CHAPTER 8

I'm on the car right now heading to my school. Mom wasn't the one who's driving, she has a lower backache so it has to be Manong Ely.

I decided to contacted Jess to ask if she's in the school already. She'll probably gonna send into principal's office to get her first ever detention.

Glad she immediately answered it. "Jess." I began through the phone.

"Hey."

"How are you? Are you at the school already?"

"On the way. Why?"

"Of course I'm so worried of you. This is your first time getting in trouble. You're my bestfriend for like 3 years and I haven't seen you getting involved in a situation like this."

"C'mon Brenny, there's nothing really new with that. Most of the students have encountered getting in a fight like this and got their detention." She explained. "Not even in fighting, but for being late in class for a second time."

"Aren't you afraid if your parents might find out? By the way, did you tell them?"

"Not yet."

"What?!"

"I'll tell them when it's over haha." She giggled.

"You're such a…"

"You know what, there's nothing to be afraid of. First of all, I wasn't the one who started the fight. We were eating peacefully when she interrupted us. She also provoked me to do that." She paused while I was still listening. "So, it's obviously not my fault. And besides, they can check the cctv footage in the cafeteria if ever they don't believe me. Right?"

"Yeah, why not?" I replied and nodded as if to realize she has a point. "So I'll see you then?"

"Yeah, see you. Bye."

"Bye." I said before ending the call.

"Yesterday when I was eating my breakfast, she got dizzy and stumbled causing the plates to dropped she was holding. Secondly, when we had a lunch at the restaurant, she had eaten a lot and has been to restroom time after time. She even gagged on the last food she ate. Lastly, she had slept early in the evening." I began explaining as we eat in the cafeteria. I told them about my mom being sick since yesterday that she wasn't able to dropped me off at school.

"That was odd. But whenever I asks her, she always giving me the same response like she's fine and there's nothing to worry about."

"Is there anything else you've noticed with your mom?" Zendee asked.

"Other than that?" I paused and looked at the ceiling, trying to recall the incident yesterday. "Nope."

"She'll be fine." He assured. "She must be stressed, stress eating. That's why she eats a lot."

"That's probably fatigue. She needs some rest, you must take care of her." Said Jess as she grabbed some fries and shoved it into her mouth.

"Yes of course."

My phone buzzed. I looked over it and saw my club member in Science texted me.

:The superior told me the competition would be on monday.

My mood lighten up. Smile escaped my lips.

"I'm so excited for the competition." I squealed gleefully at them. "It's gonna be on monday, how 'bout you guys?"

"Our club was still rehearsing for the song that we're gonna sing in the event." Said Jess, whipping her silky hair. She's been in a glee club since we were in grade school and I could tell she has an amazing voice.

"I can't wait for you to sing on the stage while Zendee and I were cheering for you."

"I ain't." Zendee butt in, smirk formed his lips while tossing the baseball from his hand. He just got from training on their Baseball Club. "I ain't gonna cheer for you 'coz I'm gonna throw this ball right into your face."

He chuckled and motioned to hit the baseball bat onto her face.

"Whatever you say asshole, but I know you do." She flashed a cheeky smile.

"Why are you guys keeps hating each other?" I eyed them getting a smirk from them.

" 'Coz that's what friends do."

It was already 12:30 in the afternoon, class dismissal. I'm on my way to the car when all of a sudden the door opened and mom appeared.

"Mom what are you doing here?!" I sprinted into it and hopped in, sitting next to mom at the backseat. "You must be at home resting."

"I'm fine sweetheart." Mom said gently and kissed my cheeks. "How's school?"

I wrapped my arms around mom to give her the best hug like what I used to do before kissing her on the lips. "So far so good. But mom you shouldn't be here."

"But I want to fetch you, and I'm thinking about going shopping."

"That would be nice mommy, but for you." I stared directly into mom's eyes. "I don't think so."

"I'm all right. Don't worry about me."

I pouted and sighed defeatedly. "Alright, you won."

We dropped off at the mall. Mom and I have been shopping for hours. We're still inside the penshoppe looking for some perfectly beautiful clothes.

"Mommy let's buy some clothes for Manong Ely."

"That's a great idea love." Mom uttered as she leaned down to kiss me. "That's so nice of you."

"Does she have daughters?"

"Yes. There were three of them."

"Well then, I guess I have to pick these dresses and heels for them. We must give his family some wonderful gifts."

"You're so thoughtful baby." Mom said in a sweet manner, giving me a side hug.

We're on our way to the car, we got 9 fabulous dresses for them, 6 pairs of stylish outfits, 3 pairs of white rubber shoes, and three high heels.

"Manong Ely these are for you!" I said in a happy tone as I handed him the bags.

He hesitantly accepted it and leaned forward to clear what he have heard from us. "I'm sorry miss?"

"That's for you." I said smiling. "We got you some clothes for your family. Mom told me that you have three beautiful daughters, so most of them were woman apparel. You also have yours and for your loving and caring wife."

"Ma'am..." Manong Ely stammered while gazing at the shopping bags, as if we're joking and he doesn't even want to believe. "That's so nice of you. Thank you so much ma'am."

"Don't thank me." Mom flashed a smile. "It was my baby girl who had bought you those. She even asked the gender of your children so she could know what to buy."

"Thank you so much Ma'am Selene and Miss Brenda." He said politely, earning a smile from us. "I absolutely don't know what to say. But I'm very thankful for these. I can't wait for my kids to see these. Thank you so much Ma'am Selene and Miss Brenda."

"No, prob. Let's go?" Mom shot us a happy look.

Manong bobbed and walked to the trunk to put the bunch of shopping bags.

I was about to hop in when I felt mom pushed me from behind. I looked back. "Mom??"

"Sorry, keep going."

"Are you sure? You seemed a little—mom! Oh my gosh mom!" I quickly get off the car to get mom. She lost her conscious and fell on the ground.

"Manong Ely help!" I shrieked. He appeared immediately and dashed to us.

"Ma'am Selene!" He knelt down and brought mom onto his arms.

I stood up and move aside so I wasn't blocking the way inside the car.

He then put mom at the backseat. I hopped in and sat next to her. "Mommy…" I didn't even realize that there were tears streaming down my face.

Manong walked behind the car to shut down the trunk before getting in and started up the engine.

"What shall we do? What are we gonna do?"

"We'll gonna bring her to the hospital, hold on."

I looked around and rummaged through my bag to get my phone and dialed dad's number.

"Dad!" I gasped through the call.

"What happened?" Dad fretted when he have noticed my trembling voice.

"It's mommy."

"Are you crying? Did something bad happen?"

"Mom lost her conscious! We're now heading the hospital with Manong Ely. Please come over here daddy, please…" I pleaded.

"What hospital?"

I shifted my eyes to Manong. "Manong Ely what hospital are we heading?"

"St. Luke's."

"He said we're driving off to St. Luke's."

"Ok don't worry sweetie, I'll be there in a minute. Wait for me ok?"

"Ok." I muttered before ending the call.

~DNA~

It has been minutes, I've been sitting down in the hallway waiting for dad to arrive. My gaze were on the floor, fidgeting my fingers. A bunch of things running in my mind. I was so nervous about what had happened to mom.

I don't have any idea what mom has been going through these past few days, for pete's sake she has been sick.

Jess told me to take care of her but here we are...

If I didn't let mom going out for shopping it wouldn't have to ended up like this.

It's all my fault.

Tears were falling down my face, I dunno if this is overreacting but this is how I feel. It's all about mom being sick and I couldn't stop myself from crying. I love my mom, she's the best gift I've ever had since the day I was born.

"Sweetie!" I looked up to see dad approaching me.

I stood up and ran up to him. "Dad!" I whimpered as I threw my arms around my dad. He cupped my shoulders and leveled my height. "Where's your mom? Is she awake?"

I shook my head.

"Ok honey," Dad sighed and cupped my cheeks to looked at me. "While I'm checking your mom, you can go to the restroom to wash your face. Your eyes were soaring red, your face is soaking wet. Once you're done, go buy some bottle of water and biscuits for your mom. So when she wakes up, she can have something to eat, is that ok?"

I bobbed my head yes.

"Ok good, don't cry now." Dad said as he gently wiped my tears away. "Your mom will be fine. I promise."

I smiled hopefully and nodded.

"Manong can you please walk with her?"

Manong bobbed his head and take me with him as dad made his way to the ward.

"I'm just gonna go to the restroom." I told Manong so he could wait for me outside.

I went into the restroom and washed my face. I looked at the mirror and saw how my eyes and nose were red. Guess I'd cried that lot.

We walked out of the building to buy some food for mom. Minutes later we came back. I got 2 bottles of water and 3 plain of crackers.

As we walked back to the ward, I heard them crying. It's not an ordinary cry, it's uncontrollable. I heard mom's whimpers.

What is going on?

Is mom?

No no no no no… I don't like this idea.

Mom is fine, period.

"Brenda sweetie." Mom muttered as I swiped the curtains away. She was lying down on the bed with Dad standing beside her. A flood of tears were streaming down their cheeks, but there's a smile on their face?

What is happening?

"Mom? Dad?" I mumbled. "What's happening? Why are you all crying? Is mommy's alright?"

They both looked at each other and bobbed.

Dad huffed before looking at me. They both sniffed. "There's something you need to know."

My breath hitched, tears welled up from my eyes. "What is it?"

"You're gonna have a sibling."

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