City Lights of the Avenues (Avenue Series #1)

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∞ xxxix ∞

[Let's date tomorrow.]

Napatigil ako sa pagbubuklat no'ng mga documents ng mga pasyente ko at lumingon sa laptop ko. Nandito ako ngayon sa clinic at ka-video call si Aurelio. Ewan ko ba sa lalaking 'to at gustong maka-video call ako.

Ganda ko lang.

"Hindi ko pa alam kung free ako bukas," sagot ko sa kaniya. Nasa kaniyang office siya at may hawak na folder pero tumigil sa pagbabasa no'n para kausapin ako.

[It's okay, I can wait whenever you're free.] He gave me a smile. I just noticed that he always smiles these past few days. Though, just like before, he smiles just in front of me and not to the other people. [I miss you...]

I stilled when I heard him spoke. I didn't know how to respond by that so I remained silent. However, Aurelio seemed like he's not expecting me to say it back. I acted like I was going to pick a document at the shelf on my back.

I tapped my chest secretly. Hindi niya makikita 'yon dahil nakatalikod ako sa camera ng laptop. I smiled a little to him before continuing what I was doing. Ganoon din naman siya kaya namayani ang katahimikan sa 'ming dalawa, pero pakiramdam ko ay ayos lang 'yon sa kaniya.

My phone beeped so I stopped surveying the paper I am holding before looking at it. It says that I have another patient to operate.

[Who's that?] Napalingon ako kay Aurelio nang magtanong siya. Nagkibit-balikat ako at ngumiti nang kaunti.

"The nurse's station, I have patient to operate," I told him as I fixed my stethoscope. "Ie-end ko muna, kailangan ko nang pumunta roon."

He nodded and bit his bottom lip. I got distracted for a moment so I had to pinch my hand. I touched the mouse to end the call when he spoke again.

[I'm hoping for the success operation, love.]

My eyes stayed at the monitor where he's looking at me, too. Slowly, my lips stretched into smile as I uttered, "Thank you... Aurelio," before ending the video call. I tapped my chest again because it was beating so fast that I couldn't almost breathe.

It was like his words became my lucky charm- I did succeeded the operation. I smiled in contentment because of that before unconsciously touching the wooden ring on my ring finger. Napadapo ang tingin ko roon dahil sa ginawa ko.

My mouth went open for a moment. I thought I already threw this out... Was I too focused on the other things that I forgot about this? I sighed and tried to remove the ring. But after a minute, it feels so wrong not feeling the ring in between my fingers.

In the end, I wore the wooden ring again.

"Out mo na?" Tanong sa 'kin ni Santhe nang magkasalubong kami sa hallway. Nakasukbit na sa balikat ko ang bag habang nasa braso naman ang coat at stethoscope. Tumango ako bilang sagot. "Hope langis."