One of the Boys 1 & 2 (Published by Pop Fiction)

Chapter Three

Beguiling

Present

If time machine exists, I would go back to the year when Uncle Julius was still alive. When he was alive, I'd be weak, but he'd be there and he just knew what to say then everything would be fine. Because like I said, he knew what to say and even if he didn't say anything, he'd still understand me.

But I couldn't go back. After he died, a big part of me also died. 

Fortunately, I'm not an island. No one is. I have friends and I may not tell them everything and we may not see each other as often as before, at least I know they will always be there and vice versa.

"Wait, hindi ma-process ng utak ko. Lexter's here and you're working at the same hospital? He's the new doctor? He's... he's back? For good?" Bianca and I were talking over the phone.

Nasa CR ako ngayon. "Stop repeating what I said, B." Simula noong nag med ako, walang nakakaalam kahit isa sa nangyari sa amin ni Apa. Hindi rin nila kilala si Apa. Basta ang alam nila, dalawa naging boyfriends ko. When they asked why we broke up, I would just shrug my shoulders.

"Okay, okay. Sorry na. I'm with Karen. Tinatanong niya kung paano siya naging Dr. Hizon. Oo nga, paano ba siyang naging Dr. Hizon?"

"I'm not sure..." Actually, I'm sure. "...but I think it's his-" Real family name. "Nevermind." It's not my story to tell anyway.

Nagpaalam na ako sa kanila since pinipage na ako. Pag dating ko sa room 811, nakita ko na naman yung mataray na batang babae. Mas matagal na siya sa akin dito sa hospital kaya mas kilala pa niya mga doctors at nurses sa akin.

Sa gilid ng kama, nakita ko na naman si Dr. Hizon na katabi si Dra. Dela Rosa. Fck. Bakit sobrang bagay nilang dalawa?

His face has become matured, but it suits him. Mas pumuti siya probably, because he doesn't play soccer anymore and the weather here is way hotter than in Canada. His hair's neither long nor short. And tell me why the hell I'm describing him.

"I don't like her!" Tinuro ako ng batang mataray. "Get out of my room."

"Czarina!" Bawal ng mommy niya sa kanya. "Sorry, doc." Her mom smiled sheepishly. She looked like she was embarrassed.

She's Czarina Kirstein Mayani. 9 years old na siya, pero simula 4 years old, pabalik-balik na siya dito sa hospital at ngayon ang pinakamatagal niyang stay. She's been here for 5 months already and I've known her for 8 weeks.

Noong first week ko, inaway niya ako dahil nakita niyang kausap ko si Anthony. 5 years ago kasi, noong bagong nurse pa lang si Anthony, si Czarina yung una niyang patient na inalagaan. Sobrang bait niya at palabiro pa. Very child-friendly kaya nga sa pediatrics siya naka-assign.

"Bakit ba kasi habulin ka ng mga bata?" Bulong ko kay Anthony na nasa tabi ko. Tumawa lang siya.

"I hate you!" Czarina furrowed her forehead and folded her arms.

"Sorry," I apologized. "Hindi na po mauulit."

Napatingin ako kay Dr. Hizon na nakatingin rin sa akin. Para siyang nagdududa na ewan. Paglabas namin ng room, naiwan na si Anthony kay Czarina. Pinakilala ako ni Dra. Dela Rosa kay Dr. Hizon since nasa pediatrics na raw ako next week.

My eyes widened. "You're a pediatrician?" I remember telling him to be a pediatrician 'cause I imagined him working around children.

"Do you have a problem with that?" Nakangiti lang si Dra. Dela Rosa, pero iba ang dating sa akin. She sounded like she was offended or something. "He was a scholar in Canada and he's actually very clever." Bigla siyang bumulong. "Clever than all of us. Be good, Dr. Recto."