All the Stars Above Us

Prologue

"Sigurado ka na ba talaga sa desisyon mo?" muling tanong sakin ni ate habang nagiimpake ako, hindi ko na mabilang kung gaano karaming beses niya tinanong sakin yon.

"Ate matagal kong pinag isipan at  pinag handaan to, and besides alam mo naman yung dahilan kung bakit ako pupunta don diba?" 

"Oo nga pero that was a long time ago Eli, I think you should move on already"

Kumuyom ang kamao ko sa galit. "How can you say that? She's the reason I wanted to become a doctor and I'm going to find out what happened in that operating room whether you like it or not"

Tinaas niya ang dalawang kamay sa ere, senyales na sumuko sa siya sa usapan namin. Pinagpatuloy ko na ang pagiimpake dahil tatlong oras nalang mula ngayon, aalis na ko papuntang New York.

Pagkatapos kong magimpake, hinatid na ko ni ate Ara at ng boyfriend niya sa airport. Pagpasok ko chineck in ko lang yung luggage ko tapos dumiretso na agad ako sa boarding gate.

'Good evening passengers. This is the pre-boarding announcement for flight 327A bound to New York. Please have your boarding pass ready.'

Pagdating ko sa loob ng eroplano, I just fixed my things tapos nakatulog na din agad ako. Nag morning shift pa kasi ako kanina, inayos ko pa yung mga gamit ko sa ospital kaya siguro pagod ako. It was an 18 hour flight, I only wake up when I have to eat.

'This is captain Martinez ready for landing, please buckle your seatbelts.'

'Ladies and gentlemen welcome to JKF Airport, local time is 3 pm in the afternoon and temperature is 17°c. On behalf of Time Square Airlines and the crew, I'd like to thank you for joining us on this trip and we are looking forward to seeing you on board again in the near future. Have a nice day!'

Kinuha ko lang yung mga bagahe ko tapos dumiretso na ko sa apartment na nirentahan ko sa Manhattan. Pagdating ko don, inayos ko lang yung susuotin ko dahil first day ko na agad bukas tapos ay natulog na din.

"Is she the new doctor?" "I heard she's in the general surgery department" paguusap ng mga nurse habang naglalakad ako sa hallway. HIndi ko na sila pinansin at dumiretso na ko sa chiefs office para pirmahan ang kontrata ko.

Kumatok ako ng tatlong beses bago pumasok. "Dr. Rodriguez" bati ko.

"Come in come in, sit down hija."

"Here's the contract, sign it and you can start today" agad ko namang pinirmahan ang kontrata. We shake hands. "thank you sir"

"Its an honor to have you in my hospital." "you can put your things on your office, you'll be with sharing with another female surgeon ."

"I'll get going now sir." dumiretso na ko sa office ko. Pagdating ko don, I fixed my desk, tapos lumabas ako para mag lunch dahil 2pm pa naman ang start ng shift ko.

Sumakay ako sa elavator. Pagpasok ko, may nakasabay akong babae. Bigla siyang nagsalita.

"So it's true, you're working here now." I immediately recognized her face. Astrid.

"I guess I am" sagot ko.

"So tell me did you transfer here because you know he's here?" I have no idea what she's talking about.

"Huh?"

"Oh don't play with me I know you're here to steal him from me"

"Trust me, I have no idea of what you're talking about. Anyway I'll get going, my shift starts soon and I still have to eat. Bye" She just rolled her eyes at me.

I continued to walking towards the cafeteria, bumili lang ako ng pagkain pagkatapos ay umupo sa isang gilid. I heard foot steps walking towards me pero hindi ko yon pinansin.

"Wow, you're really here" the man talked. Nakatalikod ako sa kanya.

Dahan dahan akong lumingon habang nagsasalita. "Excuse me do i know y-"

When I saw his face, everything came back, all the pain, happiness, love and memories we had together.

Axel.....