Chapter 11 Symptoms

MONTHS AFTER Frances gave birth to a healthy baby boy, mas lalong bumaon sa trabaho si Deilan. She understand that her brother is now a Father, finally she can call him now a grown up man, abala ito ngayon sa bagong silang na anak lalo na at inaalalayan pa nito ang asawa.

Tumutulong pa naman kahit papaano si Dylan sa trabaho, lalo na kapag tulog ang pamangkin niya. But a week of getting feeling to vomit makes her sick! Every morning she'll run to the bathroom and face the bowl, naghihintay na magsuka pero wala naman lumalabas kung hindi laway.

"Deilan. Feeling nauseous again?" Tanong ng Daddy niya.

They're in a important meeting right now and she can't focused because of what she's feeling. Nahihilo siya at naglalaway ang bagang. A kind of feeling that she doesn't want to experience again. It's sickening!

"No, I'm fine. I'm sorry, my head was just aching." Pilit siyang ngumiti sa Daddy niya at alanganin na tumingin sa ka meeting nila.

The meeting continued like nothing happened. They're planning to open a resort again, and a lot of land owner came to their company to show their lands and it's advantages, kung ito ang mapipili nila. She's not feeling well, pero mas lalo siyang nahihilo kada review ng mga files na ang laman ay proposal. They just putted the advantages, what about the disadvantages? Sila pa ba ang maghahanap non?

"We'll talk about this again, Mister. I'll send some men to check the land if it's safe or something. Don't get me wrong, kapakanan ng mga future guest namin ang iniisip ko. Hindi kami nakikimurahan pagdating sa lupa. I hope you understand me." She explained to the old man.

"I do understand you, Miss Cortez. I'll assist your workers once they're step a foot in my land." Ngumiti lang sa kanya ang matanda at nauna ng lumabas sa office.

"Pinapaasa mo lang ang matanda, Deilan." Her Father said while eyeing her suspiciously.

The land was far from the city, kahit sa bayan man lang sana pero hindi. Liblib ito, pero maganda parin na location para patayuan ng resort, lalo na kung ang target nilang mga guest ay yung mahilig mag emo, o mapag isa, the typical guest that wants a serene place. Tamang tama ang lupa na ino-offer ng matanda.

"After checking the land, I'll buy it with my own money, Dad. I like his place." She answered and shrugged her shoulder.

Tumayo ang ama niya, "well then, I'll go ahead. I promise to your Mom that I'll be home at exactly 3, and I still have 30 minutes left." Her Father sighed as he looked at his wrist watch.

Alam nito na hindi ito makakaabot sa bahay nila kapag ginamit ang sasakyan. The heavy traffic was waiting outside. Any short cut route towards their home will probably not useful.

"Why don't you use the Helicopter? Problem solved, Dad." She suggested pero mas lalo lang lumakas ang buntong hininga ng Daddy niya.

"Nasa bahay ni Dylan ang mommy mo, walang lalapagan ang helicopter doon."

Bahagya siyang natawa sa mukha ng Daddy niya. He really looks problematic. Well, getting late even if he had a reasonable reason, hindi 'yon tatanggapin ng Mommy niya. She'll throw a fit and wouldn't let their Father touched her in any ways. They're too old for that kind of act, pero hindi naman niya 'yon masabi sabi dahil baka sa kanya ito bigla magtampo.

Her mother had a lot of expectations to her since she's still a little kid. Tanda niya pa noon na lagi siya nitong pinapakitaan ng alahas, she tried to adopt her mother's liking. But in the end, she grew up an interest with his Father business. Resorts. And when she was in Highschool. She came out as a Lesbian. Her Mother didn't say anything that day, but she accepted her nonetheless.

And when Dylan grew up. Laking tuwa ng mommy niya, Dylan loves jewelries as much as their mother. Dylan was too thin when he was a kid, kaya todo alaga sila sa bunso. They're giving him things that he likes, kahit hindi niya hingin ay kusa nilang ibinibigay. Noong una inakala pa nila na magiging baliko din ang kapatid, pero noong magka isip na ito, even in his lazy state. He'll fuck the lady's mind.

"I'll just call her, back up-an mo ako. Your old man need your little help here." Natawa siya sa Daddy niya. "And don't forget to rest. Leave those papers to Dylan. I'm sure he can manage, ikaw naman ang magpahinga. Or better yet, mag pa check up ka na."

"I'll call Lane." She unconsciously answered.

"Lane is a Ob, right? Why her? I mean I get it that she's your girlfriend but—"

She cut her Father words.

"Lane is not my girlfriend, Dad. We broke up years ago? Hindi ko na nga alam kung kailan 'yon." Frustrated na paliwanag niya sa ama.

"I don't know what's up with you with this past months, simula noong makauwi tayo galing sa resort mo, hindi ka na umuwi sa bahay. I mean, yeah, uuwi ka pero para sa family dinner lang. Kahit nag stay sina Frances at Dylan sa bahay, ikaw hindi. Nagkabaliktad ba kayong dalawang magkapatid?" Palatak ng tatay niya. Umupo pa ulit ito at parang nakalimutan na ang usapan nilang dalawa ng mommy niya.

"Dad," she massage the bridge of her nose.

"Come on, Deilan. Tell your Old man, why are you so busy this past few months? Na hindi mo na magawang makauwi sa bahay natin? Don't you dare tell me a reason that you wanted to live by yourself, gamit na 'yon ni Dylan."

Napakamot siya sa batok. Nakataas ang dalawang kilay ng Daddy niya at kunot na kunot din ang noo nito.

"I fell in love." She snapped.

Her Father face lit up. "Oh, are we having a new Daughter in law?" Excited na tanong nito sa kanya.

Deilan shake her head, making her Father smile fell in an instant. He was looking at her with confused face, his eyes were asking for a better explanation, the reason why is she shaking her head.

"You and Mom are going to have a new Son. He's a male, Dad."

Dahan dahan at maingat ang bawat pagbitaw niya sa mga salita. She was expecting that this news will shock her Father. Pero hindi niya aakalain na mas malala pa ang mangyayari. Her Father just stared at her, hindi ito gumagalaw na kahit pagkurap ay hindi ginawa. Deilan waved and even snapped her fingers in his face, pero wala siyang nakuhang response sa Daddy niya.

She was starting to panicked and was about to call an ambulance, but her Father laughter echoed inside her office. Nakataas pa ang mga kamay nito habang nakatingala sa kisame.

"The miracle is true! Totoo ang himala! Oh God! Totoo talaga ang himala!"

Those were the words that repeatedly coming out from his father mouth. He was calling God and thank him for a miracle, nakakunot lang ang noo niya habang pinapanood ang Daddy niya. He is happy that she's with a man? Hindi ba dapat ay magalit ito ngayon at tanungin na siya kung sinong lapastangan na lalaki ang nagkagusto sa kanya?

But her mind realized that she's a different case.

"Deilan, sabihin mo sa akin na tama ang pagkakaintindi ko. You." Itinuro pa siya nito. "Are. Dating. A. Man?" Madiin at dahan dahan ang pagbitaw nito sa mga salita.

Kiel and her was not totally dating, they were stuck in the arrangement they made. Hindi pa nga silang dalawa nag-uusap ng matino tungkol doon pero heto siya ngayon at nadulas sa magulang. She just realized na mali ang salitang ginamit niya, now she can't take those words back. Not now, that her Father is happy.

She scratched her temple using her forefinger. "Parang ganoon na nga, Dad."

"Are we going to have another baby?" Excited na tanong nito sa kanya.

"We haven't did it for a while now, but I think I can arrange that if you want."

"Then go home and be with him. Make babies, Darling!"

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya at napaharap sa Daddy niyang nakangisi ng nakakaloko sa kanya. The words were kept on flowing through her mouth without thinking! What she just said by now is absurd!

What the hell?! Para na rin niyang binigyan ng ideya ang Daddy niya na may ginagawa silang kababalaghan ni Kiel sa likuran ng mga ito. That was true! But still!

"Why don't you just go and be with Mom, Dad!" She yelled. "I kept on saying unnecessary things to you! And make babies? Seriously? Why don't you ask Dylan, papayag 'yon sigurado na sundan ang apo mo!"

"Such a wicked sister you are!" Nang-aakusa ang tingin ng Daddy niya sa kanya. "Hindi pa nakaka recover si Frances sa panganganak, Dei. It's your time to shine. Damn, I am surprised that you were actually with a man! You made this old man happy, Darling!" He exclaimed.

Inirapan nalang niya ang Daddy niya na niyayakap na siya ngayon dahil sa balita niya.