Chapter 77- Faith's Plan and Struggle

Chapter 77- Faith's Plan and Struggle
Faith POV

The next morning, I woke up early. The surroundings were quiet, the only sound breaking the silence was the soft drip of the IV. I stared at the ceiling, listening to every beat of my heart—each one a reminder that another life now depended on me.

After a few hours, Ate Elvie arrived carrying warm rice porridge and fruit.
“Good morning, Ma’am Faith. The nurse said they’ll remove your IV later. We can go home before noon,” she said cheerfully.

“Thank you, Ate Elvie,” I replied softly. Truthfully, every word I spoke carried fear—not because of my condition, but because I was afraid Austin might find us. I hoped he wouldn’t.

After I finished eating and getting ready, the nurse removed the IV. Ate Elvie immediately helped me pack my things.

“Are you sure you don’t want to inform Sir Austin?” she asked while placing my clothes in the bag.

I shook my head firmly. “No, Ate. He doesn’t need to know. He betrayed me, didn’t he? So he has no right to know anything about my child anymore.” I swallowed hard, forcing my voice to stay steady even though I wanted to cry.

When we got home, Jairee ran toward me and hugged me tightly.
“Mommy! How are you? I miss you!” he exclaimed.

I smiled and gently stroked his hair. “Mommy’s fine now, sweetheart. And I miss you more. Were you well-behaved with Tita Kim?”

“Yes, Mommy! I played with Jaeden in the hut!” he said excitedly as we walked inside. Jaeden was Kim’s son, just a year older than Jairee.

Once we reached the bedroom, he excused himself again, saying he would go back to help Jaeden finish their puzzle.

As I watched him leave, I placed a hand on my stomach. There were two of you now, depending on me to live. I needed to think about how we would survive here. Yes, we were staying for free for now—but we couldn’t rely on others forever.

I looked at the bag where I kept the money I withdrew from the bank in Manila. It was a large amount. I thought I could buy a property here—a house and lot. But I also needed to think of a way to earn a living. I couldn’t just depend on this money. What if it ran out? How would I provide for the children? I couldn’t stop myself from overthinking.

Feeling dizzy and extremely sleepy again, I decided to lie down for a while. I knew Jairee would be well taken care of by the people around me.

I woke up starving, as if I needed to eat immediately. Is this really how pregnancy feels?

I went straight to the kitchen and saw Ate Elvie sautéing garlic and onions. The aroma was amazing. I even closed my eyes because it smelled so good—though it only made me hungrier.

“Oh no, Faith! I’m sorry! Does the smell bother you?” Ate Elvie asked worriedly when she saw me with my eyes closed.

“No, Ate! It smells wonderful. I love it. The problem is—it’s making me even hungrier,” I laughed, which made her frown in confusion.

“You’re the first pregnant woman I’ve met who loves the smell of sautéed garlic and onions,” she said in amazement. “Most of them can’t stand it.”

I smiled, remembering how my sister was when she was pregnant with Jairee. She hated the smell of sautéed food back then and would get nauseous every time someone cooked. It drained her so much.

“Do you want some rice first, Faith? I’ll serve you,” she offered, moving quickly.

“No need, Ate, I’ll do it myself. And can you just call me Faith?” I said with a smile.

“Are you sure… Faith?” she asked hesitantly. I nodded.

“Alright then—whatever makes the pregnant lady happy,” she said cheerfully, making me laugh softly.

“I’m cooking pancit for merienda,” she explained. “But you woke up first.”

“That’s okay, Ate. With how hungry I feel right now, I can wait. Oh—where’s the mango Kuya Jojo bought?” I suddenly remembered the craving.

“It’s here. I hid it so no one else would eat it,” she said, pulling out a basket from under the sink. My mouth almost watered at the sight.

“Do you want me to cook some shrimp paste?” she offered.

“No, Ate. I don’t feel like shrimp paste right now. I’ll make my own dip,” I replied, mixing soy sauce and sugar in a bowl while she peeled the mangoes.

I ended up not eating the peanut butter sandwich I made. I went straight for the mangoes. With every bite, I heard the crunch, followed by the burst of sourness, saltiness, and sweetness in my mouth. It felt so satisfying—while Ate Elvie winced at every bite, saying she couldn’t handle the sourness.

When the pancit was done, I ate again, adding spicy vinegar to my plate. Everyone at the table froze.

“Faith, your stomach might hurt if you eat like that,” Ate Elvie warned me.

“It’s delicious, Ate. Try it,” I offered while chewing.

“Let me try, Mommy,” Jairee said, reaching for my plate, but Ate Elvie stopped him.

“He might get weak,” she whispered. “Don’t share what you’re eating.”

I remembered how my sister used to share her food with me when she was pregnant with Jairee—and how I always felt sleepy, weak, and lost my appetite afterward. It was like I absorbed her cravings back then. So I followed Ate Elvie’s advice.

“I’ll make another plate so we can try Faith’s cravings,” Ate Elvie laughed. She did—but everyone grimaced and didn’t like the taste. I, on the other hand, loved it.

“By the way, Ate, do you know of any house and lot for sale here? Nothing too big—just decent and ready to live in,” I asked, finally voicing my plan.

“Perfect timing,” Kuya Jojo chimed in. “Isn’t your cousin selling their house near the Barangay Hall?”

“Really? How much?” I asked eagerly.

“About 1.2 million,” Ate Elvie replied. “But I can talk to her—maybe she’ll give a discount.”

“No need, Ate. The price is fine. She might really need the money,” I said. It was actually less than what I expected. Now my concern was what kind of work I could do while my belly was still small. Money couldn’t just keep going out—I had to be wise.

“Are you sure, Faith? Let’s look at it first. If you don’t like it, we’ll find another,” Ate Elvie offered.

“Okay, Ate. If you’re not busy tomorrow, let’s check it out. I’ll also call Jaecob and Stella later.”

“That’s good,” she agreed.

I felt fine the entire day—until night came. Suddenly, I felt dizzy and started vomiting. I threw up several times, feeling like everything I ate that day came out. Ate Elvie placed a hot compress on my stomach, which helped a little until I finally fell asleep.

The next morning, I woke up hungry again. Whatever Ate Elvie cooked, I ate—just with bigger servings this time.

That afternoon, we went to see the house and lot her cousin was selling. It was nice—three bedrooms, space around for planting, and a wider front yard. I liked it immediately and didn’t hesitate to take it. The papers would be processed, and we’d settle the payment the following week. I also spoke with Jaecob and Stella. Jaecob objected at first, but I explained everything until he finally agreed. They congratulated me on my pregnancy, though with concern.

That night, just like the day before, I started vomiting again. Jairee cried, worried about me. I felt extremely weak. When I could barely stand, Ate Elvie and Kuya Jojo decided to take me to the hospital. I didn’t protest—I couldn’t even speak anymore.

I stirred when I felt someone gently stroking my cheek. I forced my eyes open. My vision was blurry, but I could see Austin—crying.

“Faith, I’m sorry,” he said.

“A-Austin…” I whispered. He found us. He knew I was pregnant—I was sure of it. Despite my fear, I felt him take my hand, kiss it, and press it to his cheek.

“I love you so much, honey. Please get stronger. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you during moments like this. I promise—I’ll fix everything so I can be with you, Jairee, and our new baby. I’ll take care of you myself.”

Those were the last words I heard before sleep pulled me back in.