Charles walked out of the room after his heated conversation with his mother. As he did, he saw Mina crying nearby.

"Mina, did you...?"

"Leave me alone for now, please,” Mina said, her gaze cast down to avoid Charles's eyes. Then she ran away.

Charles didn’t know what to do. Should he chase her or not?

That night, he found Mina at the veranda.

"I've been looking all over for you!” he said. “What are you doing here?”

"I'm praying to Bathala for guidance,” Mina said while her eyes were still close.

"I know that you heard everything, and I really meant what I said." Charles held her hand while looking into her eyes.

Mina's face reddened. “Charles." 

"Do you love me too?" he asked.

"I - I don't know!"

Mina turned her back to him.

"My marriage with Liel's mother were just arrange by our parents. But since Liel were born we became a happy family." Charles hugged Mina. “But I fell in love with you from the very first time I saw you."

Mina faced Charles and stared into his eyes.

"I love you too... But I love my husband more, even until now." Mina looked away.

"It—It's o-okay! I will do anything for you to love me, just like the way that I love you!" Charles said desperately. Then Mina kissed him, and suddenly he fell asleep.

"I'm so sorry, Charles,” Mina murmured.

After Mina took Charles to his bed, she went to Liel’s room quietly.

"Forgive me, Liel." She kissed Liel on his forehead while the boy slept. Then her tears fell.

Everyone in the house seemed so busy that morning, and Joy wondered why Liel was not in his room.

"Where is Liel?" Joy muttered. “I need to tell him what happened to the ring that he gave me."

She searched every room in the second floor, but she couldn’t find him. She tried to look outside through the window and saw Manong Ben carrying 2 big luggages which he put at the back of the car. Suddenly, she saw Charles and Liel climbing inside the car.

"No no no! It can't be!"

Joy ran as fast as she could, but the car had already left.

"No! Liel, don’t leave me,” Joy shouted. She burst into tears and sank to her knees.

"Ate?” Peach and Sarah chorused after seeing her.

"Big sis, please stop crying,” Sarah said.

"We have to leave now, and all because of the wicked witch!" Peach said furiously.

"Peach, don't say that,” Mina said.

Joy’s sisters carried bags, and their mother had an even bigger one on her right hand while holding Ian with the other. Someone clapped.

"I'm glad that I don't need to kick you all out of this mansion by myself. And since I'm still kind to the poor, here!” Charles’s mom threw wads of cash at Mina. “Take it and never come back!” Then she went inside the mansion, laughing.

"Come on, let's go,” Mina said to her children.

Peach wanted to pick up the money, but Sarah grabbed her and Joy and followed their mother.

"Mama, where are we going now?" Sarah asked.

"I don't know,” Mina answered.

Suddenly, they heard a car while walking down the road. On the other side they saw Yuriko waving and calling for them. They told her all that had happened to them, then Yuriko offered them a home.

"This is not big like the mansion, but you can live here with us. I only have my son with me because my husband is working abroad,” Yuriko said while giving them a quick tour of her house.

"Thank you so much,” Mina said.

Yuriko's son also greeted the three sisters.

"Hi girls! My name is Khay Yuki Fujima. From now on, I will be your big brother! Hehe,” he said.

"Hello Khay! This is my big sister, Joy, and my younger sister, Peach. Thank you for having us,” Sarah said.

6 years later…

"Waky wakie Sleeping Ugly. I mean, Sleeping Beauty! Or your Prince Charming will kiss you!” Khay said while grinning, then he leaned close to Peach while she was asleep.

Peach slapped Khay.

"OUCH!" shouted Khay.

"Serves you right for disturbing my beauty sleep!" Peach said.

"Aunt Mina asked me to wake you up before we become late for school,” Khay explained.

"Oh shoot! I forgot it's Monday today! Shooo! Get out of my room now!" Peach said while pushing Khay toward the door.

"But why?” Khay asked.

"Do you want too see me putting on my clothes? YOU PERVERT!" Peach snapped.

"You will not take a bath first?” Khay scratched his head.

Peach kicked Khay outside her room then slammed the door.

In the kitchen...

"Mama, I'm going now,” Ian said.

"Already? But you haven't eat your breakfast yet,” Mina said.

However, Ian had already left for school.

Joy and her mother finished preparing the packed lunches that they would sell to the neighbors and at the school.

"This is ready for delivery. I will now go ahead too,” Joy said.

"Sarah, wait for Peach and ride on Khay's motorbike. I need to deliver this first before going to school,” Joy said to Sarah who was about to finish her breakfast.

“Okay, Ate!" Sarah replied.

Then Joy followed Ian.

“Ian, do you want to ride at the back of my bike?" she asked.

"It's okay, Ate Joy. My friends will pick me up at the bus stop,” he said.

"Oh, all right.”

Joy was a bit worried for her youngest brother. She knew how hard it was for Ian to get along with other people, especially with his condition: a ‘boy without a shadow'. After the sealing ritual, Ian lost his own shadow and could only see the shadow of his clothes. He needed to wear hoodies and pants every time he go outside to replace them, so he was sometimes bullied by the way he dressed. This forced them to transfer schools until Yuriko suggested to enroll Ian at the school where she was teaching.

Now Yuriko had become the principal of that school and the triplets were also studying there as scholars.

After Joy delivered some of the packed lunches, she saw a familiar kitten at the middle of the road. She put her bike near the tree then sat to pick up the kitten.

"What are you doing here, you poor little kitty? You might be caught in an accident if you stay.”

Suddenly, a car sped toward their direction. Joy managed to dodged while holding the kitten safely in her arms.

Joy breathed a sigh of relief. “That was close!"

Then she glanced at the car and checked if the driver was safe.

"Hey! Are you alright? Please open the window!” Joy said while knocking at the driver’s side window.

The car's window opened and Joy saw a boy that was about her age touching his forehead.

"Are you insane? What are you doing, sitting in the middle of the road?” the boy.

"Meow!"

He saw the kitten in Joy's arms and added, “Tsk! Whatever!”

He started to drive again.

Joy saw her bike broken and some of the packed lunches scattered across the pavement.

"Hey, come back here! You need to pay for these,” Joy shouted while trying to chase the boy's car. Unfortunately, the boy just drove faster.

She had no choice but to walk and carry her bike until she got to school.

"This is the first time that you're late. I will record this and hope it will never happen again. You may now take your seat,” Joy's teacher said.

"I'm so sorry, Sir,” Joy said.

"Before we start our lesson, I would like to introduce to you your new classmate. Please come in!"

The teacher called for the transfer student. it was the boy in the car. But now his forehead was bandaged.

"IT'S YOU!"

Joy stood up and pointed at the boy. Everyone stared at her.

Author: TenTenJOY03

Editor: Kenneth Villa