Rocking a Doctor's Heart

Chapter 43

AN: Unedited/Raw. Will edit this but for now, I just wanted to put it here so that I could move forward. 

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I was so busy and pre-occupied that I never minded anything except my work and my fitness routine. My session with the specialist helped a lot that I just took it like a regular self-reflection. Within those months, I learned a lot. I learned to forgive my self. I learned to let go of the pain, I learned to appreciate myself more. And most importantly, I learned to forgive those that hurt me or caused me pain. I know what things to do to finally move on. To complete my healing. 

Kung hindi pa ako ni-remind ni Rue sa mga projects sa Pilipinas na naantala at kailangan ko ng balikan.

I glanced at her as I finished scanning her tablet kung saan ang schedule ko sa susunod na mga araw. I can feel Rue's nervousness as she can't look at me directly. Binaba niya sa tablet ang kanyang tingin.

Napailing ako. Nakita ko ang pagbaling niyang muli at pagkakatigil. Hindi pa kami kailanman nag-usap ng tungkol sa Pilipinas, ngayon lang. Alam kong kinakabahan siya sa magiging reaksyon ko pero kailangan niya ng ipaalam ito kundi siya rin ang mapapagalitan ng mga Elite Bosses. 

Pinagpasalamat kong sobrang maunawain si Rue na nagawan niya ng paraan ang lahat. O kung hindi man siya ang may gawa ng lahat ay hindi ko na pagkakaabalahang isipin iyon. I know she has a constant communication with Dad. 

"What else, Rue?" I asked. "Tell me other things that I needed to attend to back there."

Huminga siya ng malalim bago sumagot. "Y-your Dad...he's sick."

Marahan kong nahigit ang aking paghinga. I have never heard news back there. Ngayon lang. 

Julio was dead in a fatal car accident after he escaped from the authorities. Mom left the country. Her clinic's under RMP now. There were no news about the things that involved my family and of the Arriola's. Dad took care of it.

It was so fast I never thought about my fast beating heart. I don't know if I should be mad at Rue for not informing me about this not until yesterday. We only got a day to prepare for our trip back home. Home. Do I still have it? 

Sixteen hour-flight and all I did was to feel my fast beating heart. I sighed heavily as I stepped out of the airplane. Parang kailan lang...noong unang balik ko rito sa bansa. Now I'm back again. Hoping this will be the last.

Dad is sick. Again. I chuckled as everything seemed ... déjà vu. 

I am not sure if I believe that Dad is really sick this time. According to Rue, madalas daw mahilo. 

Isa pang hugot ng hininga ang aking nagawa nang maisip si Dame. I know the things that I should do during my stay here and that includes him.

"He's in Zambales," Rue informed me as I looked at her with raised brows. We have another flight to Angeles. Sabi ko sa kanya gusto ko ng direct flight. Wala ngang stop-over pero may isa pa palang flight. 

How about the projects? How many days would I stay in Zambales before I get to do my projects? And where exactly in Zambales?

Halos manindig lahat ng balahibo ko habang pinapakinggan ang sagot ni Rue sa tahimik natanong ng utak ko.

"We can leave anytime you want after checking in on your dad. Your short visit might be a big help for his disposition."

Nanatili akong nakmaang sa kanya kaya pinaglapat niya ang kanyang labi nang mariin. 

"W-we're going to the del Fiero's property..." she said hesitantly.

My lips parted but I managed to let out a chuckle. "Why are you so nervous?"