TWO DAYS LATER
The Sun was extremely hot over the province that day, but the heat didn't stop the market from bustling. It was busier than ever, with merchants yelling out their products to attract customers.
Emily held her basket in her hand as she walked through the crowd, the noise having no effect on her. It had been two days since she left, and Mike hadn't called her once. Had he just been putting up with her so she would work tirelessly to feed his family? Did he ever love her at all? All these thoughts kept running through her mind.
"Buy your fresh lobster, madam!" A boy yelled out.
Emily shifted her gaze to the boy and reminded herself not to forget what brought her here. Her cooking had fetched a lot of customers over the past two days since she started hawking her home-cooked meals. She decided to treat her parents to some seafood before prepping for tomorrow sale.
"How much?" She asked, forcing herself to talk.
"Twenty pesos each, madam!" The boy answered.
"Give me two."
She stood there waiting for her purchase to be packed. Emily stared blankly at the bowls filled with different sea animals. Her mind kept drifting back to her husband, who clearly didn't care about her. For the past year they had been together, he hadn't called to check on her.
"Uh, stop it, Emily," she whispered to herself, wiping a tear from her eye before it could fall. "It's better if he doesn't call."
Suddenly, a loud thud filled the area. Everyone turned to see what happened. Close to her, a little boy was down on the ground, his bowl of water splashed and broken. A man in a black suit stood over him, rage visible on his face.
"How dare you come close to me, you little thief!" The man shouted.
Emily quickly ran to help the boy up. "Are you okay?" She asked worriedly.
"Yes, madam," the boy answered, sniffing and obviously holding back tears.
"Hey!" Emily yelled at the man. "Don't you have a heart? How could you push a little kid to the ground like that?" She asked, her voice tight with disbelief.
"That little boy ran into me first! He was trying to steal from me!" The man spat.
"No sir, I was just trying not to hit a woman by mistake. I didn't see you there!" The boy replied, his voice cracking.
"You heard him!" Emily snapped. "You've thrown his water, he has nothing to sell, and you've broken his bowl. You have to pay him!"
The man bit his lower lip in rage. He leaned in closer, his shadow looming over her. "You're joking. He should be the one paying me for ruining my suit!"
Emily scanned the person standing before her. He looked mature and handsome, the kind of man one would think was a perfect gentleman, but he clearly wasn't. He definitely didn't look like he lived in this province, he looked much richer.
Her eyes went to his wrist. Resting there was the country's most famous and luxury watch, a "XAVIS". Emily remembered how Mike had sold her car just to purchase that same watch. She continued to stare, taking him in from his sparkling black suit down to his polished Italian shoes.
"You think I don't know this stupid trick?" He continued, pointing a finger at the trembling boy. "People like you...like that little brat... you'll do anything for money! Even if it means causing a mess. You're looking for someone to solve your problems because you're too lazy to do it yourselves!"
SLAP.
The market went silent for a few seconds. The atmosphere grew heavy as people gathered around to watch the drama. Emily stared daggers at the man, who held his right cheek in shock. Her chest heaved from the rage boiling inside her. She didn't even know these people, yet she felt a protective fire for those who were treated like trash by people who thought they owned the world.
"Here you go, take this money and buy yourself a new bowl." Emily said, bringing out some cash from her purse. She knelt down and squeezed the money in the litte boy's hands.
"Thank you so much, Madam!" The boy wiped his eyes, picked up the broken pieces of his bowl, and walked off.
"Are you happy now?" Emily asked, her voice a low, dangerous growl. She turned to the man, whose hand was still pressed to his reddening cheek. He stood there in a daze.
"I just gave that boy the money. Great, you're happy now! I don't know you, but your kind is the most despicable. You only know how to use people for your own interest, and once you're done, you toss them off like a burnt egg!"
Emily spoke through gritted teeth, her chest still heaving as she held back tears of frustration. She looked around and saw dozens of eyes watching them. She quickly walked back to where her lobsters were, paid for them, and marched off, leaving the man still standing there in shock.
The audacity of these rich people! She wished she would never see a rich person again. All they did was bring trouble.
Emily walked home, struggling to hold up her basket with one hand. Her hands were shaking so hard she had to keep switching them as she walked.
"Emily! Emily!" A voice called from behind.
A teenage girl, still in her school uniform with a black backpack, ran up to her. She had and exciting look on her face.
"Oh, Louisa, you're back from school so early?" Emily said, continuing her walk.
"We had our first test today, so we had to close early. You look said, Emily. Is there a problem?" Louisa asked, concern filling her eyes.
"It's nothing, I'm just under the weather today," Emily said, trying to brighten her face a little.
"I have something to cheer you up! Hold on!" Louisa said, removing her backpack as she searched inside.
Emily stood there waiting. Louisa was a kind kid, she had helped Emily start her home-meal business from the first day she arrived. Louisa had helped her hawk around the street, selling almost everything with such speed.
"Here you go!" Louisa chirped, bringing out a small golden card and handing it to Emily.
"What's this?" Emily asked, accepting it with hesitation as she stared at Louisa.
"My rich classmate brought five of these cards to school today, " Louisa explained. "She said a restaurant is hiring, and they pay really well. I thought of you immediately and decided to bring one to you!"
Emily stared at the object in her palm. It wasn't just a business card, it was a heavy, metallic slip that shine with an unnatural luster under the harsh sun. It caught the light so brightly it almost hurt her eyes. In the center, the name XAVIT was pressed deep into the gold, the letters smooth and bold. There was no phone number or messy address scribbled on the back, just that one name abdba small, strange symbol that looked like a royal seal.
It felt ridiculously expensive, the kind of thing someone would drop and immediately regret. In a place where people fought over every centavo, holding this card felt like holding a secret she wasn't supposed to know. It was too clean, too perfect, and way far out of her reach.
"Thank you so much, Louisa, but I think you should return this," Emily said, handing the card back.
"Just take it, Emily! Your food is too delicious to be sold in the junk market! I believe you could get into this restaurant...and if you're going bring the card with you!" Louisa said, then ran off.
Emily glanced at the card one more time and shoved it into her purse. She doubted she would ever need to go to a place like that.
Upon getting home, she saw a black Porsche parked in front of her parents' short wooden gate standing beside it was Mike.
He wore black baggy jeans and a well-ironed long-sleeve shirt. He had on sparling black sandals and sun-shaded glasses, everything complementing his brown skin. He leaned against the car, legs and arms crossed, waiting like he was about to surprise a girlfriend he hadn't seen for months.
Emily felt her heart beating so fast. He looked so handsome, and she was just in a Long shirt and an oversized T-shirt, and her basket smelling of fish.
"Emily!" Mike called out, walking toward her. He stood before her, took the basket from her hand, and dropped it carelessly to the ground. Cupping her palms in his, he said, "let's go back home, Emily. I'm rich again! I've found someone who will invest in my company!"
Emily couldn't believe her ears. She looked over his shoulder and glanced at the car. The first thing that came to her mind was that after finding an investor, his priority was to buy a brand new car. Mike would never learn, and she couldn't suffer again.
"Mike, I'm not going back with you," Emily said, pulling her hands free from his. "Didn't your family tell you? I'll be sending the divorce papers."
Mike looked utterly speechless. "Aren't you listening to me, Emily? I said I'm rich now! There's nothing to be afraid of!"
"Do you think I left because you were poor, Mike?" Emily snapped.
He really thinks of her as an idiot, she thought. He would do anything but apologize, expecting her to run back into his arms just because he was rich again.
"Then why did you leave? Emily, you're coming home with me, and I don't want to hear any more_"
"I'm not going back with you Mike!" Emily interrupted staring staright into his eyes with no fear.
Mike felt shocked and disrespected. He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous hiss. "You must be forgetting that your parents still owe me. You really didn't want to know what I'll do to them if you don't come with me."
Emily's eyes went watery, and tears rolled down her cheeks. This was the man she had sacrificed her time and freedom for, the man she had shielded from trouble.
"My parents owe you nothing. And you can do nothing. I'm done putting up with your nonsense. I think it's time for you to leave!" Emily said, her voice trembling but firm.
"One week, Emily. I give you one week to get your head together and come back to me, or else you'll regret it!" Mike barked. He turned on his heel, climbed into his car, and zoomed off like a mad dog.
Emily watched as Mike's car vanished, leaving a thick trail of dust in its wake. She stood there for a long moment in the silence of the province, feeling steadier than before. She clutched her black purse tightly to her chest, her fingers brushing against the heavy, metallic card inside.
Louisa was right. She needed to make a move. She needed to fight back.