𝐷𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝐷𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑠 (LeAga)

𝚌𝚊𝚙𝚒𝚝𝚘𝚕𝚘 𝚍𝚒𝚌𝚒𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎: 𝑝𝑎𝑢𝑟𝑎

ɪɴɪᴢɪᴏ ᴅᴇʟ ᴄᴀᴘɪᴛᴏʟᴏ

ꪶꫀꪖ

"Doc, sobrang nakakahiya po." she utters while covering her face because of bashfulness. In fact, I just ordered a cheesecake for her to be  somehow relieved. "Doc, utang ba 'to?" She interrogates again. Janella has been asking me things since we got here, but she's very apologetic though. I gazed at her while she munches the cheesecake, parang hindi man siya umiyak kanina sa sobrang daldal.

I sighed as I feel the solace in the atmosphere. It's rare for me to feel this kind of peace especially when I'm in a graveyard duty. That's why my Italy escapade is an escape in some point.

"Doktora, kayo ho? 'Di po ba kayo kakain?" She ask again, "Ang daldal ko po, 'noh? Sorry po, ah."

I chortle as I sip my coffee from the cup, "You're too apologetic, dear."

"Sorry p—" she scratches her nape, "Ganito lang po talaga ako. Heehee!"

"I'm not into so much sweets" I told her which made her nod persistently.

"Thank you po, Doc. Sobrang nakakahiya po pero salamat po talaga." I can't even count anymore how much she thanked me within this hour. But I appreciate that she appreciates me.

"My white coat was soaking wet, it was filled with tears." I said while my eyes are focused on the mesmerizing the view.

"P-Po?" I saw in my peripheral vision that she gulped anxiously, "D-Doc, gusto niyo po labhan ko white coat niyo? As in 'pagkatapos na 'pagkatapos po natin dito!"

I softly laughed while shaking my head, "Gaga! Okay lang. It's actually funny because I can murder a person when someone ruins my white coat."

Her eyes widened, "To—T-Totoo po?"

I can't help it but guffaw. She's obviously nervous until now because her face is still flustered and she is frozen in her chair. Ayoko na talaga mag-joke sa mga interns and nurses, parang aatakihin sila sa puso, eh!!!

"That was a jest" I cleared which made her sigh in relief, "It's fine as long as you're good. Well, I still need a confirmation from you though." I laid my eyes on her.

"Doc naman," she giggled, "Tinakot niyo po ako doon, ah. Pero okay na po ako—Uhm, hindi man po natanggal problema ko pero nabawasan naman po dahil sainyo. Doc, thank you po talaga. Nakakailan na po akong 'thank you's' pero para po kasi sa akin kulang talaga 'yon."

I raised my brow because of confusion, "Why would you think that it isn't enough?"

She flashed a grin, "Doc, nakakahiya po pero sa totoo lang po, idol ko talaga kayo. Bago palang po ako sa SLMC pero nakita na po kita dati. No'ng sa E.R. po, noong gustong-gusto niyo iligtas 'yong bata kahit na alam niyong bawal....alam ko po na hindi 'yon ang first time niyo na gawin 'yon. 6 years ago, sinugod ko po 'yong Tita ko sa Hospital. Nasa E.R. po kayo that time at kayo lang din po ang attending no'n. You saved her, Doc. Niligtas niyo po ang Tita ko." She paused for a while as she tries to remember everything that happened, "Minor pa po ako no'n kaya nahirapan po ako at hindi ko po alam ang gagawin ko. Doc, hindi ko po alam kung natatandaan niyo pa pero kayo rin po nag-bayad ng bill namin no'n. Isa po kayo sa dahilan kaya pinagpatuloy ko po talaga 'yong pagiging nurse ko kahit ayaw na po akong pag-aralin ng mga guardian ko. Kung papalarin nga po, gusto ko din maging katulad niyo. Pero, tatanggapin ko naman po kung hanggang dito nalang ako."

"Kaya pala todo ka kung makapag-tanggol sakin sa E.R. noong pinipigilan ako ni Sebastian." I said which made us both laugh.

I genuinely smiled as I look at her, on how she delivers the story. My heart melted and I felt butterflies on my stomach. Even though I don't clearly remember that scenario, seeing her smile makes it clear to me. Kahit papaano pala, may nakaka-alala talaga sa akin. I don't want to sound like a sad girl or emo, but it just really means to me when I know that I was able to help people—that I have a purpose in life.