BARBARA stopped when she recognized that voice. She wanted to ignore it but her body seemed to have a life of its own and looked at it. And just like that, the blood rose to her head when she saw the person who was the reason why some people told her that she lacked a mother’s care.

“Y-you grew up b-beautifully,” Rebecca said with trembling lips and was about to approach her when Barbara took a step back.
Like Barbara, the tears of the woman formed in her eyes.
She shook her head upon seeing it. For her, it wasn’t praised. She just said that because she wanted to flatter her, but she won’t buy it.
She examined her from head to toe and she could tell that her appearance was far from what she expected. She’s not wearing any make-up. Even her clothes looks simple. For Barbara, she looks poor.
‘What happened to her?  Isn’t she elope with a wealthy man before?’
She composed herself and show that she wasn’t affected by her presence.
“Do I know you?” she asked.
She wanted to leave, but her legs were immobilize.
“I-it’s me, Barbara, your m-mother–”
She gritted her teeth. “I’m sorry, but my mother who gave birth to me has been at peace for a long time.
She could see the pain on her face.  But the pain she left in her heart was more painful.
“Barbara, I-I know there is no forgiveness for what I did to you before. But I have my reasons. I left you and your brother because–”
“Shut up!  I am not interested in any of your explanations!  Ever since you left us for a rich man, I’ve had it in my heart and mind that you’re dead!  So please, stay away from me because I don’t want to see you ever again!” she yelled angrily as she rushed into her car, but Rebecca stopped her by her arm, causing her to push her away that made Rebecca sit on the road.
“Even if you cry blood in front of me, I will never ever forgive you!”
“Barbara, please, believe!  I didn’t want to leave you and your brother!” Rebecca insisted.
She folded her arms.
“You know what?  I get it!  The reason why you come to me now and beg because you see that are status in life are not the same as before.  Yes! We are rich now!  Thanks to Dad because he worked hard for it.  And you? It’s not our fault if you die poor! ”
“Barbara, my daughter–”
Barbara pointed a finger to Rebecca. “Stop calling me your daughter!  Because I never had a gold digger mother!” she said then completely abandoned her mother.
Rebeca calls her but she doesn’t look back.  She even noticed in her side mirror that the woman was chasing her car, but she didn’t stop it until Rebecca was tired when she finally got away. The tears that she had been holding back from falling in front of her mother started pouring out.
Her mother left them when she was only five years old because she elope with another man, a rich man perhaps.  So her father has been working hard since then. He joined the military and rose through the ranks to become a General.
That’s one of the reasons why she really hates poor people.  She looks at them like her mother.  A gold digger.

AT SIX O’CLOCK in the evening, Clayton was ordered by his mother to buy dinner for them to cook. He went to the market and bought everything his mother had written on the piece of paper she was holding. He was riding his bike home when he noticed a group of drunken men chasing a woman, asking for help. 
He stopped when he recognized the woman.
“Barbara!” he yelled then quickly let go of his bike then rushed to her.
He received a few punches from the bad guys when police noticed their riot. Then the group of men were immediately arrested and taken to the police station.
“Hush now, Barbara. You’re safe now,” he said to calm her who’s still hugging him while crying non-stop. He could feel her trembling body.
“Barbara!” he screamed when Barbara passed out due to fear and drunkenness. He knew there was a bar near the market where Barbara vented her rage towards her mother. Yes. This morning, he overheard the entire argument between a mother-daughter conversation.
He immediately hailed a tricycle and put Barbara inside. After that, he took next his bike and all his purchases to placed them on the tricycle’s grill. Then sat next to Barbara.
Her mother and aunt were even surprised when he brought Barbara home.  His mother immediately took care of Barbara after he told what happened.  When Barbara woke up, she thanked them profusely when the driver he contacted picked her up.  He got her house line from her records at BSU.
After three days, Clayton decided to go to school. Fortunately, nothing bad happened to his aunt.  He didn’t even mention to them the reason why he didn’t come home  that night and just gave them some excuses. 
When he entered their room, he was surprised when something cold poured all over his body.
“Whoah!”
 “Nice!”
 “Bull’s eye!”
His classmates teased after the white paint spilled all over his body. 
“Stop it, guys!  What you’re doing isn’t funny anymore!”  Barbara exclaimed that surprised everyone.
Letisha raised an eyebrow at Barbara. “What’s gotten into you, Barbara?  Weren’t you the one who was annoyed with him before because he was like the person you hated the most?”
Barbara looked at Clayton first before responding to her friend. “Yes! I’ll be honest, I didn’t like him at first. But I realized what we were doing to him and our other classmates before was wrong. Looking on the bright side, Mr. Cristobal was correct. We are all working toward the same goal. We have no right to stifle each other’s ambitions! I hope you learn from your mistakes as much as I am!” She uttered a long litany before dragging Clayton out of their room, who was still stunned by her defense.
When they got to the parking lot, the two of them argued.  She tried to let Clayton ride in her car but he refused.
“But your car will be painted,” he objected.
“It’s fine with me!  The seats are covered by leather. 
“But–”
She folded her arms.  “Are you going to go with me or you want to go home with that look?”
Clayton didn’t say any word and just got into her car.  Somehow, Clayton is relieved because Barbara recovered quickly from what happened to her in their town. 
Until she took him to a salon for its major transformation.  The paint stuck to his hair is no joke that’s why the Salon’s staff having a hard time to erase it in his hair.  
And while taking him at the salon, she thought of going to the Mall to buy him a new trendy clothes and shoes.  She also included some stuffs for his family as an appreciation for looking after her.