MY UNTOLD STORY

CHAPTER ONE: Before Him

Angela's POV

Good morning, world!

It's that time of the year again VACATION!

Everyone at school has been counting down the days, and honestly, I can't wait. This isn't just any summer break. It's the start of a new chapter because this is my last year of high school.

College is just around the corner, and for the first time, I get to choose the future I want for myself. If everything goes according to plan, I'll earn a scholarship and finally help my mom with our expenses.

Oh, I almost forgot to introduce myself.

I'm Angela, but everyone calls me Gela.

I'm seventeen years old, and it's always been just my mom and me. As for my father... I've never met him. I don't know what it's like to have him around, but somehow, Mama has always made sure I never felt alone.

Anyway...

The March sun was already peeking through my bedroom window. Somewhere outside, children were laughing in the streets, free from school for the next two months. Summer had finally arrived.

That means today is ours.

****

"Gela! Come over here! Help me prepare our visitors' breakfast, and don't forget to bring down their luggage!" Mama called from the kitchen.

"Coming!" I shouted back.

So much for spending the whole day with Mama.

Well... I am spending the day with her—just not the way I imagined.

Every time we have guests, my day starts before sunrise. By four o'clock in the morning, I'm already helping prepare breakfast, carrying luggage, and making sure everything is ready before we drive them to the airport.

Honestly?

I just wanted to sleep in for once.

I hurried into the kitchen, where Mama was already pouring freshly brewed coffee into white ceramic mugs. On the counter sat plates of tuna sandwiches and boiled eggs, all neatly prepared for our visitors.

I heard they were from America. They had arrived two days ago, but I never got the chance to meet them because I was busy with school.. and, well... being a teenager.

Today would be our first meeting.

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you what Mama does for a living.

She works as a housekeeper for a wonderful family here in Manila. We've been incredibly blessed because her employers were kind enough to let me stay with them while I finished high school.

Helping Mama whenever we had guests was the least I could do to repay their kindness.

"Good morning, Manang Fan."

A deep voice greeted Mama from behind me.

I turned around.

Mama had mentioned that one of our new guests was a forty-year-old bachelor.

I don't know what I was expecting...

But it definitely wasn't him.

He didn't look old at all.

"Good morning, Sir Ryan," Mama greeted him warmly.

She glanced at me.

"This is my daughter, Angela."

"Really? I would've never guessed you have a teenage daughter, Manang."

Okay... they seem closer than I expected.

He's old enough to be my dad.

Ew.

Just kidding.

Absolutely not.

"Good morning, Sir. It's nice to meet you."

Before I could say anything else, Sir Ryan glanced at his watch.

"We're running late," he said.

He headed toward the door while Mama motioned for me to grab the breakfast tray.

We still had to pick up his friend, Ronnie, before heading to the airport.

.

.

.

.

.

.

What a long morning.

Waaah...

I'm so sleepy.

All I wanted was a quick nap after waking up before sunrise.

Just a quick nap.

My head had barely touched the pillow when—

Riiing! Riiing!

My phone started vibrating beside me.

Seriously?

Who on earth calls at 8:00 in the morning during summer vacation?

I squinted at the screen.

Oh.

It's my best friend.

I rolled my eyes, let out a dramatic sigh, and answered the call.

"What?!"