Camila POV

The familiar air tickled my senses. I gasped in wonder at the white roads and people of different colour walking in the busy area as if it's my first time again here.

After three long years, I am finally back. Technically, I have lived here for 10 years but it's amazing how just three years of being away would make me realise how much beautiful this country is. Great laws, breath-taking sceneries, good people and of course... f*cking privileges.

While walking through the exclusive boutiques flashily displayed in the central street of Melbourne, I remembered a brief memory ages ago.

"Mum! I want this dress. It's like, really pretty." I said coldly.

My mother looked at me in distress but she still managed to nod and give me a small smile. Well the dress costs around $200. I'm an only child anyway so they should give me anything I wanted to.

"Hmm. Okay we'll buy it. How was school today?" she asked.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at her. School is something that I don't really want to think of. Lots of judgemental people everywhere. I could only try be like popular and pretty girls but I know I could never be them. I don't have blonde hair nor green eyes. Im just average and an immigrant, to top that.

"Tss. Don't ask me and just go buy that." I glared at her.

Her eyebrows scowled but she still opened her purse. I noticed that there's barely even anything left. After she handed $200 to me, there was only $10 and few coins left. Well, she has credit cards anyway.

I hastily took the money and turned my back from her.

"Anak I'm only asking you because when I was in high school, my parents never bothered to ask. I'm only asking you because I care for you. I love you and I hope that you can love me too not just for the money. Even just a little bit Mila." she tearfully said in a thick Filipino accent.

I glanced at her once in awe but since tears kept coming out of her eyes, she walked away from the boutique. I stood there still for a fer seconds before proceeding to still buy the dress I really wanted.

Damn...

I closed my eyes and breathed violently. It's actually a miracle that there's no tears coming out of my eyes despite remembering such a dreadful memory. As much as I want to cry I have gotten used to it so it doesn't really have an effect anymore.

"You alright there, mate?" some stranger asked.

I nodded. It's usual to have people genuinely concerned for you, even if you don't know each other here in Australia. In the Philippines, even though I'm wearing a coat over my strapless black dress, I would most likely get menacing looks, catcalled and get subtly harassed. People there are that disgusting.

"Yeah. Thanks." I answered

He smiled at me and nodded before walking straight ahead with of the busy streets. Realising that he probably asked me because I have been standing outside that boutique for too long, I walked to my direction as well.

I went to the city today to finalise some paper works for the university I'm going to study and it's ridiculous how as an international student, I pay x3 the tuition fee Australian citizens do. My tuition fee is around $32,000, which is roughly more than 1.2 million pesos if converted whilst Aussies only have to pay around $8,000 annually.

The privilege they have is literally like a dream for me. It is ironic how they don't value education as much as Filipinos do and only sees university as an option forever.

Although I am definitely not as privileged as kids born and raised here, I was still pretty lucky years ago. My mum and dad were together, we had free time for each other and of course, I could practically whine and get something I want instantly. Too bad because I wasn't able to realise it sooner.

My parents died being rat poor in our country of slums, not being a permanent resident in Australia or an Australian citizen despite a decade of studying and working there endlessly.

We'll fate isn't that cruel because I have my mother's only sibling, Tita Shaina, who arranged my visa after I finished year 12 in the Philippines. She took me back to Australia and is willing to let me stay with her family.

Thank God I'm f*cking out of that country, honestly.

"We'll, that took you quick." Tita Shaina greeted me while washing the dishes.

She cleans all the time and cooks for fun. It's only understandable since the only thing she does is to pick up and drop off my cousin at school. Her husband works from early morning and doesn't get back until 6pm so she's used to be alone and having too much free time.

Tita Shaina and her husband were very lucky, they managed to be Australian citizens. It's because they're both engineers as well, actually.

"Yeah. I'll start on July, though. Maybe I could start working next week already so I can save up?" I asked.

Tita Shaina removed her gloves and placed them on the sink before she sat next to me.

"Are you sure? You know that your Tito and I already paid for your first semester tuition fee, right? I'm not sure if we can still pay the second semester because there's too much expenses but- " she worriedly said but i cut her off.

"I can do it Tita. There would be lesser hours of work so I would have less income when I start uni. It's alright." I said with re-assuring smile.

She sighed and sipped from her coffee.

"You've only been here for three days so I'm thinking it maybe too fast for you. But the owner is my friend and she said you can start anytime, actually. Do you wanna see your workplace?" she asked.

My eyes instantly gleamed and without any hesitation, I nodded at her.

I am taking BS in Nursing for university. In Australia, it would only take me three years to finish it compared to the Philippines where it would take me four years. That's why when tita Shaina said I can work part-time in a clinic just located in their suburb, I was ecstatic. Its something related to the work I want to have in the future.

After going around for a few minutes, tita Shaina finally found a parking space, we went out of the car and got inside the clinic.

"Velle, is Amy there?" Tita Shaina asked the receptionist.

The receptionist cheerfully smiled at my auntie. She's a Filipina. From my observation, she could probably pass as a half-white kid, or in Filipinos called "mestiza".

"Good afternoon po! Opo, kaso may kausap po sa phone si Ms. Amy." she sweetly responded in fluent Tagalog.

"Okay Velle, then tawagan mo nalang kami?" Tita Shaina said.

The receptionist looked at me before nodding at my auntie.

"Noted po" she answered and smiled at me which made me immediately smile back.

While waiting, my auntie was busy looking through blogs in her phone while I observe everything about the clinic.

"Amy!" my auntie greeted a woman probably in her 40's she has blonde hair, pointed nose and a light brown eyes.

They hugged and kissed each other cheek as greetings.

"Oh Shaina, is this your niece? you two exactly look alike! ganda niya." the owner said.

Even in the past, people say that I looked very much like tita Shaina. Fair skin, doe eyes, red lips, and very black hair... It was a far cry from my mum's tanned skin and slightly flatter features. My dad had quite fair skin but it was not paper white just like what I and tita Shaina have. It's something we got from my maternal grandfather, their dad, who apparently had Spanish and Japanese ancestry.

"Oo, Amy. Siya ang niece ko. She wants to start next week na daw, can she?" Tita asked Amy

The woman chuckled and turned her attention to me. She smiled and held out her hand.

"Of course! Amy Pittari, darling." she introduced herself.

"It's nice to meet you. I'm Camila Cruz po, Ms Pittari." I said before I shooke her hand.

I don't know why she looked amused when I introduced myself. She withdraw her hand first before talking to me again.

"I'll just tour you around next week on your first day, would that be alright?" she asked.

"No worries, Ms. Pittari." I simply said.

She smiled at me before she diverted her attention to Tita Shaina. They chat for a few more minutes, giggling and mostly in Tagalog. It is a wonder to me how someone so foreign knows how to speak Tagalog. Due to my curiosity, I couldn't help but ask Tita while we were in the car.

"Is Ms. Pittari's husband, Filipino, tita? That's why she's so fluent?" I said.

"What? Haha! just from her surname you would know that it's not Filipino, diba. But Amy is actually a half-Filipino." Tita Shaina simply said.

Hmm. well, that is true. A surname like Pittari is a far cry from the usual Filipino surnames that are of Hispanic and Chinese origin. It sounds very Australian for me.

"I just don't know if it's her mother or father that's Filipino. We're good friends with her and her husband. Your tito and I met them during a professional party and they're very good people. Even though Amy's just half, they're the first one around our area to put up a Filipino clinic." Tita Shaina mused.

I don't doubt that, although tito born and raised in the Philippines, was very lucky. He still works as an engineer and is now a manager at a big car company in Australia. To get invited in prestigious parties with other professionals is a normal thing.

"Amy is not a doctor but she and her husband are pharmacists. To help out Filipino doctors and nurses to migrate here, they decided to put up the clinic many years ago. That's why if you noticed, the staff were almost all Filipino." Tita continued.

We chatted a bit more so I could get a glimpse of my future bosses lives and personalities. Ms. Pittari looked nice and sweet but I couldn't help but still feel scared it's my first time to work and as an orphan, I need to be able to stay sane and work well.

Now that I'm 18 years old, I want to act to be able to get my life in a good direction. I know quite well how the world could just f*ck you up unexpectedly, just like when I was barely 15 years old when I moved back to the Philippines.

Being there made me realise that I wasted so many f*cking years of trying to keep up with societies expectations. I was too self-centered and too drowned in anxiety that I did not cherish important things such as spending time with my parents because I was too caught up with what my peers thought of me.

It was too late when I realised that other people's opinions doesn't matter.

It's ridiculous how I acted back then. As much as I would like to justify it because I was a lousy teenager with anxiety, it's just not going to work that way. For the rest of my life, I will carry the burden of the decisions and actions I made when I took privileges for granted...

Camila POV

The rest of my week went very fast for me. During weekdays, my auntie would take me local shopping centres to go have coffee. I honestly missed the usual Aussie spots I used to go to-- Nando's Macca's, KFC and Max Brenner's. It feels nostalgic to be able to eat at these places again. While during the weekend, her husband isn't working and my cousins aren't at school so we just drive around Melbourne.

Before I knew it, I'm already starting my first day of work.

"Everyone calls me Ms. Amy here so you'll be the odd one out if you call me Ms. Pittari!" she announced.

I smiled shyly and nodded at her request.

"Okay then, Ms. Amy." I said simply.

It's quite early in the morning and the clinic hasn't open yet. I thought that the clinic was already pretty big just at it's front view but it's way even bigger when she toured me into different doctor's and medical rooms. There's even a small garden and another large parking space at the back of the clinic that are only meant for employees.

Speaking of which, there's also this large meeting room that has a door directly to the front desk where all staff in the clinic chill together, despite of their positions. There's even lockers here! Damn, this clinic is really high-class.

"Here's coffee. Velle will be here any minute and I already told her beforehand to guide you with your job. Just find me at the pharmacy, yeah?" Ms. Amy sweetly said.

I drank my coffee while reading a task sheet given to me when Ms. Amy left me alone in the meeting room. I have to do a lot of paperwork's, check financial statements, act as a receptionist and be an occasional assistant to practically anyone here. Doing all that while juggling full-time studies... how did my mother survive this sh*t?

I can probably never be as strong-willed as her but I can only try since I swore not to have my fate end like hers.

"Good morning. You're Camila, right?" the receptionist, Velle, came in the meeting room.

This is the first time I've actually heard her speak in full english and she bears a thick Filipino accent. I nodded at her and sipped a bit more of my coffee.

"Yep. I'm Camila Cruz. I just came back from the Philippines." I reciprocated her smile.

I saw her eyes widen in surprise.

"Oh. But you were raised here, diba? You sound so much like Ms. Amy's kids. I've lived here for quite a while but I'm still coping up. Australians talk too fast and their accents make them a little bit to understand sometimes." she mused as she ate salted crackers.

Well, I don't even notice what she says because I'm just so used to it. ai chuckled at her musings.

"Anyways, the clinic will open in about an hour so more staff will come in. They're aware that there's a new staff but I'll introduce you to them, still." she continued.

After chatting for a few more minutes, we proceeded to set up the front desk. Just like what I've expected, There was only two non-Filipino staff, and it was this Chinese doctor and an Australian nurse. I haven't met all the staff, particularly, the doctors because they were busy but I have familiarised myself with the ones who checked in.

Just a few hours in this work, I realized that it is more than hectic than I thought. I didn't even feel the need for lunch but since Velle and I were taking turns at break, I decided to have mine at around 3:00pm because I just feel like I need a little bit of time to calm down from the heavy work.

I closed my eyes and sighed, when I got in the meeting room, I put brewed coffee in one of the paper cups. It's my first day and I should already get used to all these work, it's the only way to be able to pay my highly expensive uni tuition fee and it's the only way to graduate with a degree.

"Well, hello there." A deep voice greeted at me.

I almost coursed because I didn't even realise that there was a person beside me! And worst a little bit of coffee spilled over my top!

(☉｡☉)!

So the man beside me let out a low chuckle.

"Got you surprised there? Don't worry, I work here." He smiled and with that beautiful smile I felt my heart beat a little faster.

He got up from his seat and walked over to where I was, he dressed in white long sleeves and black slacks, If I'm not mistaken, he probably looks like he's in his early 20s.

I on the other side, probably, couldn't still get over from the shock.

"Damien." He held out his hand to me, I gazed at his hand and took it immediately with my shaking hands.

"Uhm... Haha...C-Camila Cruz, Camila for short" I answered with a shuttering tone and wide smile.

(✿^‿^)

God! HE.IS.QUITE.GOD.LOOKING!!

He has this clean-cut dark brown hair, a really deep blue eyes, and a kissable lips! Damn... He's definitely a head turner!

When I realised it's probably awkward describing him face to face, I immediately look away and withdraw my hand at the same time.

"You're the new receptionist, huh." He said in amusement.

I nodded and smiled, just like what I did when I met the other staff's earlier. I wonder what's his job? Maybe an accountant?

"Yeah, how 'bout you? What do you do here?" I can't help but ask.

He smirked, as if I'm saying something funny. He's taunting me with his eyes and made pout a bit.

"You guess." He childishly said.

"Accountant?" My first guess.

He simply shook his head and crossed his arms.

"Uh... nurse?" My second guess.

The man shook his head again and playfully put on a smug face.

My forehead creased in annoyance. I have my last guess but it's the most unlikely one because he looks way too young to be one.

"Ah. Doctor!? it's my last guess but I don't think so?" I said softly.

His smirk got even bigger and he also clapped once.

......

NO.FREAKIN'.WAY!!!

"Finally, hahahaha! Nah, you got it girl." he winked at me.

I gave him a questioning look, wanting to ask more questions.

"Really?" was all I could say. I felt my face fluster a bit as well, feeling embarrassed because i doubted someone like him to be a doctor.

He's technically one of my upper bosses.

"Yeah, I just finished residency. I started school a bit early so I got lucky to finish med school a little early. Do I look too young for you, Miss?" He said cockily.

YES YOU DO MISTER!

"Well... honestly, yeah." I said shyly.

He was about to talk but he got cut off because of the loud sound that the door made.

"Mila. Sorry to interrupt your conversation with Dr. Pittari, but I really need you!" Velle called me out in panic.

Dr. Pittari? That just erased my unreasonable doubts. Is he related to Ms. Amy? He could practically be one of the owners of this clinic and I acted so rude by not even recognizing him as a doctor. Shit!

I nodded immediately to Velle as a sign, which made her relieve and close the door. I looked at Dr. Pittari to greet bye but i noticed that he was already looking at me.

"I'll get going now Dr. Pittari, nice meeting you." I said before walking pass him to go to the front desk and help out Velle.

I thought that he wouldn't answer back and just ignore what I said but before I open the door directing to the front desk, he murmured some words and put his arms on my shoulder.

"Yeah, see ya around." He responded with a deep voice.

Dr. Pittari seems to be one hell of a chill doctor.

Camila POV

"Good day, Dr. Pittari!" I greeted him. I was the only one at the front desk today and whenever doctors come in to the clinic, they have to do some kind of log in our server. As receptionist, it's also our job to keep track of it.

"Hope you have a good day too, Camila." he smiled at me and greeted with a deep baritone voice.

Out of all the doctors here, he's definitely the kindest because he even bothers to greet back.

"How old are you again? Are you still in high school or uni?" he asked me randomly when it was only the two of us in the meeting room again.

I sat in front of him. I had water and salt crackers while he had coffee. With his profession, it's inevitable that it's probably his favourite drink.

"I'm 18. I'm starting uni soon so I started to work here to afford my fees, so..." I simply said.

He looked at me with a questioning look and raised a brow.

(O_o)

"You know you can have loans, right? So it's going to be cheaper. We actually have pretty good education laws in our country." he cluelessly answered.

I let out a small sigh and drank a bit of water.

"I'm not an Australian citizen nor permanent resident here, though. I'm from the Philippines..." I revealed.

He raised his brow again and a bit surprised.

Tss.

"Really? How much do you pay then if you're not a domestic student?" he curiously asked.

"I'm taking a course in Nursing and it cost around $32,000. Times three the domestic fee." I said softly.

He didn't make any violent reaction but his expression remained the same. He looks amused and his eyes were taunting at the same time.

"Oh yeah, shit. That's more than what I payed in my first three years of studying med school." He said in an amused tone.

I chuckled lightly at him. It's not everyday you see a doctor cursing playfully like that. I didn't say anything afterwards, though.

"But you know what, I'm actually Filipino as well." he started a topic again after a few seconds of silence.

I raised my eyebrows at him. I doubt it. Just with his dark blue eyes, height and skin colour, he doesn't pass as Asian.

"Oh, reallyyy?" I sarcastically said and rolled my eyes at him.

I saw how his lips arise in a big grin.

"Yeah, just ask my mum. I'm sure you've met her?" he grinned, looking at me as if I'm a fool or something.

Dr. Pittari's mum? Wait! his last name is "Pittari". The owner of this clinic is Ms. Amy and...

"You're Ms. Amy's son!?" I asked almost hysterically.

Idk but I feel like with Ms. Amy's age, it's quite rare to have a child grown as Dr. Pittari. I mean they could even past as siblings, honestly. Ms. Amy only looks a few year older than Dr. Pittari.

He nodded at me, amused at my reaction.

No way!

-Yes way! (my mind)

-Ugh why didn't you tell me?

-because i thought you knew??

Ok back to the story...

He looked at me.

"Why are you so surprised? My mums father is a Filipino, you know." he said smirking and give me a wink.

"Ms. Amy looks a bit young, to be honest. I thought you were just siblings. Hmm... So, Dr. Pittari, have you guys visited the Philippines yet?" I asked curiously.

Just to make our conversation a little bit longer hehe...

Nope. Not yet, unfortunately. My mum did put up this clinic to connect with her Filipino roots after my grandmum died." He quickly answered, looking at me straight in the eye.

I felt my face red a bit.

"I see." I answered, trying to fight by his gaze.

Ever since that, I would just find myself chatting with Dr. Pittari randomly whenever he checks in the front desk or at the meeting room. Velle, who turned out to be a registered nurse already.

I saw an unfamiliar tall guy with slightly tanned and reddish skin messy dark brown hair, and dark blue eyes, in the meeting room during one of my short breaks, he was seating at the nearest chair in the front desk.

"Good day, sir" I greeted.

The tall guy just smirked at me and walked towards me. I stood still at my position just near the front desk door, thinking maybe he's asking to shake hands or something? But he walked towards me closely, making myself step backwards into the wall. With his arms, he easily cornered me and locked me into the wall.

"Don't call me that... we seem to be around the same age. You actually look even younger than me, hmm." he said menacingly.

I maintained a straight face while he towered over me and kept on moving his face close to mine, I quietly observed his Caucasian features, which is way different from the people I have always seen everyday back in the Philippines while we're up close.

"You're the new staff, right? I heard from Velle that Filipinos have a this for white guys. Do you have a thing for me?" he whispered sensually.

He moved his face even closer to mine, with our lips inches away from each other as he stared at me directly in my eye. I still maintained my straight face, unaffected of what he's doing, I know his tricks. I spent most of my years in Australia and the f*cking guys in my school used to do that before. Flirt with random, shy girls and jokingly says that they like them just to see if they'll get a reaction or not. F*cking assholes. Tss.

His eyes widened when I still kept a straight face. No flustered cheeks or closed eyes. It didn't take that long for him to move his face away as he let out a loud laughter, roaring like a beast in the quiet room.

"Haha! Damn! you really are raised here! Even with your accent, you don't sound retarded. You sound so normal!" he said offensively.

I just crossed my arms while staring at him laughing like an idiot.

This guy is no different that the guys I have in my school, asshole, too playful, blunt, chill.

That's what I would describe Australian guys at most. Finally after a few seconds, he wiped out the formed tears from his eyes from laughing too much and held out a hand for me.

"Andre, 18" he introduced himself, with a large smirked still on his face.

I raised an eyebrow at him but took his hand, anyway.

"Mila. 18, as well." I answered.

He then withdraw our hands and sat again on where he sat before. He prepared the seat next to it and pointed it out to me, seemingly wanted me to go there.

Well, he doesn't seem a bad person. He actually reminds me of the type of people I used to hang out with during high school so it doesn't hurt to talk to someone like him. It makes me reminiscence of the good times I've felt years ago.

"I'm actually just waiting for Dr. Pittari. He's my personal doctor, alright." he said

Hmm. He seems a bit fishy. Whatever.

I nodded at him while I drank from my water bottle.

"You're so quiet. You probs think I'm one of those dumb hobos, right?" he said maliciously, looking slightly offended.

Not really, but if that's what you think about yourself, okay then...

I looked at him still expressionless while fiddling my fingers with my water bottle.

"I'm not like them, alright. Atleast I know that when you cook Migoreng you f*cking take a water out. Hobos love that sh*t but their stupid asses eat it with water not drained! Ha!" he bluntly said before laughing at himself, probably remembering something like I did.

Back in around year 8 or 9, my non-Asian friends cooked Migoreng when we were all hanging out in one of our friends house. They were so f*cking amazed on how good it tastes like without the water out, damn it!

Migoreng is like an Australian pancit canton of the Philippines. My mum used to cook it heaps before so I knew that you supposed to drain the water out. It's actually kind of gross how they could eat instant noodles with the water still in there.

I couldn't help but laugh at his joke. We were like idiots laughing our asses off.

We only stopped laughing when someone came into the room. Looking stern, Dr. Pittari looked at us.

"Gotcha." Andre said winking at me.

"Tss. That's kinda mean but it's so true! Remembered so many people." I jokingly rolled my eyes at him and scoffed.

He shrugged his shoulders but still kept the big smirk on his face. He then turned his attention to the man that just came in the room.

"Sup, Dr. Pittari. Mila and I here just having a good time." He devilishly said to him.

"You cunt!" Dr. Pittari greeted and gave Andre a high five.

Cunt? He's not really a patient, is he? A friend? or I don't know... a lover? Boyfriend?

Dr. Pittari sat next to me. He then smiled at me before he turned to Andre and pointed at him.

"Camila, he's Andre, my brother." he introduced him.

Seriously? I can't believe I even thought of such guesses! They do have the same dark brown hair and deep blue eyes but it's really a typical Australian thing so I didn't pick it up at first glance. Besides, with Andre's messy and longer hair and softer features, he could literally look like an angel.

Dr. Pittari, on the other hand, looks so rough, his jaw, intensed brooding eyes, they were all too intense. It's like he's angry all the time as well when he doesn't speak. In general, Andre looks more friendly if you base it by physical appearance.

Andre scoffed his brother.

"Tss, can't you see, doc. We met already." he said meticulously.

Dr. Pittari, in turn, looked at me suspiciously.

"Well, If your like other dumb girls, you'll fall for this asshole. My brothers the biggest asshole in town." he said in a cold tone.

My eyes widened a bit. How could he say something like that when he already knows part of my situation? As if I could be like any other girls here, anyway. Just starting with the uni fees, other girls here and I have such a wide gap already. Somehow, what Dr. Pittari said disappointed me a bit.

"Shut the f*ck up, mate!" Andre shouted at his brother before chuckling again.