“Maganda sa restaurant na ito. The service is good and the foods here are amazing,” Dr. Vergara said.
Tumikhim ako. Tumuwid ako ng upo at pilit na itinuon ang aking atensyon sa kaharap. I’m feeling a bit of anxiety and I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because I’m having dinner with Dr. Vergara while Roilan is at another table… with a woman. How can I think straight when I can feel Roilan’s gaze piercing like thorns through my skin.
He was with a woman. And she’s not even familiar. I don’t know her. And the moment I saw them, I felt a flood of emotions inside me that I can’t quite decipher. Hindi ko alam kung paano ako magre-react. Hindi ko maintindihan kung ano ‘tong nararamdaman ko.
Who is that woman? We were supposed to have dinner tonight, but I postponed it. And now, he’s here… having his dinner with someone else… and I’m here, too… with Dr. Vergara.
He saw me earlier. And I saw how his jaw tightened, and his dark, cold and mysterious eyes stared at me... or more like, glared at me. At kung nakakamatay nga lang talaga ang masamang tingin, kanina pa ako bumulagta sa sahig.
Dr. Vergara did not see them, because if he did, he would greet him and that would be so awkward. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang magiging reaksyon ko kung sakali, o kung paano ko siya haharapin.
Ilang sandali lang ay dinala na rin ang mga pagkain. I stared at the familiar foods being served on our table. Akala ko quick dinner lang pero parang pang ilang tao na itong in-order niya.
“You should try their crab imperial. It’s delicious. One of the best on their menu.”
But I don’t eat alimango. I don’t like its taste. But since Dr. Vergara ordered it for us, I think I won’t have a choice but to try it.
I sighed when he replaced my steak with his. Hiwa na iyon kaya pinagpalit niya ang amin para hindi ko na kailangang maghiwa. He looked at me with his boyish smile. I stared at him.
Even when he’s already thirty-four he still looked young. Aakalain mong ka-edad ko lang. He’s tall and a bit muscular, but not as muscular as Roilan. Maputi siya at malinis tingnan. Even his fingers were clean and it looked so soft. He dresses well. Palaging pastel ang mga damit na isinusuot niya.
“Are you going to take med in the future?” he asked in the middle of our dinner.
Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya. “Hindi po, doc,” simple kong sagot.
Tumawa siya kahit wala namang nakakatawa. “Huwag mo na akong i-po. I’m not that old, Elvira. And please, Edison na lang. Just call me with my first name,” natatawa pa ring sabi niya.
Pilit kong pinipigilan ang pagkunot ng noo ko. I respect him as my senior and my boss that’s why I call him with his title. Gumagalang lang ako sa kanya and I think it’s inappropriate to just call him by his first name.
“Sayang kung hindi ka tutuloy sa med school. Matalino ka. Magaling ka. Mas bagay sa’yo maging doctor. Some of my friends graduated in nursing but then, they eventually realised it’s better to proceed to medical school. Ngayon, mga doctor na sila. ‘Yung iba, sa ibang bansa pa nag-aral ng medicine. Maganda ang naging desisyon nila. Now, they’re living a good life.”
Nagusot ng kaunti ang noo ko. Tumikhim ako bago sumagot, “Ang maging nurse po talaga ang pangarap ko,” seryosong sabi ko.
“But being a doctor is more professional. Mas mataas. Mas malaki ang sahod. Mas magiging maganda ang future mo,” he said those words while a smile was plastered on his face.
I know that. Maganda naman talagang maging doctor. Marami ang nangangarap na magkaroon ng ganoong profession. But this is what I want. This is my dream. This is what I truly desire. This is what my heart wants.
