Chapter 2

It’s really hard to forget someone who once became a part of your life, no matter how much pain they caused you. You can’t just erase them from your mind, because they’ve already left a mark on your heart and your life. Like me—at first, I had such a hard time moving on. It’s crazy, isn’t it? I was the victim, yet here I am, unable to forget him.

I still longed to see his face, but I forced myself to forget him. I did everything—I threw away every newspaper with his picture, even burned them. I stopped watching TV, even though it used to be my favorite pastime. I avoided people and any gossip about him. Now, I’m packing my things because I’m going back to my hometown—the place I left a long time ago to find work. But fate had something else in store.

“Cass! Come on, or we’ll miss the trip.”

I zipped up my black bag before looking at Lory. She insisted on coming with me since she had no family here, and I was about to give birth. She didn’t want me to go through it alone. I was so grateful to have met her—my only friend and my shoulder to lean on through everything.

“Let’s go,” I replied, carrying my bag out of the house. Before leaving, I looked back one last time. I was going to miss this place. I sighed, covered my head with a floral cloth, rubbed my swollen belly, and followed Lory.

A new place, a new life. I hoped it would finally be peaceful.

“Oh my! You’re so big now, Cassandra! I’m glad you came back to our province. I missed you,” greeted Aling Fe cheerfully when we arrived. She was our neighbor and the one who looked after our house.

“I missed the air here,” I said happily.

“Come in, come in! You’ve had such a long trip.”

I smiled as I looked around the house. Nothing had changed; it was still well-kept. I was so thankful to Aling Fe—if it weren’t for her, I don’t know what this place would look like now.

We spent a week catching up, full of laughter and stories. The townspeople still remembered me, even after all these years. I thought they would judge me for being pregnant, but they didn’t. I was happy, because even without knowing the whole story, they accepted me. They said, “That’s life. We don’t always expect what happens, but sometimes, it turns out to be a blessing.”

Lory and I became busy planting vegetables and flowers, which also became our source of income. Coming back to the province was the right decision. I didn’t regret choosing a quiet life, far from judgmental eyes.

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In the middle of the night, I woke up to a sharp pain in my stomach. I rubbed it, hoping it would ease, but the pain only grew stronger.

“Oh God, not now. Can’t it wait until tomorrow?” I whispered.

Suddenly, I felt a gush of water down my legs. My water had broken.

“Lory,” I called weakly. “LLLOORRYY!” I screamed as another wave of pain hit me.

The door burst open and there was Lory, holding a ladle, her hair a total mess.

“Where is he? Where’s the thief?” she asked in panic. I closed my eyes—half torn between laughing and crying. But then another contraction hit, and I screamed again.

“I’m in labor, Lory!”

“Huh? You’re in labor? Oh, that’s all—WHAT?! You’re in labor?! Oh my God! Why now? Tell your baby to wait until tomorrow, I’m still sleepy!”

“LLLOOORRYY!”

“Okay, okay! Oh my God! What do I do? The tricycle—no, the midwife!” she shouted, flustered.

“For God’s sake, Lory! I need a midwife! Call Aling Linda!” I yelled through gritted teeth.

“Okay, okay! I’m calling her!”

An hour later, after pushing with all my might, I finally gave birth—to four babies.

“Four?! What kind of seed does this father have?” Aling Linda exclaimed.

The whole place erupted in chaos because of her outburst. Even though I was exhausted, I couldn’t help but laugh at the situation.

“Goodness! I think Aling Linda reacted more than Cassandra herself!” I heard Aling Fe say, making me smile as I turned to look at my babies beside me. They were wearing the tiny clothes Lory and I had bought. Even I still couldn’t believe I had given birth to four.

“My babies,” I whispered softly. “Unbelievable—why do you all look like your father? I went through all the pain, and this is what I get? So unfair.”