Novel-novel oleh azitopia

Ava’s POV I swore I could never get used to this, the smell of sterile walls, the soft clicking of instruments, the quiet murmurs of nurses. But here I was again, lying on the same reclined medical chair, wearing the world’s most humiliating paper gown, preparing for yet another round of IVF. except this time… Ethan Lancaster was in the room. Hindi ko alam kung sino ang nakapag-isip na mabuting ideya 'to. Dr. Celeste stood calmly by the monitor, flipping through charts animo'y isa itong spa transaction. Habang ako naman ay napapasigaw nalang sa isip habang nakahawak ng mahigpit sa manipis na kumot na 'to. “Ready?” Celeste asked. Hindi. Hinding-hindi. Buong buhay ko hindi ako naging handa. But I nodded anyway. A shadow moved to my left. Ethan. Tall, dark, stupidly composed Ethan. He stood with his hands in his pockets, looking every bit the CEO he is, except with one problem: He is here. Watching. I almost fainted from being mortified. Akala ko ay wala sya ngayon dahil wala

Ava’s POV Two weeks. Fourteen endless days filled with waiting, working, and pretending that everything was fine. I buried myself in the hospital’s routine, taking extra shifts, volunteering to cover for anyone who needed rest. Anything to keep my mind from spiraling into what-ifs. Every night, I went home with aching feet and an empty heart. Every morning, I reminded myself to smile at patients, to comfort worried families, to keep breathing. Because that’s what I knew how to keep moving forward even when the world kept pulling me down. Napansin ni Mira, of course. “Ang tahimik mo na lately,” she said one afternoon while we folded fresh linens in the nurse’s lounge. “More than usual.” “I’m fine,” I lied automatically. She gave me that skeptical look she always did when she knew I was lying. “Fine doesn’t look like someone who hasn’t eaten lunch for three days.” I forced a small laugh. “Marami kasi akong iniisip.” “You always do,” she murmured, then added softly, “Whate

Ava’s POV This morning, I walked down the corridor dala-dala ang plastik na laman ay pandesal na paborito ni Mama. I wasn’t here as a nurse today. I was here as a daughter— one who had already made a choice she could never take back. When I pushed open the door to Mama’s room, she was awake, her thin frame propped up by pillows. The morning sunlight caught the silver strands in her hair, making her look more fragile than ever. “Ava,” she said softly, her face lighting up. “Ang aga mo anak.” I smiled and sat beside her bed. “I missed you.” “Hmm.” She studied me for a moment. “Sinasabi mo lang ‘yan kapag may bumabagabag sayo.” I forced a laugh. “Hindi ba pwedeng miss ko lang ang Mama ko?” “Syempre naman.” Her eyes softened, though her voice trembled with exhaustion. “You look tired, anak. Are you still working double shifts?” “Hindi ngayon,” I lied, tucking the blanket closer to her chest. “Just… helping out with something else.” “Something else?” she echoed, curious. I hesi

Ava’s POV The buzzing of my phone dragged me out of my restless sleep. Namumula pa nang bahagya ang mga mata ko dahil sa kulang sa tulog at sumabay pa ang nanuyo kong lalamunan. The faint morning light slipping through the curtains reminded me everything I wanted to forget. Kahit sandali lang, kahit ilang minuto lang, hindi ko naalala ang katangahang ginawa ko kahapon, unti-unting nanumbalik ang lahat sa isip ko. The cold, pristine walls of the Vale Fertility Foundation. The sterile scent of disinfectant. And him— Ethan Lancaster. Like a bad memory, I grimaced. I groaned, covering my face with my pillow as shame burned through my chest. Anong ginawa ko? Hindi ko alam kung ano ang pumasok sa kukote ko at nakaya kong pumasok sa building na 'yon in the first place. Desperation? Siguro. As the regret slowly crept inside of me, the image of my mother lying on the hospital bed, suddenly flashed in my mind followed by the ₱189,540 bill na kailangan ko pang bayaran. The regret turne

Ava's POV The fluorescent lights above flickered faintly, humming in the small hospital ward where I stood frozen beside my mother’s bed. The air smelled of antiseptic and faint jasmine, her favorite scent. Pero sa ngayong mga araw, hindi ko alam kung kaya ko pa bang bilhin. Nanginig ang kamay ko habang bitbit ang hospital bill. ₱189,540. Napakurap ako ulit, umaasang may mahikang may kayang paliitin ang mga numero. Pero syempre, hindi ito nangyari. I pressed my lips together until they went pale. Twenty-four years old, a registered nurse in this very hospital, pero lubog parin. Hindi na nga kaya ng sahod ko ang renta, dagdag pa ang mga gastuhin sa medikasyon at operasyon na kailangan ni Mama. She stirred weakly, the oxygen tube making a soft hiss. “Ava,” she whispered, her voice barely a breath. “Nakakain ka na ba, anak?” I forced a smile, even though my throat felt tight. “Ayos lang po ako, Ma. Huwag po kayong mag-alala.” “Iyan naman ang palagi mong sinasabi eh.” “Kak

Ethan’s POV The steady hum of the engine filled the silence as my car rolled past the tall iron gates of the Lancaster Estate. It’s been years since I last came here. The place looked smaller than I remembered. The gardens overgrown, the fountain in the courtyard no longer running. Matagal rin akong 'di nakauwi. Now, I'm here again. I shouldn’t have come. I told myself that the last time, too. But the family lawyer called and said it was urgent, saying that my father’s condition had worsened. Kahit naging malayo ang loob ko sa kaniya hindi ko parin sya matiis. I couldn’t exactly ignore it. I loosened my tie as I stepped out, the late afternoon sun brushing against the stone walls of the mansion. My father’s voice was the first thing I heard when I entered his room, hoarse but commanding, like a man who refused to surrender even to death. “Ethan,” he said, looking up from his bed, his breathing shallow but his eyes still sharp. "Hindi ko inaasahan na makakapunta ko." Na