At 44, Jenna Marquez has yet to settle down. 

Married with a single child, her hair is molded into the shape of a bun and her lips a shade off from old rose lipstick. 

She sits at the dinner table, hair still kept up and fingers still counting bills. Thankfully, these bills aren’t from daily customers, they belong solely to her.

Only to her. 

On the desk lay a litany of papers. Bills, papers, printed application forms, and identification cards. Hopefully, her son stays asleep tonight, sleeping soundly in the farthest room down the hall.

He doesn’t need to see her like this. He can’t. Not again. 

Weary hands open her phone to check her email. Jenna stares blankly at the screen. It’s been five business days. She opens it once again in stubborn hope. 

To: jl.HLHoldings@gmail.com 

About: Posibleng pagtaas sa sweldo

CC : Joy.Galang.HLHoldings@gmail.com

Mr. Jin Lim 

HL Holdings Regional Manager 

Mr. Lim,

Magandang umaga po, Mr. Lim. Ako po si Jenna L. Marquez, isang cashier sa Poblacion branch ng Happy Life Supermarket, sumusulat upang magtanong kung puwede akong humingi ng pagtaas ng aking sahod. 

Hindi makapagpadala ng pera ang asawa ko dahil nawalan siya ng trabaho sa Qatar, at tumataas po ang bayarin para sa pagpapagamot ng anak ko. Sana po ay isaalang-alang mo ang aming kalagayan.

Maraming salamat po. 

Magalang na pasasalamat,

Jenna L. Marquez 

Her son sleeps easy tonight, but Jenna can only hope the last few bottles of his medicine can last until the 30th. 

Until then, these bills must cover their refrigerator. 

–

At 31, Jin Lim can comfortably retire before the age of 60. 

In his kitchenette, he brews another cup with his instant coffee maker. Quiet is the house without any hustle and bustle, and the Lims enjoy a leisurely evening as a family. 

While he waits, he scrolls through his many, many emails. One of which he has yet to open.

Jenna L. Marquez? 

Curious, he skims through the email brazenly. 

Just as quickly as he had read it, Jin types a reply. 

RE: 

To: Jenna.Marquez@yahoo.com  

About: Posibleng taas sa sweldo. 

CC: Joy.Galang.HLHoldings@gmail.com

Jenna L. Marquez

Employee

Dear Mrs. Marquez,

Good evening, Mrs. Marquez. 

I have read through your email regarding a raise in your monthly salary. Although your decade-long loyalty can qualify you for a raise, current economic trends make this request a risky endeavor.

If you have any inquiries regarding a raise or related questions, kindly email our HR manager, Joy Galang.  

We hope you understand our decision, and we wish you the best of luck. 

Sincerely,

Jin Lim 

He sends the email without a second thought, just in time for a cup of hot espresso.

Jin just hopes that Ms. Galang will be able to reply to the other inquiries from the rest of the staff. 

Until then, Mr. Lim wonders what to buy to fill his refrigerator before the family reunion.