[warning: unedited chapter ahead]

WITH WIDE EYES open, I hurriedly ran and opened the door. To my surprise, my mother stood before me with a basket of fruits. Behind my mother was the lady guard in-charge during night shift. I was so confused that I grabbed my mother's hand and pulled her inside the infirmary.

"What are you doing here, 'Ma?"

"The headmistress called," she replied while catching her breath. "Are you okay now? Were you injured? Why did you collapsed all of a sudden?"

"'Ma," I called to maker her stop blabbering. "I'm okay. There's no need to make a scene. Anyway, why are you here so late? You could have just visit in the morning."

My mother sighed in relief, "Thank God that you're okay. My shift just ended and my boss didn't let me take an early time-out earlier because all of the staff are newly hired."

"I understand," I sweetly smiled and guided her toward my bed. "Are you staying the night here?"

"I'll be out once the clock struck at three. I still have to check how the newly hired are doing, without me for three hours."

"Okay," I nodded and laid down on the hard and uncomfortable bed. "You can take the bed next to mine, 'Ma."

She silently grabbed a chair and settled next to me. "No, Michi. I'll stay here and watch you sleep. It's been a long time since—"

I rolled to the other side of the bed and closed my eyes. "Have a good night sleep, 'Ma."

I heard my mother took a deep breath while I mentally scolded myself. It wasn't her fault if she didn't have enough time for me since my childhood started. It wasn't her fault that the head of our family died a long time ago and we were left with a huge debt. It wasn't her fault, to begin with. But why did I put all of the blame on her? It wasn't her fault if she fell in love with another man and decided to start another family.

What was her job again? A housewife. 

How about her boss? She was talking about Leo, my step-father.

Newly staff hired? My mother meant the newly hired helpers.

See? How could I open up my heart to her once again when she always broke my heart, to begin with? It wasn't her fault, but it wasn't my fault that I would never ever trust her again in this lifetime. 

My mother was the sole reason as to why I hated to go home even though La Trinidad gave me an option to go home. Why would I when home never felt like one ever since my father died? I wanted to make things right between us, but looking at her right now made me realize my hunger for her love and affection.

Of course, she could never, especially when she lied to me now.

Luckily, I fell asleep, only to be awaken by scream. A painful scream that belonged to my mother—MOTHER? I got up from the sudden realization and immediately checked the other side of the bed. The chair was empty while the lights were already off. My phone was my only hope to better navigate the infirmary and searched the whereabouts of my mother.

"'Ma?"

After searching the whole area, I went outside the infirmary to take some risks. The hallway became silent as the cold wind added to the spine-chilling feeling that U had been keeping inside. Looking strong and confident was my only option in order not to break down. I didn't want my mother to experience the consequences of my stupid decisions in life. 

Yes, I hated her, but I didn't wish her dead.

Damn it, where did Morgan take her?

I looked at the time on my phone and it showed exactly three in the morning. My hadn't left the school yet. It was her screamed that woke me up, and I would give my all to search La Trinidad, just to save my mother.

An idea struck me in the middle of pacing back and forth in front of the infirmary. I ran toward the guardhouse with a little hope inside, "Did you see my mother leave the place, Chief?"

The lady guard in-charge shook her head, and that was the very moment that we both heard a sharp scream, followed by a loud bang like someone fell. My eyes went wide as I looked back to the main building. The stage that the student council built for the acquaintance party was still in front of the main building, and tonight, another body was present in the middle of the platform, and it was no other than my mother.

The lady guard immediately called an ambulance through the telephone while I slowly walked toward the garden. My whole body was shaking from fear, and my soul almost left as soon as I was able to confirm the body. She laid flat on the ground with her eyes wide open, as if my mother was trying to tell me something.

"'Ma," I kneeled down as I tried to grasp what just happened. "Help is on the way. Okay? Please don't close your eyes and stay with me."

And the siren rang.

Tweet your thoughts and use #2311 on Instagram, Facebook, or X.