Rumors about Pau and Aera intensifies for the next days. Pictures of them together surfaces. As for me, after I cried it out that night, my heart tend to carry it on. Maybe my hunch is right, Pau's just imagining me as someone else during the night we had a talk. I was just gone insane for believing it was really me... even my other side kept on denying it.
"May balak pa po ba kayong bumalik sa ibang bansa?" Tanong ng babaeng reporter sa akin. We are on the press conference of JYMC right now for clarification regarding the current problems of the hospital. The public needs to know... because they are part of our hospital, they are essential to our hospital.
"I'm sorry but this isn't the time for asking personal questions." My assistant uttered. Matapos noon, sunod-sunod na personal questions ang dumating kaya nag-decide na akong magbigay ng conclusion speech saka umalis sa harapan ng camera.
Pabagsak akong naupo sa swivel chair ko at saka naupo. I closed mye eyes and lean my head. Nagising lang ako nang dumating si Adi at isinama akong kumain ng dinner. After that, I headed to my condo so I could sleep. May medical mission ang hospital namin sa school kinabukasan kaya sa bahay din ako natulog.
"Mr. Alcardi!" Tawag ng chief sa isang nurse habang ichine-check ang masterlist para sa medical mission when morning came. This time, I was just going there to supervise. Pero syempre, knowing myself, I might end up taking part directly... if needed.
As soon as we checked that everyone's present, we immediately headed to the high school which happened to be our mission site. The high school where I attended.
"Joerrelle... I mean, Dra. Joerrelle!" Sigaw ng isang teacher nang makita akong naglalakad papasok ng auditorium. I smiled when I realized who it was. She gotten old but she still looks pretty. Ma'am Diana, our MAPEH teacher when we are on our tenth grade.
"It's nice to see you again Ma'am!" I greeted and accepted her hug.
"Ang ganda ganda mo pa rin." She commented and carressed my cheek as she smiled widely. Ngumiti ako saka nagpasalamat. During our high school days, she's already on her thirties. So, most probably, she's on her fifties now. "You look professional na talaga. Nakaka-proud kayong tingnan!"
I was about to ask what she is pertaining to, when someone pass along the way. It was the school director. I bowed my head and greeted 'good morning'.
"Good morning Miss Martin." Bati niya saka nakipagkamay sa akin. Hindi na ako nagulat na kilala niya ako.
Buong umaga, nandoon lang ako sa upuan ko para magbantay. Hindi naman 'yun major kaya alam na alam na ng nga staffs ang ginagawa nila. I was just there to talk to the higher ups. May mga bumisita pang directors from the DepEd office para mag-picture. Dahil maaga kaming nagsimula ay maaga rin naman kaming natapos.
"Doc, medyo matagal-tagal pa po kami dito. Pwedeng mag-gala po muna kayo." One of the nurses commented after a couple of while of packing up. Gusto kong tumulong pero masyado na rin naman silang madami doon kaya hinayaan ko na lang. I ended up strolling the place.
"Marami nang bago dito, kada taon kasi, may mga bagong donation. Palaki din kasi nang palaki ang populasyon ng estudyante lalo na't alam nilang dito kayo ni Paulo nag-aral." Ma'am Diana uttered as we walked on the grounds. "Alam mo, akala ko talaga kayong dalawa ang magkakatuluyan."
I awkwardly smiled with what I heard. Mabuti na lang din at hindi na nagdagdagan pa ang mga komento. Hinayaan niya na lang din akong mag-ikot mag-isa. Kids were still here pero ayos lang daw namang mag-ikot basta hindi ako makaabala ng klase.
