No matter how much I am doubtful about my decision, I knew I had to do it."We will move out, Mayu?" Alice asked again.I fell silent and was unable to answer. It would be nice to stay away and do what Mommy wanted me to do, but I wanted to stay home."Mayu! What are you still doing here?! The funeral is over. Leave!"Alice and I both turned our heads toward my real mother's voice. She was in a hurry and was almost stuck on the ground because of her high heels. My forehead creased, especially after seeing my real father tailing her."Am I not allowed to grieve first?" my voice became sarcastic."Come on, I'll find someone who will abort the baby—""What is this, Mayu?" Alice groaned after hearing Mommy. She even looked at us, confused."Mayu! I'll change your surname. Just let Stella get closer to Aldo," Daddy offered."Don't listen to him, Mayu. I've given you money, all you have to do is get that baby out of your womb and stay away," Mommy uttered.I seemed to be dizzy and confused
"Why, Mayu? Why would you want to abort your baby?" she asked."Huh? What, Alice?" I looked at her, confused because of what she asked."Didn't your mom order that you needed to abort the baby? Then stay away from here?"My lips parted and stopped. Of course, that is the plan. I swallowed and took a deep breath."It's needed, Alice. I have to do it," I murmured lowly.I stared at the thick envelope from Mommy. I held my stomach as my heart was pounding with a strange pain."But that's your baby, Mayu. Your family. Just in case your baby is the only one you have. The one who will stay with you—""That's not important right now, Alice. What's important now is to get out of here."I continued to put clothes in the backpack and some important documents before I quickly closed it. I'm done, and yet Alice was still looking at me with disbelief."Mayu, listen, please. Don't do that to your baby. I'll help you raise the child—"But we were both shocked after hearing a car park outside. We loo
"Two months in advance, one month's deposit. Six thousand all." Landlady Glenda even showed her palms for the money.Alice and I looked at each other and at the hut in front."We'll pay two thousand dollars in rent for that? For that wood?" Alice couldn't believe it.I can't believe the value either. If a strong breeze of air comes, the hut will be knocked down in front. However, we had no choice; it was already late, and this was nearby."If you don't want it, then look for another one!"My eyes widened, and I immediately held the lady's arm, even before she had finished speaking. I laughed in awe and widened my eyes towards Alice. She laughed awkwardly and held the landlady's arm as well."Glenda, that's just a joke. This is a nice cube of your mansion! My goodness, it's passable. It's worth the price, really!" She even signaled a money sign that the lady liked."This just looks fragile, but it's tough. A lot of the storms go by, but it's still standing.""Yes. It looks like one mor
My lips parted, and my shoulders fell as I turned my back. I even met Alice, who was looking sharply at the old woman, so I gently tapped her arm."The old woman might see you and think you want a fight—" "I do really want a fight, Mayu. I will put war to them since she didn't treat you well," she uttered before pouting her lips.I laughed softly and shook my head. I clung to her arm and forced her back to the fruit market."Apples and oranges, as well as mangoes," I told the shopkeeper.Alice was still throwing tantrums beside me, but I ignored her."There's nothing I can do if they are not hiring, Alice. I'll just look for another one tomorrow," I calmed her down at the same time I paid the shopkeeper."Even so! She should have said it in a good way! Not in a harsh way,""Well, the old woman speaks good English," I butted in.I dragged her to the side after the two girls approached the store. I could hear their giggles as they watched their cellphone screens. I forgot about Alice a
"Is it already safe, Mayu?" Alice asked as she clung to my clothes.I shook my head and couldn't speak. I'm covering my mouth and nose so as not to vomit with the smell of waste in front of us. I pulled Alice here earlier just so Aldo won't see us."Hey, Mayu! What now?" She asked again.I shook my head again. Walk away from where we were hiding and immediately vomit on the vacant lot. I could feel Alice rubbing my back. When I'm done throwing up, I just wipe my mouth with a handkerchief before narrowing my gaze inside the market."We're not safe here, Alice. Let's go back to the house hut. It's impossible for Gueco not to tell Aldo that he saw us.""That's for sure. Maybe we need to move out to another house," she suggested.I immediately shook my head and pulled her over to get a cab."Not at first. They can't easily find that. Besides, we paid Glenda, Alice.""All right. Who would have thought we would have lived in the hut? Of course not Aldo. He only knows Condominiums and hotels
My lips trembled. My hand was even shaking as I put down the glass on his table. My heart was pounding and my stomach felt so cold. Even though I know he doesn't know me and he doesn't know my history, I can't help but be afraid of my own safety. Because I know, Aldo is just around the place."You are pale, Miss," uttered by the man whom I think a business colleague of the old man.I took a deep breath and tightened my hold on to the tray. I was in oanic as I put down their orders. I almost poured the buffalo wings, which made the old Castellanos stood.My eyes widened with the glimpse of sauce in his suit."Sorry! I'm Sorry!"I tried to wipe his suit but he pushed my hand away."Where's your manager?" he asked coldly.I almost freeze on my feet. I felt the sweat on my forehead. "Uhm, I'm really s-orry. I d-idn't mean to," I whispered.He gave me a cold stare, just like how Aldo used to look at me before. I bowed my head and hid my hands behind my back."I want to talk to your manage
"Don't be afraid. Spotting in the first trimester is normal, according to the internet."Alice focused herself on the phone she was holding and scrolled again."But you still need to see a doctor, Mayu—I mean Rio."I closed my eyes tightly and did not want to move in my seat. I was afraid that I would bleed again and lose my baby. My hand trembled as I hugged my stomach. It's not yet growing, but my baby is already in danger.With that in mind, the hot liquid fell onto my cheek. I cried softly and embraced myself."Mayu! Don't cry there! Just calm down, okay? Don't think too bad," she tried to calm me down, but her eyes were also concerned."I can't help it, Alice. What if my baby is already gone?"She worriedly nodded and approached me, saying, "Shh, don't even think about that, Mayu. You're going to see a doctor tomorrow."She rubbed my back so I could breathe, but my baby still couldn't leave my mind.The next morning, I decided to see a doctor. I could not even move my feet in fea
"He didn't recognize you?" I, surprisingly, asked."Of course not! They didn't even know I was your friend," she whispered again.I sighed and stopped a cab that was coming up. I told the driver to be careful while driving. We also went straight to the drugstore to buy medicine."What did the doctor say?"I looked at Alice and smiled sadly."Baby's hold is weak. There is a tendency to miscarry if I don't be careful—""Ah?! You have to resign from your job!" she suggested aggressively.I rolled my eyes and pouted a little. "That's what I'm going to do. My baby's safety is my top priority right now."I don't really want to resign, but I have to. I shouldn't trade my health for a small amount.My body now is not mine alone. There's a life here that I am responsible for. I slowly put my hand above my stomach."Hold on, baby," I whispered softly as the wind blew it away.We went down to the drugstore and lined up. And I don't know if destiny was just playing when I saw a glimpse of Alaric