The Endgame and Mischief

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

CHAPTER 39:
Rusting and fragile history

"So, how do you got invited?"

The faint light without saturation of dawn adds dark shadows onto his face as he maneuvered the steering wheel. On my warm and comfortable seat, I stared at him as a small smile etched on my lips.

As we turned right, the sleeping boundary of Naga was found. He gave me a brief glance before pouring his attention on the road.

"I am his outstanding student, that's why," he said full of air that made my smile wider as I shook my head.

"He gave me this difficult task and he asked me as my fellow what kind of prize I wanted, and I told him directly that I wanted to be invited on his wedding," he added.

Agad kumunot ang aking noo dahil sa kaniyang mahabang paliwanag. Tuluyan nang bumaling sa kaniya ay mas pinaghigpit ko pa ang pagkakayakap sa akin ng Jacket na suot.

"Why?"

"He participated in an International research which is apparently recognized by WHO and now being process globally," he said. "He told me that by this event I can make connections...and also expand my knowledge towards our field,"

My lips turned into a shape of coin as I nodded under the state of Agape. Prenteng nakahiga sa kaninang ni-adjust na upuan ay hindi ko maiwasan ang humikab habang nakatitig sa kaniya.

"I want to be like him," he said, suddenly.

On his gray sweatshirt and faded denim jeans, I stared at his side profile wherein lack of sleep and exhaustion can be seen. His eyes weren't strict today, yet, there's a delicate emotion in there as he perceived the road.

"To be like Dr. Del Roman?" I asked stating the obvious yet being puzzled on his sudden direct communication.

The Auto we're riding slow down as the Naga People's Market leisurely unwrapping under the mist of the young morning. The small city's still asleep yet the people started wakening it up for their day to commence.

I stared at him as the place unfolds on his window, yet the Streets became morphed and the colors mixed like blurred paints on the clean pale canvass, the shade being diversified, and he's the only focus of the art.

Ang kaniyang siko ay itinukod sa salaming bintana bago bahagyang ihilig doon ang kaniyang ulo.

"Dr. Del Roman's a great Doctor. He was able to balance his life and work, and everything he does is a threat towards Dr. Silvestre, the old one..." natatawa niyang aniya. "He's a threat because he has this determine mind and skills,"

Tumango ako sa kabila nang walang kaalaman sa mga salitang kaniyang sinasabi.

It's not that I do not know, Dr. Del Roman, of course I did. But I only spend few months with him since he's hopscotching from one unit to another, I only handle some patients of him, not unlike Dr. Silvestre and Dr. Cojuangco.

"We, Interns always called him and Dr. Cojuangco, the David and Goliath of O.R. since they always have these little fights that became their shtick before surgery,"

Bahagya akong natawa. "They're Surgeon and Anes, by the way..."

Pinagkrus ang mga braso ay bumaling ako sa unahan nang tumigil kami nang maging pula ang Traffic light.

"May plano kana bang kunin sa Residency mo?" tanong ko bigla bago siya sulyapan.

Kinalas ang pagkakahilig sa kaniyang kamay ay bumaling siya sa akin at kaniyang pagtango. Ang kaniyang buhok ay bahagyang hinawi palayo sa kaniyang mata bago mabagal na basain ang pang ibabang labi.