Tinignan ko siya na parang hindi ako makapaniwala.
"What the fuck, Mr. Mendoza? Are you that insane to bother me? I'm in the middle of my work. Go home" iritadong sabi ko.
His lips rose because of amusement.
"Really,huh?" Natatawang sabi niya.
"May date ako. At siya ang kasama kong kumain mamaya. So please just go home. Or fuck yourself" kinuha ko na ang bag ko at tumayo.
"How can I fuck myself?" Natatawang habol niya sa'kin.
"Ano? Diyan ka matutulog?" Iritadong sabi ko nang makalabas na 'ko pero siya'y nasa loob pa ng clinic ko!
"Okay, I-lock mo" iritadong sabi ko.
Agad akong sumakay ng elevator. Pero pasara na ang pinto ay hinarang niya ang kamay niya. Nakangisi siyang pumasok at tumabi sa akin.
His scent. It's still the same.
"Sino naman ang ka date mo?" Nakapamulsang tanong niya.
"None of your business. Shut up" diretsong sabi ko.
It's none of his business. He doesn't have to care much for it.
Ang totoo niyan...si Aya lang talaga ang date ko. At paniguradong kasama niya si Lore kaya third wheel na naman ako. But, it's fine! It is totally fine. Kesa naman dito ako sa mokong na ito sumabay. Mas pipiliin ko na lang mamatay.
"Sino nga---" he stopped when the door's finally opened. And why am I so lucy? Bumungad si Lore na nakasandal sa itim na Montero.
"Babe!" I said awkwardly. Mukha namang hindi gets ni Lore. Kaya naman pumunta ako sa kaniya at inangkla ang kamay sa braso niya.
"Pretend,you jerk" bulong ko habang nakangiti.
When he saw Kael,Agad siyang tumango. Tila nakukuha ang nangyayari.
"Hi,babe" ipinalumot niya ang braso sa'king bewang. Kael glanced at it. Lihim akong napangisi sa reaksyon niya.
"Kain na tayo? I'm so hungry na!" Nakangusong sabi ko. Pilit tinatago ang ngising kumakawala dahil sa mukha ni Kael!
Mukha siyang mahiyaing third wheel.
He looks like a chaperone. Tapos may jowa yung simasamahan niya. Haha. Shame on you, bastard.
"Huh?" Si Lore. Agad ko siyang kinurot nang patago.
"Ah, yes. Let's go" bumaling siya kay Kael.
"Una na kami,bro" tinanguan niya ito bago ako inalalayang pumasok sa sasakyan.
Pagkapasok ay nakita ko si Aya sa backseat,natutulog at ginawang kumot ang itim na blazer.
"Knocked out. Napagod sa trabaho kanina" iling na paliwanag niya.
"Thank you. Hindi ko alam na nandito 'yon. How dare him to invite me to have some dinner with him" inis kong sabi.
"Yiee,comeback daw" he laughed and started the engine.
Pagkatapos naming kumain ay hinatid na agad nila ako sa condo ko. Bagong condo. Susunduin nila 'ko bukas dahil iniwan ko ang sasakyan ko. This is all his fault. Nakaka-inis! Third wheel na naman ako bukas. Ang aga-aga no'n!
Kinaumagahan. Like what they said, sinundo nila ako at inasar pa'ko.
"What will you,Acia?" Kumakaing tanong ni Aya.
What will I do? Wala! Walang dapat gawin.
"Wala naman. Hindi ko alam. Tsaka para saan pa?" Wala sa sariling sabi ko.
"Gosh! Hindi mo na miss?"
Napa-irap ako. "Of course...not" natawa silang pareho at sabay na tumawa.
"What? Totoo nga! Hindi ko na miss. After all, he was still the guy I hated the most"
Since the day he left me, I have realized, if I comply or demand, it won't work and won't change anything. It won't make people love me back. It won't change the fact that I will get pity by him if I continue to beg him to stay. It's better to let people go. It's better to stop demanding for a freaking closure. It's not good to chase those answers that weren't meant to answered. It's better to let go and just let things be.
"Oh,more water Denis. And daddy buy this" I wrote guaifenesine. And I also put am and pm after meal at my prescription paper. Tumango ang tatay ng bata at nagpaaalam na.
"Good morning, Doc. Marra. Another patient" si Marie, assistant ko. Tumango ako sa kaniya at mabilis niyang binuksan ang pinto.
Tinitignan ko pa ang list ng mga vitamins bago magsalita ang kasama ng bata.
"Good morning, Doc" tinig ng babae.
"Good morning--" why? Are they going to ruin my life again?
"Good morning too" nakangiting bati ko.
I need to be professional. Personal life
isn't a thing here.
"Hi! What's your name?" Cute na bati ko sa batang kasama ni Kolie.
"I'm Kaleb, Doc. Nice to meet you" Kaleb? Anak ba nila 'to? Ngumiti ako sa kaniya at pinisil ang pisngi.
"Where's the sheet?" Marie handed me the info sheet of the patient.
Kaleb Rel San Diego
6 years old
That's the boy's name. Bakit hindi Mendoza? At bakit surname ni Kolie ang nandito?
I checked Kaleb's heart beat and also the state of his lung. I checked his eyes. Naalala ko si Kael sa mga mata niya. That's why I can't help but to think that he was the product of the man I loved before.
I didn't bother to ask Kolie. I'm afraid I might offend her.
I just prescribed vitamins with zinc and for his immune system. And also paracetamol for his fever.
"Bye, Doc. Mawa!" Masayang sigaw niya.
Ngumiti ako at kumaway. Binuhat siya ni Kolie at mabilis na umalis.
Marami pang pasyente ang dumating kaya nang matapos ay agad kong kinuha ang phone ko para hanapin si Kolie sa Facebook. O kahit saang platform ng social media.
But I found nothing. Kung meron man ay naka private siya. I also tried to spy Kael if there is something unreal. Pero puro building ang karamihang post niya. Ang profile niya ay nasa isang site na nakasuot ng puting hard hat.
Baka naman hindi niya talaga anak ang batang 'yon? Baka naman talaganh hindi. At anong paki ko ro'n hindi ba?
If that kid is his son,then so be it. I don't care. It's nice to know that he can take care of that kid. And he can provide for his own family. No bitterness.
YOU ARE READING
Our Priceless Odyssey
Teen FictionThings may change,indeed. But feelings stay true if your love and passion was built in full of honesty,loyalty,desire and showing how can you animate yourself for fighting what's worth it for you.
