DOCTOR’S FEE (MOMMAS BOY BOOK SERIES) ENGLISH VERSION

IN LIFE, there are always events that we don’t expect to happen. Sometimes that will give us short-term pleasure, and sometimes it will also be a lesson that will leave a mark that, no matter how much time passes, we cannot forget. It’s just like the life of Mom and Dad, Sir Clint, who were separated for a long time, but because there was one of them who didn’t really give up, they still met in the end, so I can really say that we are in charge of our destiny. The beginning has already been drawn, but it’s really up to us how we shape it and give it a good ending.

At your service is Doctor Clyde D. Tuason, 28 years old now. The oldest son of Mama Chari and Dad, Sir Clint, is now a urologist. I am tall, dark-skinned, and I look just like my dad, Sir Clint. I was just a bit bigger than he was when he was young, because Tejie influenced me a bit, so I also went to the gym sometimes. Picture-out dad, Sir Clint’s face, and you will know what I look like, but my hair is clean-cut and I don’t have long hair like he does.

Almost two decades have passed. I didn’t become a dancer or breakdancer like my dad, Sir Clint, because he didn’t allow me then. You know the reason why, don’t you? That’s because of my weak-hearted condition as a child. It caused a lot of sudden changes in my life and personality, but it also got better with the passage of time. It didn’t really work anymore to engage in intense dancing, so even though it was difficult for me to let go of the dancing, I did.

Even though I did not fulfill my dream of becoming a famous and good breakdancer like my dad, Sir Clint, I did follow another one of my dreams, which is none other than becoming a doctor and being able to serve in a public hospital where I help those who have problems with financial support for their treatment, and I can say that I am happy with the chosen profession. I’m happy to help others, and it feels really good.

Mom and Dad, Sir Clint, have settled in Camiguin, where there are some of Mom’s coffee shop businesses as well as Dad’s two dance promotions that are still thriving. Mom and Dad are old too, but they are still as cool as before because they take care of themselves. Add that there is no stress in life, so they are blooming even more. Dad, Sir Clint, loved Mom very much, and I witnessed all their struggles before finally being happy.

Tejie? Tejie, who used to have no passion for dancing and breaking bones, took Dad’s place. He is now in charge of all of Sir Clint’s four dance promotions here in Manila. He is also a professional breakdancer and choreographer who earns a lot from his teaching. Tejie was a good-looking man when we grew up because he was of Chinese and Pakistani descent, so the combination was good. His eyes are narrow, his pointed nose is cute, and his skin is so white that it’s even reddish. His hair is a bit long and blonde now. He also has a big body because he likes to lift and he takes good care of his body. Adding to his hotness was his right arm full of Koi tattoos. He is a very talented man. Apart from being a good dancer, he also has a good hand at drawing, which is what he completed his studies in and which is also one of his businesses now. He is also a tattoo artist who has proven himself several times in competitions.

And the best of all? A womanizer! He really inherited all of Dad’s talents, especially his love for women. Even middle-aged women are really attracted to him-he doesn’t want younger girls. He said the elderly were well experienced. I don’t know! I don’t know anything about that, because I’ve never been in a relationship with someone older than me. Because he usually has a relationship with women in their 30s and 40s-you know!

And the youngest? Claudie? Our only princess is already 18 years old. She looks like Mom; her eyes are narrow, and she likes to cut her hair short, too. She also has a pierced nose. Claudie is beautiful and not a brat. She wasn’t blessed with height, but like Mom, her height is just right. Cutie petite chinita! If you don’t know our story, you can say that Tejie and she are really siblings because they have the same looks as well as the same skin color. I’m the only one who is different from them because my skin is dark, so my color dominates when the three of us are together, and I am the quietest of them. Those two are loud no matter where you take them. Claudie is a civil engineering student at a famous university in Manila. She also got dad’s talent for dancing, but she said she had no intention of pushing it. Like me, she was also fond of skateboarding, which is still her hobby.

We are the ones left here at home in Manila. In the house where we all grew up and started a life, in the house where the life stories of Clint Kadie P. Tuason and Chari E. De Vega began, who are now together in the place they dreamed of.

I’m Clyde again. Join me on my journey. See how I will cry, be happy and love faithfully. This is the new chapter where you will witness the lives of me and my siblings.

_____

BECAUSE I HAD a lot to do today and the hospital where I am is far from our house but close to my place in the condo, I got up so early.

“Brother Clyde, are you coming home later? What dish shall I cook?” Claudie asked, her voice loud from our gate.

“Oh no! Maybe I’ll be at the condo later, baby.” I answered quickly.

“Tejie?” she said as she opened the gate.

“Maybe not!” I replied, “He’s working a lot in the studio right now, then he has a session later.” I got into the car and started the engine.

“Brother, can I sleep over with Pat?” Her smile suddenly widened when she mentioned it to me.

I looked at her as I turned off the car’s engine.

She smiled at me even more. “All right, Brother Clyde, we’ll just do a movie marathon; no boys allowed,” she said, smiling again.

I looked at her, “Didie? Why don’t you just invite them here, baby? There’s no one here at home! Instead of you leaving?”

“Alright! I won’t bring a car, Brother,” she said, while raising her right hand as if to swear.

I just shook my head.

“Woohoo! Shaking means yes!” she shouted.

“Just tell Tejie that you’re not at home if he comes home, okay baby?” I reminded her before closing the car window. She nodded quickly.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“Bye Brother! Take care! I Love you, Brother Clyde!” She said to me sweetly while following my car’s movement out of the gate. “Bye!” She shouted again when my car got out.

Toot! Toot!

I just honked at her and drove off.

Claudie is sweet. She never forgets to say the word “love you” to me and Tejie every time we leave the house. There is a big difference between our ages, so even now that she is older, we still think she is a baby and we call her that too. She is our only princess, so we are very careful with her. One more thing: Dad would kill us if something bad happened to her. He put us in charge of Claudie. He asked us to take care of the youngest because she was far away from them. That’s how much they love Claudie, especially Dad! That’s Daddy’s girl! Dad said Claudie is special, just like Mom. They are said to be the two women in Dad’s life and no one else.

She is still not allowed to have a boyfriend because she is still studying, though we let her drink alcohol and hang out with us at the bar. She obeys when Tejie and I tell her to, even though there are many people who like her and show interest in her. She just doesn’t care. Claudie is beautiful, but she acts like a boy. She’s serious when it comes to her studies and skateboarding.

_____

TIME CHECK: 2 PM

We will do a kidney operation today. Our patient is a woman in her mid-thirties, in my estimation.

My co-doctor handed me the clipboard with the patient’s information.

I read it, “Laura P. Valle, 33, from-from Tarlac.” My voice got louder when I read where the patient came from. I know that place was a bit far from the hospital and she traveled a long way to be here.

Because of my curiosity, I peered at her face. She’s just a small girl with dark skin. She has long, curly hair that reaches her waist, and I think her eyes are round. She also has a pointed nose with wide lips that aren’t that thick. I think she is of a foreign race. At that time, she was already injected with anesthesia and asleep, and all the devices that should have been used for monitoring her while under operation were fixed.

“Did she just come here yesterday?” I asked.

The nurse quickly answered, “Yes, Doc, almost writhing with pain.”

I just continued reading her records. It says that she is married because her husband was the one who signed it when she was admitted. I kept glancing at her again. I don’t know, she became interesting to me suddenly. I just found myself staring at the sleeping patient. Until..

“Doc,” the nurse said, taking the clipboard I was holding.

I’m still a little surprised. “Ugh! Sorry,” I apologized.

I have fixed myself. The operation will begin. And even before I started, I stared again at the beautiful face of my sleeping patient. She looks like Mama Mary if you look closely at her face.

“Hooh..” I sighed. “Clyde, easy.” I said to myself. I feel like I’m suddenly swallowed by shame and I don’t know why I feel this. I felt so nervous that I wanted to get out of the operating room first. It just is! I can’t explain why I feel this way. I’m nervous?

“Are you okay, Doc?” Our anesthesiologist asked, apparently noticing my behavior.

I answered quickly. “Yeah! A minute! Give me a minute,” I then stayed away for a moment from my patient, who was the cause of my sudden mood change.

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