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

Chapter Five

Candid

Present

Dra. Dela Rosa warned me about my behavior. Buti na lang, pumasok si Apa sa office at kinausap siya. Ang narinig ko lang bago ako palabasin ni doktora, "Sorry, Dr. Dela Rosa, it was my fault."

Paglabas niya sa office, sinalubong ko siya.

"Did she get mad at you?"

"No."

Of course. Obvious naman na type ni Dra. Dela Rosa si Apa. I raised a brow when I saw his expression.  "Why are you grinning?"

"Ikaw ah. Inabangan mo talaga ako para i-tanong yan?" He looked at me teasingly and smiled playfully. What the eff?! 

I hesitated for a bit. "Kind of. I'm just worried. You're a doctor now, higher than-"

"I'm a doctor, yes, but I'm definitely not higher than you. We're here to save lives. Doktor ka man, nurse, surgeon, o intern, we only have one goal and that is to save our patients."

"I know, and thank you... Dr. Hizon."

I was about to leave, but then he called me, "Bach."

Tiningnan ko siya. "Did you just call me Bach?" Kinilabutan ako. I mean, not in a bad way. Ang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko. He just called me Bach!

He put his arm around my shoulder and whispered, "You can still call me Apa." He softly tapped my back, while giving me a reassuring smile before we parted ways.

-

When I finally had my free time, I decided to take a nap in the residents' room. Pag gising ko, nagulat ako dahil may nakatingin sa akin. Nakaupo siya sa dulo ng kama. Fak, kinabahan ako. Si Zoe lang pala!

I slowly sat on the bed. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Yung tingin niya kasi, parang may ginawa akong masama. "I saw that."

"Saw what?"

"You and Dr. Hizon." She sighed. "C'mon! Does every guy in this hospital have to like you?"

"He doesn't like me."

She rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say, Ags. Balitang balita kayang napahiya si Dra. Dela Rosa dahil sa'yo. Kasi kinampihan ka ni Dr. Hizon when clearly, she likes him din!"

"Please stop!"

Nagulat kami parehas noong dumating si Apa. Mukhang nagulat rin siya sa amin. Zoe greeted him, and he greeted back. Sandali lang niya tiningnan si Zoe kaya mukhang nadisappoint siya at tumingin na sa akin. Mukha siyang may sasabihin.

"Ags."

First, he called me Bach. Ngayon naman, Ags. Nakalimutan na ba niya kung nasaan kami? Nakakasawa na magka-issue. Nababalita na ngang nilalandi ko siya at kinakampihan niya ako. Hindi na ako magtataka kung mamaya, may magsasabi ng kaya niya ako kinakampihan dahil naglalandian kami. 

"Ags? As in your nickname?" Zoe asked. "You're friends already?" She was giving me a judging look.

"Look, Zoe, it's not what you're thinking!"

"Yeah, it's not what you're thinking. We're not 'friends already'. We've known each other longer than you think," Apa explained calmly.

"Apa! I mean- Dr. Hizon," bawal ko sa kanya, habang umiiling. Ayokong malaman ng kahit na sino na magkakilala kami dahil lalo nilang iisipin na pinapaboran niya ako.

"Really? Apa? You called him Apa?" Zoe looked so confused and clueless. "It's his nickname?"

"Yes." I sighed, and looked at Apa. "Anyway, were you going to tell me something, Dr. Hizon?"