I was an orphan. Even after growing up, I often returned to the orphanage to visit the head and the kids.
That’s where I first saw Raquel. She was volunteering.
She told me that she had no parents too and just wanted to do her part to make life a little better for the children.
We got to know each other, fell in love and eventually walked down the aisle.
Later, I offended a powerful figure in the industry for refusing to play along with hidden rules.
I was blacklisted and I could only survive on odd jobs from then on.
Back then, Raquel stayed by my side through the hardest days and was never uttering a word of complaint.
Then came the year our child was born. She suffered a failed investment and fell deep into debt.
I sold the apartment I had bought with years of savings to help pay off what she owed and moved us into a rundown shack on the outskirts. The walls were full of holes, wind leaking through every corner.
She hugged me tight with tears in her eyes, swearing she'd treat me and our son well for the rest of her life.
But she broke that promise.
Because of the cruel game played by her and Zack, my son and I became nothing more than their entertainment.
I let out a silent scream, a bitter taste rising in my throat.
Wiping away the tears that had unknowingly fallen, I forced a smile and walked into my son’s hospital room.
“Luke, Daddy bought you some chicken soup. Are you still feeling unwell?”
My son’s pale little face showed a kind of grown-up helplessness.
“Daddy, I have surgery tomorrow. I’m not allowed to eat today.”
I froze for a moment, my mind was still muddled from the shock Raquel had given me today.
I pounded my head in frustration and gently moistened my son’s parched lips with a cotton swab.
He held my hand sensibly and asked, “Daddy, is Mommy still busy looking for a job? I miss her.”
Looking at how mature he was for his age, I swallowed the truth that was on the tip of my tongue.
I gently stroked his head, my heart aching. “You’ll definitely see Mommy before your surgery tomorrow.”
Even if I had to get down on my knees and beg Raquel, I would make sure she came to see her son.
After five years of being the clown in their rich-people’s game, my dignity and pride seem meaningless now.
Watching my son’s sleeping face, I went to confirm tomorrow’s surgery time with the doctor.
I squatted in the hallway, my back pressed against the cold wall. I finally felt a little clearer in the head.
Taking out my phone, I dialed Raquel’s number.
This time, she picked up quickly.
“Yoshi, what’s wrong? I’m accompanying some investors at a dinner right now. If this project goes through, we won’t have to live such a hard life anymore!”
For the past five years, she’s always used similar lines to deceive and brush me off.
And I would always foolishly believe her.
At first, Raquel even pretended to take on a cleaning job.
I looked at her blistered, swollen hands and told her to focus on finding investors for her project, while I'd take care of earning money.
But instead, she spent her days fooling around outside, leaving my son and me to suffer.
Hearing the unmistakable sounds of music on her end of the call, she was probably still partying on the yacht with Zack’s nephew.
I fought back the grief and bitterness surging in my chest, taking a deep breath before speaking.
“Raquel, our son’s surgery is tomorrow. Can you come to be with him? You know how much he looks up to you…”
Before I could finish, Raquel cut me off coldly.
“Yoshi, what’s wrong with you lately? You know how busy I am, yet you keep bothering me! I’m working so hard to get investment so you two can have a better life!”
Hearing her lash out in frustration, a wave of bitterness rose in my chest. I paused for a few seconds, then said softly, “Raquel, maybe in your eyes I’m just a foolish country bumpkin… but don’t you care at all about the son you carried for ten months?”
Raquel fell silent, caught off guard. After a moment, her voice came through, flustered. “Yoshi, what nonsense are you talking about? I’ll finish things here as soon as I can and head to the hospital.”
