You Again, Professor [GL• #2]

CHAPTER 40.1

I was deeply involved reading my case reports when suddenly the phone rang. Bringing me out of my concentration, I checked who it was from the screen. As soon as I read Saji's name pop up on the screen, I swiftly answered the phone without questioning why I did it.

"Hey, what's up? Napatawag ka?" I casually said while pressing the phone to my ear.

["Thank God, you finally picked up my call, Chan."] she said.

"Sorry, super busy lang talaga recently."

["I know, sorry din for interrupting for a while."]

"Why did you call me anyway?" tanong ko.

She cleared her throat beforehand. ["The baptism of Zsaijan and Zsamuel is near. Will you be able to come home here in the Philippines?"] she asked in a low, nearly hopeful voice, speaking of her and Ma'am Fernandez's second batch of twins.

Her question surprised me, so I hesitated for a moment. Parang kailan lang kasi nanganak si Ma'am Fernandez.

"Uhm, wait...kailan ba?"

["October sixteen, Chan...nami-miss ka na rin namin. At gusto ka rin ulit makita nina Luke at Cruzette. Matagal ka na ring hindi nagpapakita sa kanila."] she said and laughed a bit.

Tiningnan ko muna ang schedule ko sa loob ng buong buwan ng October. Sa susunod na linggo na nga 'yon. Marami pa akong inaayos na kaso pero ayaw ko rin naman isawalang bahala ang pag anyaya ni Saji sa akin. Hindi na kasi ako nakapunta sa panganay nilang anak, nung binyagan din ito.

I took a deep breath. "Uhm...well, you know I can't promise anything—"

["Fine fine, I get it...wala ka ulit."] she said in disbelief. Magtatampo na naman siya.

"You know, may iniiwasan ako riyan. Isa pa—" she cut me off again.

["Yeah, I know. I already invited Ma'am Lopez first, and of course, she won't be attending either...sabi ni Sam. That's why I called—to invite you personally. I know the two of you are still shunning each other after all these damn years. It's been thirteen years, for Pete's sake."] she added, a tone of frustration mixed with amusement in her voice.

Napasapo ako sa aking sintido. "That's not what I mean—"

[You're with Honorable Justice Martini, right?"] she asked, she asked, trying to confirm her suspicions.  

I rolled my eyes, already knowing where this was going. "We're not in a relationship, Saji," I replied bluntly, stating the truth.

I heard her emit a huge, dramatic sigh on the other end of the line.

[So, if Ma'am Lopez isn't the reason, then why haven't you returned to the Philippines yet? I mean, I understand—you were purposefully avoiding her. But come on, Chan, it's been years. Dekada at tatlong taon na ang lumipas. Closure na lang wala kayo, I think...hindi naman sa nangunguna ako sa desisyon mo. But para sa ikakapanatag niyo pareho, better talk to her personally. I mean, maybe ayon na lang talaga ang need niyo, para sa ikakapanatag ng lahat, right?...She's moved on! In fact, she's engaged now. I even heard she's about to get married sooner or later. Or maybe—who knows?—she's already secretly married to Attorney Alejandro—"]

"Hey, I don't care, okay? And for the record, I didn't ask!" I interrupted her, my tone tinged with annoyance.

["Sus, parang affected ka pa ah?"] she laughed, obviously not believing me. ["Hey wait a minute you totally seem to still care about her. Admit it, Chan, your heart skipped a beat when I said she was engaged, didn't it?"]