Chapter 3: Struggles

April pov:

“Mark, you again? What are you doing here?" I asked without hesitation to him. I don't know why I don't feel shame at this moment. I feel comfortable by his arms. I feel when I'm with him, I am being secured and I know this is my crazy thought again. It was really impossible to happen, a man like him fall in love with a person like me who actually opposite on the estate of life.

“Are you following me?” annoyed I said, I don't know why I askes him that way.

“Excuse me?” surprise he said. “Me? Following you? Hell no, haha I mean, I am not, it will never. What a stupid question.” he laugh and said, I feel my face turn into red with the embarrassment I felt but I still trying to be brave to speak through.

“Then, what are you doing here if you're not following me?” bravely I asked as if convincing him to tell that my suspicion was right that he was following me. “Don't tell me your mom eithe your dad as also a patient here? I saw them earlier on the nearby department store who was driving on your fancy car.” I added said. Mark laughed with mixed of insult that made my heart aching.

"I'm not here for you Ms. Nobody, I'm here to visit my uncle." He even scratching his neck as he answer that way.

"Why, is your uncle also a patient here?" I innocently asked, it laughed so softly that I wondered.

"What's funny about?" I asked curiously.

"No." he sparingly replied "No? Then, what's wrong?" I asked him in astonishment.

"My uncle is not a patient because he is the owner of this hospital." I feel like I swallowed my tongue in no time by the response I receive from him, as if I suddenly felt nervous and great embarrassment.

‘My goodness! What I'm doing? Why I was talking this man like I was his friend?’

“I hope, things make clear to you now Ms. Nobody?” he said while giving a strange stare as if threatening me.

“In that case, I'm sorry to bother you. I will be go ahead now, Excused me.” I said then I took a step but before I could pass him he suddenly grabbed my arm to stop me. I looked at his hand holding my arm, because I felt electricity suddenly flow through my body from his hands.

We stared at each other for a few minutes, I feel strangely nervous in these moments not a fear but a strange feelings. The sudden speed of my pulse, strange and deafening silence envelops me. I could see nothing but him, I could hear nothing but the strength of my heartbeat and I'm not sure if it was the same feeling with me.

This is the first time I have felt such a strange feeling. Why do I feel it now as I stare into his eyes? What did he have that suddenly stopped the rotation of my world?

Who is Mark Fuentes in my life?

"Mark? Hijo, I've been looking for you for a while. This is the only place I can see you. I, didn't expect you to see here. What are you doing inside this chapel?" I quickly distanced myself from Mark when suddenly someone spoke from somewhere.

"I'll leave now, excused me." I said politely before finally leaving the chapel.

My shoulder slumped as I made my way back to the emergency room. I feel so heavy, I really don't know what to do at these times.

“Are you the daughter of the patient Mrs. Lolita Santisima?” I quickly approached the doctor I met on the way. I tried to be brave even though I felt something bad was going to happen today.

I don't feel good about what the doctor will tell me.

"How is my mother doc?" Intensely I asked, I'm not ready for what I'm going to hear now.

"Sad to say, we revived your mother but she is not in good condition now." I hold my breath that's what I did, I no longer knew what to do at this time.

“April, how are you? Where is your mother?” I turned to the speaker and quickly hugged him tightly. I couldn’t help myself from not sobbing with tears. “Why April? What's the problem?" father asked worriedly as he stroked my back with extreme concern.

“Papa, my mother, she's not in good condition right now. What do we do?" I cried as I tell him then I broke free from my father's embrace.

“I want to be honest with you Mr. Santisima.” My father and I both looked in the doctor's direction.

"We found a tumor in your wife's brain that's why she collapsed and she needs to be operated on as soon as possible." I covered my mouth while still sobbing. I couldn't believe what I heard.

"Do everything you can doc for my wife, please find a was to survive her." my father still tried to be strong while saying that even though he was obviously going to have a hard time with the situation and we were going through a heavy and face a big problems.

“We did our best, but we will need a large amount of money for the chemo therapy for Mrs. Lolita. ” after the doctor said that I deliberately sat down on the chair outside the room and just stared at the emptiness.

"Where can we get a large amount of money for mama's treatment?" I asked confused “I don't know yet April, but I promise I will find a way. Take care of your mother until I will not come back.” letting father say goodbye to me.

My father was about to leave when I stopped him. “What are you going to do? You don't have anything to do papa you are just a humble trustee, on a businessman, who gave me the scholarship. How can you find a large amount if they only give you a meager salary because it is deducted from my education.” I said directly to my father.

Father let out a deep sigh before speaking again.

"I know we're poor, but I'll still try to borrow a money from my boss. Maybe, I can advance my salary." explaining this, he squeezed my cheek and then messed up my hair before it finally left.

I just gasped as I thought about our problems.

I quickly took my cheap cellphone out of my bag to call one of my friends who was offering a part time job. I was saddened to say that there were no vacancies yet and were available for the position as my student. I didn't know what to do at these times, I was confused and couldn't think straight.

“What am I going to do now? Where can I find a decent job just to make money?” that was all that came out of my mouth as I just stared at the emptiness and let the tears flow in my eyes.

“Ms. Santisima? ” I got up suddenly from my seat to see the doctor we had talked to come back. "Why doc?" I quickly wiped my face full of tears.

"I have good news." Although I was nervous at these times, I still tried to be brave. I'm happy to hear that even though I don't know what good news doctor Alvarez is referring to.

"What's the good news, doc?" I asked incredulously. "A good person came to me earlier and talked to me." I remained silent and waited for the next thing it would say. ‘He’s still too suspenseful to speak.’ Inwardly that’s what I wanted to say but I didn’t want to go ahead with what he would say to me now.

"Your mother's surgery will continue because the person I talked to earlier has already answered your prayer." for a moment I remained silent and could not move from where I was standing. I don’t know if what I heard was correct. "Who is the person who helped my mother's medications?" I asked excitedly. Suddenly the reaction of his face changed even the tone of his voice, so I couldn’t help but be nervous. "D-doc, Is there any something wrong?" I tried to be calm just to talk to it properly.

"I'm so sorry hija, I can't tell you now who the stranger who helped you but soon I know he will be tell you." my forehead furrowed because I didn’t know what to do and think at these times.

“He? You mean, it was a man?” I asked nervously. I honestly expect that it was girl but wasn't.

"Yes! And he asked me not to tell you right now about it." My forehead furrowed even more when I heard from here "Why?" I asked with mixed concern. "I also don't know why he doesn't want to introduce himself to you." Dr. Alvarez shrugged answer. “But doc, I don't know how to thank that person. It will cost a lot of money for my mother and I don't know how I can I be paid to him if that case he doesn't want to be identified.” I explain to the doctor.

“Someday you will also know why? For now, you should be thankful that there is a stranger like him who has an open heart and is willing to help someone like you who needs his help more.” I just sighed as I watched Doctor Alvarez return to the emergency room to transfer my mother to a private room.

I'm happy that somehow someone is kind and willing to help someone like me who is just as difficult. But I still can't forget who the man is who wants to help with my mother's medication.

Who is he?

Why did he do this?

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