The place where the tricycle driver took us was over eight kilometers from the town. How did I find out? On the side of the road, there were cement poles standing which showed how many kilometers the area was from the town itself. I simply watched everything we passed. Every house, signage, and much more. I knew I wouldn’t be familiar with the place right away but it’s better that I knew at least a little bit.

"I'm Elton. She's Aling Speranza, the owner of a small hut that you can rent. Don't worry about your security because my house is just next to that hut," the tricycle driver said with a smile.

His name was Elton. He was silent the whole trip so I didn't say a word either. I had already paid the fare to him and he had even dropped our belongings at the door of the hut.

"Good day, Aling Speranza and Elton." I smiled before looking at Magdalen who was just silent. "Greet them, darling."

"Good day," Magdalen greeted them shyly. Maybe she noticed that I didn't use English to communicate so she just imitated me. She remembered my instructions to her. We were conversing using the Filipino language.
[Author’s Note: Since this is a translated version, the conversations of the characters were also translated in English. But originally, they were talking using the Filipino language since the setting of the story was in the Philippines.]

"You're very beautiful, dear." Aling Speranza smiled as she looked at Magdalen. My daughter did not speak but she smiled.

It didn't take long for Aling Speranza to turn her attention to me. "Good day to you too. Welcome to our village. Welcome."

"Yvo. I'm Yvo. Nice to meet you." I first placed my right palm on Magdalen's shoulder before I introduced her. "She's Magdalen, my daughter."

"I'm so happy that Elton brought you to me. It's true that no one is renting my little hut. It's probably meant for you. Don't think about paying the rent right now, because I'll let you live there for free for the first month. Just start paying next month, Yvo. Just promise me that you will take care of your child. I believe she is your only wealth," Aling Speranza seriously said.

"I promise. You're right, she really is," I said seriously before gently squeezing Magdalen's cheek. "I'm rich because of the overflowing cuteness of my daughter," I joked to Aling Speranza.

"Magdalen is really cute. Let's go inside my house first. Maybe the two of you are hungry. Elton, maybe you want to stay and eat?"

If I was to estimate her age, Aling Speranza might be over fifty years old. Her hair was a little white. His body was healthy, probably because she ate vegetables and fruits. Her house was surrounded by various vegetables and fruits such as squash, cassava, soursop, beans, bananas, mangoes, and many more.

"No thanks, Aling Speranza. I still have to go back to town to earn," Elton refused before smiling.

"Oh, okay. Be careful on your trip."

"Bye," Elton said.

"Be careful," I said with a smile. "Thanks for bringing us here, Elton."

"You’re welcome. Bye."

After Elton said goodbye, he turned around and started walking away from us.

"Let's go inside," Aling Speranza said.

"Darling, go with Aling Speranza inside first. I’ll just go inside later," I told Magdalen and she nodded in response.

"Let's go inside. Have a snack," said Aling Speranza. She offered her palm to Magdalen and my daughter accepted it immediately.

They started walking while I decided to call Elton since he was not yet riding his tricycle.

"... I want to ask you a favor."

When I approached him he said, "What is it?"

"If someone asks about us who have just arrived in your area, please don't say that you know us. Please don't point out where we are. We are not bad people. Please trust me. We just really need to stay away. "

"I won't tell. Magdalen and you are safe here. Aling Speranza and I won't leave you alone." He smiled after he spoke. He seemed to give me an assurance. I was not mistaken that I trusted him.

"Thanks a lot!" I couldn’t believe I would find a new family through Elton and Aling Speranza.

"I'll go now. Maybe your daughter is looking for you now."

"All right. Thanks again."

Elton just nodded before smiling at me. I waited for him to leave before I finally went to Aling Speranza's house. It was a concrete house. She had a television and a refrigerator. The floor was also tiled. I noticed that her household belongings were complete. I wondered if she had a roommate living in her house.

"Mom, this is so yummy!" Magdalen greeted me and was obviously overjoyed at the food she was holding which was wrapped in banana leaves.

"Shhh. Less English, darling."

"Opsss. I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry. It's okay. Is that really good, darling?"

I couldn’t help but be curious about the food Magdalen was referring to. It looked delicious.

"Yvo, it's good that you're here. Your daughter Magdalen was very happy when she tasted the binudbod I bought from Jenah earlier," said Aling Speranza who had just come from a room opposite to the door where I entered.

"Binudbod po? I immediately asked. Magdalen happily continued eating the so-called ‘binudbod’ that was a bit sticky.

"The binudbod is made of grated cassava, coconut, and it's mixed with sugar so it's sweet. It's wrapped in banana leaves before being boiled in a casserole or pot until cooked and a bit chewy. It’s delicious. Taste it. There's more in the kitchen. "Let's go to the kitchen."

I was amazed after Aling Speranza explained. The ingredients were simple but hard to make. Hard work, that was what made it more delicious for me even though I hadn’t tasted it yet.

We smiled as Magdalen and I followed her after she turned around and started walking towards the kitchen. Her kitchen was clean and almost everything was organized.

"It's delicious!" I said after I tasted the binudbod given to me by Aling Speranza. I took another bite to enjoy the taste.

It's sweet. It's really delicious.

"Told you," Magdalen said softly.

"Less Eng–"

"Sorry," Magdalen immediately said. I was sure she got what I meant.
"Just eat, darling. Make sure to eat all what you opened," I told him with a smile.

"Yes, mom!" she answered me enthusiastically.

"Aling Speranza, do you know where I can work here in your area? I need a source of income so that we can live."

"As far as I know, the owner of the farm nearby named Sir Ponce is looking for a gardener."

"Gardener," I said before I nodded.

I could be a gardener.

"Sir Ponce?" They had the same last name. I was suddenly nervous. "What is the name of the owner?"

"Ry. He's Ry Ponce as far as I know."

I breathed a sigh of relief after hearing Aling Speranza's answer.

They had the same last name but it’s not him.

I had no news of the person I was thinking of. I didn't know where he was. I didn’t know if he was still the same as before. I didn’t know what he was doing.

"Is there a problem, mom?" Magdalen asked in astonishment, still frowning. She was still not done eating binudbod.

"Is there a problem, Yvo? Do you know the owner of the farm?" Even Aling Speranza seemed to be worried.

"Nothing," I said before smiling at the two of them. "I just remembered someone who once became important to me."