The Man From Dream 82

16

"Dad?" I gently knock on the door. 

"Yes?" He answers kaya pumasok kaagad ako. "Ano 'yon, anak?"

"Gaano katagal na si Dylan sa hospital?" I ask.

Dad thinks about this for a second before he turns to me. "Less than a year, anak. Why?"

"Nothing," I shrug. "You never met him before or something?"

"No." Dad shakes his head. "Sa Manila kasi talaga siya nakatira dati and he was new here in Baguio when I met him."

"Ah, ganun ba." Sabi ko saka tumango-tango. "Thank you, Dad."

"Teka, Kristina." Dad calls me bago pa man ako makalabas. "Bakit mo natanong?"

"Just," I raise my shoulders. "Curiosity." Saka ako lumabas ng study room.

Maybe it's a coincidence?

Pwede naman maging magkapareho ang amoy ng tao diba?

"Anak, there you are!" Lumapit sakin si Mom. "Kanina pa kita hinahanap."

"Bakit po?"

"We're having a dinner party tomorrow." Mom says. "Diba papunta ka ngayon sa hospital for your consultation with Dr. Marco?

"Opo." I nod.

"Well, please invite him over." She says with a smile. "I'd like to meet him and personally give him my regards."

"Okay po." I say with a smile. 

"Very well then," she pats my shoulder. "Gusto mo bang ipahatid na kita sa driver papuntang hospital?"

"Huwag na po, Mom. Pupunta pa 'ko sa cafe." I smile then hug her. "I'll get going na. See you later."

"Ingat ka, Kristina." She says behind me.

Pagkarating ko sa cafe, nandun na si Dylan. He's sitting by the window with a cup in his hand. When I go to the counter to wear my apron, he turns to me... pero hindi siya ngumiti.

"Napaaga ka yata ng punta?" I say nang makalapit ako. "Mamaya pang hapon ang consul--"

"Wala akong appointment as of now." He sips his coffee. "Kaya pumunta nalang ako ng maaga. We'll have the consultation here." He looks at me when he says, "just for today."