That Doctor Is Mine

“Mother Segunda, I will not continue to be a nun …” Avah said softly but clearly to the old man. Even though Mother Segunda was shocked, there were still traces of happiness and sadness on her face.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

“Did you find true happiness outside? I told you that there was still life waiting for you outside.”

When Mother Segunda said that, Avah immediately hugged the old man while crying loudly.

“I’m sorry Mother! I’m sorry for my sudden reluctance!” Avah repeatedly apologized while crying incessantly.

[Avah’s Point of View]

Two months … I just passed two months like that.

Maybe if it hadn”t happened that night I would probably have been a full -fledged nun and definitely not how my life is today. I would have been happy inside the Convent with Mother Segunda, the Sisters and the children.

After I told Mother Segunda my final decision two months ago not to pursue nunhood, that was my last visit to the church.

I don’t look like I can face them anymore. I am no longer a clean woman. I let a stranger defile me, and I let short -term lust ruin my life.

When I left the church I quickly found a home. In fact it is almost only a bedroom in size, there is a bathroom inside and four corners. Its contents are now a pallet lined with a mattress, a fan, a wooden chair, a table, a drawer for my clothes, dishes, a spoon, and other utensils that are primarily needed.

It’s been two months and my monthly visit hasn’t come to me yet. I know what”s going on in my body, I know why I always seem to feel dizzy, sometimes nauseous. I know all that but I haven”t been able to see a doctor yet because I don”t have enough money.

Sometimes to avoid being bored with what is happening in my life, I just think that my son is here. A blessing from God that he sent me so that I would not be alone.

“Don’t worry, son. I’ll get paid later. We’ll have a check-up tomorrow. We’ll also buy delicious food so we can eat well again.” I caress my stomach which until now has not been bulging.

Later I will receive eight thousand wages for being the crew of a famous restaurant. Two thousand is for the house including electricity and water. The rest is for a month of my son’s meal and my check-up tomorrow.

I got up and took a shower, changed my clothes and left for my work.

It was 6:30 in the evening when I got out of work. We stood all day because there were a lot of costumers especially now in February. Over and over again, greet those who come, say goodbye to those who leave, take orders, serve. It’s a very tiring kind of work but the salary is good so it’s okay. Because I was tired, I just ate at the cafeteria and then went straight to sleep when I got home.

I woke up early the next day, because I had already handed over the payment for my rented house. Cooked, cleaned and then dressed myself for the check-up. After recovering from the hospital, I will buy food.

The building or apartment I am renting is two stories. My room was on the second floor, when I reached the last step of the stairs I didn”t expect to see Melanie. Only he knows where I live.

“Avah!” He greeted with a smile on his face. He was carrying plastic with the SM brand.

“Melanie, what are you doing here?”

“Visiting my friend, of course!” when he reached where I was standing he hugged me tightly. “You off somewhere? Btw, I bought you some stocks.”

“Yes, I’m going to check up at a clinic I’m going through.”

“Check up? What for?” Melanie frowned.

I caressed my stomach while there was a smile on my lips. When he realized what I meant he was amazed.

“No, you are not pregnant right? No! That night was a mistake!”

“I don’t know yet, Lanie. But I feel the result will be positive. And even if it was a mistake that night it was still a gift of thickness to this child.”

It seemed like a minute Lanie was stunned and swearing in English. He was shocked by what I told him. When he recovered from the shock he said, “Okay. We’re going to the best hospital in town. It’s my fault too, and I wouldn’t let my godchild be checked in a cheap clinic whatever.”

“I haven’t even confirmed that I’m pregnant yet, will you be right away?” I laughed and responded to what he said.

“Honey, I will be the godmother whether you like it or not. Now let’s go on the damn taxi and get you checked up!” Lanie even clapped her hands and let me into the white taxi. “Manong, to the Philippine International Hospital please.” Lanie’s artistic promise to the driver.

“Yes, ma’am.”

We took a taxi in just twenty minutes, there was no traffic of that state yet. After a long trip, we were dropped off by a taxi in front of the giant hospital which, apart from concrete, is also made of brilliant glass and steel.

PHILIPPINE INTERNATIONAL HOSPITAL

Those are the big letters that are hanging and staring at the giant hospital. I told Lanie I had no down payment. Even though I refused several times, he insisted that he would pay. Because of the beauty of the hospital and when Lanie was wearing it, I wished I had worn a better dress than my old knee -length skirt and loose -fitting dress.

We went inside the hospital, Lanie asked the nurses and they immediately recommended us to a good doctor of pregnant women and children. On the fourth floor is the office of such a doctor.

“Ma’am this is the office of Doctor Talaveda, please get in.” The nurse said that she is obviously also good at English.

“Okay, thank you.” Melanie replied.

Lanie opened the door and left it wide for me to enter. I immediately saw the old doctor, he was talking to someone who also looked like a doctor. A man, well -cut, clear skin even though almost the whole body is covered in a lab gown.

“Oh, hi ma’am. How can I help you?” Doctor Talaveda stood up quickly when he saw Lanie and me.

“Doc can you check my friend? She’s suspecting that she is pregnant.” Lanie answered for me.

I nodded when the doctor who had been talking to the old woman suddenly appeared.

When our eyes met we had the same reaction. Shocked. I quickly averted my eyes from the father of my future child.

Fortunately, Doctor Talaveda spoke as a reason to reduce my loneliness.

“Doctor Sebastian, can you please excuse me and my patient?”

The man smiled and then stood up. I averted my gaze again. Why is it that in so many places we will still meet here.

The man kept coming out and that’s when I could breathe easily.

“You know what, you look very familiar to me.” That doctor told me. Soon he seemed to remember what he wanted to say. “Sister Avah! Right? Hi. I knew it was you. My family always attend mass in Quiapo Church.”

“Yeah. It’s me.” I stuttered.

“Sister, you … you are pregnant?”

It’s embarrassing that she still calls me sister, but the confession that I bring a blessed child will never embarrass me.

“Yes. I think I’m pregnant.” I smiled at this answer.