“This doesn't need to make any sense to you, but remember the deal."

I looked at him in disbelief. Should I even trust this doctor? Is he really the best pediatrician?

"I got to go. I have another patient waiting for me. And like I said, I can’t say much about it.” Doctor Rivero says. He gets up and exits. He left the medicine on the table next to me.

I look down at Jade Louise in my arms.

XXX

17 Years Later

Jade Louise POV

“Umm, Jade Louise, please come home right now. I have something important to say to you.” Mom says on the phone.

“Mom? Are you alright? Is everything alright?” I asked concernedly.

“Yeah, yeah. Everything is fine ... Just come home, ok?” she asks.

“Ok, I will, but why are you whispering?"

“Don’t worry about that, just come home, ok?” She continues.

“Yeah mom, but really –” My mom cuts me off, “Jade Louise Gomez!”

“Oh, I'll be right there then. Bye, mom, see you later.” I sang.

“Wait!!! Actually, I will be waiting for you in the office...."

"Alright."

"Ok, bye honey.” Mom says before she hangs up. I gave the phone back to the secretary, Ms. Maureen.

She put down the phone and with her Visayan accent, she said, “Oh sweetie pie, I think your mama is going to pick you up soon! You better hurry and get your things packed!!”

“Ok,” I said, “I'll come right back.”

“Alright darling, gallop along!” she said and turns back to do her thing.

I ran down the hall to Literature Class and packed all of my things.

I went back to the office again, this time, my mom was there filling out some form.

“Hey, mom!” I said, relieved that she is okay.

She quickly looks up and shoved the papers that she was filling out in her little brown bag that she carried everywhere.

“Hi, honey.” She said, smiling as she pushed some of her hair to the side of her face.

“What was that paper about?” I asked, looking down at her bag.

Her smile dropped, and I could see that she was trying to put the smile back on. She put one hand on her bag to make sure it was closed. “Oh, that's nothing, really. Let’s go home now.” She said and guides my shoulders towards the back door that led to the parking lot.

“Okayyy.” I said stiffly, but I could feel that my mom was hiding something from me. When we stepped outside, I shield my eyes from the blazing sun. I blinked several times before my eyes adjusted to the brightness. We got into the car and mom started the car. It was silent all the way from the school to our house. The atmosphere in the car was extremely awkward and tense. My mom drove around a corner and I could see our house. It was just another ordinary house that anyone could be passing by. But today, it was different. Outside our house, there were two long limos.

My mom stopped the car a few blocks away from our house. I heard my mom sigh softly before I turned to her.

“I knew that from the very beginning you were hiding something from me. Tell me now, mom! What is this?” I said, pointing at the very rich-looking people outside of our house.

“Honey,” mom said softly, getting out of the car. She paused, deciding whether she wanted to break it to me now or later. “We'll talk about it in the house, okay?” She slammed the car door shut and started walking towards the house. I quickly followed her.

“Hi, Mrs. Gomez, how are you and Jade Louise doing?” the teen dad asked.

I raised my eyebrow at him. How does he know my name? Mom better have a damn good explanation about this WHOLE crap! I thought, crossing my arms.

“I am doing very good. How about you, Mr. Edward?” My mom said, smiling at him, before shaking his hand. But there was something in her eyes that told me that something bad is about to happen.

I looked at the teen mom. Damn, she looks like a model straight from the Women's magazine cover, so thin and beautiful. Who is she? Is she a supermodel? I thought.

"I am also doing very well," Mr. Edward said.

I looked at the son. Woah! Is he gorgeous!? He also looked like a male model straight from the runaway!

I thought, staring at him for five more seconds. I can tell that his type, girls just take a look at him and they would fall for him madly.

I rolled my eyes. I squinted my eyes at the sun. My head started to feel light and dizzy. I looked at the boy again to see that his mother was whispering something in his ear. I only caught a word; love.

“Sorry to keep you all waiting, but let’s go inside.” My mom said and took out the keys to open the door. As we walked in, I could feel that boy's eyes on me.

“Please sit here.” My mom said and they sat down in silence.

That boy's eyes are still on me, eyeing my body like seeing if my body was the type of body that he likes. I didn't dare to look at him and I didn't like him already.

After a moment, my father came home. “Hello, Mrs. and Mr. Rivero.” My father said. Again, I sense something between them. They have a connection.

Strange!

Father settled down and looked at me and then looked at Mom. Mom looked at him back, nudging him a little. This was awkward and I can’t take it anymore. “Ok, what is going on?” I asked, interrupting the silence.

My parent froze, and I felt foolish in front of the guests - whoever they were, I still felt foolish.

My parent turned and faced me. “How should I say this, honey?” Mom said and clasped her hands together.

I know when she says how should I say this, honey? phase, it means there's bad news ahead.

I gulped. I crossed my fingers, behind my back, hoping it was not something really bad. Please! I said a silent prayer. Please, don't make it bad.

"Umm, how should I say it?" Mom said again.

I waited patiently and sat back, I was trying to act patient. I looked at my father and he was rubbing the soft spot between his index finger and thumb finger. He always does that when he is nervous.

XXX