Where Iris Bloom

Ch. 41 Always?

"Pasensya na po, Doktora. Hindi pa po naihanda ang kubo na tutuluyan niyo po sana." Amir, the leader of the village was apologizing profusely.

The group of doctors will be staying for a week to offer their free service to the whole village and to the nearby indigenous community who needs medical attention.

While Kim stood frozen on her spot, Iris smiled, warming the heart of everyone in the village. Those smiles, that glimmer in her pools, the magic of her smile that can instantly light up the whole room has come back.

It's back. She's back.

Kim balled her fist, fear creeping up her skin. She can't help but wonder if it's still her or is there someone else behind those beautiful smiles.

Tell me those smiles still belongs to me.

"Naku, okay lang po. Sorry if we came early. Nagkaroon po kasi ng confusion sa logistics ng mga vaccines para sa mga bata kaya mas napaaga po kami." The way she spoke, her accent was so thick, an evidence of where she had stayed for quite some time.

"Naiintindihan ko po. Ngunit isang kubo palang po ang aming naihanda at hindi po kayo kasya lahat doon. Tatlo lang po ang kaya pong lamnin ng isang kubo, doc." Amir spoke once again.

"You can stay with me in my hut." All eyes were on Kim when she finally found her tongue.

"We can spend the night in the car." Kim felt like the air in her lungs has been knocked out when another doctor spoke. What the hell?

Her attention was focused solely to the girl who's still holding her heart and she failed to notice the presence of a familiar face. Someone who kept her blood boil in the past and still brings the same effect. Anger rose in her throat like a vile, exploding in the insides of her mouth with the most bitter taste she haven't had in the past months, seeing the other doctor behind Iris woke the old grudge she had.

Louise.

Iris looked at Louise flashing a reassuring smile before gazing back at Kim who's eyes are almost blank but substantially holding back the emotions trying to seep out. If there's one thing that hasn't change about Kim, it's the way she mastered how to hide her emotions when there are people around her.

In retrospect, Iris can still see through her. Some people may still deem her as a stoic and apathetic person but not Iris. They may have been apart for quite a while but their connection was still alive and thriving.

"S'okay. It will be inconvenient for the other doctors to spend the night in the car. It's best if you stay with them in the hut." Iris replied. "It's gonna be okay." The younger doctor beat Louise when she sensed the older doctor was opposed with the setup.

Louise, feeling powerless against Iris's influence, simply nodded in agreement. Something's remained the same.

"Dito na po kayo maupo doc, pagsaluhan po natin ang inihanda namin." Amir offered pulling the wooden chair beside Kim, unknowingly giving the perfect chance Kim has been waiting for. Louise and the three other doctors sat adjacent to them.

"Hey." Iris whispered when she sat beside Kim.

Kim's emotions overwhelmed her, leaving her speechless and unable to convey the thoughts and feelings that had been carefully prepared in her mind for this unexpected reunion.

The older woman's meticulous preparation seemed futile as her mind went blank, and the words she had rehearsed for so long disappeared like mist in the morning sun.

"Hi." Kim breathed, her eyes glued on Iris. She's looking at her like making up for all the time she hasn't seen the younger woman. Her hair has grown longer and is now on a brown shade but her beauty seemed to bloom more. They way she stared at the younger woman was similar to the nights she would stay awake just to watch her sleep. Her stoic eyes had finally softened like it always does whenever she's staring at her. If it wasn't for the people around them, she'd be on her knees hugging Iris on her waist.