DAISY

"She will be fine, the incident happened because of the appetite lose we talked about, the dehydration weakens her muscles, but she has eaten and even took some ice pops earlier, she's full of energy now." My mom's doctor Mrs. David explained.

"So that's good right?" Hopeful, I asked the receiver.

Yesterday after I got home from the treasure hunt that some engineering students won, I received a call from a hospital, it came with bad news, my mom had lost consciousness in her home. Luckily, Aunt Sally found her in the apartment.

"For now yes, but I'm afraid cancer has spread to her heart." She cautiously said.

My heart stops.

"Then she needs surgery?" That's an alternative, right?

"We've run the test and the outcome is." She halts and left me desperate.

My heartbeat increases. "Will she be okay?"

"Cancer has reached stage four, Daisy."

"But she will be alright, right?" I pressed.

"The treatment is no longer effective, it's considered terminal, I will recommend hospice care, it will help relieve and support her through the rest..."

"No..." I interrupt, my vision blur, my heart pounding in my chest. "You said she will be fine, you said the chemo would help." I croak.

"It's the last hope, Daisy."

No... There should be something else. I can't take the price of all this. I can't lose my mom out of this.

"Then let's try new treatments, maybe lung replacement, I will pay. Please don't let me lose her." I don't realize I'm crying until a tear slip in my shirt, and slide down my bare skin.

"Your mom is a fighter, I'm sure whatever it is, she's trying. I will begin arranging for the hospice care, I will let you know soon okay?" She says and despairingly I agree. "Okay,"

"And Daisy, I think you should come home soon, she will need you around."

"Okay," I whisper before the line goes off.

I lean against the tiled wall, my head falls back, letting my eyes find the roof above me.

I feel hopeless, everything that's happening in my life is fucked up. I never realized how growing up would suck until recently. I don't want to be alone, I want everything like it used to be. My dad, my mom all in the same room making dinner like eight years ago. Why can't I have that?

I'm scared.

"Are you okay?" Someone asked.

I quickly wipe my face with the back of my hand and wear a miserable smile.

"Yes."

Kate doesn't seem satisfied with my answer, she watches me with concerned eyes.
"You sure? You can tell me everything, you know."

"Thank you. I will be out right away." Hoping she will take it as a sign of dismissal, I will need some moment to composure myself after learning my mother is in her final weeks.

"I wanted to tell you, your man's here." She playfully winks.

"What man?" I retort, I know who she means, I just couldn't stop myself from asking.

Her eyes roll before she begins. "You know who. It not like he's not here all the time."

"Stop deceiving yourself, he's just someone." I shrug and walk past her, making sure I push back the tears as I chew on my inner cheeks.

"Someone who left you seventeen text messages, insisting to talk?"

That got my attention, my eyes widen when I turn to the girl smiling at me, her hand crossed over the same West Bay shirt I'm wearing.
"Kate have you been reading my text."

"No." She quickly replies but smiles apologetically when I shoot her a stern look. "Okay fine I might have read some of your texts, but not all I swear. In my defensive, the phone won't quit buzzing from my desk and I thought I should silent it but then I saw Mr hot profile picture, and I got curious."

Since after yesterday, I've made sure to avoid any chance of encountering Kay. I can't look at him, I know if he looks deep into me, he would see what I can't let myself have.

His words left me disorganized, I've had them from my mom and dad and Riley but from Kaiser? It feels so much stronger.

It scares me.

"Uhm."

"He likes you."

I scoff and look down at my chucks. I don't even have any words to vocalize.

When I didn't say anything, Kate continues. "He's always here. It doesn't matter he's here with someone but he..."

I didn't let her finish, I am quick to ask. "He's here with someone?"

"Yes?" She watches me skeptically.

"Riley?"

Her eyes crinkle when she asked. "Who's Riley? Do you mean Riley? The adorable blonde with royal features?"

"Yes."

"What will Mr. Hot have to do with her? He's here for you, believe me, is not some coincidence he starts coming here when you got employed, I must say you brought more customers." She smiles and appends. "But he's here with some woman in formal dress, maybe his big sister." She speculated.

In these moments of life, one might cuss instincts, because it got me accelerating without second thoughts, exposing all my emotions to the person behind me.

Who's he with? It's the only answer I am chasing when I bump into Papa, another employee around here.

"Sorry." I apologize and sprint to Kate's day desk.

Kate wasn't lying; he's here with someone who brought out my insecurity to life with just a smile she flashes to him.

She was prettier, older, and probably richer. Her blonde hair, her nails, and olive skin say game over to someone like me.

She's the kind that takes away the little self-esteem a girl like me would have. She's dressed in a probably Chanel tuxedo, perfect makeup, and shoes that every tall woman will stand on.

Her hand was over his, she never blinks away from him. She's my nightmare in daylight.

I am not hallucinating, he brought a woman to my working place. He will go to this extent to hurt me?