I glanced at my phone—it was already past five in the morning. Our shift was over, and here I was in the locker room, changing clothes and packing up my things. I really thought something bad was going to happen to me earlier… but to my surprise, it was Master Azrael himself who told Ma'am Liza that I could go home. What shocked me even more was when he told her to give me a bonus for my "good service."
I frowned. Good service? We only spoke for a while… but just because of that, the whispers among my female coworkers had already begun. They all assumed something had happened between me and Master Azrael.
I noticed the looks they were giving me—especially Trina. She didn't have to say a word. The tension in her gaze was sharp, judgmental.
"Hmph. Still pretending to be innocent," Trina muttered to one of our coworkers, loud enough for me to hear. "Truth is, she's just another girl offering herself to Master Azrael. Acting all sweet and pure, but maybe she was the one making a move. Can't really blame her—Master's the type who could make anyone drop their panties," she added with a mocking laugh.
I stared at her for a moment, but said nothing. There was no point arguing with someone who saw everything as a competition.
I wanted to walk out and not give her the satisfaction of a reaction.
In the end, I simply shrugged and ignored her accusations. There's no winning against someone whose heart is filled with envy. I chose silence, held my head high, and walked out of the locker room.
When I got home, I still had the tip Master Azrael had given me—₱10,000. It was a big help for my family, especially now that I barely earn enough to cover our daily needs.
Before heading home, I stopped by the grocery. I picked up milk, rice, some canned goods, and Leticia and Marco's favorite biscuits. Despite all the judgment I had received, I knew what really mattered was the welfare of the people who depended on me—not the opinions of those who didn't know the truth.
As soon as I got home, the sound of tiny running feet greeted me.
"Ateee!" Leticia cried, wrapping her arms around me.
I smiled and bent down to meet her. "Look, I brought your favorite biscuits," I said, handing her the paper bag.
Marco, who had been sweeping outside the door, paused and looked at me. "Why are you home so early, Ate?"
"Ma'am let us off early. I even got a bonus."
I didn't go into detail. There was no point. What mattered was that we'd be able to eat well this week.
I stepped inside and placed the groceries on the table. Leticia was already excitedly rummaging through the bags while Marco sat quietly, observing.
"Ate…" he murmured after a while.
I turned to him. "Hmm?"
"Ate… can we visit Mama later?"
I looked at Marco. He gently touched his head, sitting on the edge of the table. At ten years old, he wasn't like most kids his age. He thought ahead, managed money well. He already understood the value of saving—of knowing when to give and when to hold back.
I nodded slowly, trying to keep the heaviness in my chest from showing. "Of course… after we eat. We'll also buy flowers and fruit."
His eyes lit up just a little, but the weight behind his smile lingered. I knew how much he missed Mama...
By around three in the afternoon, we were on our way back to the hospital.
Marco and Leticia sat quietly in the jeep, hugging the small bag of fruits we'd bought for Mama. As we neared the hospital, I felt Marco's grip tighten around my hand—as if fear and longing were creeping back into his little heart.
The scent of medicine and disinfectant filled the air the moment we stepped in. I was used to that smell by now, but every time we came here, it felt like my chest grew heavier.
We walked down a long corridor. Everything was white, and every door carried a kind of silence that seemed to hide sorrow. Mama had been transferred to Room 308, according to the nurse assigned to her. It had been a while since she was confined due to complications in her blood.
I opened the door slowly. Mama's frail figure came into view, still hooked up to an IV. Her eyes were closed, but when she heard our footsteps, they fluttered open.
"Marco… Leticia… Sienna… my children…" she said softly, a faint smile forming on her lips.
Marco rushed to her side, placed the fruits on the table, and gently embraced her.
"Ma… we brought you your favorite fruit—the apples. I sliced them already so it's easier for you," he said as he fixed her blanket.
I, on the other hand, busied myself with her things—checking the IV, making sure her water was cold enough.
"Are you feeling okay, Ma?" I asked, doing my best not to show how worried I was.
She nodded faintly. "Somehow… just having you all here makes me feel lighter."
In that moment, even inside a hospital filled with sickness and silence, I felt the warmth of home—in the presence of someone you love, in embraces filled with hope.
A little later, a knock came at the door.
"Excuse me, Dr. Ramirez would like to speak with you," a nurse said gently.
I stood up immediately, giving Marco and Leticia a quick glance as they stayed by Mama's side, softly stroking her hand.
Outside the room, I was met by Dr. Ramirez's serious expression. He held a clipboard and some documents in his hands. He started speaking—calmly, but each word carried a heavy weight.
"We've transferred your mother to the special monitoring unit in the other wing. We need to closely monitor her condition."
I frowned. "Doctor… why?"
He took a deep breath. "Her latest tests confirmed it—her leukemia is now in an advanced stage. It's also affecting parts of her liver. Things could get worse if we don't act quickly."
It felt like the world suddenly dimmed. Whatever strength I had left earlier started to crumble.
"What needs to be done, Doctor?"
"She'll need surgery as soon as possible. Then a series of chemotherapy sessions and intensive care. But…" he paused, hesitant.
"…the estimated cost is around ₱500,000 for the first cycle alone. It could still increase depending on how her body responds to treatment."
I couldn't speak right away. Everything around me went silent. Half a million pesos?
I bit my lip, swallowing the lump rising in my throat. I had only ₱7,000 in my pocket right now… and that came from Master Damon.
When I returned to the room, I composed myself—wiped the corners of my eyes and forced a smile, though I felt like a wall inside me was crumbling.
Marco was chatting away to Mama about what had happened in class last week. Mama smiled—weakly, but genuinely. In that moment, she didn't look sick. Everything felt normal.
"You okay, Ate?" Marco asked when he noticed me quietly sitting down.
I nodded. "Yeah. I just spoke with the doctor. They're going to do more tests on Mama."
I couldn't tell them the truth. I couldn't break the smile on my little brother's face as he tried so hard to be strong.
But as I watched the three of them, I felt the pounding in my chest. ₱500,000. Even if I sold everything we owned—or one of my kidneys—it wouldn't be enough. No amount of tips or overtime could cover that.
I stepped out of the room for a moment. In the hallway, near the vending machine, I finally dropped to my knees. I didn't sob loudly, but the tears I had been holding back fell without stopping. My hands trembled as I wondered where I'd find that kind of money… and how soon.
And in my mind, one name kept echoing—
Master Azrael.