C7 Good Samaritan - A

It was already morning and Jay was still walking to and fro while waiting for a response from his calls and messages. He couldn't sleep the whole night because of it. He tried to call Cissie a million times, but no one was still answering. He thought of going to her place instead, but he realized that it'd just make the situation even worse. He couldn't do anything but wait for a reply, or wait and ask her some other time.

Meanwhile, Cissie was suddenly awakened with the sound of her alarm clock. It rang every 4 in the morning. That time though, her alarm clock was useless since it'd be her last day in that house. She couldn't open her puffy eyes yet she still tried to search for her phone. She was surprised with the number of messages and missed calls from Jay. She felt embarrassed so she hurriedly text him to apologize.

On the other hand, Jay was going down to prepare when his phone rang. He hurriedly picked it up from his bed to read the message. He was thankful enough learning that the message was from Cissie. He wasted no minute and called her right away.

"Hello. Ciss, where are you now? Are you okay?" Jay worriedly asked.

"Yes. I'm sorry if I didn't get to reply right away. I unconsciously slept while crying. I'm still here in my room, almost done packing up," Cissie mouthfully replied.

"Where are you going to stay then?"

"I-I still don't know. Perhaps I'd just go back to where my family is," Cissie stuttered due to mixed emotions. She even heard Jay sighed.

"Please don't. Just few months to go and we're about to graduate. I'll talk to my grandma to ask if you could stay here."

"You don't have to. Your grandma doesn't even know me. She might also think that we have a relationship."

"Worry about that later. What's important is that you have a place to stay, temporarily. We will make sure that whoever does this to you will be liable."

"Okay. I really have no choice but to be thick-faced. I have no other relatives here."

"Great. Drop by here at 6 AM. I'll wait for you by the nearby corner. I'll talk to my grandma first. See you later."

"Thank you, bye."

Cissie thought that it was really not the time to be shy. Few months left and she would finally graduate. She continued packing her things while her tears were falling down. She couldn't help but be emotional as that place became important to her also, even though it felt hell. She stayed there for roughly five years. What's more painful was that she's leaving with an achy heart. She quickly took a shower and said farewell to her boss even though she knew that he wouldn't stop her. While carrying her baggage, she walked towards the street where Jay lived. She could already see him from afar.

"Were you already here earlier? I'm sorry to keep you waiting. You really don't have to," Cissie told him.

"Don't mention it, that's fine. It was also my fault if you think about it. If I didn't force you to join the presentation then this wouldn't have happened to you," Jay said while he getting Cissie baggage from her.

They were walking towards Jay's place when Cissie noticed Jay's neighbors gossiping about them. Cissie thought that the neighbors could be guessing whether they eloped or Jay got her pregnant.

"Jay, your neighbors all have malicious minds. I barely hear them talking but I already know what's in their minds. It's as if they're saying that we eloped,'' she couldn't stand reported to Jay what she saw.

"Don't mind them. They just don't have things in their own to look up to. So, they're too busy caring about someone else's life. Come on! Hurry up, we're going to be late in our class."

Cissie disregarded the intrigued neighbors of Jay. They walked straight until they were inside the yard. Cissie, though, felt that something was stopping her from taking another step when they were in front of the door. Jay, of course, noticed it.

"What's wrong?" Jay asked.

"Uh, eh, nothing. I just feel jumpy. I can't imagine how your grandma looks. Is she s-snobbish?" Cissie awkwardly asked.

"Of course not! She's so kind and I'm sure she will like you. Come! Get inside," Jay invited Cissie, he even opened the door for her.

When they got inside, she saw an old woman sitting on the sofa. She obviously was Chinese, but looked kind. She stood up, smiled, and welcomed her and Jay.

"Is it she whom you're talking about, Xiao Sun (grandson)?" the old woman asked.

"Yes Nai Nai (chinese term for paternal grandmother). She will be staying here temporarily since she has nowhere to go. Her employer accused her of being in a relationship. I also have a share with what happened, Nai Nai. I forced her to join our band to perform on the Foundation Day Celebration. However, someone took photos of us when we were practicing and her boss thought that I was her boyfriend, so she was kicked out of where she was staying," Jay detailed to his grandmother what had happened.

"Good morning. My name is Cissie. I apologize for the trouble I could cause you. The moment I find a part time job, I'll move to a boarding house," Cissie's head was down due to embarrassment.

"That is totally fine, hija. Jay told me your situation earlier. We have an extra room here so you could stay until you graduate. Don't worry about your meals as long as you help the maids with the house chores," the old lady happily worded. She was really kind!

"Yes! I am industrious. I am used to doing household chores. I have been working as a maid at Ponce family since I was 12 years old. You can definitely count me on that," Cissie cheerfully replied.

"If that's what you said. It's good that I have someone to go around. My name is grandma Nancy and if you used to work with the Ponce family, I could help you with your situation since they are our family friend. Don't worry, let's visit them together to clear things up. And if possible, let's have Jay join us so they could see that you were with my grandson." Afterwards, the old lady looked at the clock.

"Put your things in your room, you'd be late for your class."

"I really thank you, granny. Don't worry, I'll make it up to you," Cissie tearfully said.

"Hurry then. It's almost 8 AM, you would be late for school," the old woman reiterated.

Jay then accompanied Cissie to the room where she would stay. After putting her stuff down, she changed to her school uniform and went down. Jay followed her and they went to school.

Steph saw them together which was why she looked like she had seen a ghost. She couldn't believe that Cissie still managed to come despite what had happened.

"Hey Cissie, good morning! How are you? I heard that your boss casted you off their place," she pretended to be curious although she wasn't really concerned with her. She just wanted to confirm what happened.

"I'm fine, thank you. Gossip really do have wings! A good Samaritan adopted me which is why I'm still here. I would really find out who made all these good things happen in my life, I would thank her. Instead of putting me down, my situations even became better," she replied with confidence and hinting at Steph.

"Are you blaming me!" Steph rebutted.

"Are you guilty? I didn't say it's you but are overreacting. Are my suspicions correct?" Cissie heavily replied.

"Whoa!..." Steph couldn't continue talking as Jay interrupted her.

"Let's go, Ciss. This conversation is going nowhere," Jay told Cissie while pulling her arms. Steph was so annoyed as she was left there without letting her say another word.

"She's really getting into my nerve. We're not yet done, Cissie! Mark my word!" Steph exclaimed. She was really furious while looking at the two of them walking away.

Even though the things happening in Cissie's life weren't really good, she was still happy. At least, there were really still people who were merciful, and that's what she's thankful about.

While the days were passing by, Jay and Cissie grew closer. They were always together during recess, chatting and laughing with each other. They were oftentimes labeled as a couple. They were still together even when going home. They walked home as if cherishing each second as they laughed and hold hands. Judging from the sweetness that they had for each other, they really looked like a real couple. Even if people around stared at them, they don't really care.

And because Steph couldn't stop thinking where Cissie stayed, she followed them one afternoon. She was really annoyed with the sweetness of the two. She's annoyed because Jay couldn't smile at her while he's all smiles whenever he's with Cissie. She got the surprise of her life when she saw that they both went inside Jay's house.

"What?! This is too much!'' Steph clenched her fist with jealousy and anger. She couldn't help but cry due to intense emotions. She could get anything easily, except Jay. She valued him as a big challenge as her feelings for him grew deeper. He's really different from all the men she met. Steph couldn't take what she was feeling and chose to leave.