Chapter 4 WINDOW OF UNCERTAINTY

"You made your choices, and you left me a long time ago, and You can't just come back and expect everything to be different."

In the middle of the night, Amelia is jolted awake by a drunken call from Froilan. His words sting as he berates her for bringing Carl to the hospital. Amelia defends her decision, but Froilan's next revelation leaves her shocked and hurt – he claims to feel that Carl is his. Struggling to process the emotions, Amelia confronts him, firmly asserting that Carl has a father and it's not him. As the call ends, Amelia faces a dilemma: confront the past for Carl's sake or shut Froilan out for good. The window of uncertainty is open, and the path ahead remains unclear.

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Amelia was jolted awake in the middle of the night by the persistent ringing of her phone. Her heart raced, and she quickly reached for it, wondering who could be calling at such an hour. To her surprise, it was Froilan on the other end of the line. "What the hell is he doing?" she muttered to herself as she answered the call.

She could sense from Froilan's slurred speech and erratic tone that he was drunk. "What are you doing, Froilan? Why are you still not at home at this hour? Your family might be looking for you now," she said, trying to mask the concern in her voice.

But instead of explaining his whereabouts or apologizing for the late-night call, Froilan began to yell at her. The alcohol seemed to have stripped away any restraint he might have had. "I told you not to bring Carl with you inside the hospital! I warned you that we could hire someone to accompany you, and Carl could be your 'runner'. See what happened, Amelia? You put Carl in danger!"

Amelia's heart sank as she listened to Froilan's accusations. She knew he cared for her, but she never expected him to react this way. She had brought Carl with her to the hospital because she couldn't bear the thought of leaving him behind, especially when she needed all the support she could get.

"Froilan, please calm down," Amelia pleaded, her voice shaking with a mix of frustration and hurt. "I understand your concern, but I needed Carl with me. He's my son, and I couldn't leave him alone during this critical time."

But Froilan wasn't listening. His words slurred together as he continued to berate her, his frustration pouring out in torrents. "You never listen, Amelia! You always do whatever you want without considering the consequences. Now, because of your stubbornness, Carl's health is at risk!"

Amelia felt a lump forming in her throat, a mix of anger and sadness bubbling inside her. She had thought that Froilan calling her in the middle of the night was to check on her, to offer comfort and support. Instead, she found herself on the receiving end of his drunken tirade.

"I never wanted to put Carl in danger," Amelia replied, trying to keep her voice steady. "I thought having him with me would give me strength and comfort during the surgery. I didn't realize it would cause so much trouble."

Froilan's words continued to sting, his voice growing louder and more accusatory with each passing second. "You're always making excuses, Amelia. You need to start taking responsibility for your actions. You're not the only one affected by your decisions!"

Amelia's eyes welled up with tears, hurt by Froilan's harsh words. She had hoped for understanding, for empathy, but all she received was judgment and anger.

"I'm sorry, Froilan," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I never wanted to cause any harm to Carl or anyone else. I'm doing my best to get through this difficult time, and I thought having him here would help."

But Froilan seemed too consumed by his own emotions to truly hear her. He continued to yell, his words becoming more incoherent as the alcohol clouded his judgment. The conversation was going nowhere, and Amelia knew she needed to end it before things got worse.

"Froilan, I need to go now," Amelia said firmly, her heart heavy with disappointment. "Please take care of yourself and go home. We can talk about this when you're sober."

She hung up before he could respond, feeling a mix of relief and sadness. She had hoped for support and understanding from Froilan, but all she had received was judgment and anger.

As Amelia lay back down on her hospital bed, her mind was in turmoil. She couldn't shake off the hurt from Froilan's words, but she also knew she needed to focus on her own well-being and the upcoming surgery.

Amelia knew that the journey towards healing and forgiveness wouldn't be easy, especially with the weight of her own health and Carl's well-being on her shoulders. But she was determined to face whatever challenges lay ahead, both in her personal relationships and her battle against cancer.

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Just before Amelia could close her eyes, seeking solace in sleep after the tumultuous phone call with Froilan, her phone chimed again. Part of her wanted to ignore it, to shut out the world and its complications for a moment. But another part of her, curious and hesitant, wondered what could be so important that Froilan would risk waking her up in the middle of the night.

With a sigh, she picked up her phone, and there it was – another call from Froilan. She hesitated for a moment, her thumb hovering over the screen. Then, a mixture of concern and curiosity got the better of her, and she answered the call.

There was a hint of hesitation in Froilan's voice as he spoke, "I'm sorry for waking you up again, Amelia, but this is really important."

Amelia's heart pounded loudly in her chest as she tried to make sense of Froilan's drunken words. Confusion, anger, and fear swirled inside her, and she couldn't believe what she was hearing. How could he say something like this now, in the middle of the night, when she was already so emotionally drained?

Froilan's next words stunned Amelia, as he said, "I could feel that Carl is mine, Amelia. Am I right?"

Her heart froze for a moment, and a mix of emotions washed over her – shock, disbelief, and a lingering sense of betrayal. How could he even suggest such a thing? They had moved on from their past, and now Froilan was trying to rewrite their history in a way that felt unsettling and wrong.

"Froilan, this is not the time or place for such a conversation," Amelia responded firmly, trying to keep her composure despite the shock and frustration. "I can't believe you would say something like that. Carl is my son, and you have no right to claim him as yours."

The room felt suffocating as Amelia recall those words over and over again. Anger, confusion, and a flicker of doubt wrestled within her. How could Froilan still hold on to such an idea after all these years?

Amelia wanted to end the call to block Froilan out of her life once and for all, but a part of her couldn't ignore the gnawing curiosity. She needed answers, closure, and a chance to protect Carl from any potential upheaval.

Against her better judgment, she replied, "We've been through this, Froilan. Carl is not yours. He has a father, and it's not you."

His response was immediate, filled with desperation and remorse, "I know I messed up in the past, and I regret it every day. But please, just hear me out. There's something you need to know."

Amelia's mind raced, unsure if she should entertain the idea of more conversation with Froilan. But deep down, she knew that she needed to face this head-on, for Carl's sake.

Amelia's mind was racing, trying to process Froilan's words and the emotions they stirred within her. This was not the first time she had seen Froilan's protective side when it came to Carl, but claiming the role of a father was a step too far.

"Carl has a father, Froilan, and it's not you," she retorted, her voice tinged with frustration. " You made your choices, and you left me a long time ago, and You can't just come back and expect everything to be different."

Amelia could sense Froilan's genuine remorse, but she remained cautious. The wounds from their past were deep, and trust was not easily regained.

There was a tense silence on the other end of the line, and Amelia could sense that Froilan was struggling to find the right words. The alcohol had likely loosened his inhibitions, but it also seemed to cloud his judgment.

Amelia felt torn between anger and a flicker of compassion. She knew that Froilan had his own demons to battle, and perhaps his concern for Carl was genuine. However, his actions and words still cut deep.

There was a long pause on the other end of the line, and Amelia could almost feel Froilan's inner turmoil. Finally, Froilan admitted, "I can't change the past, and I can't force a role that doesn't belong to me. But I want to be a better person, Amelia. I want to be someone Carl can look up to, even if it's not as his father."

He spoke, his voice heavy with regret. "I'm sorry, Amelia. I shouldn't have said that. I know it's not my place."

"You can't just switch roles like that, Froilan," she replied, her voice steadier now. "Carl has been through enough, and he doesn't need more confusion in his life."

Amelia took a deep breath, trying to steady herself amidst the whirlwind of emotions. "No, it's not your place," she reiterated her voice firm but tinged with sadness. "Please, Froilan, let's not make this any more complicated than it already is. Carl needs stability, not uncertainty."

Froilan's voice wavered slightly, revealing the vulnerability behind his drunken bravado. "Amelia, I didn't mean it like that. I just... I care about him, and I worry about him. That's all."

Froilan's voice was softer now, remorse evident in his words. "You're right, Amelia. I'll respect your decision. I'm sorry for causing you more pain."

As they said their goodbyes and hung up, Amelia was left with a mix of emotions. The shock of Froilan's words still reverberated within her, but she knew that she had to remain steadfast in protecting her son's well-being.

Amelia knew that the road ahead would be challenging, but she was determined to protect her son and shield him from any further emotional turmoil. The window of opportunity for reconciliation had opened, but whether or not they could find a way to heal their fractured relationship remained uncertain.

For now, Amelia would focus on being the best mother she could be and cherish the love she shared with Carl. The answers to their past might remain obscured, but their unwavering affection would be their guiding light through the darkness of uncertainty.