𝗠𝘆 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗕𝗼𝘆

Chapter 29

DEAN's POV

Traffic was lighter that usual that night, pero parang mabigat pa rin 'yung hangin sa loob ng kotse. Nakita ko pa si Jema sa rearview mirror habang papasok siya sa bahay nila—'yung paglakad niya, 'yung paglingin niya ng ulo saglit bago pumasok. 

Lagi siyang ganun kapag hinahatid ko siya.

Lagi siyang may paalam na ngiti bago siya mawala sa paningin ko. And somehow, that smile stays with me longer that it should.

Pag-uwi ko minessage ko agad si Jema after that binuksan ko agad 'yung laptop sa mesa. I had to review the updated plans for Galanza Spire—her family's project.

The truth is, kung ibang client 'to, matagal ko na sigurong pinasa sa junior architect ko. Pero dahil kay Jema, I wanted everything to be  perfect.

The lighting, the symmetry, even the color palette. Gusto ko lahat may sense of calm. Just like her.

She doesn't know this, but every curve, every open space I design... I think of how she'd walk through it. Ridiculous? Maybe.

But I've stopped denying that she's become part of how I see things.

The next morning, maaga pa lang nasa sitr na ako. Construction was going smoothly. The engineers were doing there checks, and I was halfway through my coffee when Jay called me.

"Boss, hospital later. Yung project update daw kay Dr. Galanza. She can't come sa office kasi busy daw siya."

Of course. Dr. Galanza.
Not just any doctor. Jema.

"Yeah, I'll be there," sagot ko. "10AM?"

"Yup. Oh, and heads up—may bago raw silang surgeon. Warren Elias? Sound familiar?"

Napatigil ako.

Warren.

The same guy yesterday sa hospital. 'Yung may confident smile na halatang sanay maging center of attention.

"Yeah, nakita ko kahapon," sagot ko. "Mukhang close sila."

"Hmm," sabi ni Jay, may halong kilig tease sa tono niya. "Uy, kuys, baka may ka competition ka na."

Napatawa ako, pero may bigat sa tawa ko. "Hindi ako nakikipag-kompetensya, Jay."

"Hindi mo kailangan sabihin. Kita naman sa tingin mo, kuys eh. Halata ka eh."

"Halata? Saan?"

"Na gusto mo siya."

Natahimik ako saglit.

Then I sighed. "Maybe I do."

Pagdating ko sa hospital, as usual, organized at kalmado ang lahat. Pero sa gitna ng mga tao, siya agad ang una kong nakita.

Jema.

Nakasuot ng white coat, ang buhok niya'y nakatali, may clipboard sa kamay, at 'yung pamilyar na expression sa mukha—focused, pero gentle.

She looked like she belonged there.

At the same time, naroon din si Warren, nakasuot na ng ID lanyard ng hospital.

Kausap niya ang ilan sa mga nurses at isang resident doctor, halatang pinagkalaguluhan ng staff.

Of course. He had that kind of presence—confident, charming, athletic. The kind of man people naturally look at.