Chapter 52 CHAPTER 51

Chapter 52 CHAPTER 51
At exactly five in the morning, I opened my eyes.
The shrill sound of my alarm echoed through the room, accompanied by the sudden tightening in my chest. Nervousness, excitement, and a hint of fear swirled together inside me as I faced the reality of my first day at a new job.
I stared at the ceiling and took a deep breath.
You can do this, I whispered to myself.
Thank goodness my days off were Saturdays and Sundays. Those two days were the only time I had left to recover the strength that slowly drained away from the daily battles of life.
When I stepped out of my room, the aroma of fried rice greeted me.
I found Manang Hilda in the kitchen, busy preparing breakfast. Approaching her, I forced some energy into my voice.
“Good morning!” I greeted with a smile.
She turned toward me, concern evident in her aging eyes.
“Why are you up so early? Doesn't your shift start at eight?”
“Amethyst has school today, Manang. I want to drop her off before heading to work.”
Manang Hilda set down her spatula and faced me fully.
“Hmm... I'll take her to school instead. I can close my store for a while.”
I slipped an arm around her shoulders and gently rubbed her back.
“Thank you, Manang Hilda, but please let me fulfill my responsibilities as Amethyst's mother. As long as I can still do it, I want to be the one taking care of these things. Don't worry I got plenty of sleep last night.
She sighed and patted my hand.
“All right. Eat first. Breakfast is ready.”
“Yes, Manang.”
As I sat at the table, I stared at the cup in my hands.
There was a time when my day wouldn't begin without an expensive coffee from a popular café. Now, I endured the bitterness of plain black coffee just to save money.
Ever since I became a mother, every cent had become as precious as gold.
Every peso represented a sacrifice.
People were right, you only learn to appreciate the smallest things after you've experienced hardship and found yourself abandoned at the edge of society.
At six o'clock, I quietly approached my sleeping angel.
I brushed Amethyst's hair back before gently waking her.
She blinked her tiny eyes open and looked at me.
“Mommy, are you going to work now?” she asked sadly when she saw me dressed in corporate attire.
I nodded, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Lola will take care of you while Mommy is away, okay?”
“Will you be at work for a long time?”
Her grip on her blanket tightened.
The sadness in her voice felt like a knife piercing my heart. Leaving your own child behind just to earn a living was one of the hardest things a mother could do.
I knelt down to her level and cupped her cheeks.
“When you come home this afternoon, Mommy will already be here. Be good at school, okay? Listen to your teacher and, of course, to Lola. You can do that, right?”
“Okay!” my brave little girl replied with a forced smile.
I adjusted the collar of her uniform, fighting back my tears.
“Come on. Let's go.”
I held her small, warm hand tightly.
We got into the car, and I drove.
The luxury I once knew was gone. There was no longer a driver opening doors for me or waiting at my beck and call.
Yet as my hands gripped the steering wheel, I felt a sense of pride.
At last, I had finished paying for this car with my own blood, sweat, and determination.
When we arrived at school, I walked Amethyst all the way to her classroom.
As I was about to leave, her teacher called out to me.
“Mommy, we're having a Family Day next Friday,” Ma'am Ana said with a smile. “Please let your husband know so he can request leave from work and join us.”
The world seemed to stop.
I glanced at Amethyst, who was happily playing with her classmates.
I didn't want my first day to be ruined, but what about next week?
“Ma'am Ana...” I asked softly, my voice trembling. “Would it be possible for my daughter and me not to attend?”
The teacher frowned in confusion.
“Huh? Why not? This event is important for the children.”
“Today's my first day at work. If I take a leave next Friday...” I swallowed hard. “My boss might take it badly. I could even lose my job.”
“I see. That's unfortunate.” Ma'am Ana forced a smile. “But if you can't make it, perhaps your husband can take the day off and accompany Amethyst instead?”
I froze.
The word husband felt forbidden.
It was a word that awakened the ghosts of my past.
I felt tears gathering in my eyes as the familiar weight settled over my chest.
I didn't know whether I should tell her the truth that there was no husband.
That Amethyst had no father.
A deafening silence stretched between us before I finally found my voice.
“I'll... I'll figure something out,” I answered weakly.
“All right, Mommy. I'll be going now.”
Ma'am Ana walked away.
I remained standing in the hallway, my vision blurring as I stared at my daughter through the classroom window.
Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to gather my courage.
Those situations...
Those questions...
They were the hardest things to avoid and the most painful realities to face as a single mother.
I looked at Amethyst's innocent face.
My child...
As you grow older, I hope you never look for your father.
I hope I can be enough for you.
I eventually left the school and got back into my car.
As I drove toward work, I decided to call Elsie.
“Oh? How are you and my goddaughter doing?” Elsie asked as soon as she answered.
“We're doing fine. But I have a problem.”
“What problem?”
I sighed.
“Amethyst's Family Day is next Friday. I can't attend because today is my first day at work... and she doesn't have a father who can go with her.”
“You idiot! Why did you even get another job?” Elsie exclaimed. “Isn't your income as a virtual assistant enough? You're already a senior supervisor, and you're making money from online selling too.”
“It is enough. I just want to save faster so I can get our mansion back.”
“You're impossible!” she snapped. “Forget the mansion. Think about Amethyst. What if she gets sick? What happens then?”
“This is exactly why I didn't want to tell you. I knew you'd oppose it.”
“Of course I oppose it. Quit that job immediately.”
“Fine. I'll do it, if you and your husband accompany Amethyst to Family Day on Friday.”
“Oh, wow! Now you're ordering me around?”
I laughed.
“So, is that a yes?”
She sighed dramatically.
“Fine. I'll tell my husband we're coming.”
“Thank you! You're the best!”
“Stop flattering me, Lilith. You still owe me.”
I laughed again.
“I'll resign from this job soon anyway. Okay, bye!”
Before she could say anything else, I ended the call.
A smile tugged at my lips.
“At least she agreed.”