Doctor’s Fee Incident 44

LAURA'S POV

It’s been almost two months since I left Manila.

Paul and I didn’t go back to Tarlac, where we used to live in a small town. I’m not even sure exactly where we are now. His house is fancy and new, and he even has a car. He told me he sold a big property and made a big profit, so now he's doing well.

Paul’s a licensed broker. He’s been doing that job since the start, but he used to mess around a lot and never saved up. But now, I can see that he’s changed a lot in the short time we were apart. He seems serious about life now.

“I’m leaving tomorrow, Laura,” Paul said.

We were in the living room, sorting through his stuff. He was heading out of town for some property showing.

“I’ll call you if I can come back tomorrow, okay?” He kissed my forehead. “Next time, I’ll get you a car so you’ll have your own.” He smiled.

Paul had changed. He’s grown more responsible and seems focused on work.

Suddenly, a sharp pain hit my temple. “Ugh!” I clutched my head.

Paul noticed. “Are you okay?”

“Ugh, yeah… just a little dizzy,” I replied.

“Hmm… you’ve been feeling dizzy a lot lately. Have you, um, had your…?”

I was caught off guard by his question and couldn’t answer.

“Ah! Alright, I’m off. No need to see me out; just sit down and take it easy, Laura.” He kissed me once more before leaving.

I’m still amazed that Paul is back in my life. When we first got back together, he explained he couldn’t return sooner because he’d had some big setbacks. He had to work hard on a distant farm as a caretaker to pay off the hospital bills he had used to bail me out.

I understood and didn’t ask him for details. The amount didn’t matter to me as long as he was back and we were together. I could see he’d changed, and that made me happy.

“Ugh!”

My head throbbed again, and my vision blurred as nausea hit, my mouth watering.

“Oh no! Ugh!”

I couldn’t hold it in anymore. Dizzy and disoriented, I ran to the bathroom to throw up whatever seemed determined to come out.

“Ugh! Oh!”

I slumped onto the bathroom floor. I’m used to having irregular cycles, but I’ve never felt like this.

“It’s been… around two months, I think,” I whispered to myself.

And once again…

“Oh no! Ugh! What’s happening to me?”

TEJIE AND CLYDE'S POV

We had just come from Gwen’s OB checkup.

“Congrats, bro! It’s a boy!” I laughed.

Tejie and Gwen are having a boy. They were so excited that we went for an ultrasound, and she’s almost five months along now.

I’m happy for Tejie. I can see he’s so happy and even our parents are thrilled that he’s starting his own family.

As I watched the two of them, I couldn’t help but think about Laura.

Honestly, I cried every night in those early days, weeks, and months without her. I miss her warmth, her playfulness, all the little things about her when we were together. I wonder how she is now; it’s been almost two months since she left. It’s hard, but I’m trying to cope—for both of our sakes.

To help distract myself, I started talking to Deynie, the girl I had a one-night stand with. Talking to her lessens the loneliness somewhat, and I did it for the sake of my reputation because she holds a very important thing that will ruin my life and career forever. We’ve become casual with each other, and twice now, we’ve had intense, passionate moments together. I’m only human and going through a rough time, so I needed a release. When I’ve had a bit to drink and Deynie is around, we sometimes end up in bed. But I admit, I often find myself saying Laura’s name. Deynie doesn’t mind; she even teases me about it afterward.

I was leaning against my car, chatting on my phone, when I heard a voice behind me.

“Tejie?”

“Mom?”

When I turned around, I saw a familiar face; Deynies mother.

“Huh? Mom?” I murmured in confusion.

I approached them, feeling something was off about the scene.

“Tejie, is she your wife?” she asked, crossing her arms. “I knew it! Clint didn’t raise you right!”

“Clint?” Hearing my father’s name, I walked quickly toward them.

“Don’t you dare talk about my dad like that!” Tejie snapped, fists clenched.

“Well, look at her! She looks trashier than me!” She sneered.

“Hey, you have no right to insult my wife like that! Take a look at yourself first!” Tejie yelled, pulling Gwen behind him protectively.

Then…

“Mom? Do you know her?” Deynie showed up out of nowhere and spotted me.

“Clyde!” She walked over to her mother. “Mom, what’s going on? Why are you—”

“Oh, well! I knew it!” Deynie’s mother looked over at me. “I thought you looked familiar! Well, am I right?”

“Mom, that’s Clyde! Why… why are you acting like this?” Deynie said, confused too.

Her mom’s eyebrows furrowed. “Well, Tejie, meet your sister—Deynie!”

Tejie and Deynie stared at each other in shock.

“Sister? Tch! No way!” Tejie scoffed.

“Well, it’s true. I was pregnant with her when your father, SIR CLINT, took you away!”

The situation was quickly spiraling out of control, with more people gathering to watch.

Finally, Tejie couldn’t take it anymore. “Let’s go, guys! This conversation is pointless!” He took Gwen’s hand and walked away.

“I won’t accept that child, Tejie!”

Tejie shouted back even though he was far ahead, “Well, I don’t care! I don’t need your approval!”

The three of us were left standing there.

“Ugh! You… know Tejie? My… dad?” I asked, still trying to make sense of everything.

“So, you don’t remember me?” She stepped closer, her smirk sharper this time. “I’m only your dad’s first wife, and you're just Chari’s son who messed up everything between me and Clint! That's why I almost ended up in jail!” With one last pointed look, she turned and walked away, leaving me stunned.

I glanced at Deynie, trying to shake the strange feeling washing over me. “Ugh! You are… Tejie’s sister?”

“Your… dad is… Clint, my mom's— first— husband?” she whispered, her confusion mirroring my own.

I racked my brain, trying to pull up a memory, any memory, of her face. But no matter how hard I tried, there was nothing—just a strange blank space. “Why don’t I remember her?” I muttered, feeling unsettled.

But the harder I tried to recall, the emptier my mind felt. It didn’t make any sense. Why couldn’t I remember someone who was part of my past life?

Deynie looked at me with the same baffled expression. "Clyde, are you okay?"

I wasn’t sure. I had this nagging feeling… like maybe there were things I’d forgotten for a reason.

Or worse, maybe someone had made sure I’d forgotten.

To be continued…