Her life

On a night of a full moon, a baby is about to be born. Ria and Tony are excited to meet their daughter. Life has been hard but they did their best to prepare everything so that their child will not face hardships as they did.

"Push, Ria." The midwife exclaims as Ria shouts because of pain. Tony is by her side, holding her hands.

"I can see her. Keep pushing." And a cry of a baby is heard. The couple is over the moon when they see their daughter. The midwife gives the baby to Ria.

As Ria holds her daughter, a tear falls from her eyes. "She's beautiful." Tony smile as a sign of agreement. They name her Selena because the lovely baby girl was born on a beautiful full moon.

Ria and Tony manage their time to take care of their daughter and their farm. Even as a 5-year-old child, Selena possesses an alluring beauty and is a cheerful girl. Every day she would come with her parents to run their farm and the couple would receive constant praises for having Selena as their daughter.

Life has been good for Selena's family. Their farm is producing good crops and would sell many in the market. The abundance gives her family happiness and contentment.

"Tony, I think we should make Selena stop working at our farm and continue going to school." Ria is bothered to see other children attending school while Selena is helping at the farm.

"What would she do at the school? They teach kids that has nothing to do with life. Besides, we are teaching her what she needs to know." Tony sees no point in learning at school when it cannot be used in real life, it is a waste of money for him.

Ria falls into silence and did not argue anymore. She went to the bedroom and sits on the bed, beside her daughter, caressing her hair. Ria feels pity towards her daughter. She knows Selena possesses intellect and talent but it cannot be harness if she will continue to work on their farm. But Ria cannot go against her husband.

Time passes by and Selena is now a teenager. She indeed grows up with a pleasing personality and beauty. Selena is happy helping on her parents' farm but as she gazes at a group of children just the same as her age laughing together, and is wearing a uniform and bag.

"It must be nice to attend school, learn, and have friends." Selena says to herself. Ria hears this and cannot stop feeling pain in her chest. She told this to her husband and pleads with him again.

"Please, Tony. It is her right. Since she was a child, she had been helping us on the farm. Don't you think we should let her have dreams on her own?"

"We cannot afford the fees, Ria. And about the boys at the school? What if they harm our daughter?" Tony answers hesitantly.

"We have money, we are selling many to the market. What's the use of our earned money if we cannot give our daughter a future? And that is what's bothering you? The boys? Nothing will happen to her, Tony."

Tony is silent. Ria sits beside her and holds his hand. "It is our job to protect her and to give her a better future. So please, let her attend school and socialize with her peers." Tony looks at his wife with a worried face.

Ria hugs her husband, "Do not worry, we will guide her. It is our responsibility. We will not make her innocent and naive. The world is cruel and we must prepare her for it."

The next day, Ria and Tony accompanied Selena to the school for registration and fetch her after school. Selena happily told her parents what happen to school - who she met, and what she learned.

"You know, Ma? I already have friends, and don't worry, they are no boys." Selena then looks at her father.

"And then when the teacher asks about Math? I raised my hand and got the right answer. I never knew I was good at Math."

"You inherited it at your father." Ria declares with a smile. Selena looks again to her father, "Really, Pa?"

"Improve your study. We do not always have money. You should be able to graduate." Tony exclaims.

"Yes, Papa." Selena then eats her dinner happily with her parents.

Months passed and then years, Selena has turned 18 years and her complexion is now very visible. Years of attending school, she proves that she is not with beauty but with great intellect. Her parents are very proud and her father even hosts a small feast in their house when she graduates valedictorian.

That night, a boy visits Selena to congratulate her and gives her a rose. Selena hesitantly receives the flower and makes the boy leave. But her father sees it.

"Who is he?" Tony immediately asks her daughter.

"My classmate, Pa. And yes, he asks to court me but don't worry, I turn him down."

Tony's sigh of relief made Selena laugh. Then they go back inside the house to accommodate the guests.

The 18-year-old Selena has an alluring beauty that made every guy in the village fall for her and wants to court her. Selena has a light skin complexion despite being under the sun while helping her parents at the farm on weekends and has an attractive and pretty face.

Many have been trying to get her attention but to no avail. Another reason is her father being overprotective that no one has the courage to ask her for a date.

"These men, ugh!" Selena's father exclaims. "I swear they will taste my punch if they try to be near to our daughter."

"Calm down, Tony. Our neighbor will hear you." Selena could not hear this because she is paying attention to her medical books. She is preparing herself for college soon.

Summer arrives and Selena's family is facing a great catastrophe. All of their crops had died. They try planting new ones but the soil is not healthy and adequate anymore. No matter what fertilizers and methods they use, their farm cannot be saved. They can no longer sell and the abundance had ended. This has created a great problem financially on Selena's family.

Selena's father has changed because of this. Tony is always irritable and picks a fight in the neighborhood. Ria and Selena are starting to feel terrified of the drastic change. Their once happy and contented family has become a dull one. Every day, they struggle to buy their necessities, and Selena is filled with worry. College application will be held soon and she can see that her parents will not be able to afford to send her to the university.

One evening, her father came home, a little bit tipsy. Ria supports her father to bring him to the bedroom but she pushes her away. Then he turns to Selena, "You should marry a rich man so that we can have a better life than this."

Selena is shocked and confused but finds the courage to respond. "Pa, I don't want to get married. I want to finish my studies and be a doctor." Sereia replied.

Her father turns the table upside down which makes Selena stunned. Tony points at her with an angry face that Selena had never seen before, "You listen! Stop dreaming of being a doctor! We hardly even have food on our table, how can we afford a university?! You should be practical!"

"I am being practical! Once I graduated from college, I can find a decent and high-paying job!" Selena replies bravely.

"And you're already answering me! Is that how we raised you? Huh?! Can't you see?! We have no money!" Her father is already shouting at her.

But Selena keeps on convincing her father. "But, Pa, there are a lot of ways! I can find a way. We can get through this. Please!"

Tony did not answer her daughter. He walks towards the door, and said, "You are not going to the university, or else you will never leave this house. That is final!" He leaves the house, slamming the door.

Selena feels hopeless. She tries talking to her mother. "Ma, please. Convince Papa. I can find a part-time job for my college tuition. Just allow me to go to college."

"I'm sorry, Selena but I already tried. He even slapped me." Her mother starts crying while holding her cheeks. Ria still feels the palm of his husband hitting on her right cheek. It was the first time that Tony had hurt her.

Selena also starts crying. She cannot believe what has become their family when they lost their source of income. But she does not want to give up. She believes that by graduating, their life will be back to normal.

"I'm sorry that Papa hit you, Ma." Selena hugs her mother and continues to speak, "But please believe in me. You are the one who convinces Papa to let me go to school for my future. We can't give up now, Ma. Promise, Ma, once I graduate-,"

Her mother pulls away from her and shouts, "Can't you see?! There is no convincing your father! If I were you, just listen to him! You are just wasting your time with that dream of yours!" Then her mother goes to their bedroom and shut the door.

Selena is now alone in the kitchen, crying. She cannot believe that her mother has also changed. She remembers the sentences her mother said to her on her first day of school. "Selena, you must be good, okay? This is the only thing that we can give you that will ensure your future. So don't think about me and your father. Just think of what makes you happy and your dream. We're always here to support you."

Selena cannot take the pain and goes out of the house, crying. She wants to be away - she runs and runs, reaching the forbidden forest.