UNEXPECTED LOVE

UNEXPECTED LOVE - CHAPTER 5

"What do you mean, Lian?" Don Mart asked.

"She is the one I chose to be our surrogate. Everything will be done legally, with lawyers and with her full consent," Lian explained.

"And then?" Don Mart asked.

"She will sign an agreement that after giving birth, the child will be legally ours, and she will be free to live her own life with the support we promised."

"Well, are you sure, hija? No one is forcing you?" Don Mart asked Crishane kindly.

Crishane took a deep breath. "Y-Yes, Sir. I agree. Voluntarily."

"Make sure, Lian, that everything is legal and approved by a lawyer," Don Mart said firmly.

"Then what about your trip to America?" Don Larry asked.

"I will take her with me to America, if she agrees. It will be better for her medical care," Lian said.

"What! No," Bishel complained.

"Will she give birth if I'm in America and she is here? And more than that, I need a maid there," Lian said.

"It's okay, anak, this is for all of you. After this, everything will be okay," Don Larry told Bishel.

Bishel looked at Crishane. "Remember this, Crishane. This is a legal arrangement. You will give birth to the child, and after that, you can leave and start your new life. Is that clear?"

"Y-Yes, Ma'am," Crishane said, bowing her head.

After a while, everyone left, and Lian gave Crishane papers to sign.

"What is this, Sir?" Crishane asked.

"That is the surrogacy agreement. It says that you agree voluntarily, that you will receive full medical care, and that after giving birth, the child will be legally ours. Our lawyer explained everything there. Read it first. If you don't agree with anything, tell me," Lian said.

She read it slowly. Her hands were shaking, but in the end, she signed it.

"Okay, go there first, just come back here, you have more papers to sign," Lian said.

"But Sir..." Crishane said.

"What?"

"I'm sure my mother will ask me where such a big amount of money came from. They cannot know the truth. It will hurt them," she said sadly.

Lian stopped what he was doing and looked at her.

"Just tell them that it's my help. An advance for your work, and that I am helping because you are a good worker. That's simple and it's true."

Crishane left. "Don't forget to come back tomorrow for the medical check-up," Lian reminded her.

She went straight to the hospital.

"Nay," she called.

"Anak, I thought you wouldn't come anymore."

"Sorry, Nay, I had something to do. How are you?"

"My operation is near. It's good you arrived."

"Don't worry, Nay, I'm here."

"By the way, anak, where did the money come from?" her mother asked.

"Ah, from my boss, Nay. He helped us. It's an advance, but I will work for it," Crishane said.

"It's good that your boss is kind."

"Yes, Nay, just get well, okay?" She hugged her mother and forced a smile. She didn't want her family to see how much she was struggling. She wanted to show them that she was okay.

Crishane stayed at the hospital during her mother's operation because she wanted to make sure everything was okay.

In the evening, after the operation:

"Doc, how is my mother?" she asked worriedly.

"She is okay. After 24 hours she can wake up, hija," the doctor said.

Crishane breathed deeply, relieved. "Thank you very much, Doc."

"Ate, won't your boss worry that you haven't gone home yet?" Cristoph asked.

"What time is it?"

"It's seven, Ate."

"Let's go see Tatay first," she said and they went to him.

"The doctor said it will take a while before Tatay wakes up, but he is much better now than before," Carl said.

After a while, Crishane went home.

When Crishane arrived, she was surprised to see Lian waiting in the garden, holding papers.

She sat straight on a chair in front of him, placing both hands on the table.

"Why are you only now? Didn't I tell you to come back immediately?" Lian said.

"Sorry," Crishane said softly.

"Sorry? That's it? After disobeying me, you won't even explain?"

"I have nothing to say, Sir," Crishane said quietly.

"What? Crishane, answer me properly," he said, annoyed.

"I have nothing to explain, Sir."

"Won't you at least explain why you are late?"

"You already know my mother's operation was today, right?"

"Yes, I know. But I told you to come back right away."

"That's it, Sir. I couldn't leave my mother until I was sure her operation was successful."

"Okay, fine. Sign this," Lian said, handing her the papers.

"What is this again, Sir?"

"A legal agreement. Our lawyer made it."

"Huh?"

"Please sign it. Our lawyer will explain everything," Lian said calmly.

"Why is there a marriage contract if we are not getting married?" Crishane whispered while signing.

"Did you say something?" Lian pretended not to hear.

"Nothing, Sir. I'm signing it now," she said, annoyed.

"Go sleep now. Tomorrow morning we have somewhere to go," Lian said.

Crishane didn't answer and went to her room.

---

The next morning, Lian went down early and went straight to the kitchen.

"Sir, breakfast," Aling Dena offered.

"No. Where is Crishane?" Lian asked.

"She was here earlier, Sir," Aling Dena said, looking outside.

"Okay, I will look for her," Lian said and went out.

After a while, he saw Crishane in the garden, sitting and staring at a flower she had picked and placed on the table.

"Does that flower talk?" Lian said.

"Huh?" Crishane was startled and sat properly.

"You've been staring at that flower for a while."

"I'm just looking at it, Sir."

"I thought you ran away again. Go get dressed," Lian said.

She didn't answer and went inside to change. After a while, they left.

While Lian was driving, Crishane asked him, "Sir, that Mart... is he your dad?"

"Yes, why?"

"Nothing, his face looks familiar."

"Have you met lately?"

"It feels like yes, but I'm not sure where or when."

"Actually, Dad is well-known as a businessman in America and here in the Philippines, so it's possible you've seen him before," Lian said.

"I see."

"By the way, do you still have a mother, Sir?" Crishane asked.

"Of course, yes."

"Why doesn't she come to your house?"

"She's in America."

"Ah, that's why. By the way, why are you asking so many questions?" Lian said.

Crishane fell silent, but then Lian asked about her youngest sibling because he was curious.

"By the way, what is your youngest sibling's name?"

"Claire."

"Claire? How old is she?"

"10."

"Are you sure?" Lian asked.

"What kind of question is that, Sir? How can I not be sure? She's my sister," Crishane said.

Lian glanced at her for a moment.

"Why did you ask, Sir?"

"I remembered someone from five years ago. Same illness," Lian said.

"Are you joking, Sir?"

"Why?"

"In this wide world, millions have asthma. So it's probably not my sister you're talking about."

"You have a point. But is it impossible that they have the same age and name?" Lian said.

"Huh? Is the child you're talking about also named Claire, Sir?" Crishane asked.

"Yes. I saw her five years ago on a highway where there was traffic. She suddenly appeared selling sampaguita. Then she had an asthma attack, so I didn't ask if she had companions. I just carried her to a nearby clinic for nebulizer treatment. After that, I asked her to call her family to pick her up there, and I left because I was in a hurry. So I didn't get to know her parents," Lian explained.

"Then it was December 24 in the morning, and you even bought all the sampaguita she had," Crishane continued.

"You mean it's really her?" Lian asked.

"Ehm," Crishane nodded.

Lian glanced for a moment and focused again on driving.

"After Christmas, she went back to that place. She waited the whole day, hoping to see you again, but she went home sad because she didn't see you. Years passed, she still hoped to see you again, because she wanted to thank you and know your name, but it never happened," Crishane said while not looking at Lian.

"Why? What do you mean?" Lian asked.

"Because I won't allow her to know the real you. Because she thought you were a very kind person, a hero," Crishane said.

Lian fell silent and swallowed hard. He didn't know what to answer, so he just continued driving.

After a while, they arrived at their destination. They got out of the car. Lian went straight inside. Crishane looked around, surprised at how big the house and yard were.

"Hey, what are you doing? Come inside," Lian waved to Crishane.

Inside, a man came down from the sala.

"Hey bro, what's up? You rarely visit here," the man said.

"Yes, and you need to prepare for our trip to America," Lian said.

"What! I don't want to go," the man said.

"You have to go. You can't refuse," Lian said.

"Hayst, by the way, who is she?" the man asked.

"She is Crishane. She will be coming with us to America."

"Ehm, hi, I'm Gian," Gian greeted and shook hands with Crishane. Crishane didn't answer.

"Why are we bringing her?" Gian asked.

"Because I know you don't want to go if there's no maid at home. You're so lazy," Lian said.

"Wow really, okay I'll go then," Gian said.

---

After a few days, they finished all the papers they needed, and the day came for their departure.

"Prepare your things. We will leave tomorrow," Lian told Crishane.

"Yes, Sir, but can I properly say goodbye to my family?" Crishane asked.

"Okay."

Crishane went inside to change because she wanted to visit her family.

"You're lucky Sir is taking you to America, you will finally set foot in America," Aling Dena said.

Crishane just smiled and chose not to tell the truth because she was worried Aling Dena might tell her family.