In The Arms Of An Angel (ON HOLD)

CHAPTER 54

"Thank you for agreeing to do this. You just don't know how much this really means to me. I'll call you again before Thursday to confirm, okay?" He asked softly, almost breathlessly. He can't explain the mix of joy and melancholy that her decision brought him.  

"S-sure. No problem. I'll see you on Thursday." She answered softly as well.

"Good night, Dei. Sweet dreams."

"Good night, RJ."

RJ heaved a huge sigh to ease the giddy feeling he is hiding for the duration of the phone conversation.

"Teenager lang, RJ? Parang bata lang na nakausap ang crush nya? Get a grip on yourself, it's just a meeting...or is it?" He chuckled silently at the thought.

RJ must admit he has another agenda for setting an appointment with her about the psych evaluation. One that he is not yet fully ready to admit even to himself. But if the giddy feeling he is experiencing right now after their phone conversation is an indication, he knew that the other agenda is the more dominant reason for his state of mind now.

"Iba talaga ng dating ng babaeng yun sa akin..." He mused when the phone on his hand suddenly rang. Thinking that it's Dei forgetting to say something he immediately answered it without looking at the screen first.

"Hello, Dei?!" He started only to be disappointed when the person on the line bursted into boisterous laughter.

"Whoah, lover boy! Bilis sumagot ng phone, ah! Sorry to disappoint you but this is your bestfriend calling to check kung buhay ka pa kasi di ka na nagparamdam uli after our conversation last week. Now I understand why...lumalovelife ka na uli, bro! So proud of you, binata ka na...wait!...medyo naiiyak ako..." Kris said accompanied by fake sniffing sounds. RJ cleared his throat to hide the disappointment in his voice that it was not her.

"Oi, Kris! Ano na naman kailangan mo? Gabi na nang-iistorbo ka pa?" He curtly answered.

"Bro, is that how you talk to your bestfriend?! Kanina lang ang lambing ng boses mo nung akala mo si Dei ang tumawag...teka kelan pa kayo naging phonepals ni Dei? Gabi na nagtatawagan pa kayo? Ano 'to, bro? Nagliligawan kayo sa phone?!" Kris asked in a teasing voice. He bit his lower lip to keep himself from smiling at the reminder.

"Dr. Kristoffer Martin, kung wala kang matinong rason para tumawag sa akin, I suggest ibaba na natin itong phone para makapagpahinga na ako at may meeting pa ko sa board bukas..." He retorted in a seemingly irritated voice. He is still not comfortable discussing his personal affairs even with his closest friends after his disastrous relationship five years ago.

"Chill, bro. Kukumustahin lang sana dapat kita talaga pero mukhang okay ka naman so I'm okay na rin. I'm so happy that you are finally showing interest in a lady again after how many years! Basta bro if you need anything nasa likod mo lang kami ng barkada, support kami all the way..." Kris loyally answered.

"Thanks, bro. But just to clarify, I'm not exactly dating Dei, at least not yet. We just agreed to meet on Thursday for a psych evaluation..." He started to explain.

"Wait, bro! Psych eval?! Why? May problema ba si Dei?" Kris interrupted.

"No! It's just that I feel she is manifesting some signs of depression and you know how serious I am with that advocacy after what happened...I just want to make sure I can help her if there is really a need for intervention...you know..." He trailed off. He heard a soft sigh from the other end of the line.

"Bro, I understand that it's been a while since you last asked a girl out... pero to get a girl to agree to date you through a psych eval scheme?! Buti napapayag mo si Dei?!" Kris asked.

"Huy! Hindi scheme yun!...I'm just really genuinely concerned with her well-being and kung di ko nasave si Mommy before..." He stopped with his explanation when he realized what he is saying. He heard another sigh from the line.

"Bro, all I'm saying is just be certain lang with your intentions with Dei. She seems to be a great gal and I can feel that there is a certain chemistry between you two. Don't miss out on a possible shot at happiness because of fear and regrets. And I still think your psych eval scheme is lame..." Kris deadpanned. He snorted.

"Says the guy na nagpanggap na nagsisikip ang dibdib at napadala sa ER para lang makascore ng date kay Joyce. Wag ako, bro. Wag ako..." RJ countered before they both laughed out loud.

"Hoy! Pero seryoso na, bro. I'm really glad that you are going out again with a woman na ikaw mismo ang pumili...kahit pa ang lame ng style mo. Psh...psych eval ka dyan...pero ganun pa man happy pa rin ako for you...you're still the man, bro! Enjoy your date! Sasabihan ko ang barkada na wag kang istorbohin that day para makapagconcentrate ka sa "psych eval" mo!" Kris said with a stress on the evaluation which made him chuckle softly.

"Thank you sa support, bro...I think." He answered laughingly before he disconnected the call.

After that call, he let himself fall back on his bed and stared at the ceiling. His thoughts went back to HER.

"Ang lambing pala ng boses nya sa phone...I can't wait to see her again on Thursday...I have to make sure na di sya maawkward. Baka maturn-off sya sa unang labas pa lang namin yun agad topic... argh! What were you thinking, RJ?!" He berated himself silently, overthinking because of what Kris told him.

"Whoa, kalma RJ! Just make sure she will enjoy the dinner, the conversation and your company. Secondary na lang ang evaluation, priority is her. Kaya mo yan!" He pep-talked himself as he take a deep calming breath. Then his phone beeped signaling a text message. He checked the screen.

It was a text message from Dei. His calmness immediately left him again.

"Huy, text lang yan. Puso mo!" He reminded himself as he open the text message and saw that she sent him her office address and the name of the restaurant where they will meet on Thursday.

He immediately composed a reply for her:

"Noted on these, Dei. Looking forward to seeing you again. Good night. -RJ"

He sent it with trembling fingers. He can't contain his feeling at the moment.

"Kalmahan mo lang, RJ! It's just a psych evaluation meeting!"