6

Belle's Point of View

I'm hungry. I touched my forehead and neck, I'm burning. Now that I locked myself here in my room I can't go out and eat, I looked at the puppy and she's now sleeping. If Mom chose chemotherapy back then is, she going to survive? I almost jumped when someone knock on the door

"Belle, It's me, Charles. I prepare some dinner for you, you haven't eaten anything and you're sick" I'm thankful that he's here

I opened the door and I saw him holding a tray full of food and it was smoking which means it was hot. I let him in and he put the tray on the mini table beside my mini couch. My forehead creased at the thought that why am I trust this guy, we've just met a month ago

"I'll leave you here, eat now and drink the medicine" He smiles at me and I just nod

I lock again the door and walked towards the food, it was a beef steak with broccoli. I was stunned when I felt a sting in my back, I can't move because it was hurting

"AHHH" I screamed it really hurt this time

I covered my mouth so that no one can hear me, I don't want them to worry especially...Dad. I took a deep breath and try to walk that pain is now bearable, these past few days my back is always hurting maybe that's the symptoms of AML. I sat down and start eating the food Charles gave

It's difficult, it’s hard for me to wake up every morning that anytime soon I'll die. A tear fell down and I quickly wipe it off, I'm strong, I won't cry because of it instead I'm going to live the last two years and three months of my life. I slowly reached for my journal and a pen

Travel around the world

Give Dad happy memories

Marry the guy I love the most

Have kids

I erase the last two to do because I think I can't do that when my time is running at speed of 210 km/h.

See the city light in Antipolo

Drink an alcoholic beverage/go to the bar

I stopped writing when I felt pain again. This time it is not bearable.

"Ahhhhh" I whimper

I tasted blood inside my mouth so I spit, there's blood. Breathe, Belle, Breathe. And soon my teeth come off

"BELLE!!!" I woke up from Charles's shout

It was a dream? It was just a dream. I took a deep breath because it was just a dream, I looked at Charles gasping for air. It was fucking my head, before I could speak, he hugged me. I feel relief and safe in his arms, I close my eyes and feel the warmth of his embrace

when I parted from our embrace, I looked at the sliding door that was now shattered into pieces. Did he break the glass?

"Yes, I broke your sliding door. You were shouting for help and your door is locked so I climb up only to find out that the sliding door is locked too so I broke it, I'm sorry" He said like he read the thoughts in my mind

"Where's Dad?" I asked him

"He went to the Hospital with your brother and Step-Mother," He said and I nod

That's it? After what happened last night is, he just going to leave like that? What else can I expect? I sit properly and lean on the headboard of my bed

"Are you hungry? Do you want porridge?" He asks and I just nod

"Where's the puppy?" I ask

"Our neighbor, Aunt Lily took her already" He answered

"Already?" I ask and he nods

I might add that to my list, to get a dog.

"Belle" Charles calls me so I look at him

"What is your dream?" He asks

"About my teeth falling out," I said

"That's a bad dream, ancestors said if you dreamed about your teeth falling out you or someone will die in your family," He said

I gulped.

"That's not true," I said but I'm actually nervous about it

"I hope so" He walks out

I spend the whole day thinking of what Charles said and about my dream. I'm thankful that it is only a dream but what Charles said makes me have goosebumps and shivers down my spine. Dad is ignoring me the whole day, he keeps on peeping, thinking that I can't see him but when I looked at him, he will look away

The next day I visit Aunt Lily our neighbor to see the puppy. Aunt Lily is playing with Nalu (it's the puppy's name) I entered the gate and closed it and smiled at them

"Oh, Belle, come here and play with Nalu. She's waiting for you" Aunt Lily said and left

"Hi, Nalu" Her tail wiggled and jumped

I want a life full of happiness and joy. Maybe wanting to be happy could kill me but at least, I died happy right? Aunt Lily come back with a tray of tea, I helped her with the tray.

"Belle, If I die keep Nalu, okay?" My forehead creased when she said that

"Why are you saying that, Aunt Lily? What do you mean?" I ask

"I just found out I have cancer. Belle, I see you as a good owner and I want you to take care of Nalu, she's the only one I have. Live the life you have right now, I want to stay alive long enough to see my granddaughter and grandson pursue their dreams but I cannot. So, live the life you have." She explained

"Let's have chemotherapy," I said and she shake her head

"I don't have money, and I don't think I'll survive even if I do chemo," She said

"My dad...my dad is rich...I-I can request money for your chemo," I said without hesitation

"Belle, you're a really good daughter but I can't accept it" She said

"My mom died because of cancer, she carried me for 9 months while she has cancer until now, I'm blaming myself for it. Let me get you to chemo to see your grandchild’s purse their dreams" I said and she nod

AQUEENAB