Ever since D day, her relationship with her father was even more strained. Yes, she chose this life pero there was a hole that can never be filled up. They never thoroughly spoke about that day and Sarah somehow never had the courage to ask more about her mother. However, she learned that her mother was a jazz singer based somewhere in Europe. There were bits and pieces that she also discovered in the beginning when she decided to ask around. Alam naman niya that her mother was orphaned at an early age and didn’t have relatives around. She was lucky to have her talent and when she was of age, started to play in hotel lounges. This was where Divina met Delfin. Sarah came into contact with a close friend of her mom, si Tita Sharon, who said that they never spoke after her mom left. Ang sabi ng ina niya, she wanted to start on a clean slate when she left and para na din hindi na madamay ang kaibigan lalo nang may posibilidad na hanapin ng ama ni Sarah ito sa kanya. However, Tita Sharon showed her pictures of her mother’s life before them. At sa mga litrato, napakasaya nito...carefree and glamorous. She saw a beautiful woman living the life. Growing up, she had a few pictures of her mother but always with them.
And Sarah felt angry and bitter. Pabigat. ‘Yan ang tumatak sa isip niya. Nagalit siya sa ina na nagbigay sa kanya ng ganong pakiramdam. Hindi pa din niya maintindihan how her mother could leave her child. And when Sarah chose to stay with her dad, it was as if she was telling herself, “Hinding hindi ako magiging kagaya niya.”
As time passed, naging masakit para kay Sarah na ungkatin pa ang nakaraan. And so, she and her dad fell into a somehow ‘normal and predictable’ routine. And it worked for them not being able to hash out feelings that were too painful to talk about. They buried themselves in their respective responsibilities, each unaware that wounds never really heal with time, at least not in their case. They chose this kind of peace unaware that the most important battle is fighting their own demons.
Sarah was off duty that weekend, so she decided to go home Friday night to gather what she needed for the next two weeks. Alam niya na maaari nang ma-discharge si Gerald any time and that weekend, she told him that she’ll take care of him pag nakauwi siya.
That morning, Sarah came down freshly showered wearing her favourite slim jeans, sleeveless top and sandal wedge shoes. She was having oatmeal for breakfast in their kitchen counter mulling on what to tell her dad about Gerald. She knew kailangan na din malaman ni dad niya bago pa marinig sa iba. Although her father didn’t admit patients sa ospital where she worked (pinili niya ito intentionally dahil ayaw niya ng special treatment), he was friends with a lot of them. Narinig niya na pababa ang ama who was talking with someone on the phone.
“Yes Amado...Oo, pwede naman ‘yan ma-clear for surgery kahit elderly and post bypass...”
Biglang kinabahan si Sarah nang marinig ang pangalan ni Dr. Cortez, ang primary physician ni Gerald. Matalik na kaibigan ito ng ama way back med school. Nanalangin siya na di siya maunuhan sa pagbanggit sa ama.
“.......basta i-prep mo lang ng maayos ‘yung family pare para kung anuman, di ka magkaproblema. High profile nga yan. Naging pasyente ko ‘yung tiyuhin niyan. Makulit lang sila pero wala naman ako naging problema talaga...”
Umupo sa katabing bar stool ang ama ni Sarah while still on the phone and acknowledged her as he patted her back gently. He was listening to his friend talk on the other side of the phone.
“...ano naman ‘yang medical bulletin na ginagawa mo? Same patient?” tanong niya sa kaibigan.
Nakita ni Sarah na nag-iba ang mukha ng ama and began to have a feeling na naunahan siya ni Dr. Cortez.
“Ah ‘yung artista?” Habang tumingin kay Sarah. “Wala naman siyang nabanggit........O sige pare.”
Matapos ang pag-uusap ng ama niya kay Dr. Cortez, humarap siya kay Sarah..
“So, you have anything to tell me?” tanong niya sa anak.
“Ah yeah dad, you spoke na pala with tito....patient nga namin si Gerald. He got into an accident and got his spleen injured....uhm... pero okay na siya.” Hindi si Sarah makatingin sa ama and tried to make light of the situation.
Napabuntong hinga si Dr.Geronimo. Alam niyang may inililihim na naman ang anak. “Sarah, matanda ka na. Alam mo na ang tama’t mali. Ang gusto ko lang makatapos ka and be a doctor. ‘Pag nagkapamilya ka, gusto ko, isang lalaki na stable at hindi sa kung saan pinupulot ang pera. Tingnan mo ang nangyari sa atin. Ayoko na maramdaman mo ang pinagdaanan ko.” Sarah could not believe how harsh his father can be sometimes.
“Dad, nag-aaral naman ako ha? At ‘di naman ako mag-aasawa pa. Alam ko ang responsibilidad ko kaya nga nakarating ako dito.” Medyo napataas ng bahagya ang boses ni Sarah.
“Pinapaalalahanan lang kita....” He then addressed Sarah’s long time yaya, Novie. “Manang, ipatawag mo na nga si Rene para ihanda na ang kotse at mahuhuli na ako sa conference ko .”
“sige Toto...” sagot ni Yaya Novie gamit ang palayaw ng amo. Yaya looked at Sarah meaningfully as if saying, keep cool.
Sarah buzzed her dad’s cheek before he left and pagkaalis niya, nalungkot si Sarah with the thought na mukhang hindi pa din magiging madali para sa kanya this time around. Ah basta, kahit anong mangyari, she will make it work this time. And with that, her excitement about her day resumed. She planned to spend the day with Gerald.
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Habang nasa daan patungo ng ospital where he was the Chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine, Dr. Geronimo couldn’t help worrying about Sarah. Akala niya tapos na ang problema niya dito lalo pa’t alam niya na sinusuyo ito ng anak ng kanyang malapit na kaibigan na si Dr. Raul Cruz. Si John ang napupusuan sana nya na makatuluyan ng anak. He is a very smart boy with a promising career ahead of him. Medyo moody daw sabi ni Sarah pero who doesn’t get into a funk sometimes ani niya sa anak. Dr. Geronimo decided to call John para magpahiwatig...
“Hello John? Ang Tito Toto mo ‘to? Are you busy right now?”
“Yes tito! No, i’m just done with my rounds so I have time. How may I help you?”
“Wala naman hijo, gusto ko lang ibilin sa ‘yo na bantay bantayan mo yung akin. Alam mo naman si Sarah, very fragile ‘yan. I trust you John and you have my blessings okay?” He meaningfully told him.
“Ay, thank you po tito. Hayaan niyo po, ako po ang bahala kay Sarah. Narinig niyo naman po siguro na nandito yung nakaraan niya.”
“Actually, kaya ako napatawag kasi ayokong mapahamak siya. O sige, yun lang. Salamat! Don’t hesitate to call me ha pag may problema.”
And with that Dr. Geronimo felt less worried knowing someone might be able to help him keep her daughter in check.
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Nang binaba ni Dr. John Cruz ang telepono, tamang tama na he was writing down the discharge orders for patient Gerald Anderson. Alam niya na malaki ang lamang ng lalaking iyon kay Sarah pero hindi niya inisip na sumuko sa panliligaw. Lalo na’t nabuhayan siya ng loob sa conversation nila ng ama ni Sarah. He planned to use that to his advantage.
