In the Midst (Daughters Series 1)

Chapter 2: Fated to Meet

Ariel Benecio

"The x-ray and MRI still show no signs of recurrence. It is a good news, Ariel. Whatever you are doing, continue it. Always exercise and eat healthy. Those will help improve your health."

Tumango ako sa doctor ko. Bumalik kasi ako ngayon to review the results of my blood test, MRI and x-ray. Like the last time, it was still negative. Wala ulit silang nakita na sign na bumalik ang cancer ko. It had been three years at hindi parin bumabalik which was a good news. Pero kahit ganun, hindi parin ako dapat makampante. I should keep going to my monthly check up.

"Thank you, doc. I am sure my parents will be happy to hear this. Alam niyo naman si mommy, she is always worried."

"Yeah, I know. Belle is always like that when it comes to you. You are her beloved daughter, so you should understand your mom. She loves you so much."

Napangiti ako at tumango. "Yeah, she does. I love her so much too."

"Please extend my greetings to your mom and dad," sabi ni Doc Ricky. Magkakilala kasi sila ni mommy.

"Opo. Salamat po ulit, doc."

Lumabas na ako ng clinic ni doc. I smiled knowing things were still okay. Lagi pa naman akong nagwo-worry every time I was waiting for the results. Thank God all results were normal. Yun talaga ang lagi kong pinagdadasal. I did not want to be sick again. That was traumatic.

I did not enjoy my teenage years that much because I was busy battling my cancer.

I was walking in the hallway of the hospital when my phone rang, so I picked it up immediately. "Hello?"

I thought it was my mom or my dad to check on me, but it was my cousin.

"Hey, couz! Savi here!"

Napangiti ako at sumagot, "Hi, Sav. Napatawag ka?"

"Couz, don't you remember? May lakad tayo today. You and Jodie are coming with me to Tita Gen's house, remember?"

Oo nga pala. Nakalimutan ko.

"Hindi ba pwedeng kayo nalang ni Jodie? Gusto kong pumunta nalang sa shop."

"Couz! You have to come! Sinabi ko na kay Tita Gen na pupunta ka. She already prepared food for us."

Napailing nalang akong natawa. Mahilig kasi si Savi pumunta sa bahay nina Tita Gen and Tito Ralph tapos minsan sinasama pa kami para hindi mahalata na siya talaga ang gustong pumunta don. Hindi niya alam pero napaka-obvious kaya niya. Alam naman ng lahat na pumupunta siya doon para lang magpapansin kay Rage.

Madalas kasi si Tita Lee sa bahay nina Tita Gen noon kaya lagi din doon sina Savi at Levi dahil dinadala sila ni Tita Lee. Kaya ayun, simula nung bata palang siya, si Rage na ang nahiligan niyang pagtripan hanggang sa lumaki na siya ay si Rage parin.

Naaawa na nga ako minsan kay Rage eh. Halata naman na inis na inis na siya kay Savi minsan pero kahit kailan hindi siya naghiganti kay Savi sa mga trip nito sa kanya. Sinusungitan niya lang si Savi.

Dalawang taon lang ang agwat nila kaya naging magkalaro sila noong bata pa sila kasama nila sina Genoah at Levi. 17 na si Savi ngayon at 19 na si Rage. Pero kahit ganyan na ang edad nila, para parin silang mga bata kung magtratuhan.

"Ano pa nga ba ang magagawa ko? Pasalamat ka pinsan kita kung hindi, matagal na kitang pinabayaan diyan sa mga trip mo."

"Yehey! Thank you, ate! Ikaw talaga ang the best cousin ko! Muah! Send me your address and I will pick you up."

"Okay."

Napapailing nalang ako habang binaba ang tawag ni Savi. Sa lahat ng pinsan ko, she was the spoiled one. Halos lahat ng gusto niya ay nakukuha niya. She knew how to use her charms especially to her dad and to her Grandma Sabella. Kay Tita Lee lang hindi umuubra ang charms niya.

Binalik ko na ang phone ko sa bag pero bago ko pa man mailagay ito sa bag ko ay nabitawan ko ito at nalaglag sa sahig. Meron kasing bumunggo sa akin kaya natapon ito.

"I bumped someone. I will call you later," narinig kong sabi ng boses kaya napatingin ako sa taong yun. May kausap siya sa phone at malamang ay hindi niya ako napansin.

Wait... Siya yung lalake doon sa parking lot na malapit sa cafe, diba?

Pinulot niya ang phone ko sa sahig.

"Miss, I am so sorry. Here's your phone— Wait. I know you."

Napangiti akong napailing. He recognized me too. Sabagay, kahapon lang naman nangyari yun kaya malamang naaalala pa namin ang isa't-isa.

Inabot ko ang phone ko mula sa kanya bago siya sinagot. "Yes, I know you too. Ikaw yung kahapon sa parking lot. Si Mr Doubtful."

He smiled and said, "I am not doubtful. Well, yeah. I admit that at first but not until you made my car work."

Natawa ako. "Ganun narin yun. Salamat sa pagpulot ng phone ko."

"No worries. It was my fault. Ako ang hindi tumitingin sa daan while talking to my phone. Anyways, thank you again for fixing my car. I owe you something, Ariel."

Napakunot ang noo ko sa narinig. "Paano mo nalaman ang pangalan ko?"

Napatingin ako sa suot ko kung may suot ba akong nameplate pero wala naman.

"You forgot your drink on my car, and it has a name written in it, so I guess it is your name. Ariel. What a beautiful name."

Mahina akong natawa. "Bolero ka din pala."

"It's true. You have a beautiful name that matches your beautiful face."

Tumawa ako ng malakas. Ilang beses ko na bang narinig ang linya na yan? Hindi parin ako sanay na may nagco-compliment sakin.

"Why are you laughing? That was not a joke," sabi niya na kinailing ko nalang at sinabing 'wala' para he would dismiss that topic. Hindi nga kasi ako sanay. I felt uncomfortable everytime someone would compliment me. "Are you free? Maybe we can have some coffee. I owe you for helping me yesterday."

"Mr Doubtf—"

"Daryl is my name," pagputol niya sa sasabihin ko.

"Sorry. Daryl, like I said, it was a help. Hindi mo kailangang suklian o bayaran."

"But I want to treat you. Please? Besides, you left your mocha drink after you helped me. So might as well let me replace it?"

Tiningnan ko siya ng mabuti at mukha namang mabait siyang tao. Isa pa, when he mentioned about my favorite mocha, biglang natakam ako agad, so I nodded at him. "Okay."

"Great! The coffee shop is just few blocks away from here. Is it okay with you if we just walk?"

Tumango ako. "Sige, okay lang sa akin."

Habang naglalakad kami papunta sa cafe na paborito ko, ay nagkwe-kwento si Daryl but after a few minutes, nagtext si Savi reminding me to send my address to her kaya ginawa ko na agad para hindi na siya magtanong ulit.

"Sorry to interrupt what you were saying. Yung pinsan ko kasi nagtatanong kung nasaan ako because she will pick me up. May lakad kasi kami. Okay lang ba na mabilis lang tayo?"

"Sure. It's fine with me. I am glad na pinagbigyan mo ako sa konting oras na meron ka. That's more than enough," he said and gave me a beautiful smile.

Nginitian ko lang siya tapos umiwas din agad ako ng tingin sa kanya because I saw something in his eyes and I felt something weird in his smile.

5 January 2021
Miss Kae 💋