CAPTAIN
Aaaaaang sakit ng ulo ko! Badtrip! Ano ba kasing nangyari kagabi at ganito nalang sumakit ang ulo at buong katawan ko? I tried standing up pero umiikot talaga ang paningin ko. That's when I decided to close my eyes for few more minutes and—teka...I am not in my place. I roam my sight around only to see picture frames who's subject is...Dennise. Putcha! Nasa bahay ako ni Dennise?
"Buti naman gising ka na."
I startled when I saw her leaning on the door with her arms crossed against her chest. Mukhang kanina pa siya gising at pinagmamasdan ako.
"Anong ginawa mo sa akin? Pinagsamantalahan mo ba ako ha? Tsaka bakit ako nandito?" I asked before checking on my body if something happened last night.
Dennise took the pillow near her and threw it straight right at me. "Kapal muks! Why would I take advantage of you?! For your information, Mr. Joaquin Saavedra, lasing na lasing ka po kagabi at sinukahan mo po ang damit ko. Buti nalang nasa labas pa tayo nun dahil kung hindi eh ikaw talaga paglilinisin ko ng mga kalat mo!"
Napanganga ako sa mga sinabi niya. That's the reason why my head is throbbing in pain at this moment. What on earth possessed me to drink too much last night? Ugh!
"Oh e hano? Hindi ka makapagsalita? Tapos ngayon..." I screamed in pain when she held my ear and pinch it slightly. "Ngayon, iniisip mong pinagnasahan kita. Aba'y thank you so much for Dennise ha for taking of me last night ha. Che! Diyan ka na nga!" then she sarcastically walk outside leaving me in her room, holding my ears she just pinched. Galit?!
Bago ako sumunod sa kaniya ay naghilamos muna ako ng mukha at nagsuklay, e wala naman kasi akong dalang kahit anong damit. Tsaka first time ko matulog sa bahay niya. Nada-dyahe tuloy ako pero wala naman na akong magagawa.
Nang makababa ako ay naabutan ko siya sa kusina na nagluluto. Suot suot niya ang apron niya habang nakapameywang. I walk closer to Dennise and snakes my arm around her as I sniff her hair. She switch off the stove before turning around to face me but we are still in that position.
Nakasimangot siyang humarap sa akin kaya sumimangot rin ako. Maya-maya ay tumalikod ulit siya so I tightened my arms around her. "Hay nako, Joaquin. Hindi ako matatapos dito kung puro ka ganyan. Let go of me."
"Ayoko nga." I said, kissing her cheeks.
I felt her sighed, "Bitiwan mo na ako. Your breakfast is ready. Kumain ka na."
"Sorry. I was just joking earlier." I spoke. Dennise just shrugged her shoulders before walking towards the dining table. "Mahal, sorry na. I will not drink too much next time, sorry na nga."
Dennise then looks at me, "Sincere ba 'yang sorry at promise mo?"
"Oo!"
" Teka bakit ka sumisigaw?!"
"Oo nga..." sabi ko and reached for her hand to kiss it. Biro lang naman talaga 'yun at hindi ko naman alam na magsusungit siya. "Bati na tayo a?"
She rolled her eyes at me, "Shucks, baduy ka talaga! Oo na, sige na. Here's your coffee, I know you're experiencing hang-over. Inom pa more 'no?"
"Naks! Wife material naman pala ang Doktora. I feel so lucky."
"Bolero. Kumain ka na para makauwi ka na, hinahanap ka na ng anak mo." sabi niya sabay titig sa akin. Nauna na pala siya mag-breakfast, at hinintay niya lang ako magising bago siya magpunta ng clinic.
"Anak mo lang? 'Di ba dapat...anak natin?"
"Fine. Anak natin na si Bebu! But you know what, mahal? I wanna adopt another dog." sabi niya. Actually, pwede naman. Mas maraming dog, mas masaya 'di ba?
"Bakit mo naman naisipan?"
Dennise put her palm under her chin and smiled, "Eh kasi...you have your own dog, right? Si Bebu. Tapos ako, I don't have any. Considering na Vet pa naman ako, tsaka I wanna know how it feels to have my own and your own pet—not pet, own child."
I sipped at my coffee first before nodding at her, "Yeah. But I already told you that Bebu is now yours na rin 'di ba? So—"
"Tsk, Joaquin, 'di mo naman magets e. Basta, I feel like I need one too okay? Okay. Now, finish that already para makapag-prepare ka na rin. Mamaya hanap ka na sa trabaho mo, CAPTAIN. SAAVEDRA."
I just shook my head as I look at her. She's mesmerizing. Everyday, I fall even more at her. She's my best girl. Thank heavens for sending me an angel like Dennise.
———
DOCTOR
"I'll see you later?"
"Aalis na naman tayo?" I asked Joaquin. We just arrived at the clinic. Nasa loob na sina Lovelle, kaya I need to follow na rin sa loob pero Joaquin is still here.
"I just got my schedule earlier. We will not be seeing each other for a week. I have back to back flight, and for sure that will be exhausting. I might not be able to call you hour by hour." he explained, pouting his lips.
"Ganun ba? Uhm...hindi naman hour by hour ka dapat kumustahin o i-check ako kasi magiging okay naman ako even if you're not here. I can manage myself, mahal. The thing is, ikaw ang dapat mag-iingat because you are a pilot and you need to be physically stable and ready. Don't think too much about me, okay?"
I held his cheeks, caressing it a little. He just gave me a small smile. I reached for his face and planted a soft smack on his lips. I saw him froze. That's our first kiss...
"You kissed me." he mumbled. I'm laughing at his reaction right now. He's too funny.
"Yes, I did! Ayaw mo ba? Sige, bawiin ko nalang." With that, I kissed him again quickly. "Okay na? Good bye! Magta-trabaho na ako at magtrabaho ka na rin para sa kinabukasan mo, kinabukasan ko, at kinabukasan ng mga magiging anak natin. Bye, Love you!" mabilis na sabi ko bago lumabas ng kotse para tuluyang pumasok sa clinic.
That's bravery. Ha! Two points for Dra. Reyes!
————
Happy Birthday, Doktora. Dennise Grace Reyes of Eudaimonia a.k.a Miss Eula Valdes! Love you always! Sana magka-ganap na ang EulBert para hindi na kami tuyot pa sa tuyong dahon ng saging. Hehe! (~￣³￣)~
