The information about my return here is hidden, I don't know how the company and aunt Matilda took steps to make my return home so peaceful. I'm on the right company, it's just embarrassing that I'll leave them with shame.

"I'll only stay in your condo for a few weeks, until I find a unit that my budget can afford."

"Cyreese I told you, I'm not sending you out of there. I can't understand your decisions."

I can almost see the despairing look he has on the other line. I even heard Lucy's voice that seemed to comfort her.

"Lucy and you will stay here. Get a life. You know that I can handle myself already. I don't want to be a burden to you."

"When did you become a burden Cyreese? You're the only one who thinks that."

This is the difficulty for him. I know he wants to appreciate me and so do I to him. But I also want her to be happy with Lucy. I think even more now that I gave him another problem.

He wanted to come home with me but he still had to finish the jobs he had left. That would be even better because I would have plans I knew he wouldn’t allow.

Maybe a month or two he will come back here with Lucy, I believe that's enough time to sort things out. I felt a mixture of nervousness while entering the building where his unit is located.

Gladly when I went to the lobby to ask people there was nothing strange towards me, contrary to what I expected to happen, people seem to mind their own business. Kind of like they don't know me.

I breathed a sigh of relief. His unit is on floor 31st so I still had time in the elevator to check the room number.

The unit was okay, it was manly, obviously men live here. It's way more tidy than I expected. Maybe cleaning it regularly. I adjust myself into his place, I was alone in the place I'm not familiar.

When we left Mar De Vena we only stayed here a week then we left for New York. I didn't even have time to marvel at the beauty of Manila that I used to only see on television.

I used to think this city was beautiful, because of the buildings I always adore, the city lights I've always wondered but not yet. New York was beyond it.

I unpacked the things that I only need because I don't want to move Lourd's closet, and I'm also having Aunt Matilda take care of the unit I'm planning to buy. Maybe next week that will be okay so I have no plans to take out all my stuff.

I was actually scared to be alone, especially since I came back here not for my plan but to fix the scandal I was involved in. Maybe because my arrival didn’t create noise, no headlines, no articles and all.

I don't know how I'll deal my life if the news spreads out all over. I arranged some paperwork given to me by Tita Matilda, I don't know how she arranged everything and I transferred so fast even though I still have a year to finish.

I just need to find an internship here and attend a few classes at the university I attended as an irregular student and it’s all set. I'm gonna take the review and get my license.

This is the power of money, I thought then that if I just study and have my own principles everything will be easy but that is not what life has taught me.

Hard as it is to admit, it is easier for privileged people to deal with day-to-day, while others still have to reach both ends just to get what they want happen. Sometimes it doesn't happen, it will be an illusion.

"Yes tita, I'm running some errands today. Do you mind if you can email the address of some companies that I can coordinate with regarding the internship?"

"Oh yes, of course."

The email popped out. I wondered.

"It's only one address tita .."

"Uhm yes! That's the only company who can handle an intern professionally. The others who recommended me have dirty management so that's all I'll give you."

I nodded and read the address. I'm still not familiar with Manila. It's also a good thing not having a car because for sure I might not be able to use it anyway.

I'll just book a car service to make things easier. My brother always called me. He's being paranoid. He still thinks maybe me is the woman he found in Mar De Vena. I mean really, he must stop being so paranoid and might as well focus on his self because it looks like he needed it more.

"I'm fine, everything is okay!"

I laughed when I heard nothing from him. I opened the fridge and it was obviously empty.

"Except your fridge."

I chuckled.

"Just have some delivery."

I decided to just go down because I saw a convenient store at the bottom of the building earlier. What time is it and I don't even have time to find fast food that delivers at this time. I settled myself with a yogurt and a sandwich. I also bought a few bottles of water because there was no stock in Lourd’s unit.

Tomorrow I might just eat at the restaurant and buy something that can be stocked in the fridge, that's all right until I can leave.

"Thank you."

I read the schedule given to me and that wasn’t that bad. I have to attend class once a week.

I would have liked to be a regular student but it is unclear what will happen because big adjustments will be made.

The curriculum is different in other countries and here so maybe I won't base too much on that. The most important thing is to finish my last year together with the internship.

The grab driver was talking to me as we headed ou to address given to me by aunt Matilda.

He speaks English which I find a bit cute, he thought maybe I was a foreigner.

"It's beautiful here in Manila."

"Oh, you're speaking tagalog ma’am." I smiled.

He seemed embarrassed but the expression lightened as well.

"Oh, Manila is chaotic.."

I sniffed, I'm very much aware. There is nothing wrong with the chaos of Manila and the chaos of New York. That's the charm of the city, isn't it ironic how you find peace in a chaotic place?

The tranquility provided by the city is different. After a long day you'll feel that life hasn't ended yet, you feel worn out. The night doesn’t seem to end, but somehow you’ve still managed to have a good rest and peace of mind.