CHAPTER 1

CAPE TOWN

“Mga binibini, ginang, at ginoo kalalapag lang po natin sa Cape Town International Airport at tayo ay patungo na sa terminal 2. Maligayang pagdating dito sa Cape Town. Mangyari po lamang na manatiling nakaupo at nakakabit ang seatbelt. Wag po lamang kunin ang gamit hanggang ang ating eroplano ay hindi pa ganap na nakahinto. Sa ngalan ng Lipad Pilipinas Airlines kami po ay nagpapasalamat sa iyong pagtangkilik saamin. Inaasahan po namin ang muli nating pagkikita. Maraming salamat.”

The announcement made Mahalia feel anxious and giddy on her seat next to the window as her eyes widened to see the land of Cape Town.

“Oh my God. Dili ko katu-o nga najud ko diri.” Mahalia muttered to herself in her mother tongue as she continues to stare at everything in awe.

TRANSLATION: I can’t believe that I am finally here.

She has never travelled out of the Philippines before and since this is her first time, she is filled with excitement and fear at the same time because she does not know what could be in store for her in this foreign land. Aside from the fact that this was her first international flight and first time to be on an actual plane ever though she is already 28, Mahalia did not have any problems at all. Excluding the take off part where was not used to and she was covered in heavy sweat and fright while gripping tight the handles of his seat as she shut her eyes closed and prayed endlessly until she recovered from it.

Her first flight went well.

“Ladies and gentlemen we just landed at Cape Town International Airport and we are heading to terminal 2. Welcome here in Cape Town. May you remain seated and seat belts attached. Just don’t take the equipment until our plane hasn’t completely stopped. On behalf of the Lipad Pilipinas Airlines we thank you for patronizing us. We are looking forward to seeing each other again. Thank you very much.”

The moment Mahalia stepped out of the aircraft’s passageway, she takes a deep breath in as she feels the South African breeze hit against her skin. She feels completely far from home and she knows that she is way far away but she is determined to make this place feel like an abode. At least she is not worried about getting over the monstrosity of being homesick that will surely surge over her in a matter of days.

Her mind is nowhere near that as she takes her first steps on the soil of Cape Town while she is beamed with hope and anticipation. Mahalia felt tensed but she tries to shake it off of her mind and tries her best to fill her thoughts with excitement and positivity instead.

The first three days, Mahalia felt like a tourist after she had sightseeing all by herself and enjoyed the scenic views and natural tourist spots that Cape Town has to offer. She took a lot of pictures and talked to a lot of locals who helped her with her direction. Mahalia felt like she has finally found her own freedom in South Africa and found the place where she wants to be aside from the Philippines.

She has always longed for traveling and working in another country for a greener pasture and she knows she is doing this for her family. She still cannot believe that she is wearing stylish clothes that she does not even wear in the Philippines due to the weather and humidity that South Africa has to offer which is in great contrast to her hometown.

Happiness and exhilaration is what she has been feeling ever since she arrived in Cape Town but that was five months ago.

One hundred and fifty-two days later after her arrival, all of the excitement and bliss instantly drained out of her body when Mahalia met her worst nightmare who dressed in crisp pants suit, white tucked in dress shirt and black heels. A woman named Marisol Montecarlos, a Filipino just like Mahalia but with a sickening and jealous attitude who has been working in the institution for more than four years, intentionally framed her with assault and battery which caused a bitter ending for her and her job as an English teacher in one of Cape Town’s prestigious schools.

“I swear I did not do that to her Mr. Korstenbroek. I could never hurt anyone.” Mahalia defended herself in front of the school’s board of members, the principal, Marisol and Marisol’s paid and claimed eyewitness, Kate Denver.

Mirasol cries dramatically over her seat as Kate tries to console her before she fires back at the innocent Mahalia, “Why do you still have to deny it when there is proof all over my legs and arms?”

Mahalia stares at Mirasol’s bruised arms and legs with a gauze plastered on the corner of her forehead. Mahalia does not know where Mirasol got her bruises from and why she even had clutches on because she never laid a finger on her despite their confrontation that happened three days ago.

“But I did not do those things to you.” Mahalia defended herself.

“You are such a liar!” Mirasol barks.

“Okay, teachers please that’s enough.” Mr. Korstenbroek calls out. “We do not really need to scream at each other, we are no longer kids. We shall settle this adults because we are professionals, aren’t we?”

Mahalia answers a nod.

“Miss Santiago, can you please tell me what happened to you and Miss Montecarlos three days ago?” Mr. Korstenbroek questions as he lowers his eyeglasses over his nose bridge while his eyes are on Mahalia.

She creased her brows in the middle of her forehead as she tries to recall what really happened that day since they are all convinced that Mirasol is the victim. Mahalia stares at her fingers and even though she is innocent, she is nervous to go against a teacher who has been working in the institution for three years compared to her who just got hired months ago.

“I was in the teacher’s lounge all by myself trying to get my stuff ready after the ceremony then…” Mahalia pulled her head up and stared at Mirasol who stares at her with pierced eyes with arched brow and in a split second, her expression changed into more pitiful.

Hay naku, gawa talaga sa plastik ‘tong babaeng ‘to. Sobrang recyclable talaga si mamshie. Mahalia thought to herself while being sarcastic.

TRANSLATION: My goodness, this woman is certainly made out of plastic. Mamshie is indeed recyclable.

NOTE: “Mamshie” - slang word, friendly sometimes sarcastic endearment for “mom” or “friend”

“Then what happened Miss Santiago?” Mr. Korstenbroek ends the silence in the room.

Mahalia breathes, “Then she barged into the room and-and started to verbally harass me. She was completely disappointed that I was awarded as the teacher of the month and not her and that--”

“That is not true!” Mirasol barks right away, defending her lies.

“It is true!” Mahalia fights backs as she clenched her fists out of anger. She cannot believe how Mirasol is playing victim in a situation like this. She never thought that her own fellowmen would actually do this to her. She never thought that a Filipino would actually betray her.

Mahalia breathes heavily through her nostrils, “She taunted me that she would do everything to ruin me and my reputation in this school because I took away her winning streak as teacher of the month for two consecutive years.”

Mahalia turns to the principal and the rest of the board members, “Mr. Korstenbroek you have to believe me, I would never do anything to harm anyone here.”

“Well if that is the case, do you have any proof with your allegations against Miss Montecarlos, Miss Santiago?” The vice-president of the institution questions.

“Well….” I muttered. “N-No.”

“Can anyone help you defend with your statement?” She asks Mahalia again.

“N-No” Mahalia answers devastatingly. “I… I was alone in the lounge with her.” She responds with a soft voice.

“Then how are we going to believe that you are not the who pushed her off the stairs?”

“Because I was not really the one who did it. I could never. You can check the CCTV or… I… I…” Mahalia ran out of words as her thoughts begin to be enveloped with darkness and negativity because no matter how hard she defends herself, she feels as if no one is still going to believe her anyways.

“There was no CCTV camera from that staircase Miss Santiago. Unlike Miss Montecarlos, she has an eyewitness while you don’t. How can we believe words from a new teacher like you compared to another teacher who has been in this school longer than you?” Mr. Korstenbroek says firmly, as if he has decided on what to do.

“But Mr. Kors--”

“Miss Santiago enough.” He cuts her off authoritatively. “If you cannot find anyone or any evidence against Miss Montecarlos’ claims against you then I am afraid that I have to terminate you from this institution for assaulting another teacher.”

Mahalia’s eyes widens in surprise as her mouth opens, “You… You will fire me?”

“I’m afraid so.”

Mahalia’s eyes travels to a subtly grinning Mirasol before she changed her facial expression to a more pitiful one. “How can you terminate me when you have not even proven me guilty?” Her voice softens in despair.

“I have discussed things with Miss Montecarlos before this meeting and out of pity, she has decided that she is not going to file a case against you if you choose to resign working here. After all, you are her fellow countrymen.” Mr. Korstenbroek adjusts himself on his seat. “Despite what you have done to her, she still cares about you.”

His brows arched as he stares at the teary-eyes Mahalia. “You should consider yourself lucky, Miss Santiago that you are still given options out of the crime that you have done. It’s up to you on what you should choose, termination or prison.”

Mr. Korstenbroek clears his throat as he adds, “We don’t really want a teacher with such record in this institution. It’s best we terminate you.”

Mahalia stands as tears falls over her cheeks and her heart is hurting too much from such humiliation and betrayal that she had in this room. She clenches her fists angrily as she tries to remind herself that she is not in her own homeland and that she needs to accept the fate as it is since they have already decided even before she could say anything.

“How can I defend myself when you have already decided the result?” Mahalia tries to speak through her tears. “I will pack all my things right this very instant but before doing so, I wish you have really made the right decision of terminating me without even having a solid proof.”

“Are you saying Kate Denver is lying just to risk her reputation here as an educator of 6 years?” Mr. Korstenbroek questioned.

Mahalia bites her inner before answering, “You should ask Miss Denver herself.” She travels her eyes towards Kate who is not even looking back at her, out of guilt.

After that meeting, Mahalia finds herself placing her things inside the box while other teachers were having classes. She peacefully gathered her things while stopping her tears from falling over her cheeks. She hears the door closing and as soon as she turns around, she sees a smiling Mirasol who dramatically uses the clutches as she approached Mahalia with a winning grin.

“Baka may nakalimutan ka pa?” Mirasol speaks confidently as she arched her brow at Mahalia.

TRANSLATION: Maybe you forgot something else?

Mahalia finishes packing her stuff before she faces Mirasol again, “May iiwan nga pala ako para sa’yo, itong empty box. Pagkasiyahin mo diyan ang iyong pagka-ingrata at pagkaselosa mo.”

TRANSLATION: I'll leave something for you, this empty box. Let your ungratefulness and jealousy fit in there.

“Sobrang kapal rin ang balat mo, noh?” Mirasol barks.

TRANSLATION: Your skin is so thick, isn't it?

Mahalia dramatically pouts, “Mana sa’yo. Teka lang, parang hindi kakasya sa box noh? Gusto mo isa pang box?”

TRANSLATION: I got it from you. Wait, it doesn't seem to fit in the box, does it? Want another box?

Mirasol grits her teeth, “Sabihin mo na ang dapat mong sabihin kasi wala namang magbabago eh. At the end of the day, you are no longer welcome here.”

TRANSLATION: Say what you want to say because nothing will change.

“Yan, d’yan ka magaling. Aside from manipulating people, magaling ka ring magsinungaling. To think, kapwa Filipino tayo, dapat nga tinutulungan mo ‘ko. But no, you’re dragging me down to make you go up higher.”

TRANSLATION: There, that’s where you are good at. Aside from manipulating people, you are also great at lying. To think, we are both Filipino, you should have been helping me. But no, you’re dragging me down to make you go up higher.

Mirasol smirks, “Because up there is where I belong and down there is where you should be.”

“Huwag ka naman sana kunin ni Lord.” Mahalia sarcastically barks back before she grabs all the stuff she needed and stomps her way towards the door.

TRANSLATION: Please don’t let the Lord take you.