Chapter 2 Bargaining with Fate

Years passed so fast like the wind. In the blink of our eyes, eight years was already history. We ate, studied, played, cooked, and did everything else together.

We were not two but one, waiting for the right time for God to make it official. I couldn't wait for that day. It's like I had lived those eight years just to see it happening and we were close. So close.

It is our last days at Universidad del Caribe (unicaribe) in Cancun, taking my degree in business innovation while was Pablo pursuing a degree in marketing. Life couldn't get any better.

My family consisted of only Me and my mom. She had been using medicine for as long as I can remember.

Her wrinkles make her a little older than she actually is and her slim body always reminds me she is not well. Her skin is always dry. How I wish I could get enough money to take proper care of her health.

It's still a miracle that she breathes the same oxygen that I do and her feet can still strongly touch the ground without the help of any stick.

The local doctors always warn us that she shouldn't work. Her ears are always deaf to those warnings. Now that I'm older and have my own small business, I listen to these doctors for her sake. Sometimes I fail since I am not that stable and she is never the type to listen.

Our home in Tulum was on the second floor of the local flat we stayed in. Two rooms, a big space partitioned for a living room, dining room, and a kitchen, and of course we used the toilet inside my mother's room. Our lives were simple yet kissed by the sun and lighted by the full moon.

Pablo lived on the third floor of the same flat. He only lived by himself and I had never seen even a picture of someone that resembled him. He was always alone. My mom and I were undeniably the only family he had or at least that's what everyone thought.

Life in Cancun city sometimes put Pablo and me over the edge of a knife. Affording the basic needs while taking care of Mom was one hell of a responsibility.

Unlike many people in college, I never had time even for friends. I always worked. From a waitress to a babysitter to a cleaner. Name anything and I'd do it.

Pablo was the only guy by my side. He sometimes even gave me all of the payments that he worked so hard for.

I look at all of that and let a tear slide from my eyes when I hand the last submission of my research paperwork to my supervisor, Dr. Maya. One of the best women you could ever find.

"Congratulations my dear," She gets up and gives me a hand. My red eyes let out more burning tears down my face.

"Thank you, Dr. Maya." I sob while wiping away tears with the tissue. I try breathing in and out several times before my nostrils fail to inhale some air.

"Hard work forever pays. I see something in you. One day I believe I will see you at one of those big events. Mark my words," Dr. Maya was always harsh but she always did it for us.

It was hard to understand, but that was her love language towards us and I understood it. Most students came to understand in the end and that's when they knew how blessed they were to have her in their academic lives.

"I hope I won't disappoint you, Doctor," I give a small smile before I finally get out of the four white walls through a brown wooden door. I take my phone from my white tote bag, iPhone 6, and dial my mother's number.

I have no idea why people of her age are never interested in phones. She may be outside, working her mind, body, and soul off while her phone is sleeping soundly on her bed.

Wait, she's okay, isn't she?

Aah

She must be okay. Otherwise, I would have been told. Not even a minute passes by and my phone rings again.

My heart stops.

I look at the caller ID and it's mother. She must be okay. She must just have seen my missed call that's why she has decided to call me. I close my eyes before picking it up.

But why do I feel different?

"Mother?" I close one eye as if predicting what's to come.

"Camilla. I was taking a shower. How are you? Did you submit the paperwork?"

I can sense cracks in her voice. Her breathing is not normal either. Plus she never takes a shower at this time of the day.

"Yea, Mom. Finally, I am a graduate. I just have to wait for my results," I give a small smile as I take a seat on the nearby bench.

"Finally my daughter has achieved her dream. I am so proud of you. My baby is fully grown up now,"

"Thanks, Mom. Oh, I will check on you later. I am going to my room now. There are some things I need to take care of."

"Ooh. Okay, dear. Don't forget to call me. You know I don't even know how to make a call on this new phone you gave me,"

She never fails to make me laugh, "Okay Mom." I hang up.

How I wish my predictions were wrong. A small vibration is felt on my hand. I look at the phone and view the text message with an unknown identity. The capital letters make my heart not at ease.

I CAN TAKE CARE OF YOUR MOTHER'S SURGERY EXPENSES, BUT ONLY IF YOU AGREE TO MEET MY TERMS.

what the...

I call the number but it's already unreachable. What operation is he talking about? I click the dialer app and call my mom again, but she doesn't pick up. I called her again and finally, the call was answered.

"Mother?!"

"Camilla," Dr Marshall. Our local doctor calls me by my name. "Your mother's condition is critical. Both of her kidneys don't function well,"