TRUTH OF THE PAST II

"Everything will be fine. You should pull yourself together for your son." Grace comforted her sister who looked so devastated amidst the situation of his son.

"Grace, where did I go wrong? How come things end up like this? I just want my son to live like what we normally do. Haven't I given everything? What am I supposed to do?" Yvonne was sobbing beside her sister. She promised to be strong for her child but in Ivan's current situation, she was heart broken.

"Why don't you call his father?" Grace knew that Yvonne never mentioned that man but she still wanted to know what exactly happened to her sister, to actually give birth even without a husband or a father to her child.

Yvonne was stunned for a moment and tears started streaming down her face once again. "He would never be able to see his child."

"What do you mean?"

Yvonne stared into space as if recalling something from her distant memory. "He died. He died before I even knew I got pregnant. We didn't knew that his headache was a cause of a brain tumor. When his family and I found out, it was too late. I didn't let his parents knew about Ivan. They didn't like me in the first place." Yvonne smiled painfully while recalling her past.

"I fell in love. He was of different status than us. We didn't tell his parents, but one of his friends did. When they found out, his mother was so angry. We decided to keep our relationship a secret. You know Grace, I couldn't even attend his burial. I was just looking at him from a distance. I wanted to see him for the last time but his parents won't allow me. It was a month after his death that I discovered Ivan." Yvonne stopped and stared at her sister who looked at her sadly.

"I didn't and I won't ever regret what I've done in my life." Yvonne said to her sister who only smiled at her.

They talked for a while, catching up to the lost chances and time for the last 2 years.

An hour later, the doctor went out and Ivan was lying on the bed, being transferred to a regular hospital ward.

"How's my son doc?" Yvonne inquired the instant she saw the doctor.

"It was a good thing that you sent him as soon as possible. There's no complication but we have to observe him for a while. We have stabilized his temperature and he should be awake after an hour." The doctor explained to Yvonne which made the latter sigh in relief. "If you need something else, just call the nurse." then the doctor left to attend to other patients.

Yvonne walked to where her son was. Ivan was sleeping in a big bed, looking so small and pale. Different apparatus where hooked onto his small body to monitor his vitals.

"I'm glad everything is fine. I asked the driver to buy foods earlier. How about you take a break and eat. You need energy if you plan to guard him overnight." Grace spoke to her sister in a whisper to avoid awakening the child. Realizing that what she said was true, Yvonne stood up and took the plastic containers with food. Who cares about pride when your son's life is at stake.

Earliest time in the morning, before the sun rose up, Elder Maine heard the news from the driver and was currently on his way to the hospital.

He saw both of his daughters sitting beside the bed with a child sleeping on it. He stopped for a moment before he decided to knock on the door.

His sudden visit caused panic in Yvonne's heart. She hadn't forgotten the argument over getting an abortion to get rid of the child. "Why are you here?" There was accusation and anger laced in her voice.

"Can we talk outside. I don't want to wake up your child." Elder Maine motioned the two of them towards the door.

"I don't have anything to say to you." Yvonne stubbornly refused the invitation to talk.

"If you don't want your child to suffer again and again, come outside to hear my proposal." Elder Maine's attitude was like asking a business partner instead of talking to his own daughter.

Grace tugged his sister's hand and pull her outside. It didn't matter to her whatever this proposal is but she wanted her father and sister to reconcile.

When they were outside Ivan's room, Elder Maine faced Yvonne directly. He stared at her for a long time before he spoke.

"You can come back to the house and continue your studies." His voice was low but enough for his daughters to hear him.

Grace's eyes lit up but Yvonne was on guard after hearing his statement.

"If you want me to send my child away to come back, I'd rather die than do that stupid decision." Yvonne spat out her angry words with a hint of warning.

Elder Maine was sad but he continued talking, "I'm not asking you to give your son away to strangers. "

"Just get to the point. Don't waste my time when I could just take care of my child instead of talking to you." Yvonne said but Grace interrupted her when she still wanted to say something.

"Don't disrespectful Yvonne. He's still your father no matter what." However, Yvonne just raised one of her eyebrows disdainfully.

"So what is it?" Yvonne turned to Elder Maine without giving any regards to what her sister said.

Elder Maine took a long breath and exhaled abruptly. Another minute passed before he spoke again. "I want your sister to adopt your child in name while you continue to study for your future. That way, no matter what happens, you have something to rely on using your certificates and diploma."