Chapter 3 – Contract of Life

Ava’s POV

The buzzing of my phone dragged me out of my restless sleep. Namumula pa nang bahagya ang mga mata ko dahil sa kulang sa tulog at sumabay pa ang nanuyo kong lalamunan. The faint morning light slipping through the curtains reminded me everything I wanted to forget. Kahit sandali lang, kahit ilang minuto lang, hindi ko naalala ang katangahang ginawa ko kahapon, unti-unting nanumbalik ang lahat sa isip ko.

The cold, pristine walls of the Vale Fertility Foundation.

The sterile scent of disinfectant.

And him— Ethan Lancaster.

Like a bad memory, I grimaced.

I groaned, covering my face with my pillow as shame burned through my chest. Anong ginawa ko?

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang pumasok sa kukote ko at nakaya kong pumasok sa building na 'yon in the first place. Desperation? Siguro.

As the regret slowly crept inside of me, the image of my mother lying on the hospital bed, suddenly flashed in my mind followed by the ₱189,540 bill na kailangan ko pang bayaran.

The regret turned into fear. Kakapit ka parin ba sa dignidad kung hirap naman ang katapat?

Mas gusto kong ako nalang ang maghirap, wag lang ang Mama ko. Kakayanin ko 'to, magdadala lang naman ako ng anak. I shooked my head, parang nasisiraan na ako ng bait sa mga naiisip ko.

Suddenly, the fear of losing my Mother became far more greater than the regret that I have for losing my dignity.

My phone vibrated again, snapping me out of my thoughts.

When I reached for it, the screen displayed an unread message. It was from an unknown number, but the name made my stomach twist instantly.

From: VALE FOUNDATION

Congratulations, Ms. Monteverde. You’ve been accepted as a candidate. Please report tomorrow at 10:00 A.M.

Natuod ako sa kinauupuan ko. Napakurap pa ako ng ilang beses para siguraduhing hindi ako namamalikmata. I wanted to believe it was a dream, that I could delete it and pretend none of this ever happened.

I got accepted.

What now?

I sat there for a few seconds, staring blankly at the wall. Then I whispered, “I’m really doing this, huh?”

For my mother, I reminded myself. For her surgery. For her life.

---

The nurses’ lounge smelled faintly of coffee and disinfectant, a strange mix that had somehow become comforting over the years. Nakaupo si Mira sa counter, swinging her legs like a kid.

My lips touched the cup as I took a sip of my coffee that I made in a papercup.

“Tanong ko lang, nakakapagpahinga ka pa ba?” she said, giving me a look. “Tuwing nakikita ka halos parang hinahabol ka, ngayon lang ata kitang nakita nakapag-relax”

“I’ll rest when the bills do,” I muttered.

She snorted. “You’re hopeless.”

Before I could reply, the door swung open.

Gabriel, one of the resident doctors, walked in, his white coat half-unbuttoned and a clipboard tucked under his arm. His sleeves were rolled to the elbows, veins visible against tanned skin. He looked tired, but still unfairly good-looking.

Kaya hindi rin ako nagtataka na halos lahat ng nurse sa hospital nagkakagusto sa kaniya, pati ata ang may mga edad rin ay hindi nakaligtas sa kamandag niya.

If my life was a little carefree, I probably would like him too.

“Hey, Monteverde.” he greeted casually, his deep voice cutting through the quiet hum of the room.

“Dr. Santos,” I said politely, offering a small smile. I mentally frowned at myself. My voice came out softer than intended.

He nodded once, then lingered just for a second longer than necessary before grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge. As he left, his gaze flicked back, just a quick glance over his shoulder.

But Mira caught it.

The moment the door closed behind him, she turned to me with a smirk so wide it could split her face.

“Ohhh my gosh. Did you see that?”

I blinked. “Ang ano?”

“See that,” she emphasized, pointing dramatically at the door. “Dr. Gabriel just gave you the kind of look that says, ‘If we weren’t in a hospital right now—’”

“Mira!” I hissed, muntik ng mabulunan sa kalokohang pinag-iisip niya..

She burst into laughter. “Don’t ‘Mira!’ me! That man looked at you, Ava. Like, really looked.”

I rolled my eyes, nagkukunwaring may pinagkakaabalahan sa chart ko. “He was just being polite.” I dismissed.

“Uh-huh. Girl, don’t me! Mabilis akong makaramdam.” She leaned closer, whispering, “Admit it, naramdaman mo rin ang spark.”

“Walang spark, tanga.”

“Meron! There was a spark,” she teased. “Even the lights flickered a little when he walked in.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, shaking my head. “Puro ka kalokohan, Mira. Huwag ako. Wala akong oras para dyan.”

“Maybe,” she said, grinning. “But I’m also right.”

I tried to hide the smile tugging at my lip, Again, if this shitty life would let me be even once in awhile, I probably would’ve cared. Kinapa ko kung ano man ang nararamdaman ko sa dibdib ko… Wala.

Pero nung biglang pumasok ang estangherong nakita ko. Hindi ko maipagkakaila na mas gwapo ‘yon. I pursed my lips and took another step back. Siya kaya talaga ang dadalhan ko ng anak?

Napailing na naman ako, I don’t want to think about it. Pero hindi talaga mapigilan minsan. Sino ba naman kasi mag-aakalain na magiging surrogate pala ako nang wala sa oras?

The next day came faster than I wanted it to.

I found myself standing again in front of the towering Vale Building, yakap-yakap ang purse na nabili ko lang sa ukay-ukay. The morning sun reflected off its glass facade, almost blinding. I could see my faint reflection. Tired eyes, lips pressed into a thin line, hair pulled back too tight.

Pagkapasok ko sa building, agad akong nakilala ng receptionist. “Ms. Monteverde, right? Dra. Hartman is expecting you.” I only politely smiled in return.

Dra. Hartman greeted me with her usual calm smile when I entered her office. The place looked the same as yesterday. Organized, modern, and intimidatingly clean. She motioned for me to sit down, then placed a folder on the table between us.

“This,” she said, sliding it toward me, “is the confidentiality contract.”

The words Confidential Surrogacy Agreement were printed neatly at the top of the page. My palms grew clammy as she continued speaking. “Ang lahat na mangyayari dito ay dapat lihim sa publiko, Ms. Monteverde. No emotional involvement, no public disclosure, and absolute compliance with medical supervision.”

Her tone was professional, practiced, like she had said this hundreds of times.

“No emotional involvement?” I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper.

Celeste’s expression softened slightly. “This is a business arrangement, Ms. Monteverde. Gusto ni Mr. Lancaster ng walang gulo. Sana maintindihan mo.”

I nodded, naintindihan ko naman, but my heart pounded in my chest nung narinig ko ang pangalan niya. Bumalik sa isip ko ang estrangherong iyon. I couldn’t stop thinking about that man’s eyes, how cold and unreadable they were.

So... I am really going to carry his child.

I flipped through the pages. Clause after clause, term after term. It didn’t even feel like a contract between two humans. It was like I was selling a piece of myself.

It took a lot of me to stop myself from getting up and running away. Nanliit ako sa sarili ko, pero may magagawa pa ba ako? Seryoso na talaga ‘to. Itodo na to!

Okay lang! Gwapo naman kung sakali.

Then, I saw the number printed in bold at the last page: ₱10,000,000.00.

The amount made my throat tighten. Just the advance payment alone was more than enough to cover my mother’s surgery, medicine, and recovery. Okay na ‘to.

I stared at that number for a long time. Then, slowly, I picked up the pen Celeste offered.

My hands trembled as I signed my name:

Ava Monteverde.

Celeste gave a faint smile. “It’s official. I look forward working with you.” she offered me her hands

I forced a nod, even as my chest felt hollow. “Me too.” was all I can say then I accepted her hand for a handshake.

I sat quietly inside the office while Celeste delivered the contract to the client. Si Ethan kaya ‘yon?

Through the half-open glass door, I gapped when I saw that familiar man. I could see him. Ethan Lancaster- standing by the window, his back to us, looking out at the skyline. He wore a dark suit, sharp and elegant.

Celeste approached him with the folder. “She signed it,” she said. Parang napantig ang tenga, alam ko naman bawal makinig sa usapan ng iba, pero ang tanong mabait ba ako para gawin ‘yon?

Syempre hindi.

He turned around slowly, his gaze flicking toward me, our eyes met and for a second, I almost forgot to breathe. The sudden contact shook me, making me look away.

Nahuli ako! Pero paano niya nalamang nakatingin ako?

When I looked back, he was already looking at the document handed by Dra. Hartman. Huli ko nang napansin na may kasama pala syang lalaki, siguro assitant nya? Hindi ako sigurado.

“Are you sure about this, sir?” saad nong lalake. “There are… safer candidates.”

I pouted. Eh ano naman ako? May sakit? Maka-safe ta akala mo naman napaka delikado ko.

“This is a business arrangement. Nothing more.” Ethan’s response was short, firm, and cold.

For some reason, those words stung. Parang binenta ko lang talaga ang perlas ko at matres.

He didn’t look at me again after that. Celeste nodded at me, signaling that it was done, and I followed her to another room.

---

“So,” I started awkwardly as Celeste handed me a folder of medical schedules. “This whole thing… how will it work? I mean, exactly?”

She adjusted her glasses, scanning the papers. “We’ll proceed with the scientific method… In Vitro Fertilization. It’s a clinical process, hindi physical. We’ll begin the initial tests soon so brace yourself, alright?.”

“Oh.” parang nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag nung napagtanto ko na hindi naman pala kailangan ng s*x pero natigilan naman ako nung napagtanto ko ulit ang sinabi niya

She added casually, “You’ll undergo hormone injections, egg retrieval, and the embryo will be transferred after fertilization. It’s standard procedure.”

Kaba at takot ang lumukob sa sistema ko. Ba't parang nakakatakot pakinggan?

I must’ve made a strange face because she chuckled softly. “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine. You just need to relax and trust us.”

“Oo nga… Relax,” I let out a nervous laugh para mapagaan ang loob ko pero parang mas nadagdagan lang.

Pero sa kaloob-looban ko, gusto ko nang sumigaw.

My mind was spinning with images I didn’t want to imagine. The words “fertilization” and “procedure” made me lightheaded.

At one point, I asked a question that made Celeste actually laugh. “Masakit kaya?”

Her smile was kind, but knowing. “A little discomfort, yes. Pero temporary lang naman ang sakit, Ms. Monteverde. Kaya huwag kang magalala.”

I smiled faintly, even though I didn’t feel reassured at all.

When I stepped out of her office, the receptionist handed me an envelope. “Your first payment, ma’am. Also, your account will receive an online transaction tonight.”

I nodded and took it. My hands trembled again as I clutched the envelope against my chest.

₱2,000,000— the first installment.

That was more than enough to save my mother. Sobrang-sobra.

Gusto kong maging masaya. Masaya naman ako dahil may pambayad na ako para kay Mama, pero sa likod ng lahat, puno ng agam-agam ang puso ko.

But all I felt was guilt. Kapag nalaman ni Mama ang ginawa ko, hindi-hindi niya ito matatanggap. Sasabihin niya'ng mas pipiliin niya na lang mamatay kesa sa gawin ko ‘to.

No public disclosure? Huwag kayong magalala, kahit ako nahihiyang ipaalam sa lahat ang pinanggagawa ko.