The soft hum of the Bronco's engine was a comforting background to their quiet drive back home. Danielle had never imagined herself behind the wheel of something so rugged and powerful, yet here she was—easing into it more naturally than she expected. It still felt surreal, the whole concept of owning such a vehicle, like she had accidentally stepped into someone else's life. But now, with the windows down and the wind slipping through her loose strands of hair, she was starting to understand the appeal.
They were climbing one of Antipolo's winding roads now, the kind that curved lazily along the hillside, revealing sweeping views of lush treetops, terraced gardens, and old Spanish-style homes tucked into greenery. The air was cooler here, crisper, and carried the faint scent of damp earth and flowering trees. No billboards screamed for attention. No honking chaos or fumes from belching exhaust pipes. Just roadside fruit stalls, giant acacia trees, and the occasional tricycle weaving quietly between them.
Compared to the grime of Manila, where every street seemed burdened by too many people, trash, and unresolved tension, Antipolo felt like a reprieve. A place where her lungs didn't feel like they were constantly being choked by city dust. Danielle's eyes swept over the scene, grateful.
As the scenery shifted past her, a thought crept into her mind. How much have they actually paid me so far? She pulled out her mental ledger and started calculating.
She was hired on September 9, and she'd been receiving $3,500 every two weeks, right on the 15th and 30th. Counting the payments: September 15, September 30, October 15, October 30, and November 15. Five payments in total. That was...
Seventeen thousand five hundred dollars? Danielle blinked in disbelief.
She quickly converted it in her head — that's around 1,000,000 Philippine pesos. She nearly laughed aloud at the thought. "One million pesos? Hahaha, that's way more than I expected. Daig pa natin tumama ng lotto, sis."
She shook her head with a dry smile. No wonder things felt a little easier lately. The weight of the numbers settled on her like a quiet reassurance. This wasn't just a paycheck; it was a foothold, a lifeline slowly pulling her out of the chaos.
This wasn't just a change in zip code. It was a kind of psychological unburdening. A breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding for years.
From the backseat, Ellenore's voice broke through her thoughts.
"Mommy, can we go faster?" she asked, her little fingers gripping the window edge, eyes wide with delight as the hills unfolded before them.
Danielle smiled into the rearview mirror.
"We'll speed up when we get to the highway, Ellenore. Hold on to your tiny face."
The little girl giggled, her curls bouncing with every bump on the road.
"My tiny face is strong, Mama!"
Danielle chuckled, her heart blooming.
"I know it is."
As they approached the outskirts of the subdivision, the late afternoon sun slanted through the trees, painting long golden shadows across the road. She could already see the corner of their new home peeking from behind a row of bougainvillea. It was still settling in, this new chapter. But driving here—coasting through clean, quiet streets with her daughter babbling about everything she saw—was quickly becoming her favorite part of the day.
She pulled into the driveway and turned off the engine. The Bronco gave a final, gentle shudder before going still.
Danielle opened the door and hopped down—literally. Getting out of the damn truck still required a small jump.
Whoever at Horizon thought a Bronco was a good idea for me? They should be stoned to death.
"Come on, tiny lady," she said, helping Ellenore unbuckle from her car seat. "Let's go."
Hand in hand, they made their way to the front door, but Danielle paused just before unlocking it.
"Oh—wait," she said, snapping her fingers. "Your flash cards. Geography day, remember?"
Ellenore's eyes lit up like fairy lights.
"Flash cards! Yay!"
She smiled, watching him scramble out of the car and run toward the front door. She loved that enthusiasm, even if it was about something as simple as flashcards.
Leo was bouncing around in her seat, holding up a flashcard.
"This one, Mama! This one! What country is this?" she asked excitedly, showing the card with a flag of Japan.
Danielle squinted at the card and smiled.
"That's Japan, love," she said, ruffling Leo's hair.
Leo clapped her hands, giggling.
"Yay! I know more! Next one!"
Danielle chuckled as she reached for the next card in the pile, thinking about how much Leo had grown. It felt like just yesterday she was still a baby.
"Alright, let's see this one," she said.
The card had a flag of Italy. Leo immediately pointed at it.
"This one! This one!"
"Italy," Danielle answered, her heart full. "Where Mama wants to go someday." She couldn't help but think about the things she wanted to do once everything was settled, maybe when Leo was older.
Leo's face lit up.
"We go there, Mama?"
Danielle smiled softly, her thoughts drifting to the future.
"Maybe, sweetheart. Maybe." She continued flipping through the cards as Leo eagerly tried to name each flag, laughing and calling out answers.
For a moment, everything felt light, like they were just two simple people with nothing but time. Christmas vacation was in full swing, and it was the first time in a long while that she felt like they had enough time to enjoy the little things.
For a while, she leaves Leo to play while she hauls the grocery inside.
Danielle set the last bag down in the kitchen, glancing over at Leo who was still playing with her flashcards. She smiled softly before turning her attention back to the cupboards, which were embarrassingly empty.
She started unloading the groceries one by one, organizing the cans, boxes, and bags into the cabinets. It felt surreal to be doing this, to be filling up the kitchen in a way she hadn't been able to for so long. She made a mental note to get more shelves for the pantry; they were running out of space fast.
Once the cupboards were more or less stocked, she wiped her hands on her pants and made her way to the small fridge. It was so tiny that most of their new items wouldn't fit. She bent down to open the fridge door, scanning its contents for something cold to drink.
She pulled out a bottle of iced tea and opened it with a pop, taking a deep drink, savoring the coolness against her throat.
Maybe next time we'll upgrade to a bigger fridge, she thought with a sigh. It was funny how something so simple felt like such a luxury now.
She took a moment to stand there, looking around at their new kitchen, the emptiness still lingering in the corners but slowly being filled with small steps of progress. She'd come so far, but there was still so much to do.
As Danielle leaned against the counter, sipping her iced tea, her mind wandered back to Axel's call earlier. The cards... The thought hit her like a jolt. She'd almost forgotten about it in the whirlwind of groceries and Leo's excitement.
She quickly set the bottle down and wiped her hands on her pants. The truck—Axel's truck—was still parked outside. She hadn't had a chance to really look at it earlier, what with all the chaos of getting everything inside.
Without wasting another second, she grabbed her keys and headed for the Ford Bronco. The cool air greeted her as she stepped outside, but there was a growing sense of anticipation inside her.
She reached the truck, staring at it for a moment. This thing is huge, she thought, standing on tiptoe to reach the door handle. Despite the size, it wasn't the truck she was focused on. It was the promise of what she might find inside.
Unlocking the door, she slid into the driver's seat, the leather feeling unfamiliar beneath her. She glanced around, adjusting herself in the seat. The truck was bigger than anything she'd ever driven, but she wasn't here for the size.
Her hand reached over to the glove box, and as soon as she opened it, she froze. There, neatly stacked, were three envelopes. Two were from the biggest banks in the Philippines: BPI and BDO. The third envelope, however, was from a bank she didn't recognize.
She held them up, studying the edges, wondering what Axel's plan was. What's this about?
Her fingers trembled slightly as she picked up the envelopes, carefully reading the logos on the front. BPI, BDO... and who's this? she thought, eyeing the unfamiliar bank.
She opened the first envelope, revealing a sleek BPI credit card. Then the BDO one. And lastly, she opened the third envelope—the one from the bank she didn't know. A different kind of card, but still glossy, still new.
She let out a small breath. Three credit cards. Each with limits that seemed more like a dream than a reality.
She held them in her hand, feeling the weight of the power they represented. Axel's generosity was overwhelming, but it also carried a weight of responsibility she wasn't sure she was ready for.
What do I do with all this? The question echoed in her mind. She turned the cards over, her thoughts swirling with possibilities—and the risks of the choices she'd now have to make.
Danielle sat back in the driver's seat, still holding the three envelopes in her hand. Her mind raced as she stared at the shiny cards. What the hell do I do with these?
She quickly decided to send Axel a message, wanting to clarify everything.
Danielle:
"Axel, I hope this message finds you well. I have come across three credit cards—two from BPI and BDO, and a third from a bank I am not familiar with. Could you kindly clarify which card corresponds to which account and provide further details regarding the third card? I appreciate your assistance in helping me understand the intended use for each. Best regards, Danielle"
She hit send and leaned back in the seat, still staring at the envelopes. As she waited, her phone buzzed. She glanced down, expecting a reply from Axel, but it wasn't from him. It was from Nadia.
Nadia:
"Hey, Danielle! I see you found the cards! The last one is from the company, from Banco Santander. It's for your utility expenses, car maintenance, and gas—basically everything related to the car and your day-to-day needs. The company covers it all. Let me know if you need anything else clarified!"
Danielle read the message a few times, her thoughts settling as the explanation sunk in. The card from Banco Santander. It made sense now—everything from utilities to the truck's maintenance was on the company's dime. The weight of it all was a bit much to process, but it felt like another layer of responsibility she'd have to manage.
She sat in the truck for a moment longer, letting the information settle in. So this is how things are now... She sighed, feeling the growing pressure of the decisions she'd need to make moving forward. But for now, she had what she needed. A car, a company card, and a new set of responsibilities.
Then it hits her, there were 2 more cards.
Phone rings. Danielle answers quickly, a bit breathless.
Danielle:
"Hey Nadia! Okay, I'm officially a hot mess right now with these cards. Can you just please walk me through everything before I accidentally buy a lifetime supply of coffee or something?"
Nadia (laughing):
"Oh wow, already coffee on the agenda? You're killing me here, Danielle. Chill, I got you. Fire away with your questions—I'm ready."
Danielle (rapid-fire):
"Alright, so the Santander card — totally for the truck and all car stuff, right? But can I use it if, say, the AC breaks and I need a mechanic, or what if I get gas on a different day from repairs?"
Nadia (laughing):
"Yes, yes, yes. Santander covers everything truck-related — gas, repairs, maintenance, whatever comes up. You don't need to think twice."
Danielle:
"Okay, good. And the other two cards—BPI and BDO—are what, but I'm not totally clear on how loose the reins are.
Nadia (teasing):
"Grocery runs? Treats? Absolutely anything that would make you efficient, focused and goal-getting. Just don't turn into a Starbucks queen, okay?"
Danielle (laughing):
"Hey, no promises! But seriously, if I start spiraling or get confused, I text you, right? You don't mind, do you?"
Nadia:
"Girl, I'm here. You save me half the headache at Horizon, so consider this my job perk. Ask away anytime, frantic texts included."
Danielle:
"You're a lifesaver. I don't know how I'd keep all this straight without you."
Nadia:
"Anytime! Now, breathe. You got this, and I'm just a call away when your next mini panic attack hits."
Danielle:
"Thanks, Nadia. You make this whole 'adulting with company credit cards' thing way less scary."
Nadia:
"That's what friends—and Horizon—are for. Catch you later, hot mess."
Danielle (laughing):
"Later, Nadia"
Danielle blinked, her attention snapping back to the two remaining envelopes in her hands. The cards from BPI and BDO sat there, neatly tucked inside the paper, each one almost mocking her with their silence. Wait... these are personal, right? she thought, her mind racing. But why two?
Her heart skipped a beat. She hadn't even considered the implications of these cards until now. What's the deal with these?
She felt a tightness in her chest as the weight of the situation seemed to multiply. Am I supposed to use these for something else?
Feeling a sudden need for clarity, she tapped out another message to Nadia, not wanting to leave anything to chance.
Danielle:
"Hey Nadia, just to confirm, the cards from BPI and BDO—are they strictly for personal use? Is there anything I should be aware of when using them? I just want to make sure I understand everything properly."
She hit send, and for a few moments, she just sat there, staring at the envelopes as her mind spun with a thousand thoughts. Personal use… I guess that makes sense, but... The responsibility of handling them properly, of not overstepping any boundaries, started to weigh on her.
Then, almost immediately, Nadia's reply came through.
Nadia:
"Yep, those two are for personal expenses. No strict limits, just use them wisely, okay? If you need anything else explained, let me know! 😊"
Danielle let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Personal expenses… No strict limits. Her mind briefly lingered on the phrase. No strict limits... She wasn't sure whether to feel relief or a bit of anxiety. Use them wisely, she reminded herself. It was both a privilege and a burden.
She sighed, tucking the cards back into the envelope and placing them on the passenger seat next to her. Alright, Danielle. You've got this. She started the truck, the engine rumbling to life. There was a lot to process, and a lot to figure out, but for now, she was taking it one step at a time. One card at a time.