In The Arms Of An Angel (ON HOLD)

CHAPTER 28

"RJ! What brings you here? Nakabakasyon ka pa, di ba?!" Kris exclaimed upon seeing him approach the nurses' station where he was getting the charts of his patients.

"Bro, ang OA lang ng reaksyon..." He answered nonchalantly as they did their bro handshake.

"Bro, OA na kung OA pero baka nakakalimutan mo ano nangyari syo? Di porke't okay na pakiramdam mo ngayon ay maggagala ka na ng maggagala..." Kris argued back.

"Ano ka ba? Nakaakyat na nga ako ng bundok kasama ng barkada, di ba?! Nabobore ako sa bahay na walang ginagawa. Besides I feel better than okay and I can  very well take care of myself!"

"Bro, alam ko naman yun. Pero you have to remember also that it's only been two months since alam mo na..." As he tapped his shoulder.

"Kris,of course I know that. I have the scars all over my body to always serve as reminders. I also know my own body's capacity. I will not over exert myself kasi gusto ko na rin bumalik sa work. Namimiss ko na magtrabaho. At hindi rin naman ako nagdrive papunta dito. Nagpadrive ako kay Kuya Eric at nagdodoble ingat din ako. Promise." Even raising his right hand as he said it.

"Ang dami na agad sinabi! Dapat talaga di na lang ako pumayag na sumama ka sa mountain trip na yun,eh. Ang tigas ng ulo mo, bro! Dapat nagpapahinga ka pa...Hay naku, RJ! Bahala ka na nga sa buhay mo! Di ka rin naman paaawat. Basta hinay hinay lang..." As Kris sighed in resignation.

"Awwww! Ang sweet mo sa akin...I love you, bro! ..."

"Lul!" His bestfriend retaliated as both laughed heartily. Kris then took his charts and started to walk away after a few minutes more of chatting with him.

"Bro, maiwan muna kita dito at magrarounds lang muna ako. Balikan kita after then idaan mo na ako kina Joyce on your way home. Coding ako ngayon, eh. Mag-aout na rin naman ako after ng rounds ko..." His friend said as he walked towards the patients' ward.

"Sige, bro. Hintayin na lang kita dito. Makikipagkwentuhan na lang muna ako kina Dra. Rodriguez." He answered as he noticed a group of doctors chatting at the entrance to the doctor's lounge. They said their goodbyes and he walked towards the group, surprising them with his lively greeting.

"Hello po!"

"RJ! Kumusta na? Di ba dapat nagpapahinga ka pa?" Dra. Rodriguez or Ate Rubs as he fondly call her greeted him with a bear hug. She is like a mother and older sister in one to him.

"Hi, Ate Rubs! Dr. Manalo and Dr. Agoncillo kumusta po? I'm great, never better. Yes, I know I'm still on leave but it gets really boring sa condo lalo na at mag-isa lang ako dun kaya eto dumalaw lang po dito. Kayo po? How are you na po?" He returned her tight hug and gave the other two doctors firm handshakes. They are part of the same medical team with Kris who nursed him back to health immediately after his accident almost a year ago until he miraculously woke up from his coma and got discharged from the hospital two months ago. He considers them as his extended family.

"RJ, are you sure you are already okay? Baka mabinat ka nyan? Karerecover mo pa lang from your accident..." His Ate Rubs peered at his face with concern. He chuckled.

"Ate Rubs, ganyan din reaction ni Kris kanina. Don't worry too much coz I feel great. I'm okay. Matibay to!" He proudly said as he jokingly flexed his arm to emphasize his point.

"Palibhasa walang nagbabawal syo kaya ganyang katigas ulo mo, RJ. Kung nagkataong may girlfriend ka ngayon  sigurado ako pipirmi ka lang sa bahay para magpa-alaga na parang baby." Dr. Manalo or his Kuya Jose commented.

"Oo nga, RJ. Maggirlfriend ka na nga uli para may nag-aalaga at nag-aasikaso sa'yo." Dr. Agoncillo  or Kuya Ryan seconded which made him burst into another boisterous laugh.

"Ang non-existent lovelife ko na naman napagdiskitahan nyo! Kung merong nakalaan para sa akin kusang dadating yan at di hinahanap. In God's perfect time..." He answered with a smile.

He suddenly fell silent for a few seconds after saying that because he suddenly had a vision of a pair of very expressive chocolate brown eyes and full, luscious lips that belong to a very strange but very beautiful woman he met at the mountain a few days back. His pulse quicken at the memory. He shook his head lightly to dispel the thought.

"Bakit bigla pumasok sa isip ko ang weird na babaeng yun?!" He frowned at himself.

This sudden change in his mood did not go unnoticed though with the very perceptive lady doctor.

"Wait! RJ, may hindi ka ba kinukwento sa amin? May nakilala ka ba habang nakabakasyon ka? Sino iniisip mo ngayon?" Ate Rubs addressed him accusingly.

RJ's ears turned beet red with the questions. He absentmindedly touched his nape.

"Luh, luh, luh! Di nagsisinungaling ang tenga mo, RJ! Wag kami! Don't us! Umamin ka! Sino ang mapalad na dalagang yan?!" Dr. Manalo excitedly asked.

"Mukhang may nakapukaw na ng atensyon ng bunso natin ah! Maganda ba, pre?" Dr. Agoncillo goaded him further.

"Wag nga kayo! Nang-aano kayo eh!" He protested some more while his ears turn a deeper shade of red.

"Hahaha...RJ! Papunta ka pa lang pabalik na kami. Pero sige kung ayaw mo pang ishare iyan okay lang. Basta kami support lang sa magpapasaya syo." His Kuya Jose tapped his shoulder lightly.

"Tama! Kung saan ka masaya. You deserve to be happy, pre!" His Kuya Ryan also interjected.

"Tama na nga yang pagcorner nyo kay RJ! Basta ikaw bata ka magpagaling ka physically, mentally and emotionally. Nandito lang kami lagi for you." His Ate Rubs hugged him again.

"Thanks guys! Pero uulitin ko lang for emphasis, wala akong lovelife at hindi yon ang priority ko ngayon..." He stated with conviction.

The good doctors just looked at him knowingly and said nothing.