Impervious Treasure (Azcona Cousins #2)

Prelude

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Prelude

"Doc Emrie Fonacier!"

I searched for the bubbly voice who stated my whole name. I am not used to hearing it. It reminds me of something and someone that I used to love hearing it. But it's all in the past... I would never dare to go back if it means my own defamation.

My attending assistant for today went close to me. Lumiit ang mga mata ko sa hawak niya.

A wedding invitation.

I was immediately twined by the cold and sick memories of us. I thought I have moved on about weddings.

"It's Clair, Mira," I corrected her. "And no. I won't attend Olive's wedding," ibinalik ko ang tingin sa pusa. The poor cat is suffering from a trauma. I found her inside a paper bag. May mga sugat sa katawan at payat. She's apparently abandoned by her owner.

"Hala?! Bakit naman, doc? Naka lagay pa naman ang pangalan mo sa principal wedding sponsor nitong si Olive! Tapos may pinadala pang bukod na letter para sa'yo! From Philippines to Switzerland? Naku! Ibang level ng effort, doc!"

"Throw it. Together with that invitation you're holding."

"Ang harsh naman ni Doctor Fonacier kaya walang boyfriend, e," she whispered to herself.

Napasinghap si Mira sa boses na 'yon. Pati ako ay natigil sa gingawa. I eyed the vet student whom I hired for her internship.

Tss. The nerve of this student! Wala siya sa kinalalagyan niya kung hindi dahil sa akin at swerte pa siya na hindi ko siya tinatanggal. I own this clinic and that means I have the power to remove my annoying staff. I have had boyfriends during my college years. Siguro ginawa ko lang 'yon para punan ang sakit at pangungulila na naramdaman ko noon.

"Throw the letter and invitation, Mira. 'Di ako uuwi ng Pilipinas."

She sighed. "Iniiwasan mo pa rin ba siya, doc?"

Tipid akong ngumiti at kinarga ang pusa. I haven't named her yet. I am thinking about giving her a new family but I think it's more soothing if she'll live with me.

"Hindi lang siya. Sila."

I shared my very complex and tough story to Mira when we got close. Dito ko ipinagpatuloy ang pag-aaral at dito ko na rin naisipang magtayo ng sariling clinic. But before this success, I worked in several fast food chains and near restobars as a waitress to earn money to pay for my bills and other expenses because I didn't ask for my parents' money, not even a dollar. Maliban na lang siguro sa tuition fees ko sa university. It was a hard battle for me yet I couldn't blame my family why I've gone through that shit hole because I eventually liked the idea of being with him.

Mira and I met at Zurich. She was an immigrant back then and I was a lost soul. It was like a miracle that we clicked in an instant. Nakilala ko siya sa isang restobar na pinagtrabahuhan ko. She's very approachable that's why I never felt awkward around her. At isa pa, mas gumaan ang buhay ko dahil may Pilipino akong nakilala. It was quite hard communicating here. Maraming official language ang Switzerland. I wasn't confident speaking those so communication barrier for me is too brutal until now. I can understand a little bit of the official language but I cannot speak those straightly.

Hassle.

Buti pa si Mira, she can understand and speak. Hindi katulad ko na nakakaintindi lang. I'm surprised that I managed and survived my college years by just speaking English.

I'm not yet a citizen of Switzerland. It takes about ten years to get it. I have no plans but for the sake of my business permit, I need to live here for the rest of my life. May ilang taon pa akong dapat punan para mabuo ko 'yon.