The water activity that I've been dying to try is the taklobo and coral tour. Being a nature lover, I find it fascinating to explore the ocean's depth, and there's nothing more exciting than doing it with the one I love, Maddox. My heart becomes erratic, thinking of a million ways to explore the ocean with Maddox. I can't wait to have it with him and my friends as well. It will be the most memorable of our water activities. But before that, we have to try jet skiing, banana boating, and flyboarding. We look so cool wearing black wetsuits as we head to the site to start our water sports. "Sam," I shouted when I saw Sam and Luke already on the site. The couples seemed to be really on time in every event or activity Maddox had arranged for us. 

I expect to wake up Sunday morning with the same vibes as yesterday with Maddox beside me. My phone ring awakens me at the break of dawn as the time on my phone tells me it's 5:15. It must be urgent, looking at Aunt Melanie calling me mark's on the screen. "Hello, Aunt Melanie. What is it?" I answered but didn't put the call on speaker mode to avoid waking up Maddox beside me. "Angel, sorry for waking you up this early. Your mom was rushed to the hospital at around 4 in the morning. I am with her now; I just called to inform you right away." My heart is pounding, listening to Aunt Melanie. It's not the kind of morning I expect to have in one of the beautiful islands in the Philippines. "Angel, are you there?"

It's just mom and me in her hospital room; silence dominates between us.  I sit on the chair beside mom's bed."Mom, it's just the two of us now. Can we talk?" "If that's about my health, we will. I'm just waiting for someone, and then we can talk." I nod in agreement. "Who? Your doctor?" "No, your father, Angelo." I freeze, and my mouth falls open, comprehending if I heard her right. Mom's eyes confirmed it. She looks at me without batting an eyelid. "Angel, he is still your father." Mom obviously read me just by looking at my facial expressions.

I loosen my arms around mom and wipe my tears. Angelo stops stroking his hand on my back as he stands beside me. He leans close and raises a hand like he is about to incline his arm around my shoulder, but he halts himself. I don't want to humiliate him, so I ignore it. "What do we do now? What did the doctor say? What options do we have?" "Angel, I don't want you to expect too much of me getting back to full recovery." I lean over, gather mom's hands and hold them tightly."Mom, don't talk like there's no hope in your health. You'll gain back your strength, be back healthy, and we will spend many more years together. We will do everything we can." Mom shut her eyes whil

I adjust myself, and Maddox gathers my hand as I face him."You have to promise not to be mad at our friends and me with what I'm about to say." I pull my hands and cross them on my chest."I smell something fishy here. What exactly do you want to tell me? Say it now, no more buts and swearing." I commanded Maddox. Maddox's cheeks begin to blush, which rarely happens to him. I don't know if he's embarrassed or nervous about something he wants to confess. "So?" I said impatiently. "Baby, this is concerning our island vacation. There is someone who sponsored it, not me."