My Dear Dr. Love

Chapter 8

He was staring at her while she was silently sleeping. He can see a true sleeping beauty in front of him. Nakahiga pa rin si Janine sa nakasabit na duyan sa lobby ng cottage at tila mahimbing ang pagkakatulog. He was still looking at her as if he want to wake her up. Hindi siya makapaniwala na napakaganda pa rin ni Janine at wala pa ring pinagbago simula nang magkakilala sila. Well, except for the fact that she no longer have her braces.

            Naalimpungatan si Janine at nagulat siya nang nakita niyang nakatitig sa kanya ang binata.

            “Nagulat naman ako sayo,” she said.

            “I’m sorry, nagising ba kita?”

            “No, it’s okay. Napahimbing yata yung tulog ko,”

            “Sorry ha, I just realized that you’re really pretty. Ngayon lang kita natitigan ng mabuti,”

            She smiled. “Tss. Ikaw talaga nambobola ka pa! Lumamig na tuloy yung inihaw ko kanina. Ikaw kasi, I was calling you yun pala nakatulog ka na,”

            “Napagod ako sa pagda-drive, malayo ang byahe natin eh,”

            “Ganun ba, o eh hapon na, matindi na ang sikat ng araw, magkakasakit tayo niyan sa balat. Maya-maya na tayo lumusong sa tubig kapag palubog na ang araw. Saka I really want to watch the sunset on the seashore,”

            “Me too. Wouldn’t that be romantic? You, me, watching the sunset on the seashore?”

            “Ha?” kunwari hindi niya narinig, pero napangiti siya.

            “Wala, sabi ko, sige. Mamaya na tayo magswimming. Ihawin na lang natin ulit tong barbeque mo, malamig na eh,” they both laughed.

To be honest, she was really starting to be comfortable with him. Every word he says seems to be a melody that she wanted to get addicted to. His voice was the best soundtrack for her summer. Hindi niya matandaan na nainlove na siya noon, but the feeling in her heart, she knew that this isn’t new. It was as if she felt this way before. She wanted it. Because this guy, the doctor she is with right now is the one she thinks she’ll be with for the rest of her life. Five months is short enough for it to be called love, sabi ni Janine sa sarili niya. She knew that it’s not yet love, but he is someone special. Someone really special.

Para kay Kristian, isa itong fulfilment—to be with the same girl he left. Fulfilment in a sense na kahit na iniwan niya ito noon, ay nakuha pa rin niya ngayon. Pero naguiguilty siya na ginagawa niya ito sa dalaga. He wanted the feeling, and he really wanted her back. Minsan pumasok na rin sa isip niya na sana, kung babalikan niya si Janine, he have to pursue her again the hard way. But it all seemed easy for him. Nakokonsensya siya na matapos niyang saktan ang dalaga sa ginawa niyang pang-iiwan noon ay babalik na lang siya bigla na parang walang nangyari. Natatakot siya na baka isang araw, maalala ni Janine ang lahat at masaktan na naman niya ito.

Hindi niya nakita kung paano masaktan ang dalaga. All he knows is that, when he left, it’s for his benefit. At hindi niya alam kung kakayanin ba niyang masaktan ito ulit. He wanted to let her know that she has amnesia. But if he tells her, baka magkagulo lang ang lahat. Una, baka hindi maniwala si Janine sa kanya, pangalawa, kung maniwala man ang dalaga, baka mawala itong muli sa kanya. He wanted her to stay with him for a long time. It was as if he missed being with her so much. Mas masaya siguro kung magkasama sila ngayon at natatandaan siya ni Janine. They would be the happiest couple in the beach.

            It was her dream few years ago. To watch the sunset on the seashore with someone special. Hindi na nga lang sila umabot sa puntong iyon dahil pareho silang naging busy sa pag-aaral at sa licensure exam nila. He remembered that he promised her that they will both go to a beach and watch the sunset. Oo, natupad na nga siguro ang pangarap na iyon, pero siya lang ang nakakaalala. He made a lot of promises. Narealize niyang ang dami pala niyang ipinangako sa dalaga na hindi niya na natupad nang maghiwalay sila.