Doctor’s Fee Incident 45

LAURA'S POV

I can’t believe what I just found out.

"I'm pregnant!"

I didn’t notice at first, but looking back, it’s been almost two months since I last had my period. I was so used to it being irregular that I didn’t pay it any mind.

“Paul’s going to be so happy! Oh, God, thank you!”

I was in tears, so excited! Paul and I are finally going to have a child, something we’ve waited so long for. Now I know—there was never anything wrong with me. It just wasn’t our time yet, but now! Here’s the blessing we’ve been hoping for.

“I’ll call Paul! I have to tell him so he’ll come home right away!”

CLYDE AND TEJIE'S POV

Since we got here, Gwen hasn’t come out of her room. They’re fixing up the condo, so they’re staying here for now. Mom and Claudie are in Camiguin on vacation.

We’re on our fourth bottle of beer. Tejie’s completely thrown by what happened. Gwen cried so much, and it got on his nerves. Who wouldn’t be upset? His mom said some harsh things to her.

"She has no right to talk to me like that, especially to Gwen! Who does she think she is?" he snapped. "Yes, she’s my mom—but only in name; I cut all the strings attached to her since the day I found out everything!"

I just let him vent.

“And that Deynie! Did you see her? Is that how she raised her kid? Look at her!” He nearly slammed his bottle on the counter. “She is only twenty! Making her life miserable! She's no right to call a mother!”

“Man… I honestly don’t remember her. I remember the one time I met you guys when you came to our house. We were like eight, maybe nine years old?” I said. “And that was the first and last time. I never saw her again after we moved to Camiguin.”

“See? That was a really long time ago! How could she react like that? And calling Gwen a—well, let’s just say I wanted to punch her!” He took another swig of his beer. “I feel sorry for Gwen bro! She cried, and now she won’t talk to me! It's not good for the baby!”

I gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “I’ll try talking to her later, just let her be for now, okay? She’s hurt, and let's give her space for a moment.”

“Clyde! Anyone would be hurt by what she said,” he replied. “Fuckin’ ugh!”

“She’ll get over it. Let’s just leave it for now,” I said again.

“Can you do me a favor, doc?” He looked at me.

“Yeah, Tej anything? What is it?”

He glanced outside and then took a deep breath. “Doc… I want you to avoid Deynie, stop talking and seeing her!”

I looked at him.

“Doc, are you in love with her?” Tejie asked.

I could tell from his eyes he was serious.

“Tej—there’s no feelings there, she’s just—well, a distraction,” I explained. “I'm so sorry for the word, she's your sister, and I mean no harm because— we both don't know.”

He let out a sigh of relief. “Good, there’s no point in getting involved with her. She’s a mess!” His jaw clenched.

I took a drink. “I love Laura, Tej… I love Laura…”

I saw him smile a little.

“Maybe I’ll leave it alone… but, man, I miss her, Tej… I miss Laura so much…”

He gave my back a comforting rub. “Sorry, doc…”

I found myself staring off into space. Here we go again with my messy thoughts, my head itching like crazy with all these feelings.

“Ugh!” I started scratching my head in frustration.

Tejie noticed right away. “Doc! Easy… Calm down, okay? You’re getting yourself worked up again, Clyde!” He snapped his fingers. “Stop!”

He knows that whenever I get like this, my anxiety kicks in.

“I’m just lonely, man…” I mumbled. “Why— I don't know how to— how to forget her, to be honest! I tried, but— when I'm alone, all I see is her face, I heard her voice, and— I miss her touch! Damn!”

Silence filled the air. We both looked into the distance. The sky was dimming, matching the heavy feelings we both had.

“I want to find Laura, Tej…”

“Doc, she’s happy with Paul now…”

“Hap—happy? You think so?”

“Yeah, doc… If you love her, you should be happy for her too…”

“You know, Tej… —I really can’t. Ever since I met Laura—she has become my whole world. She taught me what it meant to be content…”

Tejie gave my back another reassuring rub.

“I just want to hear her voice… even just for a moment… Help me find her, Tej…” I whispered.

PAUL AND LAURA

“Really? You’re pregnant, Laura?” Paul exclaimed, lifting her and showering her stomach with playful kisses.

“Ahaha! Finally! We’re going to be parents, Paul!” Laura said happily.

The two hugged each other tightly. Laura couldn’t stop smiling, but then suddenly, it was like something crossed her mind, and her smile faded.

Paul was still holding her close, completely over the moon.

“I can’t wait, Laura! I’ll finally have a little one to chase around and call me Papa, Dad, or whatever they want!”

The two of them twirled around like they were dancing at a ball.

“Laura… Thank you so much… I promise I’ll take care of you, and—our baby,” Paul whispered sweetly.

Laura smiled, but somewhere deep down, she felt a strange hesitation, like something was blocking her from feeling complete joy. She couldn’t help it—thoughts of Clyde crept into her mind.

CLYDE'S POV

Clyde’s phone wouldn’t stop ringing.

“Ugh! Deynie…”

It was the middle of the night, and he was fast asleep, lying face down and completely bare.

The phone rang again.

“Oh, come on! Give it a rest!” He pressed cancel.

When the screen lit up, he noticed something.

“Laura…”

He suddenly felt wide awake, his drowsiness fading as he looked at the lock screen photo of Laura. He gently brushed his hand over the screen. Then…

“Ugh! Maybe… maybe her number still works. I’ll try calling her!”

He sat up and started dialing.

MEANWHILE…

Paul grabbed Laura’s phone from the head of the bed. She was fast asleep, not bothered by the missed call because she was tired of what they had been, celebrating their blessing.

When he looked at the screen, he saw; “Dr. Tuason?” He muttered, brows furrowing. "He’s the doctor that…"

His gaze flicked to sleeping Laura.

“Does she even know I wasn’t the one who paid her hospital bill? That it was Dr. Tuason who covered nearly half of the ₱280,000?”

He ended the missed call and clenched her phone tightly. A sense of dread crept into his mind, pushing him toward one desperate thought. “Maybe I should block him… or better yet, make sure he can never reach her.”

An idea flashed across his face, his eyes narrowing. “I can’t let her talk to him again.”

He stood, gripping the phone tightly, his mind spiraling.

“Tomorrow, Laura’s life is going to change—and she’ll never even know why.”

To be continued…