilde's face brightened.

"Really?"

"Of course."

"Alright. I'd like to have a cellphone. Is that kind of thing expensive?"

"I don't know yet, Mathilde. But I will buy it for you."

"Thank you. Be careful there. I know that between the two of us you are the brave one." Mathilde said.

"Because I'm the eldest, Mathilde."

Alondra is sad but she will fight her sadness because otherwise, she will cry too. She is not used to being away from her family for a long time.

"We're going out to eat. Fix yourself or mom and dad will think I made you cry," he says.

Mathilde nodded. An hour later they finished eating. Alondra said goodbye for a while before going outside the house to breathe some fresh air. She was now outside and sitting on a wooden chair looking up at the sky. The whole area is bright because it's a full moon. Alondra thinks a lot that if she gets lucky in the city she knows they will be able to get out of poverty. She is hoping against hope that her life will be good there.

"Aren't you going to sleep yet, daughter?" Alondra heard her father's voice.

She didn't look at her father but she noticed him sitting next to her.

"I'm not sleepy yet, father," Alondra replied.

She saw her father looking at her.

"I'm sorry. We wouldn't have been in such trouble if I had just finished school and found a nice job. I'm too ashamed of myself to think that you're the one making it difficult to find a job when after all I'm your father. I'm the one who has the right to make a way to support you and gave you a better life but I end up rejected." said her father.

Alondra wanted to cry but she stopped herself because didn't want to leave her sad.

"Not once do I regret having you as my father. I never cursed you in my mind for why our life turned out like this. I just wanted to help. You worked hard enough to raise us. Despite everything, I am still grateful because you made me see the world and experience how bitter life is." Alondra said.

Suddenly her father hugged her and cried on her shoulder.

"Take care out there and always think that we love you very much. If you can't do the job, go home." her father said.