"YOU'RE COLD," Roxanne whispered to Berna. They have been sitting on that bench for five minutes, waiting for Esme.
"I'm really nervous. What if they don't get to like me? What if they ask me too many things that I won't be able to handle?" she replied while holding Roxanne's hand.
"Take it easy. Don't overthink, okay. First of all, there's no reason for them to reject you because you have a clean record. Second, there are lab tests that will prove that."
"But…" She wasn't able to finish what she was saying because they had already seen a woman in mid-fifties who was walking towards them.
"Roxanne!" she called her friend while smiling.
Her friend's face lit up and greeted her back. They stood, shook hands and exchanged pleasantries.
The two looked at each other before Esme shifted his gaze to her.
"I talked to the client last week. She's willing to pay two hundred thousand pesos in cold cash, Bernadette."
She couldn't help but gasped and so was Roxanne. That amount was enough for Andrew to have surgery. It could even support his medicines and check ups.
"So everything is set," assured Roxanne. "We followed everything that you said so we won't have any problem."
"Actually, we do have a problem and that's basically the reason why I asked for an appointment with you today. Yesterday, the client phoned me and said that their plan has changed. They don't need a surrogate mother anymore because unfortunately, the wife is not physically capable of the medical procedure."
"What?! But my friend here really needs the money for his son—"
"I know! Well, we could still proceed if your friend wants to," Esme said, interrupting Roxanne. She gave her a meaningful look.
What the woman said next truly shocked her. Her knees started to tremble with nervousness. "Bernadette, the couple needs someone who is not only willing to carry their child; they need someone who could help Mr. Raymundo to make a baby."
"W-what?!" she exclaimed almost fainting in shock.
BERNADETTE felt like her head was blowing up like a balloon at what Esme just told them. Carryng another's child in your womb is already a big deal to her; how much more the idea of making a baby with a man that she didn't know?
"I can't do that, Roxanne! I haven't lost my mind to do that!"
"Bern, you heard what Esme said. Three hundred thousand pesos for just five sessions—"
"Five sessions! You're saying it like you're only referring to a normal training session!" He shook head head several times. "I don't want to, Roxanne, I really don't want to!"
Roxanne held her one hand and guided her to sit on the bench that Esme had been sitting on.
"Berna, just think of the money in exchange of the sacrifices that you need to do for Andrew. It's for your son, remember? You have to decide until tomorrow because Esme is obliged to report to his client within two days."
"I can't bear to do that, Roxanne! Even if I wanted to, I really can't do that!"
"Are you sure? You're saying me that you're cancelling the deal?"
She was forced to nod.
"But how about your child? How can you provide for his operations if you don't even have money to buy his medicines?"
She was stunned as he looked at her friend. She was right. How can she support her son's needs if she'd reject the offer of that Mrs. Raymundo? She fell into deep thought.
DANIEL couldn't believe what he had just heard about the conversation between Jasmin and his guest. They were talking as if they were just discussing a normal topic; but they were actually talking about making a baby!
"Please tell Ms. Polintan that our decision is final. Also, I want to get to know her as soon as possible," Jasmin said with a serious voice.
"Mrs. Raymundo, I suggest we look for another—"
"I don't want anyone other than that woman! She's the first one that you recommended to us and I don't want anyone else!" Jasmin lit her cigarette and blew out a stream of smoke. "What do you think we are doing here, playing a game?"
He put his arm around his wife. "Honey, you can't blame that person. That wasn't the original plan, was it? Of course, she was surprised."
"I won't buy it! She needs money, why would she change her mind?"
"I also don't know, but she didn't accept your money. She said she would just try to find another way to make money." The lady handed Jasmin an envelope but his wife did not accept it.
"Give that money back to that woman. I'm giving her two more days to decide. Additional one hundred thousand in cold cash, maybe she won't refuse that."
"But honey, she's right, we still other applicants to ask for help."
"But I have seen this woman's profile. I like her beauty honey, the kind of beauty that could sweep any man off his feet. I have also seen her lab tests and she is a smart woman. It would be great if our child will inherit her genes. "
Daniel did not know if he'd be impressed by his wife's ideas or if he'd just consider withdrawing from their agreement. When he was forced to agree to her plans, he did not think of certain things as a consequence of their plans. Now that Jasmin was in a hurry, he seemed to be restless.
He saw a folder on top of his bed one morning. There was a short note from his wife telling him to carefully check what's inside it so he knew that it was the profile of the woman that his wife had been telling him. He immediately hid the folder in the closet without bothering to scan the pages of Ms. Polintan's profile. Actually, it would be better to say that he didn't even want to check it.
What would he check in that profile? The looks of the woman he would have sex with? The woman he did not even know but he would have to impregnate in the coming days?
That would be funny. Did he need to know if she was pretty or something? Or if she had any misaligned nerve on her body? Or sickness, maybe? Very funny. He felt as if he was handed a menu to scan the dishes there and see which were delicious and which were not.
"Okay, this would be the last, hon." He turned to the lady and nodded at her. "Please do what she said and do your best shot for this case. If in the end she still does not agree, then it's no to all of us."
"Honey ..."
He stopped her wife by caressing her cheek. "Trust me this time, hon. If despite this increase, this woman still does not agree, then we need to respect her decision. We could always find a replacement, okay."
Jasmin just seemed to be forced to nod, but he was stunned to hear some more instructions she added to Esmeralda.
BERNADETTE shivered with fear as the doctors surrounded Andrew. He was very lively this morning while he was taking a bath. He was telling stories about his favorite cartoon show, when he suddenly turned pale at first, then turned black. It was just fortunate that she was right beside him when it happened so she caught him on time. If she didn't, Andrew would have fallen badly. She rushed him to the hospital and was now being treated by a doctor.
"What happened?" Roxanne asked as she arrived to the hospital
She hugged her while crying. "Rox, my son! It's happening again! What will happen to my son, oh my God!"
"Calm down. Come, let's pray in the chapel first." She guided her away but she refused.
"No! I can not leave my son, Rox. Andrew needs me here!" she said while crying.
"Berna, any medical staff will surely get nervous when they see you like that. Let's go to the chapel first so we can ask God for help."
Soon they were in the small chapel of the hospital. Bernadette immediately knelt down and cried.
"My God, help my son, please! I promise I will do everything I can to save him!" She cried again. Moments later she felt Roxanne's gentle caress on her back.
"Berna, I think Andrew needs to have surgery as soon as possible," Roxanne said.
Tears welled up in his eyes. "What am I going to do? Did I make a wrong decision, Roxanne?"
Her friend shook her head and looked at her with pity.
"I'll help you out, my friend. I can't bear to see you and Andrew like this."
Her eyes flew open in surprise. "W-what do you mean, Rox?"
"We need the money as soon as possible. It might be too late if we're not going to act now. If you can't, I'll do it." Roxanne cried as she spoke.
She shook her head several times. "You won't do that, Roxanne! We're not even related by blood! Are you crazy?"
"You and Andrew, you're like a family to me, Berna. I love your son, and I don't want anything bad to happen to him. After all, I'll only have five sessions right?"
She was stunned for a moment. Roxanne was willing to do anything for Andrew. She shook her head violently and Roxanne thought it was a sign of disapproval.
"How about Drew? Are we just gonna watch him suffer like this?"
"Okay, okay! I will do it! For my son, I will do it." Andrew needed her now more than ever. If Roxanne could sacrifice for her child, would couldn't she? No one else should help her child first but she, herself, being his mother.