Graded Hearts

Chapter 24: Unravel

I look myself at the mirror.

It's going to be a long night. Kahit pa gusto kong magpahinga at matulog galing trabaho ay hindi ko magawa. I need to attend the welcome party even if it means sacrificing my hours of sleep. Mabuti na rin iyon, I have the means to get along with my other co-workers. There is a chance that I'll be staying long here because of Tita's condition, I have to established rapport with them.

And I heard dadalo raw ang may-ari ng ospital. I have to admit, I've been curious about his details. The staffs in the hospital had worst adfectives described over him. Kesyo dae masyadong perfectionist at strikto. Iniisip ko palang ay mukhang maaawa ako sa kanya. Pakiramdam ko ay matandang hukluban ang Mr. Lim na yun, seryuso daw kasi at masungit. Pero baka check up lang ang kailangan nun para maging kalma at mag-enjoy sa buhay.

I checked the time. 6:35 pm na, alas 7 magsisimula yung party, kailangan ko ng umalis para maaga rin akong makauwi. Simpleng pants at long sleeve lang suot ko. Hindi naman kasi sinabi kung ano ang dapat isuot, sa I pressumed that it would be anything decent.

I arrived at the venue eight minutes before 7 o'clock. Thank God, because I don't have the plans of owning the spotlight just because I'm late. Besides, traffic isn't heavy, during this hour, mas heavy ang traffic sa kabilang lane.

I saw the nurses and doctors I talked earlier in the hospital, medyo kilala ko na ang mga ito. Tinawag nila ako para umupo sa kanilang lamesa, it was located beside the center isle. Medyo marami-rami na ang mga tao, some look familiar and some, nevermind.

After minutes of waiting, the emcee announced the start of program, just like the usual, prayer, Philippine National Anthem and rest was expected. Naupo na rin kami which I was so grateful, buong araw akong halos nakatayo sa ospital pati ba naman dito? Is this a kind of torture?

"Ladies and Gentlemen, the owner of Alexandra Hospital and LA Hospital," ayan na, ang pinakahihintay ng lahat, the center of the party is going to have the spotlight. "Engr. Alekhine Xenon Lim!"

I became dumbstruck.

I don't know if my hearing was right. The crowd was too loud that I have to doubt my own hearing ability.

But when he walked on the isle, my doubt had long way confirmed. I can't be wrong, this man, this man is Alekhine Xenon Lim. The man I have not seen for twelve long years.

He walked closer and closer, I am beside the center isle, he'll definitely walk pass me anytime soon and as much as I want to hide. I can't, I didn't. I was froze at the moment.

My knees were slightly shaking. All my expressions were lost at the thought of him in front of me. And for the first time in a long time, my heart beats in an unusual tempo. The beat, I realized, is the beat especially made for his existence.

And in crowds, I looked at him with both wonder and fear. I wonder if he remembers everything. I wonder if he still recognize this face, if I seem familiar. Or he had forgotten me completely that he moved on with his lifelike what I did with mine.

I thought about this moment, the moment I'll be seeing him again. I often wonder what I'd feel or say, is it hello or how are you? I imagined how I'd look, and how he'd look.

But he's different now. Good damn different. His features hand turned him a real mature one and he looked impeccably regal with his business suit on. He's a grown up man now... and he's successful.

My heart wrenched at that thought. Alekhine's life had been happy and successful without my existence. Deep inside, I was hoping that he needs me to complete him somehow but now I know it wouldn't happen, because just like before, Alekhine is successful with or without me. He's still Alekhine Xenon Lim and I'm still the no-good-for-him woman.