“You got a new shirt. A new watch. And a new phone. Are your shoes new too? Where did you get the money to buy all that? We’ve got each other’s backs, right? When you were in jail, I helped you get out. Don’t even think about betraying me. Or I might forget that you’re my brother.”
Kulas was walking Jessa home, discussing about his son and how he didn’t want him to end up with a broken family like him. Jessa found her things outside her room. A neighbor came over and told her that their landlord had really been pissed because she hadn’t paid her rent for six months.
“Can I put my things in the car shop for now?” Jessa asked. “Until I find a new place to stay.”
“Why would you need to look for a new place?” Kulas offered. “You can live with me.”
At the autoshop, Carlos was fretting over the injury Mikoy had sustained earlier and the boy told him that he worried as if he was his dad. Carlos asked about his father and Mikoy said he had never met him before. “You shouldn’t have done what you did earlier,” Carlos admonished. “If you didn’t fight back, you wouldn’t have gotten hurt.”
“But that guy was stealing your money.”
“Still, Mikoy, it could have been a lot worse. You should have just let him go.”
“That’s not how I was raised, boss. Besides, I wanted to repay you for helping me.”
Kulas brought Jessa home with her things and announced that she would be living with them until she found a new place. Jude was appalled at the situation and how they would be the talk of the town if Jessa stayed in the same room as his father. Kulas however didn’t give a damn even as Myrna tried to reason with him. Jessa then suggested that she stay with Myrna in her room and Kulas agreed.
Hector arrived home with his daughter and asked her why she was pouting since he had allowed her to attend the event. Roxy told him that she couldn’t be happy because Marga was mad at her since he had made her lie to her. “It’s not the end of the world if that brat never talks to you again,” Hector said. He then flashed back to his recent encounter with Daniela. “I’ve already got enough on my plate.”
“What’s wrong, pa? Don’t tell me you’re upset too. Wow. It’s a tie.”
“Why wouldn’t I be upset? I see that I don’t have a chance with the chick I like.”
“So woo her, pa. Give her a gift. Something expensive.”
“What are you talking about?”
“In case you forgot, I’m a girl too. Girls want guys to give them presents. And don’t just stick to flowers, get something she can use so whenever she carries it, she’ll always remember you.”
Hector flashed back to how Daniela’s bag handle had snapped. “Well, she did bust her bag.”
“Perfect. Go buy her a new bag. Let’s see if that doesn’t make a good impression. Make sure you end up with that lady. It’d be nice to finally have a mom.”
At the mansion, Marga approached Cassie and started accusing her of trying to steal her spotlight. Romina came over to tell bratty daughter that Cassie wasn’t stealing anything from her. Daniela came to join the argument and Romina put her in her place, making her retreat with her daughter. Mina then sent Cassie to go and call her uncle down for dinner. Marga stopped Cassie on her way. “I hate you,” she hissed.
Cassie simply smiled. “What else is new, Marga? Just so you know, I’m not holding my breath waiting for you to like me.”
Daniela complained to her husband about how Romina had almost revealed their living condition to their guests earlier. Carlos reminded her that Romina really did own the house and he was no longer interested in her rants. Danny girl still ranted on about how Romina had almost ruined everything for their daughter. “What did you do this time?” Carlos asked.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Romina wouldn’t fight back unless you did something first. I’m sure you started it.”
“Carlos, is that how bad you think of me? I’m your wife and I need you the most now.”
“For what? For bullying Romina? I’m tired of your fights. I was only on your side before because I thought you were the victim.”
“So now you’re on her side?”
“I’m not taking sides anymore. I’m fed up with this. If you want to fight Romina, go ahead. But don’t ever involve our daughter. Because once you involve Marga, you can forget I’m your husband.”
Romina was going through some files in the study room when Neil came in and asked what she was looking for. Romina told him that she couldn’t find the statement of the person who had seen her outside the hospital. She then called Jude and asked him to look up the statement of that person.
“Sure. I’ll talk to the investigator in charge,” Jude said. “Don’t worry.”
“Thank you, Jude. I think the person at the hospital that day might have seen who was with me, well enough to identify who the räpïst is.”
Hector packed a bag he had bought for Daniela, vowing to fix all her problems and show her how useless her husband was. Alvin came out of the room all dressed up and Hector started bombarding him with questions. “You got a new shirt. A new watch. And a new phone. Are your shoes new too?”
“Come on. What’s wrong with buying new stuff?” Alvin argued.
“Nothing of course. You better not be keeping anything from me. Where did you get the money to buy all that?”
“Ah…the money I earn from working at Camila. I should go now. You’re running my day.”
Hector looked on in confusion. “What’d he say?”
Jude called Romina on phone and told her that the investigator was still looking. “But I managed to get the name of the nurse who found you. Her name is Pearlita Salvador.”
Daniela was struggling with some files and Mrs. Galvez told her that she could sign them later if she was having trouble deciding. Daniela asked the older woman how she had managed to stay with her husband for years, and Mrs. Galvez told her about her marriage and the problems they had encountered. She advised her to spend more time with her family but Danny girl said she couldn’t leave Camila because Romina was still around.
“Do everything you can to save your relationship,” Mrs. Galvez said. “Why don’t you go on a second honeymoon so he’ll realize why he løvëd you in the first place?”
Romina went to the hospital to ask about nurse Pearlita and a nurse told her that she had already retired. Romina then asked for a copy of the CCTV footage sixteen years ago when she had been brought in, and the nurse said that the footage could be long gone since the hospital had already been renovated. “Then that’s the more reason for me to talk to Pearlita,” Mina said. “Do you know her address?”
“That information is confidential, ma’am. But I’ll see what I can do. I’ll do my best.”
“Thank you very much.”
At the CrAvenue Diner, Cassie asked Kristoff whether he had made a decision about the summer music festival. Kristoff told her that he wasn’t sure if he would be going because even though it was a huge opportunity, it also came with a huge responsibility. “But you’re not really this negative, Tope,” Cassie mentioned. “Is it really tough being part of a music festival? What do you have to do exactly?”
Mini-Daniela intruded. “Cassie, you really are clueless. In case you don’t get it, it’s a big event.”
“Marga, this conversation is between me and Tope. If you’re in the mood to be a pest, you should bother someone else.”
“Cassie, we’re only teenagers. You have to watch your blood pressure. I’m only informing your uneducated mind about the fest.”
“Marga, if that’s all you wanted to say, then you don’t have to be so rude,” Kristoff cut in.
“Fine.” Mini-Daniela then went on to explain how the music fest would be headlined by other elite schools and popular bands.
“See, Cassie?” Kristoff prompted. “Big crowd. “I don’t know if I can do it.”
“Kristoff, you don’t need to be nervous,” Marga said. “I’ll be there. You won’t be alone.”
“Thanks, Marga, but if I push through with this, I think I should just perform alone.”
Cassie and Kristoff exchanged smiles as Mini-Daniela stormed off. Kulas asked Jude if he still had a problem with Jessa. Jude told his father that Jessa had to pull her own weight if she was going to live with them, adding that his mother needed her rest since she was tired from cooking all morning. “I wanted to help,” Jessa claimed. “But I thought you wouldn’t like my cooking.”
“I hope that isn’t just lip service,” Jude grumbled.
“Watch your mouth,” Kulas warned.
“Can you please not raise your voice?” Myrna said. “You always sound like one of the crowing roosters outside.”
“You live under my roof so you need to follow my rules. Jude, try showing her some respect. I raised you to have manners. Jessa, come on. Let’s eat.”
Hector sneaked into Daniela’s office and placed the bag he had bought on her desk. He noticed his brother walking down the hallway as he came out. “What’s that joker doing here? I thought he was working at the factory. I guess he’s hiding something.”
At the autoshop, Gino asked Carlos whether a burglar had really broken in last night, and Carlos told him that it was so, adding that the thief would have taken everything they earned had it not been for Mikoy. “You’re such a brave kid, Mikoy,” Myrna commented.
“I toughened up living in the streets,” Mikoy said. “We shouldn’t allow people to walk all over you.”
“I wish he was living with us instead of that greedy freeloader,” Gino grumbled.
“What do you mean?” Carlos asked.
“Mom said Jessa lives in the house now. Dad asked her to move in.”
“What?”
Romina told Bonita, Neil and Bernard that she had filed for leave to go in search of the nurse. Alvin entered the office as Neil asked who would be going with her. Bernard stood up to Alvin. “What are you doing here?”
“Am here to help Romina. I’ll help you look for the nurse.”
Bernard offered to go with Romina so he could watch her back. Mina eventually accepted Alvin’s help. Marga and the Mean Squad discussed about the upcoming music fest at the diner. Marga announced that they would be going as performers. Meanwhile, Cassie was excitedly coaching Kristoff on about singing EDM and løvë songs at the music fest. Kristoff was just staring and smiling at her.
“Tope, come on,” Cassie admonished. “What are you staring at me like that for?”
Kristoff laughed. “You’re so funny. It’s like you’re more excited than I am for the event.”
“Alright then. I’ll just leave.”
“Cassie, hold on. Wait. I was only kidding. Besides, you’re actually kind of cute when you’re excited about something.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, Tope the smoothtalker,” Cassie teased.
“Still, thank you. Because you’re supporting me as early as now.”
“It’s part of my daily to-do list.”
Back at the table, Marga went on about how they would be forming a girl group of which she would be the queen. Maureen mentioned inviting her family to watch their performance but Marga told her that the music fest wasn’t for the old folks. “So who can we invite?” Nadya asked. “How about your boyfriend, Michael?”
“What? Who told you Michael’s my boyfriend? He’s just my suitor. I’m sure everyone will be excited to see me there. Kristoff is coming anyway.”
“Are you sure Kristoff is going with you instead of Cassie? It’s too bad if Michael can’t come. We’d løvë to get to know him.”
“Okay. Fine. If you want Michael to come to the event that bad, I’ll take him with me. Happy?”
Kristoff told Cassie that he was counting on her support for his performance at the music fest and would also løvë to spend some time with her there. He offered to help her get permission from her mother but Cassie said it’d be better if she talked to her mom alone and she couldn’t promise whether she would come. Jessa mocked Myrna about how she had abandoned her sons years ago, and Myrna told her that she wouldn’t have left them if only she could do it all over again. Having had enough of her antics, Myrna asked Jessa to leave, saying that she would help her get a new place to stay. Carlos tried to reason with his father about his decision to let Jessa stay at the house. The misëräble one-eyed-old man told him that he was old enough to make his own decisions.
Carlos asked Kulas to show his mother some respect since they were still married but Kulas’ brain seemed to have ‘dozed off’ since he kept spouting more nonsense. Jessa told Myrna that she liked her life at the house and no one could make her leave since everything was free. Myrna was disgusted. She asked Jessa to leave her family alone and stop toying with her husband. Daniela came back to her office to find the shopping bag Hector had left on her desk. She was thrilled to find the handbag inside, thinking that the present had come from her beloved husband. Hector stood outside the office, spying and smiling to himself as Daniela wrapped her hands tighter around the handbag. Marga arrived at the autoshop to talk to Mikoy. Mikoy started ignoring and giving her an attitude. He told Marga that he was busy and she should just go talk to her father instead.
“But I came here to talk to you,” Marga pointed out. “Not him. You’re coming with me to an event.”
“Can’t you see I have work?” Mikoy asked. ” You can’t order me around.”
“I know that, so I’ll pay for your services. You just have to come with me and pretend.”
“Just so you know, you’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever known, but I can’t stand being with you.”
Marga grabbed Mikoy’s hand as he was going to get some parts at the shop. “You can’t go anywhere now. You’re coming with me.”
“Let go. You’re hurting me.”
“Stay right here.”
Mikoy forcefully broke Marga’s hold on him, sending her wristwatch flying down onto the floor. “Oh, oh. I think it broke. Buy a new one. You’re rich enough.”
Marga picked up the watch, horrified. “This is one of a kind. My grandpa gave it to me. Now look what you’ve done.”
“I didn’t know it was important to you. You wouldn’t let go, so I had to cut loose.”
“Pay for my watch you broke,” Marga said, thrusting it into his hand. “Or else, I’ll have you arrested.”
“Arrested? Can’t you just report me first?”
“Now head to the diner where we can talk, Mikoy. And you better reconsider my offer.”
Marga turned and smiled triumphantly before getting in the car. Mikoy waited for the driver to drive away. Then he stuck out his tongue in mockery. Romina arrived home and Cassie gave her a warm welcome and treated her to some dinner she had prepared. Mina thanked her for the gesture and asked nanny Esther to join them, but she declined and told her that she would eat later because it was their time to bond. During dinner, Cassie asked for permission to attend the music festival Kristoff would be performing at but Romina didn’t give her approval since the venue was far and she would be out of town at that time. Mikoy took Marga’s watch to a dealer and asked him to fix it. The man told him that it was an expensive watch and Mikoy urged him to have it fixed anyway.
“I’ll save up for it,” Mikoy said. “That watch is really special to the owner.”
“You might be an old man by the time you save up enough money to have this fixed.”
As Mikoy took back the watch and turned to leave, his eyes landed on a middle aged man who stood at the other side of the street. Mikoy froze as the man kept staring at him. He then ran off and the man chased him but he managed to lose him. Cassie was having a video call with Kristoff, who asked her to give him a chance explain things to her mother so she would allow her to go to the music fest with him. “You’re really persistent,” Cassie commented.
“Or maybe you just don’t wanna go with me.”
“No, Tope. I really want to go to the music fest. But I can’t disobey mom. I don’t want to add to her problems right now.”
Mini-Daniela came over and started mocking Cassie about how she had everything except her own mother’s trust. “This is not about trust,” Cassie countered as Romina stood some distance away, listening in unnoticed. “Mom just cares about me and I won’t hold that against her.”
“Somethings never change, Cassie. It looks like your mom is determined to keep you caged up.”
Romina looked on from where she stood. Daniela had already prepared her husband’s clothes when he arrived home. Danny girl tried ‘serving’ him much to his annoyance. She then tried to convince him to go along with her for a conference Camila would be having soon. Carlos told her that he had a business to run. Marga came into the room as they were arguing. She demanded, instead of asking for permission, to attend the upcoming music fest and Daniela gave her approval without batting an eye.
“Marga, I haven’t given you my permission yet,” Carlos said. “You should have an adult with you. I’ll tell Gino to accompany you.”
“But dad…”
“Marga, please.”
“Fine. But please go with mommy to the conference. Do you want her to be all alone?”
“Okay.”
Hector was flashing back and smiling to himself about how excited Daniela had been when she’d received his gift. Alvin arrived home and Hector asked him where he had been. “At work,” Alvin said. “I didn’t see you at the factory earlier.”
“Yeah. I took the day off. Were you at the factory or the office?”
“Have you been following me, Hector?”
“Answer the question. Were you at the office?”
“Why would I go there? Maybe you saw someone else. I was at the factory.”
“We’ve got each other’s backs, right? When you were in jail, I helped you get out.”
“What’s your point, Hector?”
“Alvin. Don’t even think about betraying me. Or I might forget that you’re my brother.”
Myrna looked on as Kulas was drinking and having a good time with Jessa at the dining table. She walked by and deliberately bumped into the chair, spilling the drink. “Oops. Didn’t see that there. Sorry for disturbing you.”
“What’s your problem?” Kulas snapped. “If you don’t like what you see, then go to your room.”
“By the way, I found a new place for Jessa to stay,” Mryna announced as Jude joined them in the living room. “The rent is cheap. I’m sure you can afford it. You’re taking care of Jessa’s expenses, right?”
“Are you say I’m taking advantage of Kulas?” Jessa asked. “I’m grateful for the gifts he gives me.”
The misëräble one-eyed-old man got even more upset. “After everything that happened between us, you think you can get mad at me? Why don’t you move into that place you found so we can have some peace around here.”
Myrna was in disbelief. “You’d kick your own wife out instead of your mistress? What the hell are you thinking?”
“Jessa will leave when she’s ready, not because you want her to. Come on, Jessa. Let’s keep drinking. Ignore the elephant in the room.”
Romina came into her daughter’s room and asked if she really wanted to go to the music festival, saying that she hadn’t given her permission to because she was worried about her, and she wouldn’t be there to watch over her. “It’s not because I don’t trust you,” she added.
Cassie offered her mom a smile. “Yes, mom. I do understand that.”
“Cassie… almost every mother has two sides. The one that’s running things right now is my strict side, that’s why I didn’t give you permission. But I realize I should also listen to the other side too.”
Cassie stared in contemplation. “The side that wants you to experience things a young person like you should experience,” Mina went on. “I want you to know what it’s like to be a normal teenager.”
Cassie beamed and hugged her mother. “Thank you, mamma. Thank you so much for letting me go to the music fest.”
“Okay. Remember what you can and can’t do. I want Neil to go with you too. I’ll feel more secure knowing he’s with you.”
“Thank you, mom. I løvë you.”
“I løvë you too, Cassie. You’ve been a good daughter, so you deserve my trust. Enjoy, okay?”
“Thank you, mamma. I løvë you so much.”
“I løvë you even more. Enjoy for me.” Mother and daughter hugged happily. The episode ended as Cassie looked up at her mom and smiled.
