⭐⭐⭐ EPISODE 5 — FB VERSION

Kinakabahan si Bella habang nakatayo sa harap ng gate.
New school. New classmates. New everything.

“Bella, anak… you don’t have to be scared,” Maya whispered, squeezing her hand.

Pero halata sa mata ng bata ang takot.
Richard knelt beside her. “We’re right here. And Abby will be with you.”

Abby smiled and held Bella’s hand.
“Come on, Bella. Ate Abby’s got you.”

And for the first time, Bella took a step forward —
not because she wasn’t afraid,
but because someone finally believed she could.

Full episode on WordPress.

⭐⭐⭐ EPISODE 5 — WORDPRESS VERSION (LONG)

Title: Episode 5 — First Day of School
Header Image: (Add your own)

The school courtyard buzzed with morning chatter — students laughing, teachers greeting, parents rushing. But for Bella, everything felt too loud, too bright, too overwhelming.

She stood frozen at the gate, clutching the straps of her backpack.

Maya knelt beside her.
“Bella, anak… it’s okay to be nervous. First days are always scary.”

Bella bit her lip.
“What if they don’t like me? What if I don’t fit in?”

Richard stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
“You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be you. And that’s more than enough.”

Abby approached, cheerful and confident.
“Bella! Come on, I’ll show you around. I’ll introduce you to my friends. You won’t be alone.”

Bella hesitated — then slowly reached for Abby’s hand.

Inside the classroom, the teacher greeted her warmly.
“Welcome, Bella. We’re happy you’re here.”

But the real moment came during recess.

A group of girls approached.
“Hi, are you new?”
Bella nodded shyly.
“Do you want to sit with us?”

Her eyes widened.
“Me?”

“Yes, you!”

Abby winked from across the table.

Later that afternoon, when Richard and Maya picked her up, Bella ran toward them — smiling.

“How was it?” Maya asked.

Bella beamed.
“I made friends.”

Richard felt something warm settle in his chest.
This child, who arrived at their door trembling and alone, was slowly finding her place.

And the Lims knew —
they were exactly where they needed to be.

To be continued…