Between the Ice of Hearts (Cold Hearts Series #1)

Chapter 21

I blinked my eyes as I stood frozen while my eyes drifted on her. I don't know what to say. This is so awkward.

"My goodness, Addie! You're so gorgeous!" Irina gushed after seeing me. Dire-diretso ang pasok niya sa loob. Now this is just so embarrassing and awkward. Muntik niya pa kaming mahuling naghahalikan.

"Uh, thanks," nahihiya kong tawa. "How are you?"

"I'm doing good!" she gushed. "We must catch up! It's been a while!" she pinched my arm playfully as I nodded while smiling at her.

"Oh, here," I heard Irina said as she handed Sage a bag with a pot with flower planted on it. "Office warming gift. Congrats sa office!"

"Thanks, Irina," Sage said in a monotone.

"Are you and Addie busy? Are you teaming up in a surgery?" she asked. "Can I borrow her for a while? I'll just catch up with her."

Napatingin ako kay Sage at ganoon din siya sa akin. We're just looking at each other, as if we're talking at the back of our head on who's gonna tell Irina that we have no business together.

"Uh, wala naman," ako na ang sumagot. "Wala naman kaming surgery."

"Great! Goodness, let's go for a coffee!" she gushed as she grabbed my hand, dragging me with her as we left Sage's office.

Dumiretso kaming dalawa sa coffee shop sa ospital, kung saan lagi kami ni Sage doon bumibili ng kape. I'm currently facing her, drinks were placed on our table. Umiinom ako ng Iced Caramel Macchiato habang siya ay Vanilla Latte.

"So, kamusta ka na? It's been years!" she asked. I was about to ask her that first, but I guess, I'll just let her do that.

"Good. Ito, 4th year resident na," sabi ko. "How about you? Fellow ka na?"

She shook her head. "I went into moonlight. I traveled for three years after internship, so that's why I disappeared. Kasi, hindi ko na ma-eenjoy mag travel kung magsisimula agad ako ng residency. I'm just the same as you. I'm on my 4th year residency."

Gulat pa akong tumingin sa kanya. Of course, she's got a lot of money to waste while I have to work since I have been living independently. My family cut me off financially from the moment I was working, which is a good thing.

"Pero baka mauna ka na mag 5th kasi I'm still halfway on my 4th year."

I nodded at her. "Well, good luck to us."

She smiled. "Good luck."

"Anyway, how's your friends, Malia and Iya?"

I nodded. "They're good. Actually, they're both working in here also. Malia's in OB, while Iya's in Peds."

"Good for them," it's her turn to nod. "Ang solid niyo pa rin tatlo."

"Ikaw ba? Nasaan na ba yung iba? Sila Xian?"

She answered my questions without hesitation. Apparently, she was still in contact with others. The thing is, they're not here, but they're pretty much busy with their careers.

After that coffee-klatsch, we parted our ways as I made my way to the headquarters, since I couldn't do anything. Si Irina naman... well, she's probably off to meet her senior to orient her about things. The junior residents are now preparing for their upcoming defense. After six months of writing their thesis, it will finally come to an end.

"Excited for the defense?" I asked the junior residents while facing their laptops. Some of them are under my guidance, as their senior, but I didn't do anything to help them for their thesis. Tagabigay lang ako ng advice, actually. "Don't worry, the heads of different departments will be the judge."