Epilogue
Rhett's POV
"How's your study?" Mom asked me.
Napatigil ako sa pagsandok dahil sa tanong na 'yon. Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako bago mag-angat ng tingin.
"Good."
Tinitigan ako nito bago tumango. "I'll ask your professor." Pagpapatuloy niya.
Nauna na akong umakyat sa kanila nang matapos ako at hindi ko napansing nakasunod na pala sa'kin si Kennedy.
"Kuya, ayaw ko maging doctor." Pag-amin niya habang nasa kwarto ko siya.
Nakaupo ito sa kama kaya marahan ko siyang tinabihan at ginulo ang kaniyang buhok.
"I know. If being a doctor is not your passion, then stop thinking about it. Ako na bahala kina Mom."
Napangiti ang nakakabatang kapatid ko sabay yakap nang mahigpit sa'kin.
Ever since we were born, our future was already fixed. I need to become a doctor because everyone in our family is in the medical field.
Sa umpisa ay mahirap dahil bilang isang Celeste, likas ang katalinuhan na mayroon kami. Fortunately, I'm used to it that's why I learned to love medicines, anatomy, and other basic sciences even the difficult ones.
"Hey, Mom. Why did you call me?" Tanong ko habang naglalakad sa loob ng mall.
Naghahanap kasi ako ng pasalubong kay Kennedy lalo na't nasanay na ito sa'kin na kapag uuwi ako ay may dalang pagkain.
"Where are you? I need you to discuss something very important." Kumunot ang aking noo.
"About what?"
"I'll tell you later. Umuwi ka na after mo r'yan at puntahan mo ako rito sa office." Huling sabi niya bago ibaba.
Nang makauwi ay naabutan ko ito na nakaupo sa chair habang nagkakape at mukhang hinihintay niya talaga ako.
"Good evening, Mom." Bati ko sabay halik sa pisngi niya bago maupo.
"Hindi na ako magpapaligoy-ligoy pa. I want our hospital and Samonte to merge." Sabay baba ng tasa.
Bigla akong napabuntong-hininga. "Why? Hindi po ba't competitor natin sila?"
"I know, Rhett. Actually, I talked to them and we had a smooth conversation. They agreed immediately and they wanted you to marry their daughter."
My mom is a sophisticated and independent woman. She's always decided for herself only without thinking of the others around her, she's a little bit selfish.
"Okay." Malamig kong sabi bago tumayo at umalis sa office niya.
I don't want to argue with her about her decision. But I can't deny that I'm not irritated, because I'm very irritated in everything, in this set up.
I agreed because I don't like nor love someone so it would be easy for me to go with the flow if ever that wedding happened.
Kaso hindi ko naman inaasahan nang dahil lang sa kaniya ay mababago ang dapat nakatadhana ng mangyari.
"Zyreena-bantot!"
Napalingon ako sa sumigaw no'n habang nasa loob ng clinic. Nang tingnan ko ay nakita ko muli 'yong babae na nakausap ko kanina.
Nakatingin din ito sa'kin kaya hindi ko maiwasang taasan siya ng kilay.
Why is she looking at me like that?
Napailing na lang ako. "Yes, I met her last night. Her name is Victoria."
"Maganda ba?" Usisa nila.
"Yeah."
