As Amby heard a knock at her door, she came to her senses. She was accurate in predicting the person. Liliana, Amber, Sadie, and Brianna were there. When they saw Amby's crimson, teary eyes, the four of them stopped smiling in her direction.

Liliana said, "Oh my goodness! Are you alright, my love?" and came over to give her the most reassuring embrace.

Sadie, Brianna, and Amber also gave hugs. Amby's tears started to pour like water, splashing. Amby just required that, after all. A phrase that reads, "are you alright?” and hugs that full of warmth.

From the moment she began to experience trauma and sorrow from her family, to the time Brent left her, and all the way up until the moment she lost her child, Amby fought for such a long time. As she thinks she can manage everything, she has never begged for consolation. All was she wanted was to breakthrough, but it just led her to breakdown.

Hindi niya pala kaya na i-handle lahat ng problema ng siya lang, kailangan niya din pala ng tulong ng iba minsan. Kahit ano palang pilit niyang pagtatago sa problema at nararamdaman niya, darating pa din pala talaga siya sa oras na hindi niya kakayanin at mauubos siya.

She choose to be strong. Amby choose to be strong because she knows that those who were strong are the ones who survive.

She understood, though, that it can be challenging to maintain strength in some situations. It gets exhausting holding the shield and sword during struggles, so you may need to lay them down occasionally—not to concede defeat, but to take a break in the midst of a battle.

Sadie, seeing her in that condition, asked, "Amby, what's going on?"

Naunang bumitaw sa yakap si Brianna para ayain silang pumasok sa loob ng condo unit ni Amby. "Pumasok muna tayo, tapos magkwento ka, Amby. We're always willing to listen, no matter what that thing's bothering you."

Umupo sila Sadie at Brianna sa sofa nasa gitna nila si Amby na naiyak pa rin hanggang ngayon at mahinang humihikbi. Habang sila Liliana at Amber naman ay nakaupo sa sahig at nag-iintay sa sasabihin ni Amby.

Amby started out by saying, "I know, you all know that I ran away from home, right? But I didn't tell you all the reasons why I left."

Her four closest pals were merely attentively listening to her. They understand that Amby needs someone who will listen to her in the interim. She can no longer contain everything inside herself, and she undoubtedly wants to shed the weight.

"Our family was just so... toxic. Their treatment to me and my siblings are unalike. Sila Kuya at Ate, pinag-aral nila, ako hindi. Ako... Ako iyong nagpaaral sa sarili ko. Ako iyong nagpatapos sa sarili ko, kahit sobrang hirap. Iyong mga taon na dinanas ko ng ako lang mag-isa, hindi... Hindi iyon ganoong kadali," she exclaimed.

Bumuntong hininga si Amby at pinigil ang pag-iyak bago nagsalitang muli. "Lumaki ako na nag-aadjust para sa mga kapatid ko, na kahit ice cream hindi ako nabilhan kasi marami daw gastusin... Pero iyong Kuya at Ate ko, kahit gaano kamahal, nabibilhan nila..."

"So, growing up... I grew up realizing being not worth it and not spent. Kaya kapag nireregaluhan niyo ako ng mga mamahaling bagay, hindi ko alam kung tatanggapin ko ba o tatanggihan ko. Kasi alam ko, hindi naman ako worth it pagkagastusan o bigyan ng mamahaling bagay kasi nga lumaki ako sa ganoong way," Amby added.

Sadie began to sob. Even though she hasn't been in Amby's shoes or been in her predicament, she can still see how difficult it is for Amby by just seeing her cry.

"Si Ate, nagkaroon na siya ng sarili niyang pamilya. Ako din, pangarap ko talaga magkaroon ng sariling pamilya pagdating ng araw. Pero unti-unti kong natatanggap na wala na akong pag-asa na makabuo ng pamilya. Iyong sinabi ni Ate sa akin kanina..." Amby started to cry, which caused her closest friends to become concerned.

"Amber, can you get some glass of water and tissues?" utos ni Brianna habang inaalo si Amby. Agad namang sumunod si Amber sa utos ni Brianna.

Pinunasan ni Liliana ang luha ni Amby gamit ang tissue at pinainom siya ng tubig para kumalma kahit pa paano. Bahagya pa rin itong nahikbi at minsang kinakapos ng hininga dahil sa kaniyang pag-iyak. Pero hinahayaan lamang nila itong umiyak dahil ito lang ang paraang alam nila para maalis ang bigat na nararamdaman nito.

"What did your sister said, Amby?"

"Sabi niya, wala daw maaasahan at mapapala sa akin. Iyong mga salitang sinabi niya sa akin, hanggang ngayon nakatatak iyon sa utak ko. To be honest, maaasahan naman ako... Nagpapadala naman ako ng pera galing sa tatlo kong trabaho. Lahat ng sweldo ko binibigay ko sa kanila, to the point na kahit pambayad sa renta wala na ako," Amby uttered.

"Tatlong trabaho?!" sabay-sabay na sabi nila Brianna, Amber, Sadie at Liliana.

Amber looked at Amby, who's now sadly hopeless. "Grabe, hindi iyon kakayanin! Kaya pala sobrang bihira mong makasama sa amin. Lagi mo pa man din kaming binibilhan ng regalo, tapos..."

Bumuga ng hininga si Sadie dahil sobra siyang naaawa sa kaibigan. Hindi alam ni Sadie kung paano pagagaanin ang loob ni Amby. Kilalang-kilala ni Sadie si Amby, at para sa kaniya hindi deserve ng kaibigan niya na maranasan ang ganitong paghihirap.

"At least... You're now secured with us, Amby. We will not let you go back to that toxic household ever again..."

Amby made a veiled remark, "And, uh, I have something to tell you all... I've been keeping this secret for years now, and I think you all deserve to know about this..."

The anxious expressions on Sadie and Amber's faces are clear. While waiting for what Amby would say to them, Liliana and Brianna were just staring at her. Naturally, they are curious since, based on Amby's tone, it appears to have been a very serious situation.

"Kinakabahan ako sa sasabihin mo, Amby..." Palabirong saad ni Brianna at pinaglandas pa ang kaniyang dalawang palad at mahinhing binugahan ito ng hangin galing sa kaniyang bibig dahil nanlalamig ito sa kaba.

Sadie frowned. "What is it, Amby? Tell us!"

Amby knows that she needs to say it.

There's no reason to hide it anymore.

Regardless of what is bothering her. Maybe it will help if she tells her friends, and maybe letting what troubles her out will make her feel better. Amby is aware that she can no longer conceal it because the years have allowed it to remain. They are entitled to the whole truth.

Amby began to sob once more, but this time with a modicum of acceptance. "Two years ago, I was on a verge of giving birth to my first child, and Brent... was the father. Those times that I supposed to have a child, that's when Brent left for Calgary. My baby... died, because of my family. They caused me so much stress to the point that I lost my bairn," Amby plead.

Amber was looking aimlessly at nothing. While Brianna began to sob quietly, her head down, because she was unable to process what she had heard. Brianna has always wanted children since she loves them so much. She does a great job of managing them. And now, aside from Amby, she is the one who is particularly affected. Nonetheless, Brianna never puts the responsibility for the child's loss on Amby, and she will never to be blame.

"So, we were supposed to be... Ninang?" Amber declaim. "We were about to..." Sadie replied to Amber and holds her hand.

Amby wiped her tears away, slowly. "I am sorry, mga ninang na sana kayo ngayon, eh... Ginawa ko naman lahat para ma-keep 'yung bata, pero wala... Hindi ko nagawa, hindi siya kumapit."

Liliana reassured Amby, "No, you didn't do anything wrong! It's not your fault that you lost your kid; it was the toxic mentality of your family. We are very proud of you 'cause you've faced it all alone, Amby; you are a strong lady, indeed. Always remember that we love you, okay? We are always here."

Amby was embraced by the group of four. Brianna said in a hushed voice, "I know your baby with Kuya Brent is happy now up there, and I know she or he is proud of you, too!"

Finally, even though it occurred two years ago, Amby already revealed the secret that occasionally keeps her up at night and bothers her. Amby made a self-promise that while she would move on, she would never forget her almost-first child.

"Do you have plans on telling Kuya about it, Amby? If you might need help to talk about it with him, I can help naman!" Brianna queried.

Amby bit her lower lip until her teeth marked on it. "I have plans on telling him, I'm just preparing and waiting for the right time, Brianna... Parang ang hirap pa kasi ipaalam sa kaniyang ngayon, eh..."

Amby was unaware of this, though. From the moment she began speaking, Brent, who was waiting outside her door, was listening in. He heard something that pained him more than when they split up silently, and when Amby pushed her away.