Even If It Hurts (Completed)

Chapter 40

"What..." my voice trailed off. I was honestly out of words.

At saka anong ginagawa niya rito? Kung nagkataon lang na narito rin siya ngayon for—pero imposible! This is a remote barrio of the town. And this particular place is the hospital staff's sleeping quarters. Non-staff like him shouldn't be roaming around here!

"What, Gianna? Lahat-lahat binigay mo na sa kanya?" galit na patuloy niya.

What the hell is he talking about?

"What are you doing here, Kael?" tanong ko because my curiosity was killing me. Hindi ko makumbinse ang sarili kong nagkataon lang na narito siya.

"That's not the point here, Gianna. Why are you calling him baby?" seryoso pa ring tanong niya, hindi sinagot ang tanong ko. Bitterness and frustration were lacing his voice. "Damulag na 'yong tinatawag mong baby, Gianna!"

My brows furrowed. Sinong tinutukoy niyang damulag? Imposibleng si Mikael dahil hindi niya kilala ang anak ko. Was he referring to Bryon? So, si Bry ang iniisip niyang kausap ko kanina? Si Bryon, damulag? Seriously?

Damn, Kael!

I bit my lower lip to deter myself from smiling. His innocence was very much amusing. I never saw this side of him.

"Stop biting that lip, Gianna, or else..." he said, his voice trailing off. His eyes were fixated on my lips and that made the atmosphere kind of hot. Damn it!

"O-or else what?" I asked although I already kind of have an idea what his next words were.

"I'm gonna bite those lips."

Shit!

"Mr. Ayson?" It was one of my colleagues who called him. Siya iyong assigned chairperson ng medical mission na ito. Lumapit siya sa amin at lumapad ang ngiti niya nang makumpirmang si Kael nga iyon. "Mr. Ayson! Kumusta po kayo?"

"I am good," tipid at walang ganang sagot ni Kael. Nanatili ang titig niya sa'kin. Hindi ko kayang salubungin ang titig niya kaya nag-iwas ako ng tingin.

"Ayos lang po ba kayo sa kwarto niyo? Pasensya na kung hindi namin napa-install-an ng aircon. Gahol na kas—"

"It's fine," putol ni Kael sa sinasabi niya.

Kael was also staying here? Fuck! But how... why...

Tumikhim ako bago nagpaalam. "Excuse me po. Babalik na po ako sa kwarto ko." I directed my words to my colleague.

"Oh, Dr. Salazar!" Parang noon lang niya napansin ang presensya ko.

"Ayson," biglang sabi naman ni Kael. Pareho kaming napabaling sa kanya ng kasamahan ko. Kael was already looking at me like he's boring a hole on my face. I couldn't stand it any longer, so I looked back at my colleague.

"Uh, sige po, Doc Santiago." I looked at Kael. His intense gaze remained on me. "Sir... pasok na po ako." I also addressed him politely. Kumunot ang noo niya sa honorific na ginamit ko pero mabilis ko na silang tinalikuran.

Hindi ko na hinintay pang makapagsalita ang isa sa kanila. I brisk walked toward my room and locked it. Naupo ako sa kama ko at napahilot sa sentido ko. Imbes na tatawagan ko pa si Bryon and tell him some updates ay hindi ko na nagawa.

Nagsend na lang ako ng message sa kanya telling him that I am totally fine here, and I miss him, too. Sana lang masend agad iyon sa kabila ng mahinang signal sa loob ng kwarto.

My gut was telling me that Kael will be staying here with us tomorrow. Base kasi sa narinig ko kanina ay may sarili rin siyang kwarto rito sa quarters.

But why is he here? Iyon ang hindi ko maintindihan. Hindi naman siya doctor o nurse. Unless may malaki siyang role na ginagampanan dito.

Maaga akong nagising kinabukasan para sa unang araw ng medical mission. Nagkaroon kami ng breakfast buffet. Namangha pa ako dahil ito ang kauna-unahang beses na buffet ang setup ng food sa isang medical mission.