Tami received bad news when she got back from the hospital. The Korean producer left a message with the concierge, saying that Tami's contact is already terminated, and she is not required to report to work the next week.

Tami felt like she was about to faint. She didn't know what to do. Without that job, she wouldn't be able to live in Korea for long. She might as well go back home.

Rummaging through her things, she found that her money was just enough to buy a plane ticket back to Manila and for some pocket money.

"I might be able to spend Christmas at home after all," she thought.

She got up, charged her phone and turned it on so she could receive calls and messages. Five new messages came in.

Tams, bakit nka-off phone mo? - Kyle

Lowbatt ka na naman no? Tawagan mo ako ha? - Kyle

Anak, tumawag ka dito sa bahay. Emergency. - Mommy

Bakit naka-off ang phone mo?
Tawag ka agad sa bahay pag nabasa mo ang message ko. - Mommy

Anak, dito ka na lang sa cellphone ko tumawag.
Sinugod namin sa ospital si Jammi. Walang tao sa bahay. - Mommy

Tami almost dropped her phone at the last message she read. She dialled her mom's number and waited for her to answer.

"Tami, anak..."

"Mommy, ano'ng nangyari kay Jammi?" Tami asked.

"Hindi pa rin alam ng mga doktor, anak. Sinugod na lang namin agad dito kaninang umaga. Dangan kasi'y sumasakit ang tiyan at isinusuka lahat ng kinakain."



Dong Gun passed by the shop where he bought the scarf for Tami. He went inside and greeted the old man at the counter.

"Uncle Han Sun!" he greeted.

"Dong Gun-shi!" the old man greeted. "You're alone?"

Dong Gun nodded, "How's business?"

"Same old, same old. And how are you? Did your cloudy eyed girl leave already?" Han Sun asked.

"No. She's staying for a little while. I'm getting her a Christmas present." Dong Gun looked around. "What do you think should I get for her?"

"Let me ask you one question."

"What is it?" Dong Gun asked.

"Did you make the sun shine yet?" Han Sun asked with a smile.

Dong Gun looked down at his feet, smiling, and then looked back at Han Sun, "Maybe."

The old man shook his head, grinning, "I think a more special gift will be appropriate."

"You don't mean the key, do you?"

"No... well, at least not yet."



"Kamusta na ang baby ko?" Tami asked her brother Jammi over the phone.

"Okay na ako Ate. Hindi na sumasakit ang tiyan ko."

Tami felt sorry for her brother, "Masakit na masakit ba?"

"Hindi naman, Ate. Kaya ko naman. Big boy na ako eh!"

Tami smiled, "O, basta... susundin mo lahat ng sinabi ng doktor para gumaling ka agad ha? Wag mong bibigyan ng sakit ng ulo si Mommy at Kuya."

"Wala naman si Kuya dito eh."

"Bakit? Nasa trabaho ba?" Tami asked.

"Hindi, Ate. Matagal nang hindi umuuwi si Kuya. Hindi nga alam ni Mommy ---" Jammi's voice trailed off, and Tami could her hear mom saying something to her brother. She then heard her mom's voice on the phone.

"A-anak... sige na. Mahal na 'tong binabayaran mo," her mom said.

"Mommy, nasaan si Kuya?"

Silence.

"Mommy..."

"Anak, wag mo na munang alalahanin ang Kuya mo. Sige na. Magpahinga ka na't gabi na," her mom said and ended the call.

"Mommy! Mommy!" Tami half-shouted when she heard her mom say goodbye. She wondered what could have happened to her big brother for him not to come home anymore, as Jammi had reported.

She thought of Jammi's condition and decided she cannot go home without earning some more money because there might not be any job waiting for her in Manila. But who can she ask for help?



Dong Gun tried to call Tami that night before he went to bed, but she didn't answer the phone. He figured she might already be asleep, so he put his phone away and lay down in bed. He smiled when he remembered the gift he picked out for Tami earlier. He just knew she would like it, and he was reminded of how Tami's eyes glistened with tears when she saw the scarf he gave her weeks back. He knew he made her smile, and it brought a certain joy into his heart also.

His phone rang, and he quickly got out of bed to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Ann yong ha sae yo?"

Disappointed, Dong Gun sighed. "What is it, Yoo-Jin?"

"I was just thinking... Christmas is just around the corner. Would you like to have Christmas dinner with me?" Yoo-Jin asked.

"I can't, Yoo-Jin. I'm going to my parents' house on Christmas Eve," Dong Gun replied, "I'll be spending Christmas there."

"Is that so?" Yoo-Jin asked, "That's too bad. Well, then maybe you could just drop by here at home before you go to your parents' house."

Dong Gun shook his head, "What for?"

"I just have a gift for you, that's all. Is that too bad?" Yoo-Jin asked.

"Alright. I'll drop by Christmas Eve morning. Good night," Dong Gun said and immediately terminated the call.



Tami was already up at eight in the morning the next day. She barely had any sleep, thinking of how she can earn some money while in Korea. She'd called Mr. Lopez when she woke up, but he was sorry he won't be able to help her anymore. He was willing to let her borrow some money, though, but Tami refused it.

Picking up her phone again, she dialled Jung Wha's number.

"Hi, Tami... what's up?"

"Hi Jung Wha."

Jung Wha noticed Tami's sad tone, "Is anything wrong?"

"Yeah. Actually, Mr. Jung fired me last night because of the incident the other day," Tami replied.

Jung Wha gasped, "Oh my! That's too bad... where are you?"

"I'm still at the hotel, but I have to check out before this week ends."

"Are you leaving for Manila already?" Jung Wha asked.

Tami walked to the window and looked out at the city. "No, but I can't afford to stay here at the hotel anymore."

"Where are you going to stay?"

"I'm going to find a place. Jung Wha... the reason I called... I want to ask for help," Tami said and sighed. "I'm really, really ashamed to admit that I don't have much money anymore, and I need to earn. Can you help me find a job? I mean... a part-time job where I can earn some more money? I can't go back to Manila without anything."

Jung Wha sighed, worrying about her friend. She thought that if she had anything she can do to help her, it would be to give her a place to stay. "I don't know about the job, Tami. As you know, I'm just new here in Korea myself, studying in the States and all..."

"Oh... okay..."

"But, hey... you can stay here in our house if you want. We have a vacant guest room you can stay in. It's a bit small, but it's cozy. And best of all, it's free!" Jung Wha said.

Tami wasn't able to say anything.

"So, what do you think?"