The Unwanted

The stranger

Maxine's POV

“Ma’am, I would like to pay half of the price of my mother’s bill. Would that be okay?” I nervously asked. Morning came and I rushed to the hospital where my mom was. I had enough sleep last night.

“ Ms, Atara. The bill was already paid last night.” My brows furrowed after hearing the nurse at the counter. However, she looked serious and calm. There was no way she would be kidding me. The bill could cost a fortune yet what she just said should be a joke.

“ P-paid off? By whom?” I nervously asked. My hands are sweating and my heart is beating so loudly because of this news.

“ The information did not show up, but it had already been paid. Your mother had already woken up earlier, and you would be able to visit her.” I temporarily forget about the stranger who had paid for the bills as I was excited to see mom. Yet, am I nervous? It will be an unpleasant view for her. She never liked me. Right from the start, my mother never likes my existence. She would always make me feel that I am unwanted and because of me, she's struggling in her life. I don't know what I did for her to treat me like this when in fact, she gave birth to me.

No, this can't be possible. How can some stranger pay for my hospital bills?

I was about to enter my mother's room when I met the doctor who operated on my mother.

"Miss Atara, your mother has woken up, and most probably the next day you can leave the hospital." The doctor said to me after I arrived inside. Mom was still sleeping in the bed, she looked pale and skinny.

“Really, doc?" I made a sigh of relief because her situation is now okay.

"Yes." He answered me with a smile.

After the talk with the doctor, I went to my mother's side.

"Mom, you can go out the next day." I whispered because I didn't want her to wake up. It will surely make her angry again to see me here.

"Mom, did you know? Someone was kind enough to help me with your hospital bills so we can get out. I miss you." Tears came to my eyes but I immediately wiped them away. She hated to see me getting emotional, she hated to see me in this state, and she hated to see me showing her kindness. She just hates my entire existence.

"Tomorrow, I will thank him at the club. If I would be able to see him again. I want to thank him for his kindness. I owe him your life." I said and kissed her forehead.

My mom is peacefully sleeping on the bed. I have been longing for the day when she would finally say that I am her daughter.

I cannot stay long since I have to do my plates due the next day. I was already left behind with the other subjects and need to catch them up before losing.

"Oh Jade, it's good to see you back. How was your mother?" I was greeted by my only friend at school who also knows my job. Her name was Joyce, she also took the same course as mine.

" She was fine now. I would have stopped studying if no one was kind enough to pay our hospital bills." I answered, being relieved.

"Really? Who paid 500 thousand for surgery?" She was also surprised, just like me. But I don't have any idea who it was.

"I don't know either. I was surprised when I went to the hospital, the nurse told me that it had been paid off.

I still have to find it out.

"Huh? And who would that be?" I really don't know,” I muttered.

"Are you sure about that? Mami, that's strange. Couldn't he have a bad plan for you?"

"Let's not judge easily, alright? I still didn't know if he was a man or woman." I said. I don't want to overthink as my head was already messed up with unexpected things that happened to me recently.

"I mean, Maxine Jade Atara, don't get me wrong, but you said you work at the club as a dancer, perhaps there was someone whom you met and paid for it?" she whispered to me because I begged not to tell where I work.

"N-no, I'm not sure.." ---I didn't even see it coming. I suddenly remembered the man who gave me a lot of money last night. Could that be him?

"I don't know about your stuff, I just told you." she said and stood up because my Prof was about to enter CE Shop work 2.

My class ended at two o'clock.

"The chem is bad, don't let it go." Joyce complained while she massaged her forehead.

"Yes, yes. I have a headache, I'm exhausted." I said too.

"That's why I don't want Tuesdays, there's no break time from 7 am to 2 pm. It would be nice if there was someone who would deliver food to us." Joyce said.

I have a headache because we don't have a class break.

"Alright mommy, I'll go first. I'll go see my mother before going in." I say goodbye to her.

"Alright mommy, be careful. I can't visit you at the club because dad will scold me." She smiled at me.

"It's ok. Be careful too." I muttered as we both parted our ways.

I visited my mother before going to the club. Mother will be able to go out tomorrow as well.

I still have to find out who has paid our bills. It was just so strange. A strange thing to do for someone, to add more, is including a huge amount of money. I know this has to be something that I need to pay back. Yet a part of me is thankful that this stranger paid my bills as I cannot do it on the spot.