Scars

One rainy morning in September 1992, Carmela's stomach ached again and again. She is about to give birth to their second child. Robert, her husband, is carrying a bag containing the baby's supplies. Robert escorted his wife to a small clinic. "Just a little walk, we will reach the clinic", he whispered, trying to calm down his wife. "It really hurts!", It's really coming out! Carmela shouted. "It's almost here, we're going to cross this street!" said Robert. The couple was almost at the clinic when the security guard watching outside saw them. He immediately called the nurse to say that someone needed immediate medical attention. The nurse came out with a wheel chair to take Carmela and take her to the emergency room. "Just stay here, Sir, or just wait outside" said the nurse to Robert. "The doctor in charge will take care of your wife", he added. While Robert was waiting outside the emergency room, his wife's personal information was taken, including the name of their child. " Romela, that's what you should name my daughter" said Robert. You can see the extreme nervousness on his face, but you can also see the excitement. A few months ago, he was hired by a large construction company. Robert is a skilled worker, he knows a lot about carpentry, he also knows how to weld and he is also an electrician. The baby to be born is two years apart from Robert's first born, Catherine. Their first child was also a girl. She is healthy because she was spoiled by her aunts and grandmother. It turns out that Robert and Carmela live in one of the rooms in the house of Robert's mother, Sharon. She has a big house with four rooms. Robert's room was on the first floor of the big house and his siblings were on the second floor. His mother, Sharon, prefers that they all live there together until they have their own houses. Besides the big house, Robert's mother also had a rental. It was built because of the hard work of his sisters who are in Japan. He has eight siblings. The two oldest girls are already in Japan and have married a Japanese citizen there. Robert is the third and eldest son. Next to him is a hair stylist with two daughters. They are older than Robert's children because she got married earlier. But now they are separated because her husband caught him cheating after she gave birth to their youngest child. Their mother, Sharon, advised them to live in the big house after that. Their room is in the first room on the second floor. Robert's fifth sibling is Marites, a businesswoman. She bought the adjacent land next to Sharon's rental and built a three-story house there. She also used to work in Japan as an entertainer. She saved up and when she returned home she met her husband, who is now a seaman. She and her husband do not have children, so they often borrow Catherine to take them out for out-of-town vacations or when there are occasions in the man's family. According to the stories, Robert's sister couldn't bear a child. Others say it is the husband's infertility. When these two fight, Maretes will be seen running out and entering Sharon's house to vent her anger at her husband. They always quarreled with the man's family, who always interfered in their married life. The other sibling is ​​a referee at basketball games. They were in the second room on the second floor with his wife and two daughters. His wife also had no job like Carmela. She is always in the room, because she's shy and doesn't talk to anyone much. They said it's because she's from the province and doesn't speak straight English. Robert's seventh brother is a driver. He has three children, two boys and one girl. Their room was in the third room on the second floor. His wife is a domestic helper in Saudi Arabia. Every second year she returns home when her contract with our Arab ends. Robert's eighth and ninth siblings died when they were children. They died due to dengue and other complications. Robert's father was a taxi driver. He travels every day, so he is not always at their house. "Sir! Congratulations! Your wife has given birth," said the nurse as she exited the delivery room. Robert was relieved. He would see his daughter and his wife. "Just wait for your wife and daughter in the other room," said a nurse who was with the doctor during the delivery. Romela finally came out. The baby that made Carmela unable to leave for Japan. Carmela was just waiting for a visa to work as an entertainer with Maretes when she found out she was pregnant. Robert secretly rejoiced because he really opposed his wife's departure. It just became so compelling that Robert could do nothing but allow it even though he and their daughter would be left behind. Robert insisted then that he was able to support his wife and daughter by being a construction worker. But Carmela's dreams are really big for their family and she also wants a better life without running out of money. Romela could be heard crying in a small room. Robert finds Carmela awake and dazed and seems to be deep in thought. " How are you? What do you feel? Do you want something?” Robert asked his wife. Carmela just looked at him and then glanced at the baby next to her, "Take this child of yours first, move her away, I want to rest", Carmela said softly. Robert immediately took the child so that his wife could rest properly. He thinks that maybe it's just tired and still under anesthesia, so it's just the way she reacts. Robert was very happy, his feeling was different about his baby, as if it would bring new joy and hope. Sleep well baby Romela, welcome to the outside world!.