Cherry was staring at the photo of hers and to Alfred, her husband displayed on top of the small cabinet. She remembered how happy they used to be—something she no longer felt. Alfred was the one who stay by her side when her ex-boyfriend Jared left her. At first, she felt nothing as Alfred was courting her. But as time had passed, she learned to love him. In their one and a half years of marriage, he changed suddenly. He had become someone she barely recognized.
A tear fell down her cheek, but she quickly wiped it away with her palm. She sniffled and gazed quietly at her son, who was sound asleep.
Caught in her thoughts, she didn't realize it was already ten o'clock—the time she needed to fetch Carina from school. She woke Cyprus from his nap. She dressed the child, then changed into something simple herself. She dusted a bit of powder on her face and didn't bother to apply lipstick.
After picking up her eldest daughter, Cherry and her children hurried to go through the terminal to find a jeep or tricycle for sending them home. Lost in thought, she didn't notice that Cyprus had run ahead—almost getting hit by a passing car.
She froze in shock, horrified by what just happened.
"Hey, lady! Are you trying to get your kid to be killed?!" shouted of the man inside the maroon car.
Cherry rushed to embrace her child, nearly in tears. She looked up at the man and lowered her head in apology.
"I'm really sorry, sir…"
"Sorry? Your carelessness is a public nuisance!" The man snapped. "What if I had hit your child? I'd be the one paying the hospital bills!"
"I'm truly sorry. My son's just clumsy," she pleaded, refusing to let go of her child.
"Are you okay, Cyprus?" She asked the boy, who was crying from fear. Cherry anxiously checked him from head to toe.
"Next time, watch your kid!" As the man yelled again before speeding off his car.
She didn't realize people around them were watching them. Cherry sighed as she held tight onto her youngest child.
Once they were home, she quickly prepared milk for her children and pulled them along to the kitchen.
"Mama…" Carina called, pointing at something.
"Hold on, Carina. Let me finish making your milk, okay?"
Carina had wanted help with her homework. While Cherry helped her, she rocked Cyprus in her arms, trying to get him to nap. After helping the eldest with her assignment, she placed her youngest child on the couch and tidied up the mess.
By five in the afternoon, she brought the children to the kitchen again to prepare dinner.
Just as she finished cooking, Alfred arrived—clearly exhausted from work.
"Perfect timing, I just finished cooking," she said gently.
He passed her without a word, poured himself a glass of water, and sat at the table. Cherry gave him a faint smile.
"I'm starving," was all he said.
Cherry quickly got rice from the pot and brought a plate and utensils, then followed it with the dish.
"I heard from the neighbors our child almost got hit by a car today?"
Cherry took a deep breath, unsure of how to explain.
"You've only given me one child, and you can't even take care of him properly?" Alfred complained.
"Cyprus is very active; he slipped away from me quickly," she tried to explain.
Alfred smirked. "Just admit it—you don't know how to take care of those kids. You can't even do the only job right."
After that, he left her to finish feeding the kids alone. She fed them first before finally sitting down to eat herself. It was nearly midnight when she got to sleep after doing the dishes and ironing clothes.
The next day, the household chores piled up again after she brought Carina to school. Cherry felt like she was about to go mad seeing the situation of their home.
While cleaning up, she suddenly remembered Carina's upcoming birthday. That thought brought a smile to her face. She grabbed a notebook while carrying Cyprus and began jotting down the ingredients she needed for spaghetti next week.
"You can't even keep up with everything at home, and now you want to bother cooking for your daughter's birthday?" Alfred muttered, referring to Carina.
"Sshhh. The kids are sleeping. Please lower your voice," Cherry warned. "She's your daughter too, isn't she? Please don't make her feel like she's not really your child."
"You're the one who wanted to adopt her, not me. As far as I'm concerned, my only child is Cyprus." He turned his back on her, unwilling to speak any further.
Tears silently fell from Cherry's eyes at his heartless words. He seemed to have forgotten that they both agreed to adopt and raise Carina together.
"You were the only one who wanted to adopt that child."
Cherry closed her eyes, unwilling to argue anymore. The pain from Alfred's sudden change in behavior weighed heavily on her. She no longer understood what had happened between them.
Later, Cherry rode a tricycle to the market—she couldn't carry all the groceries while holding the kids. When they got home, she immediately sorted through what she had bought.
While rushing to cook, she slipped on the wet floor. She hadn't noticed the water was overflowing in the bathroom.
"Ouch!" she cried out as pain shot through her body. She looked at her children, worried they might fall off their seats.
She didn't think twice—she screamed, "Help!" three times until a woman named Aling Marietta and her son came to assist her.
"Let's take her to the hospital," the woman said when she saw Cherry couldn't stand. "Jake, help the kids."
"Yes, mother."
Cherry slowly opened her eyes and noticed the white ceiling above her. She scanned the surroundings and realized she was in the hospital. Aling Marietta was sitting beside her.
"Good, you're awake," the woman said kindly.
"Where are Cyprus and Carina?"
"They're at our house. My son is taking care of them. Don't worry," she assured her. "I have called your husband too. He's on his way."
Cherry nodded faintly.
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm alright, but my legs still hurt," Cherry replied with a wince.
"Then you need to take a rest."
Moments later, the door opened and Alfred came in. Aling Marietta stood and excused herself to give the couple a privacy.
Alfred stared at his wife, eyes filled with disdain.
"What this kind of mess have you gotten yourself into now?"
Instead of concern, Cherry was met with anger.
"The money that was supposed to go to your daughter's birthday gift will be paid for the hospital bill. Tsk. You can't seem do anything right."
"It was an accident. No one wanted this to happen," Cherry replied calmly.
"Accident? More like carelessness on your part."
The argument grew louder until Aling Marietta reentered the room with a serious look.
"I heard you're vouce from the outside and shouting," she began. "And I heard how you disrespected your wife." She turned to Alfred. "Did you come here just to scold her?"
"Do you have the right to meddle in a married couple's fight?" he snapped. "This doesn't concern you, so you better leave."
"Alfred…" Cherry pleaded in a soft tone.
Aling Marietta raised an eyebrow. "I'm not leaving. I'm staying here with your wife."
Alfred scoffed. "You people really like me to meddle."
"I'm here because I care about your wife—unlike a husband like you who couldn't care less about what happened to his wife." She answered back. "What kind of husband are you?"
Alfred was about to argue when Cherry grabbed his arm to stop him. He brushed her hand away and walked out of the room, clearly annoyed.
"It's been a long time for I know how your husband treats you," Aling Marietta said, talking to Cherry. "Why do you keep enduring this?"
"I love my family, Aling Marietta," Cherry replied, her voice breaking. "I made a vow to God—to stay with Alfred for better or for worse…"