1. It Started With A Goodbye

Belle walks toward Elven who's carrying they're 1 year old daughter. He's looking at the vast ocean in front of him. He seems preoccupied as he doesn't bother to respond when Belle calls his name.

" Hey, babe. "

And she planted a kiss on his cheek.

" He-hello! "

Her cheeks reddened as she was surprised by her own gesture. Elven chuckled softly. And this makes her a bit more embarrassed. They have been in a 5 years relationship and they were married for 2 years already and they have been blessed with a beautiful daughter and yet she feels like a teenager who's having a crush.

" Anyway, I am done with the registration. "

She quickly tries to change the subject because she knew he would just endlessly tease her.

" We can board the ship when it's time."

She said this while she slips her identification card she used for registration in her jacket's pocket.

Elven just said okay while he softly caresses his daughter's hair and softly kisses her head.

" Sweetie, won't you wake up already? We're gonna ride the ship soon! You want to see the ocean, right? "

Though he wanted her to wake up, he said those words in a tiny voice. Belle couldn't help but smile. What a loving father her daughter has.

After a while, they board the ship that will take them to Elven's father's land. They're going on a vacation.

But as soon as the ship leaves the dock, rain starts to trickle.

" Let's head to our cabin and rest. We can just go back here at the deck when the rain stops. "

Elven led his family inside their cabin. Their daughter is still fast asleep. Time passes and it's still raining. It's almost dinner time. They didn't have a chance to enjoy the view outside. The baby woke up and asked for milk.

" I'll go get us something to eat. " Elven said and headed outside.

" Sure. " Belle simply replied while she breastfed her baby.

She closed her eyes as she felt her head spinning. The ship's moving roughly now. The rain's getting heavy. Then she hears a baby cry. She opens her eyes and looks at her daughter, she's not crying.

" Of course she's not, she's busy. "

She smiles at herself because she heard the cry outside and yet she checked the baby in her arms.

The crying continued frantically and being a mom, Belle put down her baby and looked outside and saw a baby girl that she guessed was the same age as her baby. Alone. Slumped on the floor and dripping because of the rain.

" Oh my goodness! Where's your mom? "

She picked up the baby and scanned the corridor. It's empty. She decided to bring the baby inside so she could get out of the rain and splash of water. She changed her diaper and put on some dry clothes. She's still crying so she gives her a bottle of milk. And she gladly took it.

" Where's my baby? Where's my baby? "

Belle hurried outside leaving the two babies on the bed.

" She's here! "

The woman runs towards her and peaks at the open door. Her face lightened up at the sight of her baby.

" Thank you! Thank you so much! "

The woman's words of thanks flooded Belle. She held her thin and frail hands and led her inside.

" I go to the comfort room and when I get back she's no longer inside the bag- "

" What?! Bag? "

The frail woman was dumbfounded. Sheepishly, she told Belle the truth.

" I smuggled her to board this ship. I put her inside my luggage. I don't have money, you know. I can't afford the fare price. We don't even have food to eat. I'm glad that they still didn't find out about us until now so can you please do us a favor? "

Her eyes looked at her full of pleading. Belle looks at the baby who's still drinking milk. She's so thin like her mom. While her baby is quietly playing with her feet

" How old is she? "

" She's already 2 year old. "

" Oh.

Okay. "

Belle smiles warily. Trying to hide her pity. The baby is malnourished. She's already 2 but her baby who's just 1 yr old looks much bigger. She doesn't want to compare but her heart feels heavy for the baby's condition.

" We need to keep going. I don't want you to get in much more trouble because of us. "

Then the frail woman picks her baby up.

" Ah, yeah. Sure. "

Belle answered absentmindedly. But then she grabs a tote bag and puts some bottled water, biscuits, milk and some dry clothes for the baby inside.

" Here. Take this. It's not much but I hope it helps. "

The woman's eyes became watery. She hesitantly accepts the bag. She needed this. She badly needed this.

" You have such a good heart. "

Belle smiles and shakes her head. She can't find the words to comfort her.

" We're going now. Thank you so much! "

Belle picks up her jacket that hangs on the chair, slips some bills on the pocket and covers the frail woman and her child.

" God bless you and your family "

She just smiles warmly at the woman's sincere words as she bids them goodbye.