Your Lying Heart (Hearts Series #4)

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Wife

My friends who were also doctors that I've met when we were still in med school would also invite me to their children's party. Mga nakapag-asawa na rin kasi at may mga anak na. Kung sabagay we're in our 30's now.

I also invited Bea, kung gusto ba niyang sumama sa akin, but she still has projects at the university that they must finish with her group members.

So I went alone.

"Leo!" My male friends welcomed me with a man hug.

I smiled. And I was happy to see my friends, too. Binati ko rin ang mga asawa nila at ilang babae ko ring kaibigan.

I almost couldn't believe that we're now celebrating one of our friend's child's 3rd birthday. Parang kailan lang noong nag-aaral pa lang kaming lahat para maging doctor.

And I was having fun when my friend asked me a question.

"How's your wife, by the way, Leo? Kumusta na si Yessa?" Arnold asked me.

He just went back here from the US. Doon kasi talaga sila nagtatrabaho ng wife niya na doctor din. At umuwi lang din sila ngayon dito sa Pilipinas para makapagbakasyon din sila ng asawa niya, and to also celebrate the birthday of their daughter na nandito lang naman sa bansa at inaalagaan ng lola nito. Ang anak nila ang may birthday ngayon. Kaya naman invited din kaming lahat na magkakaibigan at parang reunion na rin since the two have stayed in the US at ngayon lang nakauwi rito.

Natigilan naman ako sa tanong.

I saw Aileen, Arnold's wife tapped her husband's arm beside her, na para bang pinapatigil din ito. They must have heard about my accident as well.

And instead Aileen asked me about my work at the Dela Cuesta Medical. Doon din kasi sila dati ni Arnold nagtrabaho before they transferred abroad.

So I just talked to them about work as well... At hindi na namin binalikan pa iyong naunang tanong kanina. And Arnold might have just forgot about my accident...

And although when I was already driving home, I couldn't help it but to think about what my friend mentioned earlier.

I've met that woman before, right? Iyong babae na tinutukoy nila, si Yessa...

Pero dahil sobrang sumasakit lang ang ulo ko kapag nakikita ko siya kaya hindi na kami nagkita uli after I collapsed when I saw her and was I unconscious for several days. I was also put into a coma just because of that. Just because I saw her when I woke up in the hospital.

And now that I only think about her ay sumasakit na naman ang ulo ko kaya tinigilan ko na rin agad ang pag-iisip. I went back to my condo where Bea was also already done with her group work and was already waiting for me to come home.

I tried to smile at her after I was home and I saw her again. And she also greeted me with her smile as well. Even though I somewhat already felt bothered by something...

I've lived with Bea for months now since just shortly after we got discharged from the hospital and we've finally recovered...

I hugged her.

"Hmm, Leo?" Napatanong naman siya habang yakap ko siya, maybe because of my sudden embrace.

"Nothing... I just suddenly want to hug you..." I said.

Naramdaman ko naman at bahagyang narinig ang pagngiti niya sa loob ng yakap ko. "You're a bit weird today... But I love it still." She said.

And after what she said, ay napangiti na rin naman ako.

The next day it was a Sunday so I decided to bring Bea out. Kahit sa mall lang and I let her shop for her new things. She was also happy the I spoil her sometimes...

"Thank you, Leo." She kissed my cheek.

And I just smiled.

She also told me that she was not spoiled by any of her parents back then. At kahit nga ngayon ay mukhang hindi pa rin siya okay sa parents niya. Kaya naman masaya siya that I give her my attention...

But while shopping we met some people... And they looked like they're kind of angry at Bea...

"Beatriz... I didn't expect to see you here just nonchalantly shopping just months after my son's passing. At kasama mo pa ang lalaki mo." The madam said as she turned her eyes to me as well.

Habang bahagya lang naman umawang ang labi ko. And I didn't quite understand what was that...

"Tama na, halika na at umalis na tayo." Niyaya naman na ito ng asawa na kasama at umalis na rin sila.

The woman's eyes looked like it's kind of trembling and her lips as well as little. She looked like she's really angry at Bea, and even at me.

"Who are they, Bea?" I asked her.

But when I looked at her, her eyes just followed the aged couple leaving...

Kailangan ko pa siyang hawakan sa braso niya para makuha ko lang muli ang atensyon niya. "Bea?" I called.

And then she turned back to me. "Uh, I'm sorry..."

I saw her eyes like her tears were already pooling in them...

"What's wrong? Are you okay?"

Tumango naman siya sa akin. But she still looked like she wasn't really okay... So I just didn't bother her anymore about what happened...

Hanggang sa nakauwi na lang din kami sa bahay.

And I was distracted while I was at work. I've been thinking about what happened to Bea and those couple we just met at the mall when we were shopping the other day. And then I was also thinking about that woman, Yessa...was that her name as they mentioned?

Napahawak na ako sa sentido ko dahil sumasakit na naman ang ulo ko. So I already begged myself to stop thinking now. Because I might not be able to work well when I'm like this. And when my headache worsened...

"I'll just go out for a bit." sabi ko sa assistant ko sa clinic.

Maybe I could take a walk for a little bit.

Tumango naman ang babaeng assistant. "Okay po, Doc. Wala pa naman pong naka-schedule sa inyo ngayon. Hindi naman po kayo magtatagal?"

I nodded. "Yes, I'll be back soon."

"Okay, Doc."

And then I went out of my own clinic here at the Dela Cuesta Hospital.

And I was still thinking as I tried to walk outside. Bumabalik pa rin ang utak ko sa pag-iisip sa mga bagay...

Wala na siguro ako sa sarili, that I almost didn't notice that I already stumbled to a small child.

Napatingin din ako sa batang lalaki na nasa harapan ko na ngayon.

Tumingin din siya sa akin. And our eyes met...

Pagkatapos ay napatingin ako sa paligid kung may kasama ba ang bata. And when I saw that there was like no one there accompanying him, I turned back my eyes at him.

What was a child doing all alone here in the hospital premises?