In a prestigious hospital:
Two doctors were eating their packed lunch meals, prepared by Eya's mother, in the hospital cafeteria. Her mom prepared her meals since she was young to avoid her from being food poisoned again like what had happened when she was young. Being an only child and her parents' only treasure, they were overprotective of her.
To convince her to eat what her mom has prepared, her mom also prepares Zick's meal. She thought with a meal for two, her daughter wouldn't ask Zick to eat outside.
Zick was devouring his fried fish when he heard Eya speak. "Dennis asked me for a date on Saturday." Dennis was a pediatrician in their hospital. They had met a couple of months ago through a common friend. After that meeting, Dennis started sending her flowers in her office and asking her to eat outside.
"Have you told about it to your mom? She wouldn't allow you to eat the food that she didn't prepare; what will you do to convince her then?"
"Well, I'm planning to tell her that I'm going to eat at your house and stay there a bit late at night. Would it be okay if I use you as an excuse for my mom?" Eya looked at him with her puppy eyes. However, he didn't pay her any attention as he concentrated deboning his fish.
No one believed that at the age of twenty-nine, her parents still treated her like a teenager. She had a curfew; she had a packed meal every day; her mom checked on her twenty-four-seven, if her dad wasn't busy, he would drive her to the hospital.
Her life wasn't normal as the others. She was conceived with the help of technology as her parents were having a hard time bringing a child to her mother's womb. For thirteen years since her parents got married, they had tried a lot of things whether it's a religious or traditional method.
Mr. and Mrs. Dolores were each other's, first love. After they finished college, Mr. Dolores proposed to her mom and married her after six years as being boyfriend and girlfriend.
After all, those attempts of conceiving a child failed they started consulting doctors to find out who amongst them had a problem. The results were all normal as they were both healthy in terms of their reproductive organs.
Mrs. Dolores began patronizing saints that would help her conceive a child such as St. Anthony of Padua: Patron Saint Against Infertility and of Barren Women; St. Margaret of Antioch: The patron saint of pregnant women and childbirth often prayed to by couples trying to conceive; St. Colette: Patron Saint of women trying to conceive, expectant mothers, and of stillbirth and more. She began believing in their miracles wholeheartedly.
One day one friend of hers suggested trying IVF (In-vitro Fertilization). Although IVF was taboos to their religion, as it was considered a sin against human nature and God's will. Mrs. Dolores didn't think twice before trying; she really wanted to become a mother of her own flesh and blood. That year, the couple flew to the USA and tested if IVF will help them to become parents.
A week after the procedures fertilized eggs were transferred to her. She was asked to be careful about her body as they had found out that her uterus wasn't strong enough to hold life inside it.
They were very excited knowing that after nine months a baby will be born under their name.
The old Mr. and Mrs. Dolores and old Mrs. Vega flew back to Manila to take good care of their pregnant daughter.
Nine months had passed quickly. A bouncy baby girl was welcomed by her parents. Instantly, Eya became the apple of the elder's eyes. They tried not to spoil her with everything but still ended up spoiling her.
It was because of the hardships her parents experienced during their early years as a couple that they became overly protective and paranoid to her and her surrounding.
"Can I say no?" Zick asked her back as he didn't want to be in trouble if her mom found out about it.
"But Z you are my only hope. Mom is well assured about my safety if I'm with you."
"That is why I don't want to break her trust in me. Find another excuse. Do not use me for Dennis." Zick closed his packed lunch container and left her behind.
Eya, on the other hand, looked at his disappearing figure as she tried to rock her mind for an excuse to give to her parents before saying yes to Dennis.