LEAVING JACOB

CHAPTER ONE

Jared is 33 years old. He is a licensed Filipino architect working in Canada. He got home right after the new year to be with his only son Jacob's seventh birthday. It was a promise he made for his son, to be with him on his 7th birthday on February 09, 2020. He went to work abroad 3 years ago several months after his wife passed away in a tragic car accident. It was Jared's first time to go home after he left Jacob with his parent's care in Ormoc City, Philippines. Leaving Jacob at the age of 4 was the hardest decision he had ever made in his life but he had to do it for two main reasons. First was the loss that was very hard for him to bare if he stayed watching Jacob grow he sense that he will have a hard time moving on. Second was the opportunity to find a greener pasture for Jacob's future while he's still young and Jacob isn't schooling yet. Jared is the only child of his parents and he still got both of them to take good care of Jacob if he decided to work abroad and so he did.

Jacob was very happy to see his father. He got all the toys and the gifts he wished for. They visited his mother's tomb in the cemetery and during his birthday the family traveled to Cebu City to spend a weekend to celebrate. They all had a great time together. Jacob's grand parents were both so fascinated with the happiness their grand child was experiencing. 

"Look at him, he is so happy with his father never seen him so happy like that." grandpa noticing Jacob. 

"He was just 4 years old when his father left but now he play with him alright." grandma added. 

Jared approaching to the table where his parents were seated. 

"Ma, Pa, Jacob wants to watch a movie do you want to come with us?" Jared asked his old folks politely. 

"Oh no, just go ahead the two of you, your papa will just sleep inside you will just be wasting the ticket for him." his mother jokingly replied. 

His father was laughing while he also made a go ahead sign to Jared. 

The following day Sunday, it was Jacob's birthday. They attended a Holy Mass in the morning and went to a mall again after. While they were enjoying their cone of ice cream walking around inside another mall Jacob suddenly fainted and fell down to the floor. Jared dropped his ice cream and immediately catch him in an instant and they all tried to wake him up but they couldn't. So they immediately brought him to the nearest hospital. They were all waiting at the visitor's lounge at the emergency area when a doctor approached them. The doctor asked them if he can talk with Jared privately. While Jared was talking with the doctor from a distant. Jacob's grandpa stood up and approached the nurse and asked how was Jacob doing. 

"The doctor advised that he needed to stay for another day to finish all the tests being done for him sir." The nurse explained to grandpa. 

Jared went back to his parents to tell them what the doctor had told him but when he reached them he can't say a single word. He seated slowly and he burst with tears in his eyes. 

"Ma, Pa, Jacob is ill. He got brain tumor." Jared spoke with a trembling voice.

His parents couldn't say a word after what he told them. and they all burst with tears. 

"How did it happen? He was a healthy kid. Oh God please help our grand son it is his birthday today. Why is this happening" grandma shouted while she cried. 

Grandpa hugged his wife trying to comfort her and said. "Can we ask for a second opinion? Jared i think we should ask for another opinion, i know someone from the other hospital maybe i should make a call and have him tested again."

"Okay Pa, well do that tomorrow after Jacob's discharge here, please make that call now so we can schedule a visit tomorrow." Jared courageously replied to his papa.  

They went to another doctor to have Jacob tested again but the result seemed to be the same. They went back to Ormoc the following day so they can decide what to do next. Jared was so devastated. He couldn't believe it was happening. The doctor said it wasn't that serious for now but they really have to do something about it before it becomes too late. So Jared thought of bringing him to Manila for a third opinion so he immediately bought plane tickets but 5 days before their scheduled flight a lock down was announced by President Duterte for the entire Luzon mid of March. and so their trip to Manila was cancelled. Enhanced Community Quarantine was also declared in every provinces outside Manila and that includes the province of Leyte.