576 Hours With You (MedTech on Duty, #2)

Chapter 9: Rain and You

The next morning, Thea wakes up to the smell of breakfast from her kitchen. She finds Bela cooking their food. Meanwhile, Nico is at the dining table preparing different kinds of drinks.

Agad naman siyang napansin ni Nico kaya binati niya ito. "Good morning, Thea."

Kinusot ni Thea ang mga mata niya. "Good morning."

"Do you want coffee, tea, or hot chocolate?" Nico raised a mug while waiting for her answer.

"Coffee, please," Thea requested. Hindi siya sanay na may nag-aasikaso sa kanya. She's certainly not used to waking up to a noisy room. She has been living alone in her unit since the pandemic started and it felt like Quatro shook that quiet life. She's not complaining though.

Minutes later, Migo comes out of the bathroom, already wearing his Chinese collar uniform. Thea squinted her eyes and she just realized that they have 7 AM duty. When she realized that, her face fell on her palm. She's not mentally ready for a duty!

Nico handed her her cup of coffee, "Here."

Quatro moved swiftly and in sync except for Thea. Right after Migo was done brushing his hair, Bela served that breakfast to them. Tinabihan ni Nico si Thea na para bang wala silang pinag-usapan kagabi. When Bela was done serving their food, naupo na rin siya sa tabi ni Migo na bagong ligo.

Thea looked at the feast that Bela served—sinangag, scrambled eggs, corned beef, and hotdogs. Thea is never used to cooking this amount of food because she only cooks for herself. Meanwhile, Bela missed cooking this portion of food since she used to cook this much for her siblings in the province.

Thea silently thanked God for the food and for the people she's sharing it with right now. Ngayon lang ulit siya may nakasamang kumain sa hapagkainan sa unit niya. She missed this.

"Buti na lang pinagamit mo kami ng washing machine mo kahapon!" sabi ni Bela kay Thea.

"No problem," she said in return. Dapat lang na labhan agad yung uniform nila dahil galing sila sa laboratory. Delikado kapag hindi nila labhan agad.

Nico casually put food in Thea's plate. Tinignan lang ni Thea si Nico sa ginawa niya. "Tama na," sabi ni Thea nang makita niya yung portion ng pagkain na nilagay ni Nico. Ganun ulit ang gagawin ni Nico sa mga ulam nang unahan siya ni Thea. "Ako na. Salamat."

Nico felt his adrenaline rush when their fingers touched as Thea stole the plate from him. Good thing Bela and Migo are busy bickering once again so they didn't notice whatever's going on between Nico and Thea.

They continued to eat their breakfast. Binilisan ni Thea ang pagkain niya dahil gusto na niyang kumawala sa tabi ni Nico. Pakiramdam niya hihikain siya habang tumatagal na magkatabi sila. Bakit ba kasi sa lahat ng pwedeng tumabi sa kanya si Nico pa? Pakiramdam tuloy niya sinasadya ni Nico na tumabi sa kanya. Pero bawal maging assuming kaya binalewala na lang niya.

Nang matapos si Thea na kumain ay agad-agad siyang pumunta sa CR para maligo. Pagpasok niya sa CR ay binuga niya lahat ng pinigilan niyang paghinga sa dining table.

"Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale. Hinga, Thea, hinga." She repeatedly inhaled and exhaled air for several times. "Bakit naman kasi gano'n, Nico?" she frustratingly whispered kasi baka marinig siya ng mga tao sa dining table.

Meanwhile at the dining table, Bela and Migo continued to bicker.

"The eggs are way too salty!"

"May diperensya lang yung taste buds mo!"

Tinatawanan lang ni Nico ang dalawa dahil napakababaw ng pinag-aawayan nila. He'll surely celebrate when the day comes that they stop arguing. Parang hindi kasi kompleto ang araw nila nang hindi sila nagtatalo.