Being Her Doctor

CHAPTER XXIV

KELSEY

"What's your wish? Some beliefs said Santa's coming at midnight to grant our wishes and give us our presents."

I looked up to him upon hearing what he said. Hindi ko maiwasang matawa sa sinabi niya. "Ang tanda muna at naniniwala ka pa diyan?"

He nodded before wrapping his arms around me. "Wala namang mawawala kapag naniwala ako kay Santa."

Tumango na lamang ako habang ninanamnam ang init ng yakap niya. "So, what's your wish?"

"Secret." He replied caressing my back.

"Edi secret rin yung akin."

"Sabi kasi nila, kapag sinabi mo raw ang wish mo sa iba hindi raw magkakatotoo iyon." Rason pa niya.

Natawa na lamang ako sa sinabi niya. "Ridge, huwag ka ngang magpapaniwala diyan. Ang laki mo na para sa Santa na yan."

Naramdanan kong tumango lang siya at mas hinigpitan pa ang yakap niya. "Teka, masasakal ako niyan. Parang ayaw mo na akong bitawan ha." Sambit ko pero nag-e-enjoy naman ako sa yakap niya.

"I'm happy, Ely. Thank you." He said. "My life has no colors back then. My routine was just going to school and coming home. My parents were so strict on my studies as they pressure me a lot to be good at academics. But then the moment you bumped me into the hallway, my heart beats louder than the usual. I stared unto you but you never notice me. You just walk pass by me and never said sorry. From that, you caught my attention. I started following you. Secretly putting poems and sunflower into your locker. I have no guts to approach you since I knew a lot of boys in the school like you so much. But then when I found out that you're pursuing your dreams outside the country, I become devastated. I tried to follow you but I realized it's creepy and it's too much that's why I choose to wait for you to come back." His soft warm voice wander around my system. Kaya pala parang may palaging nagbabantay sa akin noon. It was him all along and honestly, it was creepy.

"I started giving you sunflowers again when I received an information that you came back to the Philippines and there, I decided to pursue you and finally introduce myself. Masaya ako nung makita kita nang malapitan sa hospital. You even talked to me about the health of Yñigo. But I found out that you love him. Sa araw-araw na pabalik-balik ka sa hospital para bantayan siya ay doon pa lang nalaman ko nang gusto mo siya. I even heard you talking to him even though he's asleep, you said you love him so much. That hurt me so much, Ely. But I know my boundaries. I should not interfere with your life. I knew that time that I should let you go. Ang drama ko no? HAHA but I was very lucky to meet you again. Pero kapalit pala nang kasiyahang mapalapit sayo ay ang sakit mo. The moment I heard you talking to the rooftop that you don't want to die, that crushed me so much, Ely. Even if your father didn't begged me that time to heal you, I would rather present myself as your doctor. I am so determined to find a cure for you. Hindi ko na hahayaan pang mawala ka sakin ulit, Ely. Hindi na."

Tears steaming down my face upon hearing his side. "Ridge..." Tanging nasambit ko nalang.

"Hush, I know this fight may be rough but we'll get through this. We're together now. I have you, you have me. We have each other. You're not alone." He hushed me while caressing my hair and back holding me tightly.

I never talked back in the whole scenario. I just cried my heart out as I know what he'd been through to reach this far, to have me. Ang tanga ko lang dahil never ako nag-decide na hanapin kong sino man ang nagbibigay sa akin ng mga sunflower.

We waited for midnight to come. Tanaw mula sa balkonahe ng suite ang malaking Christmas tree na iilaw pagsapit ng hating gabi. Ready na rin ang mga pagkain namin sa mesa. Sa tingin ko nga ang rami ng pagkain para sa aming dalawa. We also agreed to write our wishes and put it in a small sock. We hang it on the window as what the traditional belief should be.

Time check, it's already eleven fifty in the evening. Si Ridge ay may kinakausap sa telepono na sa palagay ko'y kapatid niya. Habang ako naman ay ka video call ko si mommy at daddy. Seryoso si dad na nakaupo sa hapag-kainan at si mom naman ang may hawak ng phone. Naglalakad siya sa bawat sulok ng bahay habang pinapakita sa akin ang ginawa nilang christmas design ni dad sa buong bahay.

"Nga pala anak, matanong lang kita. I heard about the news from the television na nililigawan ka ni Dr. Salvatero, is it true?" Napatigil ako sa tanong ni Mom.

"Uhm, ah a-ano kasi..." Nahihiya kong sambit. Hindi ko kasi alam paano ko sasabihin sa kanila ang lahat. Baka magulat sila.

"Good evening, Mrs. Houston. How are you po?" Nabigla nalang ako nang biglang dumungaw si Ridge sa camera ng phone ko.

Ngumiti naman kaagad si mom nang makita si Ridge. "Heto, maganda pa rin naman. Ang gwapo natin ngayon doc ha. Bagay sayo ang soot mong pulang sweater."

Ngumiti naman si Ridge na parang nahihiya. "Salamat po."

"Sus, nahiya ka pa doc. Eh gamit niyo nga yang couple sweater ng Lacoste. Ayan oh, may small crocodile logo." My mom giggled upon responding.

Kapwa kami nahiya ni Ridge. Damn, bakit nga ba ako nag-agree na suoton tong sweater nato? I should be wearing my red dress right now.

"Mom, stop that." Pagpapatigil ko kay Mommy but she didn't even budge.

"Honey! Look oh, they are so cute together." My mom shouted walking towards my father sitting at the dining table.

"Ayan, segi. May pa dungaw-dungaw ka pa kasi. If dad will get mad about this, we're dead." Pananakot ko sa kanya. Lumunok naman ito at parang natakot.

"R-really? Hindi niya ako magugustuhan?" He asked nervously.

I was about to answer him when my dad cleared his throat on the other line. "We'll talk about this matter when you come back here, Jarren." Seryosong sambit ni papa sa linya.

I was about to butt in but Ridge spoke. "I'll take care of your daughter no matter what. Expect me to even die for her, Mr. and Mrs. Houston."

This man.... argh ang cringe pero masarap sa tenga at nakakapagpasaya ng puso.

"Merry Christmas anak." Bati ni dad sakin bago ibigay ang phone kay Mommy.

"And Merry Christmas rin sa pinakamagaling na doctor sa mundo." Masiglang dugtong ni mom sa sinabi ni dad.

That made Ridge and I smile. Even though my dad didn't talk much I know deep down he's worried about me especially now that he knows Ridge is courting me. Dad knows how crazy I am to Yñigo. Kaya siguro hindi siya makapagpasya kong tutol siya o hindi sa amin ni Ridge.

"Merry Christmas, Ridge. I love you." Hinila ko si Ridge at hinalikan kasabay ng pagputok ng mga fireworks sa kalangitan.

Ramdam kong nabigla siya ngunit agad rin niyang ipinulupot ang kanyang braso sa akin kasabay ng pagtugon sa mga halik ko. "Merry Christmas, Ely. Mananatiling ikaw hanggang sa kabilang buhay. Mahal kita."