“GRANDPA!” The old man stood up when he heard that voice that echoed throughout the mansion.

“At long last, my guest has arrived. Meet my grand–”
“You?!” Meredith and Randall said in unison when they noticed each other.
He frowned. “M-Meredith? W-what are you doing here?” 
“So, you already know each other?” the old man said in shock.
“Yes! We are in the same class,” he answered while still wondering why she was in the mansion.
She couldn’t believe that they were related to each other.
“What about you guys, how did you meet?” Randall asked who was now looking back and forth at them.
“I invited her here because I wanted to thank her for saving my life the other day while I was walking down the street,” the old man said.
Randall shook his head in dismay. “Grandpa, haven’t we talked about this a million times? Why you’re so stubborn? I told you to stay at home. But what did you do? You see, something bad almost happened to you.”
“Hey! Don’t worry about it. The important thing is that I’m alive and nothing bad has happened to me. Just sit down so that we can discuss what needs to be discussed.”
“What is this all about, Granpa? And what does Meredith have to do with what we’re going to talk about?” he asked.
Meredith bit her bottom lip. She’s nervous about what the old man might say to his grandson. She wanted to leave, but his legs and feet were stuck to the floor.
“I called the two of you here to let you know that I want you to grant my last wish before anything bad happens to me.”
“What nonsense are you talking about?” Randall asked with a tone of irritation.
“I’d like you and Meredith to get marry as soon as possible.”
“What?!” they both said in shock.
Did she hear it correctly? So she was mistaken all along! She was completely mistaken in believing that the old man was only interested in her for the sake of his grandson. She breathed a sigh of relief at the thought, but she was still unwilling because, first and foremost, they didn't love each other, she wasn’t even turn eighteen, and most importantly she hadn’t met the man in her dream.
“Grandson, I’m not getting any younger. My body is already frail, so before I leave this world, I want to see you marry and start a family.”
“B-but, Don Warrick, marriage is not on my mind right now, and I’m not at the right age for your wishes,” she objected.
The old man smiled. “Don’t worry, kid. You will not marry until you are eighteen.”
She counted silently in her mind. She will be eighteen three months from now. But he shook her head. No! Her mother will not let it happen. They still have a lot of goals to achieve.
“But, Grandpa! I don’t think it’s appropriate to insist on what you want! We don’t even like each other!”
She looked at Randall when he said that. She agreed with his point of view as well but she has no idea why she felt a throbbing pain in her chest.
“That’s not a problem because I know there’s still time for you to get to know each other.”
“But–”
“My decision is final! And you know I can rest anytime. So if you two do not marry, I will donate your entire inheritance to charity.”
“What?! That’s so unfair, Grandpa! What about Meredith’s opinion? You can’t just drag anyone around! And you are well aware that I’ve been looking for someone for quite some time–”
The old man stomped his cane angrily to stop Randall. “It’s just a dream! That someone doesn’t really exist!” 
“No! I know she’s real and I won’t stop until I see her!” After he said those words, he walked out while she was still stunned in her seat.
So what her friends had told her about Randall was correct. That he had been looking for someone for a long time. Who could that person be?
“Manolo, please take Meredith home,” the old man ordered on his right hand who immediately followed. She didn’t say anything else but followed it.
The conversation between the two was not pleasant, so she will let her temper subside too because honestly, it’s scary when the old man gets angry.

“I’M HOME!” Meredith exclaimed when she get home.
She saw her mother in the kitchen, stupefied. It seems like her mind is in another dimension.
“Mom? Are you okay?” she asked worriedly.
The last time she saw her in such a situation like that was when her father died of a heart attack.
“M-Mer. . .” her mother’s lips trembled, so she hugged her causing her tears to come out.
“Mom, what’s going on? Why are you crying?”
Her mother steps back to wipe her tears before responding. “Y-your Dad, he borrowed money from a loan shark and now they’re charging us a big interest.”
“What?!” she exclaimed.
She couldn’t believe what her father had done. A loan shark? Seriously?
As far as she knows, a loan shark is a person who offers loans at extremely high-interest rates, has strict terms of collection upon failure, and generally operates outside the law.
“H-how much does Dad owe them?”
“According to Mr. Hakim, it already reached one million pesos because of the interest. And you knew that your father was addicted to gambling before, right?” She nodded.
She now understands why they move from one location to another. Her father's creditors were to blame. Until they arrived in Manila. They live in the old house of her aunt, her father's sister, who is also her sponsor at the moment. And now that they've been discovered by Mr. Hakim, they're not sure how they're going to pay for it.
“They just gave us a one-month grace period. What are we going to do now? Cakeshop is all we have. And it would be more embarrassing if we going to seek help from your Aunt again.”
She shook her head. “Mom, don’t! Aunt helped us enough. Let me handle this. I will think of another way to pay Mr. Hakim. I will get a part-time job if I have to.”
“How about your studies? I don’t want your grades to be affected.”
She gave her mother a warm hug. “Don’t worry, I will never abandon my studies,” she promised.

THE NEXT DAY, Meredith immediately talked to her friends at the canteen about the problem she and her mother were facing.
“Lex, I’m looking for a part-time job. Do you have in mind that I can work after class?” Meredith asked. Shanaia was still at the counter.
Marylex was obviously surprised by what she said. “Part-time job? Why?”
She smiled shyly. “Y-you know, extra income.”
“Extra income? For what?” they both looked at Shanaia when she came and sat next to her.
Marylex looked at Meredith. “Well, Mer is looking for a part-time job.”
Shanaia frowned. “Why? Is the income in your shop no longer consiatent? Your aunt is supporting you also, right?”
She shook her head. “She only supported my tuition. Besides, it’s too much for my aunt. I don’t want to oblige her with my new problem.”
Marylex holds her hand. “Mer, tell us, what are you going through right now?”
She heaved a deep sigh. “Dad borrowed some money from a loan shark a long time ago and we need to pay it back as soon as possible.”
“If that’s the case, I will lend you my savings. How much does your dad owe them?” Marylex asked while looking for her wallet inside her bag.
She could have borrowed from her friends if their debt was really small, but they owe seven figures for God’s sake.
She approached them and whispered. “We had a million peso debt.”
“A million pesos dept?!” Marylex and Shanaia said in unison, still in shock.
Marylex almost drops her wallet. “Your Dad owes that much?!” 
“Yeah! Mom and I had no idea that he had such a large debt.”
Shanaia shook her head. “That’s a huge amount. Even if you sell your organs on the black market, it still won’t reach one million.”
“I agree! Even if you strip in front of patrons at the bar, it’s still not enough,” Marylex commented.
“I intend to pay them in installments. That’s preferable to me not paying at all, right? ”
The girls simply shrugged.
"So, do you know of any jobs I could apply for?” Meredith asked again.
“Shan, your cousin has a café, doesn’t he? Why don’t you recommend Meredith?” Marylex proposed.
Shanaia looked at Meredith. “I know! However, you’re still a minor. My cousin didn’t accept minors.”
Meredith snorted and clunged her arm to Shanaia. “There are still three months before I turn eighteen. But maybe you can find a way? Being a dishwasher is fine with me.”
“But my cousin’s café is open until nine o’clock at night,” she reason out.
“I’m fine with it. I can complete our assignments first thing in the morning.”
“Are you sure?”
She raised her right hand. “Of course! I swear, I can do it!”
Shanaia nodded. “Alright, I’ll see what I can do.”
Meredith jumped happily. “Yes! You truly are the best, Shan! I love you!” Then she hugged her.
“You don’t need to thank me yet because I’m still not doing anything.”
“I’m just happy, okay? I’m just thankful to God because he sent me generous, supportive and gorgeous friends like you guys!”
“Ugh! Stop it, Mer. You’re making us flutter,” Shanaia complained.
Meredith pouted her lips. “Hey, I’m serious!”
“Enough girls! Let’s just finish our food,” Marylex interrupted.

“GOOD DAY everyone! I have summoned you here today to inform you that we will be having a project this coming Saturday,” Carlota announced, the president of the Cooking Club.
“We’re having an event, President?” one of the members in the back asked.
“Actually, this is not a school event, it is an event of the Swimming Club. They will have a welcoming party for their new members and we were assigned to make something for them to eat. So I want to know if any of you would like to volunteer?”
The whole room fell silent. Meredith’s eyes wandered. No one spoke or even raised a hand. She wanted to volunteer to take advantage of the opportunity to speak with Randall. Because, ever since they spoke with Don Warrick, he seemed to be avoiding her.
She raised her hand. “President, will the food for the Swimming Club be deducted from our budget?”
“No! Since they are the ones who requested us, they will be responsible for all the expenses. Aside from that, they will also provide a budget for our club. And that’s a big help since we still lack a lot of things here.”
“Yes!”
“Perfect!”
“That’s nice!”
Her companions reacted simultaneously.
“So, who wants to volunteer?” Carlota asked again.
And they raised their hands together except for the others who had other tasks that day.
“Good! And since it will be held on Saturday, we will expect you on Friday to prepare the necessary things, okay?” Joebeth added.
“No worries, Vice!” they said in unison.
“And because of that, I have another surprise.”
“What is it, Pres?!”
“We’re not just going to cook for them because we will also accompany them!”
Everyone clapped happily and was obviously excited.
“How did that happen, Pres? In the past years, we only cooked for them but we didn’t accompany them.”
All the officers in the club looked at Meredith. 
“Because the Captain of the Swimming Club wants Meredith, his cousin, to enjoy this get-together as well, so, thanks to Meredith!”
Everyone was obviously surprised by what they discovered about her. 
“And this is a good start for us to establish a good relationship with other clubs, right?!” Everyone agreed.
“Aside from that, our school’s top priority is the safety of the students, that’s why we were assigned to provide them their food.”
“Will that excuse us from class, Miss Pres?”
“Of course! That’s why I’m holding your excuse letters for those who will come so you can give it to your professors ahead of time,” Carlota explained as she handed out the papers.
“So, since we will also be with them, we’ll be in charge of cooking their breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner.”
“No problem, Pres!”
“We got this, Pres!”
Chenny turned to face Meredith. “Mer, since making desserts are your specialty, it’s up to you to come up with the desserts you want to make, okay?”
She nodded. “You can count on me, Sec.”
“Good! Meeting adjourned. You can go home now.”
They bid their goodbye.
“Bye, President!”
“Bye, Miss Joebeth!”
“Bye, Miss Chenny!”
“Take care everyone!” the officers said in unison.