Begin Again (GL)

Chapter Sixteen

Hay! Sa wakas, tapos na rin ang toxic na duty ngayong araw. Pakiramdam ko ay naalog na ang utak ko sa dami ng samples.

Pagka-time out ko, kinuha ko ang bag ko at naglakad palabas. Pagdating sa parking lot, sinalubong ako ng malamig na simoy ng gabi. Medyo madilim na sa bandang dulo, kung saan nakaparada ang pamilyar na puting SUV. Nadoon si Ria pero hindi siya nag-iisa. Nakatayo sa tabi ng driver's side si Doc Vicente Tan.

​Mabilis akong nagtago sa likod ng isang malaking poste. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako nag-i-spy, pero parang may sariling isip ang mga paa ko. Gusto kong makasiguro na hindi siya kukulitin ng tuko na to.

​"Ria, come on. It's just a weekend," narinig kong sabi ni Doc Tan. "Is it because of the lab? I can talk to the Chief. You know he listens to me. I can make things easier for you."

​"It's not about the lab, Vicente," sagot ni Ria. Kahit malayo ako, rinig ko ang pagod at ang unti-unting pag-igting ng boses niya..yung tono na parang suko na siya sa buhay. "I just don't have the energy for social gymnastics right now. I need a rest and sleep to catch up on."

​"Or is it because you're too distracted lately?" Biglang nagbago ang tono ni Doc Tan na hindi ko nagustuhan, yung boses na parang nanunumbat. "Napapansin ko, every time I try to talk to you, or every time I make a move to invite you out, laging nandiyan ang MedTech na yan. What's her name? Rosie?"

Wow ha! Feeling main character si Doc, kunwari di maalala name ko? Ulol. Pero teka! Bakit pala nadamay ang maganda kong pangalan?

​"What about her?" malamig na tanong ni Ria.

​"I don't know, I just feel like she has something to do with you changing your mind. And she's always around you."

​"She's an employee, Vicente. She's everywhere because she works here," tipid na sagot ni Ria, pero hindi siya tinitingnan.

​"No, Ria. She's always in the picture," giit ni Tan, humakbang siya palapit kay Ria, dahilan para mapaatras ito nang bahagya sa gilid ng sasakyan. "Tuwing magkausap tayo, bigla siyang susulpot. Biglang mag-iingay. And the ridiculous part is, you let her! Ino-out of the picture niya ako sa harap mo, and you don't even seem to mind."

Napa-ngisi si Ria, isang mapait na ngisi. "Out of the picture? You're being ridiculous, Vicente. This isn't a movie. This is a hospital."

​"It feels like it! When we meet at the elevator on the other day, I was talking to you about Cebu, but your eyes were on her reflection in the mirror. Para ka na ring bata na mas gustong makipaglaro sa kanya kaysa makipag-usap sa akin," asik ni Tan. "You're a brilliant Pathologist, Ria. You belong with people of your caliber. Hindi kasama ang isang hamak na MedTech. It's beneath you."

Hamak na MedTech? Kapal ng mukha mo, Doc! Kung wala kaming mga 'hamak' na MedTech, hula-hula lang ang diagnosis niyo! Gusto ko nang lumabas at ihampas sa kanya yung sapatos ko, pero parang nanigas ang mga paa ko sa kinatatayuan ko.

Huminga nang malalim si Ria. Sa pagkakataong ito, tumingin na siya nang diretso kay Doc Tan..yung titig na ginagamit niya kapag may nakita siyang malignant cell sa microscope.

​"You want to know why she's 'in the picture', Vicente?" malamig na tanong ni Ria. "It's because she doesn't try to fit into my world with status and superiority complex. She just stays there. Even though she's loud, even though she's hard-headed, she's real. At ikaw? You're so busy trying to be the main character in a picture that I didn't even invite you to be a part of."

​"Ria--"

​"I don't have interest in the convention, Vicente. And frankly, I have even less interest in you," putol ni Ria sa kanya. "So stop blaming my staff for your insecurities and for being 'in the picture'. If you feel out of the picture, it's because I never framed you in it to begin with."