My Lover Is My Teacher (ON GOING)

Calm before the Storm

"Venus, are you done?" tawag ni papa na kanina pa ako hinihintay sa labas ng bahay namin. 

"Yes, I am on my way." I responded. 

He'll be taking me to the hospital, as recommended by our family doctor. It's been three days, since I just came from him, and according to his findings normal lang naman raw ang kalagayan ko, pero my symptoms ay pupuwedeng ring maihalintulad sa isang pregnant woman. Nung una, natatawa ako sa sinabi niya, pero something seem pushing me to continue at magpa-check sa isang Ob-gynecologist. 

"Are you sure you do not want me to go at least outside the doctor's office when we get there?"

"No need, pa." sagot ko. "I'm sure kayang-kaya ko na ito, kahit hintayin mo na lang ako sa car."

Ngunit pagdating namin doon, halos hindi ako makahinga sa loob ng doctor's office. I am too nervous to see my test results-- my pregnancy test results. 

"Ms. Franco?" 

I looked at her and nodded. 

"Based on your results, you have nothing to be concerned about, because the results of your test demonstrate that you are an extremely healthy--"

"Then what about the nausea and vomiting I experienced recently, doc?" I asked her.

"I'm not finished talking, Ms. Franco. What I wanted to say is that you are an extremely healthy mother."

Para akong nabingi sa aking mga narinig. I was stuck in my seat, unable to say a single word. I silently gazed at my doctor for a time, taking in all of what she said.

"You're in your first trimester and roughly 3 weeks pregnant," she said.

Unti-unting nag-init ang mga mata ko, I notice tears developing along my eyelids. I shook my head and laughed softly. "It's impossible, I've been on birth control pills, how can it happen?"

"I see... what kind are you taking?"

"Mini pill po."

She gave a nod. "Are you taking it on a regular basis, as prescribed by your previous ob-gyne?"

"I... skipped a few times."

"Hija, if you're taking your pills, you need to take them consistently or else your chances of getting pregnant will increase by up to 9 percent, plus the tablet you're taking has a lesser dose of progestin. Did you and your boyfriend use any other contraceptives?" she said.

I shook my head and lowered my gaze.

"Didn't your previous ob-gyne warn you about the dangers of missing a progestin-only pill?"

I'm not sure what my answer was, but as soon as the consultation was over, I walked out of the clinic, gripping my test results closely.

Ang bibigat ng mga yabag ko, para akong wala sa sarili ko. I feel surreal na para ba akong nananaginip. 

"Ano, anak? Kumusta? Anong sabi ng doctor na ni-recommend ng family doctor natin?" tanong ni daddy pagkalabas ko ng hospital. 

I didn't know what to say, naiiyak ako at nanginginig.  

"Venus, anak, are you ok? Anong problema?" tanong ulit niya, habang hinihimas ang kamay ko. 

"Everything's fine, Papa." I lied, "I just have PCOS kaya raw delay ang menstruation ko ng 3 weeks, pero niresetahan na ako ng gamot so you do not have to worry."

"I see... hindi bale, you're going to receive the best medications pagdating mong overseas. I'm sure mas lalong iigi ang kalagayan mo roon."

"I hope so, Pa. I hope so." sabay sapo sa tummy ko. I then took out my phone and messaged Dianne immediately, "Uh, papa, can you drop me off at Mimmsey's café? Kikitain ko lang si Dianne."

"Sure, magpasundo ka na lang kay Grae, pauwi, ha? May meeting na kasi ako later kaya hindi na kita masusundo." 

"I will." I delicately touched my tummy as I gazed down thinking, what have I done? Ano na lang ang mangyayari sa'min ng anak ko onced na malaman nila mama, papa at ng mga tao sa paligid ko ang totoong kalagayan ko? Paano ko sasabihin na hindi naman si Grae ang ama ng batang dinadala ko?