Chapter 1

BAILEY POV

I woke up in a warm and snug room, only to find my mother sitting beside me, tears streaming down her face. Confusion washed over me as I tried to piece together what had happened. Why was she crying? Where was I? What had happened to me? It was then that I noticed the dextrose attached to my hand, and it hit me like a ton of bricks - I was in the hospital.

Relief flooded my mother's face as she saw me awake. "Thank goodness you're awake, Ley," she said, a mixture of joy and sadness in her voice.

"What happened, Mom? Why am I here?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

"You lost consciousness, and we rushed you to the hospital. The doctor said you have acute dengue," she explained, her voice filled with concern.

Just then, the doctor entered the room, greeting us with a warm smile. I returned the smile, grateful for his presence. "How are you feeling now?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine care.

"I'm feeling alright, Doc," I replied, trying to sound as reassuring as possible.

"That's good to hear. Let me check your blood pressure and platelet count, and we'll decide if you can be discharged tomorrow," he said, his smile unwavering.

After a series of tests, the doctor bid us farewell and left the room. It was just my mother and I once again. Moments later, my father walked in, his face lighting up at the sight of me smiling.

"How are you feeling, Ley?" he asked, his worry evident in his voice.

"I'm okay, Dad. Don't worry about me," I reassured him, a smile playing on my lips.

He enveloped me and my mother in a tight embrace, the love and relief palpable in the air. In that moment, I realized just how much they cared for me.

The next day, the doctor deemed me fit for discharge, as all my test results came back normal. My parents were overjoyed, and my father hurried off to the billing office to settle the hospital bill.

Unable to contain my concern, I turned to my mother and asked if we could afford the bill. I knew that our finances were tight, and the hospital expenses would surely be substantial after my stay.

"Mom, how are we going to cover all the hospital expenses? I know we've already spent a lot on building the stall in the market. I feel like I've only added to your burden," I asked, filled with anxiety.

"Don't say that, Ley! You are not a burden to us. As your parents, you are our responsibility," my mother replied emphatically.

"The most important thing is that you're okay now. We can't bear it when something bad happens to you. We love you so much, Ley," she added.

I couldn't help but smile at my mother's words, and I immediately embraced her. I truly am the luckiest child in the world. I'm incredibly fortunate to have them as my parents.

When we arrived home, I sat on the sofa and gazed at our small garden. My mother was busy cooking dinner in the kitchen, while my father was heading off to work. Suddenly, the rain started pouring down, and I watched with amusement as our little garden outside slowly became drenched.

"Mom, when will dad be home?" I inquired.

"I'm not sure yet. He hasn't called me," my mother replied.

"Okay, mom," I answered.

Feeling tired, I decided to rest in my room. As soon as I entered, I laid down on the bed and closed my eyes. Unbeknownst to me, I drifted off to sleep.

When I woke up, I immediately got out of bed and was about to leave the room when I overheard my parents talking.

"Darling, even if we're drowning in debt, I'll do whatever it takes to save our daughter," my father said.

"I know you would do anything for our daughter, but we both know Sir Elijah has a nasty temper. I hope he doesn't reach a point where he starts pressuring us because of the money we owe him," my mother replied.

"Don't worry, my love. We've agreed that I'll give 50% of my salary until I pay off the debt. He's not charging any interest, so I'll be able to settle it soon," my father assured her.

"Okay, I'm just concerned," my mother said.

"Please, my dear, let's not dwell on that right now. The most important thing is that our child is safe. We'll work harder so she can finish college," he added.

Little did I know that tears were streaming down my face as I eavesdropped on their conversation. Despite their old age, my parents were still working tirelessly for my sake. My ultimate goal was to graduate from college and repay them for all their sacrifices. Before leaving the room, I quickly wiped away my tears, hoping they hadn't noticed. However, as I turned to leave, they looked at me with warm smiles. Unable to resist, I walked towards them and embraced them tightly, feeling their love envelop me in return. There was nothing more I wished for than to have them by my side for as long as possible, even as I grew old myself.

With a smile, I expressed my love for both of them. "I love you both," I said, my voice filled with genuine affection.

"We love you very much, Ley," my mother replied, her smile radiating warmth.

That night, we gathered around the dinner table, sharing stories and laughter. However, my curiosity got the best of me, and I couldn't help but inquire about the source of our hospital payment. I was particularly intrigued by the mention of someone named Sir Elijah.

"Dad, where did you get the money for the hospital bills?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

"Haven't we discussed this before, Ley?" my mother interjected.

"I just want to know, Mom. I overheard your conversation, and I know we're facing financial difficulties. Who is Sir Elijah, Dad?" I asked, my curiosity growing stronger.

As I questioned my father, I noticed a hint of weariness in his eyes. I knew that Sir Elijah was the person he owed money to, but I couldn't understand why I felt such a strong desire to learn more about him.

"Sir Elijah is my employer, and I borrowed money from him to pay our hospital bills," my father explained.

"Wow, Sir Elijah sounds like a kind person. You're lucky to have him, and he's lucky to have you, Dad, because you work so hard," I said, a smile spreading across my face.

"Yes, Ley," my father replied, his smile reflecting a mix of gratitude and exhaustion.

After our joyful dinner, I offered to help my mother with the dishes, but she insisted that I go rest in the bedroom instead. "Thank you, Sir Elijah," I whispered to myself, a grateful smile gracing my lips.

Days passed, and everything seemed to be going well. I woke up early to assist my mother with the household.

My mother informed me that Sir Elijah had called him early and he had to leave in a hurry," she said. 

"Really? Interesting. Have you ever met Sir Elijah in person, Mom? How old is he? Is he as old as you?" I asked, my curiosity piqued, even drowning out the noise from the TV.

"He's probably in his late twenties. I'm not entirely sure. Why do you want to know so much about Sir Elijah?" Mom inquired.

"Well, he's my hero. He helped save my life when Daddy was sick. I owe him a lot, Mom," I replied, beaming with gratitude.

"Stop dwelling on that, Ley," Mom chided.

I couldn't help but imagine what Sir Elijah looked like. Maybe he had a gentle, angelic face. We were around the same age, so I couldn't help but admire him, even though I had never met him before.

Suddenly, my phone rang, and I answered it without hesitation. But what I heard on the other end made my whole body tremble.