In the kitchen of the Filipino restaurant she'd worked in since she was a teen, Maria's boss, Felipe, muttered under his breath as he got off the phone in his office. She furrowed her brow as his sunshine demeanour was usually infallible.

He sighed and wiped his hands on his cook's jacket. "Sherry can't come in tonight."

Maria's heart clenched. While she couldn't miss Adrian's show, without Sherry there wouldn't be enough servers to cover the Saturday night crowd. "Amado?"

"He's at his lolo's eightieth birthday."

Maria's parents were probably there tonight too. She inhaled the kitchen's comforting fish sauce, shrimp paste, vinegar, and onion scent.

"Dalisay?"

"Her daughter is sick."

Felipe scratched his brow and frowned at Maria. "How about your sister? She's sixteen, isn't she?"

Maria's jaw dropped. He had to be out of options if he suggested Tina, forgetting how snarky she was. "You do not want her talking to your food blogger. She'll ruin this place."

"I'll call my mom. The girls can watch videos on my phone in the office."

The girls were six and didn't need to be awake until ten or whenever the restaurant cleared out, which wasn't early on weekends with the new karaoke stage. Maria tapped her hand against the red apron on her hip, change rattling. He was practically family, and she couldn't stand letting him down since his family had been so supportive of hers when she was younger. He needed this restaurant and good business to raise his girls after his wife passed. The extra tips would get her that much closer to making rent and having money for food. It would only be a little longer, and if she left by nine with the ride from Kelsey, there'd still be an hour to make it Adrian's show. As long as she was there when he took the stage, he'd be okay.

"I can stay until nine. Maybe it'll die down by then." 

"Are you sure?"

She nodded. The relief on his face overshadowed Adrian's potentially harsh reactions.

"You're a lifesaver, Ria."

She texted Kelsey the new time then hustled back to the dining area with two steaming bowls of sinigang soup, bobbing with bright greens, silver fish, a vibrant purple eggplant.

By eight, the restaurant bustled and customers ordered heaps of food and drinks. Maria and the other server glided around the restaurant, hands never empty and feet never stopping. The food blogger and her friends kept ordering more appetizers and beer, smiling and laughing. It would improve Felipe's business, but wasn't great for Maria's odds of leaving at nine.

An hour later, Kelsey stood in the doorway in a tight blue dress and waved. Maria placed a plate of fried Lechon Kawali, a crispy deep-fried pork belly dish, in front of a group of rowdy Filipino guys cheering on the women singing karaoke. They ordered more beers before Maria could sneak away. She held her hand up to Kelsey to indicate five more minutes. The next twenty minutes went the same way as Kelsey checked her phone and fidgeted with the hem of her dress.

Maria stole a minute from her serving and stood beside Kelsey. "My boss has been calling people all night. No one can cover my coworker's shift and I thought it'd be dead by now. I might be a little longer."

"Ria, you'll crush Adrian if you miss this. Forget about your job for once."

Supporting Adrian was the obvious choice, but a voice hissed, 'Evicted,' in her mind. It brought back the yelling of her childhood, her parents standing on the apartment stoop with boxes and suitcases, waiting in the rain for her uncle to pick them up. Maria's baby sister had wailed in her arms for ten minutes before their parents had calmed down enough to hold Tina again. 

"Kels, I—" A loud crash came from the kitchen and Maria flinched. "You should go, and I'll leave as soon as I can. Tell Adrian I'll be there, okay?"

Kelsey shook her head and scowled. "I can't believe you're doing this to him again."

"I'm still coming, but I have to see if everyone's alright and finish up with my tables."

Maria hurried into the kitchen where the dishwasher was crouched, picking up pieces of glass with his arm bleeding. She took the teen aside to clean the wound and bandage up his arm. Once he seemed okay to keep working, she tended to her tables for another twenty minutes until the customers cleared out and her generous tips rolled in. Her shoulders relaxed as she tallied the money up with her account balance to make up the missing rent.

The kitchen clock read 9:50. She cursed under her breath and stared at her phone. Adrian had texted her five times 'Where are you?' 'Are you on your way?' 'I need you.' Her stomach churned, and she reminded it she still had time.

She turned to her boss. "Felipe, it's easing up. I'm heading out."

"Thanks, Ria, you're my ray of hope. I'll give you double time tonight."

"I appreciate the offer, but I'll take regular pay if I can borrow your car for a few hours." It was a bold request, but he was as much a friend and surrogate older brother as he was her boss.

"Of course, I forgot you had that concert or something, right?"

"Thank you, is the car out back?"

"No, it's at my place. But I'll tell my mom you're picking it up."

She hid her grimace. Four blocks of walking would mean she missed more of the show, but it'd be faster than the bus. She embraced him from the side to avoid the food splatter on his uniform. "Now you're my lifesaver."

"Lemon-Lime flavoured," he joked with a grin as she waved and rushed out the back door.

She sprinted as quickly as her short legs would carry her. Her phone chimed as she veered around teens wandering the streets and a few couples out for a stroll. No time to check messages. Her heart thumped louder, but she reassured it she'd get there for some of the show. By the time she arrived at the car, it was 10:05. The show had just started.

"Lipe?" a hoarse voice asked from the kitchen window.

"Kumaste, Tita. I'm sorry if I disturbed you. It's Maria. Did Felipe tell you he's lending me the car tonight?"

A woman in her late sixties stepped out the side door. "Yes, Maria. Have you eaten? Lipe tells me you're thinner every time he sees you."

"I'm well, just eating healthier," she lied. "How are you?"

"Alone. Lipe's always working, and my husband is out with friends. I made ube cheese pandesal. Still warm." She grinned. She may have handed the restaurant to her son, but a true cook never stopped.

Maria's stomach betrayed her skipped meal with a growl. Mrs. Bautista had always welcomed her family, giving them food and clothes even in the worst of times. "I would love to, Tita. I have to be at my boyfriend's concert soon." About ten minutes ago.

"With food all over your clothes and an empty stomach? No, no, come inside."

Adrian would hate her, but she was already late and needed a full-length mirror to look presentable. Plus, he'd want to see her in the dress he picked, and she couldn't refuse sweet Mrs. Bautista's hospitality. Her family had raised her better than that. It would only take two minutes, and they would be worth it.

"May I use the washroom?" Maria clutched her bag.

"Of course."

In the bathroom, Maria tore off the stained button-up shirt and pants and replaced them with the flattering red dress. She ran a brush through her hair and put on a coat of lip gloss.

In the kitchen, Felipe's mother grinned as Maria consumed two delicious purple buns with savoury warm cheese inside. They were soft with a delightful purple-yam flavour. These would be great for the cooking contest if Mrs. Bautista was keen to share her recipe. "These are amazing!"

Mrs. Bautista dug in her cupboard for a paper bag. "Take some with you. I'm making more with the girls in the morning."

Before Maria refused, Felipe's mom had bagged up half a dozen, passed them to Maria with the car keys, then rested her hand on Maria's. "You need to take care of yourself."

"I will, Tita, thank you. Sorry, I couldn't visit longer," Maria said on her way out the door.

On the drive, she hit every red light possible and had to detour around an accident. Her fingers drummed on the steering wheel as she begged the clock to tick backwards. 10:28. Her breath came out shaky, and she fought tears. She'd missed half the show already. When she drove up to the bar, there was nowhere to park. She circled the surrounding blocks, prayers on her lips.

God, please forgive my absence for the past two years. If you could absolve me and grant this request, I will do everything I can to serve you. Please help me find parking and make it to Adrian's show. He needs my support and I'm failing him, again.

She drove a few blocks further and found a spot. 10:35. Fifteen minutes left if they played a long set. Her flats pounded on the pavement as she ran like she used to on the basketball courts. She huffed as she swerved around the drunk and high residents in her neighbourhood, ignoring the cat-calls and lewd greetings.

When she reached the entrance, beads of sweat covered her skin, and she caught her breath as she handed the huge guy in a dark trench coat her ID.

He looked at her from head to toe. "You sure you're at the right place?"

"The lead singer is my boyfriend."

The guy furrowed his bushy eyebrows. "Really? Most of his songs are about beautiful men."

"The singer from Dismal Dusk?"

"Oh them. They're already finished their set."

Maria's heart shattered like a delicate glass flower. "No... they usually... they... they."

"You didn't miss much. You coming in? I think the band is still around."

She nodded and took her ID back. The dark, narrow hallway leading into the main stage area always made her nervous as people hid in the shadows. A hand gripped her forearm, and she tore it away with a little scream. Will stepped closer to her, whiskey on his breath.

"You couldn't give him one god-damned night of support, could you?"

She trembled. "Why aren't you still playing?"

His laugh cut into Maria's chest. "Why? Because the selfish-bitch who has never cared about our music didn't bother showing up again! Adrian refused to play the songs he wrote about you or that reminded him of you. We played covers for fuck's sake, and there was a local producer here to see us perform."

"Will I'm—"

"Save it. I've never believed your bullshit, and if Adrian hadn't, we wouldn't be royally fucked. How hard is it to show up for once?" He scoffed and stormed out the front door with the bassist.

Her hands grew clammy, and her throat choked up. The tears prickled at her dry eyes.

"Hey," a raspy voice called from the bar at the end of the hall. Maria was ready to tell the person off until she realized it was the bartender. A woman in a sleeveless top with a purple mohawk met her eye. "That guy's a dick, need a drink?"

"I need to find my boyfriend."

The woman slid a clear shot glass toward Maria. "On the house, in case your guy is anything like that prick."

Maria let out a light laugh. "He's not, but thanks." She looked at the glass of clear liquid and paused. The liquid courage might make Will's anger sting a little less. She downed the shot, vodka burning down the back of her throat. "Have you seen the lead singer of Dismal Dusk? Long dark hair, medium height, little lanky."

"Not since they were performing. Maybe he's backstage?"

After thanking her, Maria wiggled through the growing crowd and slipped backstage, which was rarely monitored at the dive bars Adrian played. Three men and a woman huddled on old wooden stools and regarded her with furrowed brows.

"I'm looking for Dismal Dusk," she said.

One inclined their head toward the green room in the corner where a bunch of equipment was strewn about, including Adrian's new guitar. Had Kelsey mentioned Maria was coming? Was he sulking in with their drummer? As Maria approached, she heard a moan and caught a flash of a bright blue dress and white skin. She turned away. Kelsey was no stranger to flings, and the drummer had recently ended his relationship. Maybe Adrian was waiting with the crowd for the next show.

When Kelsey's breathy voice moaned, "Adrian," Maria froze, feet cemented to the grimy floor. Her insides twisted like a car wrapping around a light post, and her vision blurred for seconds before clearing again. Maria had to have misheard because Adrian would never... He loved her more than life...

Her vision cleared long enough to catch shaggy dark hair nuzzled into that homewrecker's neck. Arms, with beaded and faux leather wristbands Adrian usually wore, were wrapped around Kelsey's body. Maria trembled as ice swept from her crown to her toes, snaring her in place. Their miserable months needed to end—but not like this.

Never like this.

Bile rose in her throat, and she choked it down, releasing a strangled sob like a threatened animal. Adrian's head shifted. As his blue eyes locked on hers, they widened and his pale face lost the little colour it had.

"Shit. Maria," he said as if she was an inconvenience he'd forgotten.

Her brain formulated no response as Kelsey whirled around and tugged at the bottom of her dress. Everything Maria had bled herself dry for blazed before her like gasoline-doused pallets in a dry field. An expanding cave occupied her heart.

"We didn't want you to find out like this." Adrian's gaze fell to the floor.

"We?" The word tore through her chest. "You and me, we're the 'we'! You can't—" But her sob choked out her next words.

"Ria, I'm so sorry." Tears dotted Kelsey's eyes as she dug her nails into her upper arms.

Maria clenched her fists, her limbs filling with fire. "Sorry is for ruining my sweater, for forgetting to meet me for drinks. There's no sorry for hooking up with my boyfriend, you backstabbing bitch!"

"Don't take this out on her! It's your fault." Adrian sneered, keeping a protective arm around Kelsey's shoulder.

"What?" Maria's sharp voice tore through the silent backstage area.

"I shared my pain with you. I trusted you wouldn't hurt me again. But you chose Felipe over me. Like you always do."

Her palms stung as her nails broke through the skin. "That's not what—"

"What did you promise me?"

Adrian's glare made the words reluctant to leave her tongue. She swallowed and gazed at the red-crescent cuts in her palms. "That I'd be at your show," she said.

"Where were you during my show?"

Tears burned her eyes and reduced the world around her to a blotched watercolour painting. Her voice was faint, "Not here."

"You were with Felipe, but Kelsey was here. She has always supported me. Unlike you."

His icy tone dug a dagger into her chest, and she flinched. Had she chosen Felipe? She'd thought she'd done it for the rent money, but she also couldn't stand to let her friend down or see his business suffer.

"Adrian, stop it," Kelsey said.

He stepped away from her and crossed his arms over his chest.

"I'm sorry," Maria croaked.

"I believed you before and look where it got me. Don't expect me to be naïve enough to do it again." He threaded his fingers with Kelsey's like he'd done to Maria hours ago.

How could their relationship shift so suddenly after three years of happiness together? Why couldn't she have left work when she'd promised to? As he made to leave the room with Kelsey, turbulent forces roiled in Maria's gut.

"Adrian..."

"I'm staying at Will's tonight. We can talk tomorrow if you decide I'm worth your time," he spat.

Maria's chest tightened as Adrian tugged Kelsey toward the bar. The woman Maria had considered her best friend for the past four years stumbled, gaze fixed on Maria as she mouthed 'I'm sorry.' But her words were worthless as her feet caught up to Adrian's and they left together, taking the future Maria had dreamed and toiled for with them.

What the hell would she do now?