Prologue

"Foolish heart, hear me calling…Stop before, you stop falling. Foolish heart, hear my warning. You've been wrong before~"

I closed my eyes as I sang the last part of the song. A few seconds later I hear my audience clapping, whistling, and shouting my name – some even yelled 'more'. I just smiled at them, always loving their reaction everytime I finished singing a song.

"Thank you so much, everyone. Thank you, good night and good morning." I said, hearing my voice echo on the four walls of the bar I'm working part-time at. I heard 'aww' from the background before I hopped down from the stool I'm sitting at the center of the stage.

I earned waves of goodbyes from the band as I go down the stage and into the back door, finding myself inside the staff area. But I wasn't alone, Miss Kriss, manager slash owner, was already waiting for me.

"I really wish you'd agree on working full-time here at my bar, Net." She said with pleading eyes. I let out a short laugh before shaking my head. Ever since I stumbled on their sign saying 'WANTED: SINGER', Miss Kriss made it her life mission to persuade me into working full-time at the bar. But no matter how much I wanted to take the offer, my life situation won't let me.

"Miss Kriss, we talked about this. You know my life better than anyone and you also know that one job won't suffice, Emman and Jena's needs, let alone mine." I answered before sitting on one of the chairs. I sigh of relief escaped my mouth when I finally got the chance to remove my heels, it's been killing me. But Miss Kriss said that I would appeal better in stage if I wear them.

She then sat on the neighboring chair before facing me, she still had that fake sad expression plastered on her face making me giggle. She knew I knew that she's faking it making her laugh at herself. "But I'm serious, Garnet." She said rather earnest. "I'm not going to be strict, you can still get other job than this one. But you gotta promise me regular hours."

But I shook my head, "That's my problem, Miss Kriss. I can't promise you that."

I heard her letting out a sigh, probably disappointed of not accomplishing her mission, again. "Fine, but always remember that my offer still stands."

I wore my rubber shoes and jacket before standing up and gathering my bag. "Sure, Miss Kriss. But I gotta leave, it's already one am and you know by six I need to be up to cook for my siblings before they head for school."

She nodded her head as she stands then she pulled me for a hug. "Everything will be better for you, Garnet. The sun still shines even after a terrible storm." She whispers.

I admit what she said almost made me cry. But Garnet Raniel Carlos doesn't cry unless Emman or Jena are in the equation. I have learned a tough lesson in life. So from the moment my mother died until the moment dad left and abandoned us, I made sure that I will be strong not only for myself but for the two most important people in my life.

Life is shit, for starters. It will knock you until you fall first face on the ground and when you learn to stand again, it will shamelessly put you back at rock bottom. I remember a funny quote I stumbled back in years – when life give you lemons, squeeze that fucking lemon on it's eyes. And I've been living that as my mantra for years now. Because if I want to make our life work no matter how shitty our life is, I have got to be tough.

I arrived almost two o' clock in the morning on our apartment. I'm not gonna sugarcoat it, we live by a neighborhood which is infamous as a place to sell or buy illegal drugs. You will also see kids running around the street in their underwear or most of the time no underwear at all, women washing clothes near the road, couples yelling and fighting each other with all their neighbors to hear and watch. Bottomline, our apartment sucks big time. I know this isn't the best place to live, especially I have two younger siblings – Emman is ten and Jena is eight – but with what I'm earning (which isn't steady to begin with) this one bedroom apartment is the best place I could ever afford.

I dropped my bag on the floor before I tread towards the room and took a peep by the crevice made by the door, checking at Jena and Emman who's sleeping peacefully by the bed. At times like this, times I feel super tired and ready to give up, I look at this two and that's enough for me to keep going.

I sighed before closing the door gently. I threw myself by the sofa, thanking God to be finally resting. I don't know what time I slept but I knew I was lacking it when my alarm went off. I reached for my

pocket to check my phone and saw that it's already 6:00 in the morning.

I groaned, throwing silent curses inside my head before I decided to get up and started cooking. I woke the two up fifteen minutes later to get them ready for school. We had breakfast together not long after.

"Jena, how was school? I haven't seen your grades." I asked watching them eat our simple meal –

hotdog, eggs, and fried rice.

She chewed whatever's in her mouth before answering, "Well, teacher hasn't given it yet. But she said I'm still at the honor list this grading."

I copied her wide smile, extremely proud and thankful for this smart kids. "I'm really grateful that you two are doing great in academics but I also want you to remember that honors isn't really important to me, just as long as you finish school, okay?"

I saw them nodding their heads at my remark. They finished eating after a few minutes, I gave them their money for the day before sending them off to school. I started cleaning our apartment after I was left alone. I still have an hour before my shift at the restaurant a couple of blocks away starts. I was busy washing the dishes when I heard three loud knocks on the door. I furrowed my eyebrows, thinking who's gonna visit me this early in the morning.

But whoever it is seemed impatient because I heard another series of knocks against the wooden material. I rolled my eyes before shouting, "Just one sec!"

I immediately opened the door and it revealed me three men I have never met in life. They are in uniform, a dark blue polo and black slacks with matching dark sunglasses.

"Sorry, but you must've got the wrong apartment." I said in confidence.

One of them shook his head, "Are you Garnet Carlos?" He asked.

"Yes. Can I help you?"

"Not us, but someone you may know." The guy on my left answered. I looked at them befogged. Can they get more unclear?

"I beg your pardon?" I asked.

The guy on the middle handed me a brown envelope. I opened it without wasting any seconds. Then it all dawned in me, Dad!

I pulled one blown up picture and I saw our father playing in a casino. The guys on the right side pointed at the person beside my dad who's obviously having fun from their game basing on the big smile on his face.

"This is our boss. He and your father met at one of the casinos in town. They played a few games, but after your dad got series of losing streaks he disappeared into thin air."

I was left mum by our conversation because I know very well where this is going. I know it, but I wasn't brave enough to admit it.

"We don't know where to find your dad, but we're hoping you could lead us to him."

I looked at them bewildered. But in a few moments, I wanted to laugh at their faces. We've never since Dad ever since he walked out of the door of our old apartment. He never contacted us in years not until now.

I shoved the picture back in the envelope and shoved it on the middle guy's chest. "If I knew where he was, I would have probably kicked him in the balls for everything he did."

But they remained stoic and unconvinced. "You have until the end of the month to settle his fifteen million debt. Whatever information you need from us to wire the money is in here." He said before handing me back the envelope.

"Didn't you just hear what I said? I have nothing to do with him. I don't know where he is and I won't definitely shoulder the debt he buried himself into!" I exclaimed in anger. I felt the heat rush from my toe until it reached my face.

But still, they remained unmoved. "Until the end of the month or your siblings. Your call Miss Carlos." The other one said in low but lethal voice and with that they left.

I was there, by our door, with my mouth open and heart banging hard against my chest. Their words echoed repeatedly on my ears.

Fifteen million.

Debt.

Jena and Emman.