For the past three months, every night I have been smelling a strange smell. It’s not a typical body odor. It was like the smell of mold mixed with a strong, pungent smell clinging to the blankets, to the bedsheet, and especially to the part of the bed where Miguel was sleeping.

And then…

It was as if my world had stopped.

Inside the mattress there are no dead rats or spoiled food.

But it’s a big plastic bag tied tightly, which is starting to mold on the outside.

I shuddered when I opened it…

My hand trembled as I slowly opened the plastic.

A strong smell of mold and old paper evaporated out.

I was a little bit behind.

But I was forced to keep going.

I slowly pulled out the contents of the bag.

I first saw bundles of money.

There is a lot of money.

Thick bundles of weight, wrapped in rubber bands. Others are already wet and have mold spots.

I couldn’t believe it.

“Why… “Why is there so much money in my pocket?” he muttered to himself.

Next I saw some thick envelopes.

There are documents inside.

Mga resibo.

Mga contract.

And a small notebook.

I opened it.

From the very first page, my whole body felt like it was stiffening.

There is a list of dates.

Values of Money.

and company names.

It’s like a record of secret transactions.

Suddenly, my heart pounded.

“Oh my God… “What is Michael doing?”

But as I continued to read, I noticed something different.

At the end of each page, there is a small mark.

It is a symbol.

It is a simple cross.

I don’t understand.

When I opened the next envelope, I saw a few pictures.

Children’s Pictures.

Skinny kids, dressed in old clothes.

There are a few pictures of a small building.

It is a school.

On the back of the picture, it reads:

“San Pedro Community School – Cebu.”

My brow furrowed.

I’m getting more and more confused.

I opened another envelope next.

Inside was a letter.

The handwriting is familiar.

Kay Miguel.

I took a deep breath.

And then I started reading.

 

 

“Ana,

If you’re reading this right now, that means you’ve discovered the secret I’ve been keeping for a long time.

I know you are going to be angry.

Or you might get hurt.

But before you make a judgment, read it to the end.

The money in the mattress does not come from crime.

It also doesn’t come from cheating.

It’s money I’ve been saving for years.

For something I’ve been dreaming about for a long time.

You know how hard my life was when I was a kid.

I grew up in a small village in Cebu.

A lot of my childhood friends at the time didn’t get to school.

It’s not that they don’t want to.

But because they don’t have any money.

When I graduated from college and started making money, I promised myself that one day, I would build a school for underprivileged children.

I didn’t tell you because I was scared.

I was afraid you might think I was crazy.

Or maybe you’re going to stop me because it’s a huge amount of money needed.

So I secretly saved.

I secretly traveled to Cebu to buy land.

And I secretly built a small school.

It’s coming to an end.

The mattress money was the last straw to keep the school open.

The smell you smell comes from some old documents and wet money that has been hidden for a long time.

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