Forgotten Child

Twelfth Chapter

I have only known Doctor Rafael from Aidan. Siya ang nagkukwento sa'kin noon na itong doctor na ito ang natulong sa kanya about his health problems. I've never met him before kaya ng tanungin niya ako ng gabing 'yun over the video call, I told him no — na hindi ko siya kilala.

But it doesn't mean that I wasn't thankful to him. Bago ko pa siya makilala, bago ko pa malaman ang itsura niya, thankful na agad ako sa kanya simula ng banggitin siya sa'kin ni Aidan.

"DNA test?" Nakakunot-noong tanong ni Doctor Rafael sa'kin. Nandidito ako ngayon sa office niya sa hospital para humingi ng DNA test.

Nakauwi na sila ng pamilya niya mula sa Cebu kaya nakapunta ako dito. Of course, I found this information out from Kieran.

"Opo, sana," sagot ko. "Nang bisitahin ko po kasi si Mr. Travis eh ayaw niyang maniwala na ako po talaga ay ang anak ni mama Violet. Kahit na sinabi ko na po na mismong si tita Zie ang nag-assured na anak talaga ako ni Mama."

He leaned back to his swivel chair and rested his hands on the top of his stomach. "And why is that?"

"Po?"

"Bakit hindi daw siya naniniwala?" He cocked his head to the side. "Knowing him, he has a hidden purpose of why he wants you to have a solid proof that you are Violet's and his child."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "A-Alam niyo po?"

He nodded. "It's common sense, Maiah. Mackenzie made sure that those two would meet every special occasions. And what do you think those two lovers would do alone in one room throughout the whole day? Besides," he let out a sigh. "Violet, despite her actions to my wife before, is a very loyal woman and very much head-over-heels in love with Sylvester. She didn't let any other man touch her."

"Paano niyo po nasabi 'yan? Paano po kayo nakakasigurado sa mga sinabi niyo? Paano niyo po nasabing walang ibang nakagalaw noon sa kanya?" I asked, remembering what Mama had told me ng dalawin ko siya.

"Because being loyal runs in the Kizon's blood," seryoso nitong sabi. His eyes were rather studying me. "Kapag na-in love ang isang Kizon, sa kanya at sa kanya lang — wala ng iba." He shrugged. "That's what Mackenzie told me dahil iyon ang sinabi sa kanya ni Lilac ng magkwentuhan sila noon."

Lilac? Sinong Lilac? Isa ba siyang Kizon?

I scratched my right wrist lightly. "S-So alam niyo din po pala na 'yun ang dahilan kung bakit ako gustong mameet ni Mr. Travis? Gustong niyang makita ang anak niya?"

Tumango ulit ito. "It wasn't a secret with us that he became a father and about what happened to Violet's pregnancy. That's why I'm a bit confused kung bakit kailangan pa ng DNA test."

"He wanted me make him believe na anak niya po talaga ako," I told him. "Iyon lang po ang dahilan na binigay niya."

"Hmm," he mumbled while tapping his right forefinger sa arm rest ng chair niya. "Okay. Then DNA test it is."

Inangat ko ang ulo ko at tinigan siya. "Ho? Seryoso po? M-Magkano po —"

Umiling siya. "Don't worry about the payment."

"Pero po —"

Umiling ulit siya. "My Mackenzie will punish me if I ever ask money from you," he muttered loudly more to himself. A small smile was playing on his lips as he said that.

"There's always a doctor who can help you anytime, especially if it's his family."

Bigla kong naalala ang sinabi ni Sylvester Travis.

"Bakit niyo po ako tinutulungan?" 'di ko mapigilan na tanong. "Ang sabi po sa'kin ni Mr. Travis na tinutulungan niyo lang daw po ang pamilya niyo." Lumunok ako. "Si Abo lang po ang alam kong malapit niyo nang maging daughter-in-law, pero other than that? Wala po akong koneksyon sa inyo para tratuhin niyo po ako ng ganto."