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

THE PLACE WAS far away, so it took him a while to get there so Clyde was admitted to the hospital.

“Fuck doc! What’s wrong with you?” Tejie uttered.

Clyde was fast asleep. There is a stitch on his left eyebrow and a crack on his lip. He also had a large cut on his right arm, wounds on his hand, and marks on his neck.

“What happened here again? Fuck!” Tejie groused, as he watched his brother.

Just a moment and…

“Shit! It’s— Daddy!”

Clint is calling.

“Oh fuck! Claudie must’ve told Dad about this.”

Tejie didn’t know what to do. He was thinking twice about whether he would answer the call.

But he had no choice but to answer, “Hello, Dad?” He was restless, sitting, standing, or walking.

And after a short talk.

“Shit! They will come tomorrow,” he said, shaking his head.

_____

CLYDE SPEND THE night at the hospital. They were waiting for his x-ray to see if there was a broken bone in his chest. He slept almost all day because of the drunkenness, which added to the beating. He woke up earlier to throw up and eat.

“What happened?” Clint asked calmly but with a frown.

He and Chari had just arrived, and Claudie was there with them. They quickly flew to Manila when they found out what happened to Clyde.

“He had it out again; there were four of them,” Tejie replied. “He was almost stabbed. That’s the scar on his arm.”

“What the fuck happened? How much was the fuckin’ damage this time?” Clint raised a question.

Chari and Clint looked at each other.

“Two cars,” Tejie reacted, face down.

Chari interfered, “Did he and Irene fight? It must have been so serious that Clyde got drunk. It’s just now again, so it means Doc has a problem. What’s happening to your brother Tejie? You guys are together!” She spoke out, upset.

It wasn’t the first time he got into a fight; it was almost the third time. It turns out that Clyde has anger issues and is prone to panic attacks even when he is sane. He is temperate, but when anger starts, no one can stop him.

“Why did you leave him alone?” Chari asked.

“Mom, I thought he came in. I left before him. He was already dressed when I left.”

“He’s started?”

“Yes, Dad, he punched first,” answered Tejie.

“Did you fix it?”

“Yes Dad, those people had money. The car window was even broken because that’s where he beat the other guy,” Tejie said. “But of course, Dad, will we agree? I paid more to the police, so all is smooth.”

Everyone was quiet.

“What’s wrong with your brother? Why don’t you talk to him and then-explain, Tejie?” Chari asked, nearly crying. “Don’t leave Clyde like that. What if it worsens and his condition begins again?”

Clint looked over. Tejie didn’t know how to explain it to them because he didn’t even know what was going on with Clyde. But he knows and is sure of himself that Laura is the reason for this troublesome mind of his brother.

I guess he’s overthinking Irene’s cheating, but they’re still together, right? Chari asked.

“Uh-huh? Laura, What’s up with her and Clyde?” Clint questioned unexpectedly. “Where is Laura? Is he still seeing her?”

_____

AFTER THREE DAYS…

Chari and Clint stayed in Manila. Clyde’s condition is not good anymore. Anxiety strikes him again. He doesn’t want to talk to them; he doesn’t want to eat; he just lies down all the time and keeps on checking his phone. This is one of Clyde’s problems, besides his intermittent palpitations when he has asthma.

Everything started when he was depressed by his very first girlfriend while he was studying medicine. Since then, it hasn’t gone away. It subsides because he can control it, but when he gets too much, he almost goes crazy with mixed emotions. Just like what’s happening to him now, he’s like a child who just sulks and doesn’t want to talk to anyone anymore. Not even his girlfriend, Irene, can make him speak.

His parents are currently in his room. Clyde was watched as he slept, curled up. Chari moved toward and adjusted the blanket. When she lifted the blanket, she saw Clyde’s phone. It didn’t have a password because Clyde didn’t like to put something like that, so Chari opened it and was surprised by what she saw.

“Clint-look,” and handed the phone to her husband.

When Clint looked up, “He didn’t receive anything, so it means-Laura isn’t answering back to him.”

“Clint, do you think she had something to do with it? That’s why Clyde is like that.” Chari asked.

“Probably. Look, Ma, this one is only 20 minutes old, including his messages. This is the latest!” Chari was shown Clyde’s sent messages to Laura.

“Call Tejie!” Chari immediately ordered Clint. “Call Laura! Clyde needs her.”

_____

BOTH ARE BUSY. It was their second night at their new job at a big nightclub. Gwen was recommended by her friend, and she brought Laura along to be a waitress.

It’s ten o’clock at night, and they are currently both on break.

“Why don’t you answer Doc’s calls? He misses you! So many messages, Laura! Maybe it’s an emergency!” Gwen exclaimed when she saw Laura’s cell phone keep on ringing.

“Why take him for granted?” Gwen asked.

“When I answer that call, we will get laid again! I need to make a living, of course,” Laura said. “And I want to-let it go so that he and his girlfriend can reconcile.” Laura’s face suddenly crumpled.

“Why are you sad?” Gwen teased. “I thought you weren’t into him,” she added while blowing cigarette smoke in Laura’s face.

“Nah.. just a little,” Laura answered back.

“Real talk is okay! It was impossible for you two to love each other because-because Doc was quite a big fish, I mean-the one he was going to marry was only on his level. Do you get me? That’s why it’s cool that you just avoid it so that it’s less painful.” Gwen described. “But that will make you sad, won’t you?” Gwen said, seriously.

“It’s good that we have a job, so we can move,” Laura replied seriously.

“It’s too bad. I love that condo. The place is so cozy, so good,” Gwen grinned.

Later on,

“Tejie is calling? I think Tejie likes me! Haha!” Gwen laughed.

“Shush! For real? He seems picky. And I’m sure his girls are something, and also sure that he won’t be stupid enough to like you!” Laura’s words, one after the other.

Gwen gave a sign for her to make no noise. “Huh? Laura, she’s here with me. You’re at the condo? We’re at work,” she glanced at Laura. “Ah okay! Alright! But maybe we can get out around 4 a. m.! Ah alright! We’re going straight there! Okay, so we’ll just take a taxi; no need to pick us up!”

“What’s that?” Laura whispered.

Gwen signaled to her again, “Ah okay, yes, we’ll be there,” and she turned off the voice call.

“What?” Laura asked quickly. “Where are you going, Gwen?”

Gwen said with a frown, “Doc is sick. That’s why he keeps calling you. I told you there was an emergency. ”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Laura just shrugged.

_____

MEANWHILE…

“Are they coming?” Clint asked.

“Yes, Dad, they will come by later after work,” answered Tejie.

“How is that? Irene is here? I don’t want any trouble,” Chari said worriedly.

“Mom, Laura doesn’t have a relationship with Clyde because-because Laura is married,” said Tejie.

Chari cupped her mouth.

“Married?” Clint exclaimed. “What—- what do you mean?”

Tejie just nodded. “Laura also has a problem, so she and Clyde get along well. They are both in “a roller-coaster relationship.”

“In short, both are sad?” Clint asked. “Has anything happened to them? Sex? bed? Tej?”

Tejie looked at Chari.

“Tej?” Clint yelled.

“Dad?”

“So has something happened to him and Laura?” Chari was the one who questioned.

Tejie slowly nods.

Chari stood up and shouted. “Tej, it won’t help if you just cover everything up! You know, your brother has a condition. You shouldn’t tolerate him!” she said.

Clint cuts off, “Chari, stop it! It’s not helping either,” he looked at Tejie badly.

“Tej, leave me and Daddy first,” Chari said gently.

Tejie followed and went out.

_____

CHARI AND CLINT’S POV

“Where did we go wrong, Clint?”

“Ma, Clyde has just been soft since his young age,” Clint answered.

“He’s a very kind son of mine.”

I just covered my face with my hand. I couldn’t stop crying because of what was happening to Clyde. It’s not the first time, but it’s the worst. He doesn’t eat; he doesn’t talk to us; he only pays attention to his phone. He started having anxiety when he was in college. Clyde was already old before he had his first girlfriend because he was serious about his studies, so when he had his first girlfriend, he put everything into it. His first girlfriend was a criminology student, and according to Tejie, that girl cheated on him and her family didn’t like him either.

“Clint, is it wrong that I raised Clyde to be so kind? That I raised him to always follow and obey us? Huh?” I asked Clint repeatedly.

Clint approached me and hugged me. “Ma, sorry. I know all that-because of what happened to him before. His childhood was—not a good one, but we’ve tried to give him happy ones!”

“Clint, we fixed him. Why is that? What’s wrong with Clyde? Does he have mental health?”

“What the hell! Clyde doesn’t have mental health! Would he be a doctor if he did?”

“Clint, that’s why he became a doctor because his IQ is very high for a normal one,” I answered.

Clint hugged me and said, “He doesn’t have that; look at it! Your son is madly in love with Laura. At the same time, he is confused about them and Irene.”

“Well then-why can’t he just break up with her?”

“Are you sure, Ma?” Clint smirked at me.

“Why not Clint, if that’s the case?”

Clint just looked at me. “Ma, they are grown up, they can make decisions; we can’t go in with them,” he said.

“Clint, what about my son?”

“Chari? Clyde is no longer a mom’s boy. He’s not the kid Clyde anymore that you don’t want to cry, get hurt, or lose sight of when he sweats, puts powder on it, and then changes his clothes. No! So let him go, and let him design his fate. He can change his clothes by himself now,” Clint said seriously. He nodded. “Cut the string, Chari, cut it so he can move freely.”

I thought about it. and just started crying again. I love Clyde so much and I don’t want to leave him alone.

_____

TEJIE’S POV

I think the things I said to Clyde when we talked about Laura got him. I felt guilty because it seemed like that was the reason he was here again having his anxiety attacks. He didn’t come in yesterday, and I’m sure that’s why he went to that place. He drove again, then decided to drink and ended up causing trouble. Clyde is more of a bad boy than I am, but it’s out of place. He’s easily provoked, and when he starts, he’s like a bull that just pounces. You wouldn’t think he had that kind of attitude if you didn’t know him. Here he is again-crazy about women.

But in his case now, it’s not just feelings involved in them. Apart from the fact that he likes Laura, he also had a unique experience with sex there that may have added to his interest. I will admit that despite Clyde’s simplicity, there are also weird personalities that only the two of us know. I don’t know if we both have mental health problems that are just covered by our cheerful personalities. We have done something absurd once, and I will admit that I was the one who brought him out of the fuckin’ wild, nasty world of sex.

We once shared a wild fuck with the same woman who liked him a lot. I encouraged him to get her drunk, and then we would both fuck her. He didn’t like it at first, but because I’m insistent and he often follows me, that’s what we did. We had a threesome, a fuckin’ wild threesome, but after that, Clyde avoided the girl who ended up having a relationship with me. Sometimes I feel guilty for the stupid things I taught him and Dad didn’t know about it until now.

_____

MEANWHILE…

Clyde and Irene are sleeping cuddled next to each other.

“Umm.”

Irene woke up when Clyde turned around.

“Um… Laura.”

“Laura? Who-who’s Laura?” She said quietly.

Clyde completely turned his back on her.

Irene grabbed Clyde’s arm to wake him up, “How high is your fever, Clyde?”

Just a moment and…

“Clyde, baby? Are you okay?” Irene asked as she woke Clyde up.

“Hmmm.”

Clyde’s whole body was shaking.

“Aunt! Aunt!” Irene ran outside to call Chari.

_____

THE TWO ARRIVED well past eight in the morning. Tejie immediately welcomed them.

“Laura, I’m sorry,” Tejie instantly said.

“We brought food for Doc. What’s wrong with him?” Gwen asked.

“Clyde is in his room; let’s go upstairs; he was awake a while ago,” Tejie invited them upstairs.

_____

UPSTAIRS…

“Clyde, you need to eat,” Chari implored while rubbing Clyde’s back.

Clint just stood there while Irene sat next to Clyde.

“Clyde, eat, son. How will you heal from that? We need to clean your wounds,” Chari insisted again.

“Mom, I don’t want to eat! Just leave me alone! I want to sleep!” Clyde sneered.

Irene held his hand and said, “Clyde, I’m sorry. Am I the reason you’re like that?” She softly whispered.

Clyde just looked at her with a frown.

And for a while,

“Dad,” Tejie entered the room.

They were all surprised that Laura was next.

“La-Laura?” Chari called out.

Irene looked, “Laura? Is she Laura?” she asked.

When Clyde heard that, he seemed relieved and got up that instant.

Laura was embarrassed because everyone was looking at her.

“Laura? Hmph!” Clyde’s smile happily came out.

Irene stood up. “W- what does this mean? Who is Laura to Clyde?” she asked with teary eyes.

June_Thirteen