Change of Heart

Chapter 4

Erica

 

“Ms. Alcantara, Erica?” The plump receptionist called my name. Today, I was officially accepted as one of the beneficiaries of the Alcala Foundation. All my documents, health records and files have already been transferred under the care of Dr. Simon Alcala. My previous doctor, Dra. Elena Guanzon was sad about letting me go, but she was confident with Dr. Alcala’s capabilities.

“I’ll just be here, sis.” My sister Pat said. She offered to go with me to Dr. Alcala’s clinic. While waiting, she was browsing through Candy magazine, a series of magazines that she really loved to collect because she felt that they were her best teachers.

I entered the room and a really good looking man welcomes me. Dr. Alcala was tall, fair skinned and very refined. He looked even better in person than in the magazines. His features were very handsome and almost foreign. He flashed me a pearly white smile.

I can imagine if Kat or my sister Pat were with me right now. Both would probably explode in hysteria. A greek god would be standing in front of them. I can even hear them screaming fangirlishly in my head.

“Good morning.”  I said to the doctor.

“Erica,” He said casually and offered me the seat in front of his desk.

I’ve grown particularly close with Dra. Guanzon, but Dr. Alcala seemed very likeable. Aside from the fact that he was very handsome and pleasing to look at, I didn’t have any difficulty opening up to him. For awhile, we discussed about my life. He didn’t talk to me as if I was sick or as if I was his patient and he was obviously my doctor. He was very jovial, so it felt like talking to a long lost friend. When he found out about the course I was going to take, he offered that I could borrow books from him.

Later, when the mood had been set, he proceeded to discuss serious matters such as the contract that binds us, the schedules for checkups, the benefits and the responsibilities. He also promised that I would be introduced to the school as an Academic scholar, but as to keep confidentiality, I wouldn’t be able to talk to anyone in school about my health. The terms and conditions were very okay with me. In fact, I liked to keep anyone from knowing about my heart problem. It is by means, my only way of living a normal life.

“I hope you are okay with these conditions?” Dr. Alcala radiantly beams at me. I’m starting to really like this doctor. He’s so kind and accommodating. If Dra. Guanzon was like a mother figure, I think Dr. Alcala will be like a brother I never had.

“Yes, of course.”

Dr. Alcala assisted me to the examining table. He took my vital signs. I was not used to him yet or his very gorgeous face, so I was very nervous when he checked my heart beat with his stethoscope. Slightly nervous, my heart rate was probably faster than expected.

“Why are you nervous?” He asked, smiling, revealing a set of dimples I hadn’t noticed before.

He was asking me why I was nervous. He should be looking at himself on the mirror for Dr. Alcala was so attractive; it was hard not to get nervous.

“Great. I’ll have my secretary notify you on our next meeting. I’ll also have your ECG scheduled, maybe two days from now.”  He gently leads me to the door.

“Thank you for your time, Erica.” He said very casually. “I hope we can be good friends.”