Chapter 5: Love of a mother

"Hello, good day Doc," Stella says while her sight is in the back of the coffee shop

"I thought I saw him." in her mind while her tired face.

When Han glaring at the entrance door he was shocked that he saw Stella coming,

He stood up fast then he hide from the back of the table,

When he saw Stella is talking with the Doctor he runs fast into the comfort room while he bent over,

"I was almost caught by Stella," Han said while talking to himself in the wall mirror.

Han takes a few more minutes to stay in the comfort room to not be caught by Stella.

While walking back and forth inside the comfort room he entered one of the rooms in the CR and he saw poop.

He felt nauseous, he wanted to get out of there immediately,

"So disgusting, what kind of human they are." He said.

After a couple of minutes, he went outside to check if Stella was still in the cafe

Stella's presence was not there anymore so he ran fast to his car.

Next scene, Doctor said that Cindy should have surgery for her to survive,

Stella confirmed that she agreed to Cindy's surgery.

"She only has right now is me, we shouldn't expect from her Dad anymore." She said,

The Doctor gave his advice to save up some money for Cindy's surgery because it will cost half of a million.

"What? it will cost that much?" she asked.

"Yes, because there's a lot of tests we made for her. We can't find a blood donor for her either, her blood is rare so we don't have any choice." The Doctor said.

Stella didn't know where she could get that value of money because she doesn't have a stable job,

She is only dependent on income in her online shop aside from that she's nothing,

She tries to call Han many times but Han ignored it as usual,

Stella thought about selling their founded house and lot, but she thought she might regret it soon if she sold it.

After an hour, Stella felt crumps on her stomach indicating that she's starving,

She decided to eat at the nearby fast food, while she was eating there's a lot of what if's in her head,

"What if I listened to my mom, I don't imagine that this will happen to me. I miss her so much."

After she finished her food, she was headed to the toilet but then her phone rings,

"Yes, hell…, what?" she seems nervous and she can't hold her breath

She headed back to the hospital to check Cindy's condition,

The Nurse who assists the Doctor of Cindy discussed what happened,

She said, "When I injected her medicine he collapsed and she had a seizure."

The Doctor went outside of Cindy's room and told Stella that Cindy should be operated on as soon as possible.

Stella thought a few more, then she decided to sell their house to save her daughter.

"Schedule the operation as soon as possible, if possible she may get surgery right now then do it!" Stella says while her trembling lips.

She goes to their house, she spends a few more hours reminiscing about every moment with her family.

Afterward, someone is pressing the doorbell. She is expecting someone.

Then she got it, the money. She already sold their house without hesitation anymore.

They agreed on conditions and their agreements went well,

Stella headed back to the hospital right away, they got the schedule of Cindy's surgery.

After 8 hours, Cindy's operation went well. She thanks the Doctor and Nurses for doing their job.

Now Stella is already complacent because Cindy is in her recovery room already but she still gained her consciousness.

"What kind of father is he? Even hospital bills he didn't pay, I wish Cindy wouldn't have a man like him." The Doctor said.

The Doctor remembered that Han told him that he will be the one who's responsible for hospital bills when they met at the cafe.

Next scene, Stella finds an apartment for her and Cindy but she cannot afford it anymore. She's too tired to walk along the streets.

But then she saw a small alley, but she was amazed that there's a lot of houses even though it has a tiny space,

Most of them made of raw materials, she saw a banner sign that indicates a room for rent,

She called the number that was provided in the banner. They talked and suddenly Stella agreed to rent the room.

"It's okay to be like this, my mom and I used to call home like this," Stella said.

"The rent is affordable so why should I find more," she added.

She arranged their things. It only has one room so she should share a room with Cindy.

Next scene, when Cindy gains consciousness she finds her mom then she cries while hugging her mom. She said to her mom that she saw her dad with another woman,

Stella says that she knows so don't mind it, mind her fast recovery, not her father.

When everything was okay and settled, they said goodbye to Nurses and Doctors.

Cindy waved her hand to them and said thank you for not giving up on me.

When mother and daughter called for a taxi the Doctor watched them from afar.

"Yes, I got double pay! Han pays for the hospital's bills but Stella doesn't know that's an opportunity for me," The Doctor said.

"It will be okay because they don't have communication anymore." He added while giggling.

When the taxi arrived at their new house Cindy was confused about where they were.

"What are we doing here? I thought my mom would bring me home." said Cindy.

"Come, Cindy, this is our new home," Stella said, she's smile is strained.

"What? Is this our new home? there's a lot of people here, what a crowded place"

While they are walking she saw someone picking on his nose,

She was startled and she murmured to her mom "Can't you see that mom?"

When they arrived at their rented room, the tenant welcomed them at the door.

"Welcome, you're gorgeous. You look stunning, congratulations on your fast recovery ija." the landlord said.

"Thank you so much for your care." Cindy's answer.

They entered their new house, while reorganizing their things Stella explained everything to Cindy.

"Daughter, it will be tough for you but please try to survive in this kind of life,"

"Your dad won't come back anymore, he ignored us. I sold our home for your hospital bills,"

"I'm so sorry my loving daughter," she added while her face was like giving up.

"It's okay mom, thank you for your sacrifices for me. It's okay not to be with dad after I saw him with another woman," she answered.

Cindy says it will be good to be there in a place like that, rather than to be with her cheater father.

Stella was flattered after she heard what Cindy told.

Next scene, while Stella was asleep Cindy came out, she was sitting on the chair.

Since it's a crowded alley, Cindy moved her chair in front of their door.

She saw a man with a gun running to her spot, she was startled that she couldn't move.

Then she saw a lot of police officers next to the man, the man stripped with Cindy's foot that's why the man fall to the ground,

The gun flipped then Stella kicked it out of his way.

Police officers took the suspect, one of them put handcuffs while his hand is in his back waist,

One of the officers talked, "You have the right to remain silent, Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law,"

You have the right to talk to a lawyer and have him present with you while you are being questioned,"

"If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer one will be appointed to represent you before any questioning if you wish,"

"You can decide at any time to exercise these rights and not answer any question or make any statements,"

"Do you understand your rights?"

Then they brought the suspect.

Cindy felt amazed, she remembered her dream. She wanted to pursue it, she thought she could have revenge on her father.

Cindy runs into the room where Stella is sleeping, she wakes up her mom and says "Mom, I want to go to school. Let me enroll this year."

Stella woke up and she sat beside Cindy and she said, "Okay, I will my dear."

She said that even though she knows they have no money anymore and cannot afford Cindy's schooling.

Stella thinks of an alternative way to earn money for Cindy's school financially because her business online is breaking down.

Next scene, while Stella is buying a Pancake in the bakery in front of the church, she sees a lot of people who sell Sampaguitas.

She accidentally looked up and saw the cross of Jesus and she thinks it's a sign and opportunity to earn money,

She saw that people who came out from the church were buying Sampaguita so she asked one of the sellers if she could find Sampaguita to sell.

"It came from the tree, and we assembled it like this." someone said.

Next scene, when she found a bunch of tree with Sampaguita she picked them up and she brought this to their house,

"It is too much mom, where did you pick this?" Cindy asks.

Let me be honest with you baby, I can't afford your school expenses but then I saw people selling this,

It seems like it is consumable, so don't you worry I will provide for your expenses.

"I can help you to sell this mom, promise I'll be good at selling," said Cindy.

"I'm lucky to have you," Stella said while scrubbing Cindy's head.

Next scene, here we go Cindy achieved her goal to enter this school year.

She was enrolled in Primary School, she was too excited to enter her first-ever classroom.

At the age of seven, she was mature enough to face the reality,

While she's walking backward she was bumped into the wall,

Someone saw her and laughed at her. Her name is Geneva. 

Geneva asked her if she's okay and she said Cindy was too cute.

"Where are you from? It is the first time to see you here in our community, are you new to this place? Geneva asked.

"Yes, we moved in last week so you cannot see me in the past," Cindy said with her shy face.

"Come one, let's be friends," Geneva said while she grabbed Cindy's shoulder and dragged her into their classroom.

Geneva let Cindy sit beside her, Cindy scratching her nails out of embarrassment.

"I know all of them so feel free, I got you," Geneva said.

"Hey guys, she is new in our community, greet her, or else I'll punch all of you," she added.

Geneva seems a boyish one on their first day of school. All of them are on their first day of school but they know each other well.

Their teacher finally entered the room, she counted pupils for attendance purposes.

"So children you are 25 in all, 12 girls and 13 boys. Very good everyone, you got the perfect attendance for today." The Teacher said.

Since it's their first day, the teacher allowed them to play and talk to each other to have better communication.

Most of them came to Cindy and gave their hand to shake with Cindy, but Cindy was too shy however she grabbed their hands.

She was invited to play with them,

"Hey, I am better to play this,"

"Can you play badminton?"

while her classmates talking and discuss personal matters with her, she accidentally glimpsed out of their room,

"Dad?" she said.