Remembering Yesterday, Loving Today

Chapter 3: Familiar Stranger

As the days turned into weeks, I found myself encountering Greg more frequently in the hospital corridors. Our conversations remained polite and laced with a cautious undertone, but I couldn't shake off the feeling that there was something more between us. Something lingering in the shadows of my forgotten memories.

One afternoon, as I made my way to the cafeteria for a much-needed break, I noticed Greg leaning against a nearby wall, his gaze fixed on me. There was a subtle intensity in his eyes, a mixture of longing and restraint that sent a shiver down my spine.

"Marinelle," he called out, his voice tinged with a blend of hope and trepidation.

I hesitated for a moment before turning to face him, my heart pounding in my chest. "Greg, what brings you here? Ano meron?"

A gentle smile graced his lips as he took a step closer, his presence enveloping me in an inexplicable warmth. "I thought maybe we could catch up. Grab a cup of coffee?"

My mind wrestled with conflicting emotions, torn between the desire to uncover the truth and the fear of what lay hidden within my forgotten past. Yet, curiosity compelled me to accept his offer, and we found ourselves seated at a secluded table in the bustling cafeteria.

As we sipped our steaming cups of coffee, a silence settled between us, the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air. I observed Greg closely, studying the lines etched on his face, searching for any flicker of recognition. But all I found was a sense of familiarity that defied logical explanation.

"You know, Marinelle, there's something about you," Greg began, his voice filled with a mixture of nostalgia and vulnerability. "Even though you don't remember our past, there's a connection between us. It's like we're drawn to each other, no matter how hard we try to resist."

I can't help but laugh with what he just said. Pinagsasabi nitong "our past"? "I'm sorry I didn't mean to laugh. Natawa lang talaga ako sa sinabi na "our past" kasi paano tayo magkakaroon ng ganun kung there was never an us. Di naman kita natatandaan as my boyfriend, as my childhood crush siguro, oo? But boyfriend? Please naman Greg don't be so funny."

After I said that, Greg's aura changed as if I said something wrong. But I did not mind it na lang kasi alam kong yun naman talaga ang totoo. We did not have any past.

I leaned back in my chair, trying to make sense of his words. "Greg, I wish I could understand what you mean. But right now, everything from our past feels like a distant dream."

He nodded, understanding flickering in his eyes. "I get it. And I don't want to push you into remembering something that may be painful. But I can't deny the bond we once shared, and it's still here, lingering beneath the surface."

I studied him intently, trying to decipher the enigma before me. There was a sincerity in his gaze, a genuine yearning for a fresh start. But there was also an unspoken fear, a hesitation to delve into the past. It was as if he, too, carried a burden, a secret that threatened to shatter the fragile.

"Marinelle," Greg began, his voice filled with a mix of earnestness and restraint. "Tell me about your journey as a doctor. What led you to choose this path?"

I took a moment to collect my thoughts, appreciating his effort to keep the conversation light. "Well, it was a combination of factors, I suppose. My father always encouraged me to pursue business because I have to help Blake of course in managing our business, even though I initially had reservations. But as I immersed myself in the field of medicine, I discovered a passion for healing and making a difference in people's lives."