Susan's anxiousness to know what an ambulance will be doing at Douglas's lab made her focus an inquisitive gaze on him. If it isn't animals, then what is it?
Unfortunately, Susan is asking for the wrong devastating answer from the right person. Then Douglas realizes that certain words or statements can really be heavy to pronounce. Throughout his education and experience in life as a full grown man he was never taught of "heavy sounds" or "heavy statements", but this moment, Robin's death taught him a big lesson even with his gray hairs.
For a moment, he frozen like an iced fish looking at Susan not knowing the right way to construct his answer. Amidst his confusion, Susan feels she is waiting too long for her answer then she called his attention to it.
"I'm waiting" Susan said smiling mischievously as she expects Douglas to say nothing but dogs.
"Yeah" Douglas replied sluggishly as he blinked his eyes voluntarily to buy himself some time.
Prisca's desire to enjoy her food diverted her mind a bit from the discussion but still has full awareness of what is going on.
Charles expects Douglas not to hide the truth because that is what he advised Molly to do. On the contrary, he expects the otherwise because the consequence can be fatal. Margie, holds on to her plate tightly with her left fist, with her head bowed low in expectation. She keeps turning a particular portion of rice at the right extreme side of her plate reluctantly, to avoid any curious eye contact.
Molly keeps muttering "Please don't, please don't" to Douglas almost inaudible. Her plate of food she quietly kept on her laps gave her the opportunity to lower her head too. Her spoon and plate keeps shaking involuntary because her palms couldn't stop too. Droplets of sweat ran slowly from her skull, through the back of her ear bone down underneath her jaw.
Her breath came faster and noticeable when Douglas slowly dropped his plate of food almost at the edge of the center table. Then, she hopelessly closed her eyes as Douglas pushed the plate forward in order not to fall off.
"Susan?" he called "Robin is dead" He uttered in a low tune as his folded his hands in between his separated legs, supporting his elbow joint with his knee and bowed his head a bit.
Immediately, the joyful atmosphere ceased. Molly as well dropped her plate of food on the table and sluggishly leaned back on the sofa and tears majestically walked down from her corneas.
"What!" Prisca shouted in amazement of what she just heard
"No, you must be joking" Susan said smiling forcefully as she brought down her legs which she placed on the sofa she sat on right angled to her left lap. Obviously, she thinks Douglas is joking or pulling a prank. But, she is yet to realize how true it is.
"I'm damn serious Susan" he replied as Susan dropped her plate on the floor still wondering how possible it is.
To her it seems like a drama being played on a stage which will in no time turn out to be unreal. She turned her neck slightly to the left and placed he hands on top of the arms of the single seating sofa she sat on, trying to comprehend how possible it is that her son is dead.
"Molly, is this true?" Prisca asked again with her eyes widely open, sparkling with confusion.
"Yes" she replied as tears rushed down her cheeks heavily. Susan quickly raised up her head to confirm it from Molly. She proved affirmative. Margie and Charles became anxious of what her reaction will be as Douglas has succeeded in telling her the truth.
"He passed on this afternoon in my lab" Douglas interrupted as Susan turned her gaze to him too sheepishly without a word.
"How?" Prisca asked curiously bringing out her palms and sat up quickly on her seat
"Hmmm" Douglas breathed out heavily. Although, he found it hard to reveal Robin's death to Susan, he still faced another difficulty trying to tell her the cause of his death.
If Robin died in a car accident or a street fight it will be easier for him to report but cloning, that's unbearable
He summoned courage the second time to say what actually happened because that will ignite Susan's rage the more.
"He submitted himself as the human subject for Molly's cloning trial" he managed to say regrettably as he bowed his head again.
This time, Susan felt it harder and realized its true. Cloning since her years in marriage has always been bad luck to her, as it is being reckoned with her son too, she confirmed Robin is dead and she began shedding tears silently.
"Cloning again?" Prisca asked as she stood up to go and seat with Susan, her car key dropped and she bent down to pick it frowning
"The trial was going successfully" he continued "Until his blood pressure spiked up and led to his death" he added sweating "The medical team did all they could but they couldn't revive him" he concluded sadly as he brought out his face hanky to clean the sweats on his face.
Susan closed her eyes as tears flowed down her through her cheeks, lands on her neck like water from a leaking pipe and dripped down to her chest.
Her reaction isn't what they expected. They were convinced she will be shocked beyond control, wail, shout, hit Molly and possibly slap Douglas. But, she didn't. It will be better if she did but she didn't. Rather, she kept lamenting and crying in silence without much sniffing and voice raising as Prisca consoles her.
This is what the recent happiness and joyful mood is all about right?" She finally spoke up to Molly as she sheds tears bitterly.
"I'm sorry mom" Molly pleads crying out heavily
"Hmmm" she breathed out as she tries to control herself "Douglas, you knew about this and decided not tell me…" she paused as she couldn't hold back her tears. "Even when I asked?" she asked almost unheard because her voice became dime as she tried to talk in tears
"I'm deeply sorry Susan" Douglas pleaded shamefully
"I know why you all kept this away from me…" she wiped her right eye with her right hand and continued "because you all know I won't let it happen" she said and sniffed "Now, this cloning has cost me both husband and son, and I was her celebrating my son's death unknowingly" she added crying bitterly
"Be strong Susan" Prisca consoled bracing up her shoulder gently.
All this while, Molly hoped for Robin to walk in and pronounce he is alive and not dead, but her wishes are far beyond possible grant. They all listened to Susan calmly, wearing gloomy faces and their heads bowed low.
"I knew what I was avoiding and here it struck me the second time" she asserted as she cleaned her eyes with her palms to everyone's surprise.
"May God accept his soul, I'm sure he did this for a good course. Let's get ready for his burial arrangements" she concluded. She stood up immediately with a swollen face, took her phone she kept on the side stool and turned to leave
"Take it easy on yourself Susan" Prisca sympathized