LOGINAva’s POVI woke up earlier than any sane person should, mostly because I spent the entire night plotting my great. Kulang pa ako nakatulog ng maayos kagabi dahil kay Ethan. Hindi ko pa alam kung paano sila haharapin lalo na’t halata ang puyat sa mukha ko. Ang eyebags ko na mas lalong umitim at ang mata kong halos namumula na sa antok.But for now?I had a mission.Make breakfast for Ethan.Hindi dahil gusto kong magpaka-asawa sa kaniya. No! It is my strategy to win him over.A peace offering and a distraction. Buong gabi kong pinlano kung ano ang gagawin ko kaya hindi ako pwedeng pumalpak.I stood in the giant kitchen, bigger than my childhood home, my school canteen, and the barangay hall combined. Staring intently at the stove like it offended my whole being, every appliance gleamed like it had never been touched by mortal hands. Makes me wonder, may gumagamit ba nito?“Okay… Dalawang itlog.” I whispered. Kung pwede ko lang ‘tong lagyan ng pampa-LBM ginawa ko na.Nong binuka ko ang
Ava’s POVThe car ride should’ve been quiet. Peaceful. One of those soft, cinematic moments where two people sit in silence while streetlights paint the windows gold.Pero hindi.It took Ethan approximately twelve seconds to start an argument.“You’re not going back to work,” he said, eyes fixed on the road like the traffic offended him personally.I blinked at him. “Excuse me?”“You heard me.”“Oo, narinig ko.” I said, leaning closer, “pero parang nabingi ata ako.”His jaw tightened. “You need to rest. Celeste said—”“Celeste said I should avoid overworking,” I cut in. “Pero hindi nya sinabi na titigil na ako at dedepende na sayo. Ano ako? Charity case?”Ethan gave me a side-eye so sharp it could’ve cut glass. “Ava. You looked like you would collapse yesterday.”“I did NOT collapse,” I corrected.He inhaled slowly. “Ava,” he said firmly, “stop working.”“Ayoko.”His grip on the steering wheel tightened. “You can’t afford to push yourself. And I won’t risk the procedure failing again.
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 sof
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







