CHAPTER 4:DISSAPOINTED

We are currently distributing school supplies, vitamins and groceries for the children.

There are also free check-ups and medicine.

We do this every year in every barangay here in Laguna.

We used to do this since I was a child.

Mom and Dad used to tell me stories.They really promised our Patron that when Mama gets pregnant with a girl, they will do it every year and I did come.

"The Governor's daughter is really beautiful, isn't it?"

"The Governor's daughter just graduated. In the flight attendant course, I thought he would join Miss Pilipinas again. Too bad he only reached the Top 5"

"That girl's boyfriend is very lucky!"

I was swallowed by the whispers of the people around me.

I felt a sense of dizziness. Brother Marvin handed me water and let me rest for a while.

"Maxine, you have to go home first. You are not feeling well" he said to me worriedly.

"No. Brother, I'm fine" I insisted.

There were many people who wanted to take pictures with me.

"Just take a picture with me," brother Marvin joked to them.

"I'm sorry, Doctor. We already have a lot of pictures of you," they answered.

"Okay. Just one by one" reminded brother Marvin.

I swallowed saliva one after the other when I suddenly felt the rotation around me.

I covered my mouth when I felt my stomach turn. I'm also sweating cold.

"Maxine!" I heard them shout my name as my eyes darkened.

Papa's pair of eyes were sharp looking at me when I looked at him when I woke up.

"Just now you disappoint me like this, Maxine!" he said.

Immediately my tears fell.I bit my lower lip.

"Why did you do this Maxine? Why did you break our trust in you and your Papa?" Mama preached to me

I bowed in shame.

"I didn't raise you to be a liar and secretive! Now, tell me which man got you pregnant!"

My tears fell. I was just raised by Papa's voice.

"Pa-pa. Please, don't do this to me" I begged.

"I'm asking you, Maxine. Who?!" Papa stood up from his seat in anger.

My mouth remained closed.

"Show me the man who got you pregnant!  If you won't. This will be the last time we meet" Papa threatened.

My chest heaved as my eyes heated up. I was sobbing one after another, I felt bad that my own father would tell me that he abandoned me as his daughter.

"Dad. Mom, please forgive me" I begged again.

I got off the hospital bed where I was lying. I humbly knelt in front of them.

"Mom, please forgive me"

I bowed down to see the disappointment in Mama's eyes.I cried. It's very painful!

"I don't know what I did wrong in raising you, Maxine. You really disappoint me. I thought because you graduated Cum Laude, you're smart! There you are and you got pregnant!" Papa preached to me.

My lips parted. I'm upset, I didn't mean to get pregnant. It just happened!

"That's right, honey. What you're saying to our daughter is too hurtful, remember she's pregnant. She's carrying our grandchild" Mama scolded Papa.

"I don't want to see you anymore, Maxine. This is the last time we'll see each other, until you face the man who got you pregnant----"

I screamed as my heart ached. I felt so much pain, my eyes rolled as the hot liquid poured down both sides of my thigh.

"Maxine? Maxine!" I heard Mama shout.

My knees trembled and felt weak when I saw the flow of blood in my thigh. I sobbed. No. My baby!

"Maxine!" shouted brother Marvin.

He picked me up, I clung to him tightly and smiled bitterly.

I am very weak. The cradle cannot fight the child in my womb.

"P-promise, Brother. When my baby is lost, I will kill myself too" I said weakly. Carried by my chaotic mind.

I saw the surprise on his face because of what I said. I closed my eyes tightly and endured the pain.

"Maxine, please hold on. Trust me, I won't let you lose your baby" I felt his lips on my forehead. Before I lost consciousness.

I felt very heavy when I woke up. I was confused when I remembered what happened.

"Maxine, Rest. Your baby is not lost"

I held her hand and kissed it. I brought her hand to my cheek.

"Mom? Are you not mad at me anymore?" I asked.

Mama smiled and shook her head.

"I'm not mad at you, Maxine. I'm just sulking why you kept it a secret from me"

I breathed a sigh of relief. The heavy weight on my chest disappeared. I am suffering too much from the great weight that is enclosed inside me.

"Mom. Dad, is he still mad at me?"

Mom took a deep breath while stroking my hair.

"His anger will also disappear. Maxine. You will go with your Brother Marvin in Switzerland and stay there until your Papa's anger disappears. Don't worry I will always visit you" she kissed me on the forehead.

"Switzerland. Mom?" I repeated what he said.

"It's a long way, Mom," I added.

"Daughter, your pregnancy is dangerous. I don't want you to live in a house where your Papa is in a bad mood. I know you can't sleep when someone is angry with you. So your brother convinced me that he will take you to Switzerland. He said he has a friend who is an OB-Gyne who can focus on you," Mama explained.

Maybe, that will be better for me. I also can't live in a house where Papa is angry with me.

I don't want to go back to my Condo in Manila. I will be alone and I will remember what happened over and over again. There is also a possibility that we will meet that man. No way!

I stayed a few days in the hospital before our flight to Switzerland. She said that brother Marvin needs to get a master's degree, since his girlfriend who is an OB-Gyne is there, so he plans to get a master's degree.

"Are you ready?" Brother Marvin asked me before the arrival of our flight.

I smiled and nodded. I'm so excited. At the same time, I am sad that I will be leaving Mom and Dad. I'm so sad that I'm going to leave with my dad feeling bad for me.

"You will be able to re-relax with the beauty of nature. I'm sure when you see the waterfalls in Meiringen, I'm telling you, Maxine. You'll really be wowed by how beautiful it is," said Kuya.

"Really? Do you want to show me the waterfalls or your girlfriend?" I teased him.

He laughed and hugged me.

Seeing the flight attendants made me smile bitterly. Maybe if I hadn't gotten pregnant I would have been one of them.

My brother must have noticed that I was sad because of what he was saying about Switzerland.

It took several hours before the plane we were on landed at Zurich Airport, Switzerland.

Brother Marvin rented a car. Their vehicles are very eco-friendly. The places are very clean and the view is amazing. The architecture of the buildings that I see outside are so amazing.

I want to clap my hands for joy.

"Brother. I didn't expect the weather to be this cold here," I said to my brother while driving.

Just laugh it off.

"You will see a lot more. Tomorrow Dione will tour you"

"Dione, what is the name of your girlfriend, brother?" I asked.

He has not told us about his girlfriend yet. He is too busy with work.

"Yes." he answered briefly.

"What place is this, brother?" I asked.

"Lucerne, Switzerland" he answered while the pair of eyes were on the way.

Wow! Nice!