F R A N C I S C O
"Do you really think you can find a job with your condition?" I asked with my arms crossed while looking sternly at Lea.
She avoided my gazed and nailed her eyes at the view outside. "I'm not disabled. May sakit lang ako, pero di ako baldado para hindi makapagtrabaho," sabi nito at saka inilabas ang cellphone nito mula sa bulsa.
I watch her as she took a photo of the view outside at masasabi ko sa sarili ko na hindi nga siya katulad ni Maureen. Si Moe, she's a very focused, prim, disciplined, and a very fine lady. She and Moe were really different.
"What I am offering you is a win-win situation for you and me." Sabi ko at saka naman siya napalingon sa akin.
She chuckled on what I said at saka napailing nalang siya, "Alam mo, Doc Francis! Marami pang ibang pinto rang magagaling diyan. At saka anong gagawin mo? You're successful, professional. May time ka pa ba para matuto ng bagong bagay?" Tanong nito sa akin.
"They say it's never too late to learn something new." I proudly say. "And sabi ko nga, this is a win-win situation for you. You earn your money, you have your home to live in, and you have a very handsome cardio on call at makakasama mo sa bahay."
Nagulat ako ng sukat ba namang hagisan ako ng tissue sa mukha at saka humagalpak sa tawa. "Okay n asana dun sa I will earn my money, may free board and lodging, at cardio on call. Pero gwapo? Jusko! Saan mo nahagilap ang self confidence mo?" Sagot nito sa akin.
"That's a fact!" I countered.
"Asa!"
Then a long silence. A long paused kissed the spaces between us. "Think of this Lea. Your health is at stake. You need an urgent operation para sa condition mo. Your life might be at stake kung di mo aalagaan ang sarili mo."
"How many times do I have to tell you na hindi ako baldado or what. And I am not a kid anymore. For pete's sake! I am 28 going 29 in less than 3 months. Di na ako bata para ibaby sa condition ko." She explained her side at seryoso akong tinignan. "Kaya nga ako umalis sa puder nila dahil ayoko nang nakukulong ako."
"You're different!" I blurted out.
"Really different!" She bantered.
"Bakit ba ayaw mong magpatalo?"
"Bakit ba masyadong pakialamero ka?"
I took a deep sigh at saka lumingon sa kaniya. "Because I am your doctor. At obligasyon ko na alaagan ka."
I don't know kung bakit ko iyon nasabi sa kaniya. But well, part of it was true. I am concerned with all my patients. But Lea is different. Maybe because I see Moe's resemblance to her. Bukod pa doon, wala na. Magkaibang-magkaiba kasi sila.
"Talaga? Walang ibang hidden agenda?" Nagulat ako sa tanong niya. Napakaseryoso ng kaniyang mukha, yung mga mata mo, basang-basa kung ano ang nararamdaman niya.
"Y-yes!"
Her brows raised and arched, "Then tell me who is that girl on your clinic na kamukhang kamukha ko. Anong plano mo?" Tanong nito.
At first di talaga ako makasagot. I am caught off guard. I didn't expect that she'll be throwing me questions. Lalo na ang tanong na yun.
"Do you really want to know sino siya?" Napalunok siya sa sinabi ko. Tila hindi alam kung sasagot ba siya ng oo o ng hindi. Maging ako, hindi ko alam kung handa ba akong sagutin ang tanong niya.
Ngumiti siya, at saka ako tinignan sa mga mata. Tumango tango siya, as a sign that she really wanted to know who is the girl on the picture sa clinic ko.
I swallowed the lump on my throat, I sigh sharply bago ako magsalita. "She's my wife. My late wife."
Another silence kissed the place no one dared to talk, I can say na pati siya ay hindi alam kung paano ipprocess ang narinig niya mula sa akin.
"K-kung papayag ba ako sa offer mo, can you promise me something?" Tanong nito sa akin.
"What is it?"
"Remember that I am not your wife. Not because I do look like her ay makikita mo na rin siya sa akin."
"So... Is it a yes?"
"As long as you don't fall for me." She said with conviction.
