Working Girls Series# 1: Beautiful Nightmare

Chapter 56

"Sir, kailangan na po nating gamutin ang mga sugat niyo", the nurse insisted but Max just waved her away. He doesn't want to leave her. He'll stay in this hallway for hours if he has to.

"Ahm, mister, I think the nurse is right."

His head jerked up to Catherine's sister as she took a seat across from him.

"Saka baka magalit pa sa'min si Mia kapag nalaman niyang hindi ka namin "pinilit" na magpagamot."

He just smirked and shook his head knowing that she's right. But he can't, he just can't leave her.

"I just got her back, you know. I can't let another chance to slip away and let her disappear on me again."

"Hindi maayos ang pagkakakilala natin kanina. Anyway, I'm Via."

She didn't offer her hand to shake so he just nodded his head to acknowledge her.

"And I'm Max."

"I know. Alam mo, Max hindi kita gusto para sa kapatid ko."

"I love your sister."

"Love is never enough", she spatted, as if the word love itself disgusted her.

"Maybe you've never known love at all to say that", he countered and she just smugly smirked at him.

"I have kids, Mr. Black. You think I haven't been there? I know how love can be so destructive and I have long extracted my self from a man like you. I just hope that Mia realizes that before anything worse could happen to her because of you."

Max exhaled exasperatedly and washed his hand on his face.

"Look, I know you're mad at me for what happened to Catherine and I don't blame you.   But I love your sister too much to let her go", he declared as he look her in the eye. "Ask me to do anything, just not that."

She nodded and look him square in the eye.

"Matanda naman na si Mia, hahayaan ko siyang magdesisyon para sa sarili niya pero kanina pa talaga kita gustong sapakin, eh."

He quenched his jaw and nodded at her.

"I deserve that. Go at it."

She stood up and walked up to him.

"Tingin ka dito", she demanded then punched him square in the jaw. He grimaced and felt his jaw with his hand. This woman gives a punch worthy of a feather weight champion. Whoever that man who broke her heart, he'd say good luck to him.

"Isang pabor nalang at kwits na tayo. Wag mong sabihin kay Mia ang tungkol sa mga kasama ko o tungkol sa nalalaman mo sa'kin. That part of my life is a secret to my family. At dapat yung manatiling sekreto lang, naiintindihan mo?"

He nodded his agreement while still massaging his jaw.

"Kapag sinumbong mo 'ko kay Mia, lalo kang badshot sa'kin", she said before walking out to talk to the doctor who just got out from Catherine's room.

"Doc, kumusta po ang kapatid ko?"

"Nagka-hypothermia siya sanhi ng matagal na pagbabad sa malamig na tubig, dagdag pa na mahangin. But she'll be okay. Kailangan lang niya munang magpahinga at maobserbahan ng ilang araw."

"Okay, doc. Salamat."

The doctor tapped her shoulder and left together with the nurses who assisted him. He just sat still outside as Via went inside. He'll have his time with Catherine later. He'll just compose himself first and wait patiently.

***

"Kapag sinabi kong maglalaro tayo, maglalaro tayo. Naiintindihan mo?", bulong nito habang pahigpit nang pahigpit ang pagkakasakal nito sa kanya.