Fake & True

She threw her bag on the sofa upon entering the house and headed straight to the kitchen to get some cold water to drink and food to eat. Nova was starving because she hasn’t eaten any food yet since she woke up at eleven am. She finished packing the books to be shipped that day and forgot about her meal; she missed living with her parents in times like that. However, she was a fully grown woman now, and she wanted to live a life of her own. That was why she left home and lived in an apartment in the city.

Chugging down the semi-cold water, her eyes looked for leftover food inside the fridge. She found a cardboard box from her parents’ favorite pizzeria. As expected, there was this lasagna half-eaten—no need to ask whose leftover was that. Nova was sure it was her mom’s. Holding the cold leftover with one hand, she sauntered towards the drawer and got a fork. She did not bother to heat it on the microwave. It will take minutes and will cost electricity, and she hated exerting too much effort. So, she sat on a chair with a foot on it and started eating her first not-so-decent meal of the day.

People say, when you grow up, as long as you finished college, got a job that pays you well, you will survive. She believed that when she was young. But now that she was an adult, all she ever wished was to throw a punch on those people’s throats for omitting the important details. Their words seemed to be myths and legends. It was not the real deal when she grew up. Getting a college degree was not for everybody. Nova was lucky enough that her parents have the means to pay for her tuition fee. But after college, things were rougher than she thought. Finding a job was almost impossible for fresh graduates. Employers were looking for applicants with experience. Where could a fresh graduate get that if not given a chance to be hired? And the thing she hated the most, adults work hard to earn money just to pay taxes and bills! Ah, she missed her childhood days—care-free, young, wild, no responsibilities.

Nova was almost done eating when she heard a loud honk in their garage. It must be her dad. She parked her car as if she owns the garage. She did not mind getting up, though. Her father could park outside in the meantime.

She turned her gaze on the doorway after a while and saw her mother walking towards the kitchen, followed by her father, carrying bags of groceries.

“Oh, sweetie!” her dad said when he saw her. “You’re home.” He looked delighted to see her again.

“Yeah,” she said nonchalantly and drank the last drops of water from the mug.

Nova seldom goes home for the last couple of months since she started self-publishing. She rented an apartment where she makes the books on her own after writing, editing, and lay-outing them. It requires hard work, sleepless nights, blood, sweat, and sometimes tears. But at least, it all pays off.

“We’re about to head to your place to bring you some groceries and food. Good thing you’re already here. You can bring it on your own.” Her dad separated a couple of grocery bags. “Take these. It’s yours.”

“Love you both!” Nova told her parents and giggled.

“Nova, when will you get yourself a man?” her mother butt in.

“Ah, I forgot to feed the chickens!” Her dad exited the kitchen through the backdoor.

She knew he just made an alibi to feed the chickens because he did not want that topic as well.

“Mom…” she groaned.

“What? You’re twenty-seven now, Nova. When I was your age, I was already dating your dad.”

“It’s you, Mom, not me.”

Mommy Esther folded her arms over her chest and looked at her with piercing eyes. But that failed to intimidate her now. Nova was no longer a child. She knew now what is wrong and what is right. She was at the right age to make decisions for herself.

“Nova Leigh…”

“Yes, mother dear?” she countered.

Her mom heaved a deep sigh and sauntered towards the table.

“I know you’re old enough to understand why we’re pushing you to settle down.”

“Of course.” She leaned against her seat. “I’m an only child. You want me to settle down and have my own family so that I wouldn’t be alone once you and dad are gone…for good.”

“Exactly! As you can see, I’m already in my seventies, honey. I don’t want to see you alone and lonely.”

“Mother, I’m happy when I’m alone.” Nova pouted her lips.

“You’re just saying that because you’re still enjoying what you have now. Once it’s gone, you’ll feel alone and empty. And I don’t want that.”

“Mom…listen—”

“You know why you find it hard to look for a match? It’s because you made yourself believe that all men out there are just like Jayden.” Mommy Esther turned around as she shook her head.

“Dad is an exemption. And please, don’t mention that name again. It makes my blood boil.” With her lips pressed together, Nova rose from her seat.

Her mom turned to her again.

“He hurt you. But it doesn’t mean other guys will do the same.”

“Mom, you’re from a different era, okay? I know better. Men are all the same,” she insisted.

“How can you say so?” Mommy Esther arched a brow.

“They all have testicles.”

Nova could have burst into laughter if only her mother was a different person. Mommy Esther’s eyes almost popped out from her eye sockets.

“Goodness gracious, Nova Leigh!” her mom exclaimed.

“Just pretend you didn’t hear anything.” She wagged her hand.

“How can I ever unheard that, you—”

Her mother’s words were suddenly cut off when her phone rang. Nova excused herself and answered the call.

“Yes, Gianna?”

“Where are you?” her friend sounded anxious. And she did not like that.

“What’s the matter, Gi?”

“Come here, quick!” There was urgency in her friend’s voice.

“Where?”

She heard Gianna groaned. “Rainbow Village.”

Rainbow Village was an animal shelter, Nova and her friend Gianna’s project for animal welfare that they started years ago. They rescue cats and dogs, take them to the shelter, feed them, love them, and help them look for a forever home. Most of the time, Gianna would urge her to come quickly because they need to rescue an animal, or one needs immediate medical attention.

“Okay, I’ll be there in a jiffy.” She grabbed her grocery bags from the kitchen counter. “Mom, tell dad I’m leaving.” She gave her mother a peck on the cheek.

“Too soon?” Mommy Esther followed her out.

“Something’s up at Rainbow Village.” Her mom opened the door for her. “Thanks.”

“Is someone sick?”

“I still don’t know. Gianna didn’t mention anything. And now, I wonder why.” She put the bags down and fished the key from her pocket.

“Sweetie, your bag.”

“Oh, I’m not bringing that. I’ll sleep here tonight.” She smiled and opened the trunk.

“I’ll cook your favorite.” Mommy Esther smiled back.

Nova’s heart was panting like crazy while she was on her way to Rainbow Village. She always tried to look on the positive side that nothing terrible happened while she was away. But then, Gianna’s tone and words made her feel anxious.

The animal shelter was a thirty-minute drive from her parents’ home, and there was no traffic either, but it was quite funny that the drive seemed to be long this time. Then, she noticed that she was cold and her hands were sweaty despite the moderate coldness from her car’s air-conditioning.

She drew a breath as she pulled over in front of the Rainbow Village. Checking her phone, Nova got off her car and headed inside the animal shelter. A few meters away from the office, she heard a high-pitched voice of a woman. Even without seeing the face of the one yelling, Nova already knew who that voice belongs to—Mrs. Roxas, the one who owned the land where the animal shelter stood.

“Gianna, what is happening here?” Nova asked as soon as she arrived at the office.

Mrs. Roxas and her friend both turned in her direction while she confidently walked towards them. Gianna immediately went behind her to hide.

She heaved a sigh and managed to smile in front of Mrs. Roxas, who was scowling at her for some reason that she was not aware of. Nova beckoned their visitor to sit as she walked to the swivel chair behind the table.

“I know that our payment for the lease is already past its due date. Please forgive me, Mrs. Roxas. There had been a little problem with my bank, so I failed to—”

“I want you to vacate my land as soon as possible,” said Mrs. Roxas that made her froze for a moment.

“V-vacate? A-as soon as possible?” She turned her gaze to Gianna, who was about to cry any minute now.

“Do you have a hearing problem?” Mrs. Roxas smirked arrogantly.

Nova’s hands clenched and unclenched on her sides. She did not know if arrogance was essential in that conversation. It annoys her because she hates that. Still, she managed to stay calm.

“Why are you kicking us out in this instant?” Nova sat on the swivel chair.

“I received a summon from the barangay hall. Someone filled a complaint that your place stinks and it’s hazardous for the health.” Mrs. Roxas turned to Gianna. “Why don’t you make some coffee. I’ve been here for half an hour, yet you have nothing to offer.”

“You won’t enjoy a cup of coffee in a stinky place, believe me.” She leaned back to her seat and watched the middle-aged woman’s eyes grew wider.

Mrs. Roxas scoffed and raised her head. “You better pack up—”

“Ma’am,” Nova cut her off. “I’ll settle the problem with the barangay. How come our shelter stinks? We clean and disinfect the kennels regularly for the animals’ safety and for the community as well. We have proper waste disposal and management. So how come someone will file a complaint against us for that reason when we are far from homes? This place is almost at the end—”

“I want you gone, that’s all!” Mrs. Roxas exclaimed.

“But we signed a five-year contract, and it’s been three years—”

“I am the lessor. Whether you sign a contract or not, if I want you out of my land, you can do nothing about it!”

Nova gritted her teeth. She was about to run out of patience any minute now.

“Then you should give us at least three months to vacate your land. We are currently housing over a hundred rescued animals. We need to find a new place and build a new shelter.”

“I can only give you ten days.”

“What?” She stood up abruptly. “This is unjust! Why are you doing this to us? What did we do to you to deserve this kind of treatment? I can’t believe this!” Nova ran her fingers through her hair.

“I am selling this land. That’s why I want you out.” Mrs. Roxas grabbed her bag and rose from her seat.

So, now the truth came out.

“You should’ve told us from the start that you’re selling this land. Why do you have to lie?” She folded her arms over her chest. “So, how much?”

“Fifteen million pesos,” Mrs. Roxas said with an arched brow.

Nova choked with her own breath. “F-fifteen million?”

“Yes. For three hectares of land.”

“What if I buy these two thousand square meters we are currently occupying—”

“You gotta be kidding me. I am selling my land as a whole.” Mrs. Roxas turned her back and went out of the office.

Nova plopped down on the swivel chair and hit her forehead on the table.

“Where will I get those fifteen million pesos?”

Her savings in the bank did not even reach a million. Even if she borrows some money from her parents, it was impossible to raise such amount.

“Fifteen million pesos…Fifteen million pesos…” She cried without tears.

“Nova…” Gianna patted her back. “Maybe we should ask Jayden’s help—”

She raised her head and scowled at her friend. “No!”

Renting his aunt’s land was one of the biggest mistakes she had made in her life.

“Then what are we gonna do now?” Gianna sounded helpless. “We can’t just take them home, Nova. It’s not that bad to ask Jayden for help. Maybe he can talk to his aunt to give us at least three months to vacate this place. We both know it’s not that easy to find and build a new place.”

“We will find a way. We must find a way.” She tilted her head and fixed her eyes at the ceiling as though she could find the answer there. “For now, we should ask the other animal shelters that we know if they could accommodate some of our rescues in the meantime. Then, let’s call our friends and ask them to do foster care. Tell them I will shoulder all the expenses, just take our babies in even for a month or two.”

“Nova—”

“Gianna, please! If you’ll keep telling me to ask for Jayden’s help, just shut your mouth. I don’t want any connection with him.”

“Okay…” Her friend sighed and went out of the office.

Nova stared blankly when she was left alone inside the office. She wanted to cry, but her tears would not fall. It was so frustrating that even her tears would not side with her at that moment. She groaned and hit her head on the table again.

Minutes passed by, and her forehead stayed pressed against the table. Then, the smiling face of her late Auntie Marilyn flashed on her mind. Nova raised her head and laughed like a mad woman. It made Gianna rushed back to the office.

“Hey, what happened?” her friend asked.

She continued laughing until Gianna grasped her arms and shook her.

“Gianna.” She looked at her friend as she grinned from ear to ear. “I’m such a fool to forget about that thing.”

“What are you talking about, Nova?” Her friend’s brows furrowed.

“I need to talk to someone first.” She patted Gianna’s cheeks and rose from her seat.

“You’re leaving without telling me what it is.”

Nova clucked her tongue and winked. “I’ll tell you soon.”