Nang sumunod na araw ay maagang tumawag si Greg kay Elle, mabuti naman at gising na si Elle ng mga oras na iyon.
Greg: Yel, anak?
Elle: hi, dad...
Greg: nak, kamusta? kumain ka na ba?
Napatingin si Elle kay Ian dahil ang akala niya nung una ay sinabi ni Ian sa mga magulang niya na may sakit siya.
Greg: Yel? Kumain ka naman ng maayos, ha. I know you are so much into your musical - kaya nga hindi ka na nakakauwi eh. But you still have to take care of yourself. Siya nga pala, huwag mo na kaming intindihin ng mama mo. Magpapahatid na lang kami sa kumpare ko pa-airport.
Elle: ha! Oo nga po pala, ngayon ang balik niyo. Sorry, dad I really can't make it. Pakisabi na lang kay mama na soon pipilitin ko makabisita naman sa inyo.
_ _ _
Elle: akala ko sinabi mo kung nasaan ako eh.
Ian: I was actually about to do that. Bakit kasi ayaw mong sabihin? Hindi ka naman OFW para maglihim sa parents mo about your condition.
Elle: (throws him a sharp look)
Kumatok ang nagdedeliver ng pagkain sa room ni Elle...
Ian: thank you, pare.
Elle: bakit nga pala nag-stay ka pa? You have work today. Hindi ba masyado naman yata akong nakakagulo sa busy sched mo?
Inaayos ni Ian ang pagkain ni Elle...
Ian: no one should ever be busy when we're talking about health.
Elle: (takes a spoon of her oatmeal) but I can manage, I'm used to it. Didn't I tell you that? Teka, mag-toilet lang ako.
On her attempt to stand up, she falls back on the bed. Sobrang sakit kasi ng balakang ni Elle dahil affected ang kidneys niya ng infection. Dali-dali siyang inalalayan ni Ian nang sandaling iyon.
Ian: now, tell me you can manage. (eye to eye)
Elle: (punches his arm) aba, ang yabang nito ah? Gusto mo bang pektusan kita?
Ian: (laughs) ang sungit! Hoy, magpagaling ka muna. Pag malakas kana, ibibigay ko sayo ang maskulado kong katawan at saka mo ko saktan. (chuckling) Kasi sa ngayon parang tapik lang yung suntok mo eh.
Elle: lumayas ka rito! (punches him again) layas!
Ian: (4 steps back )
Elle: (attempts but fails another time) (looks at him)
Ian: what? (annoying her)
Elle: (gestures: come here) 'lika na. (inaabot ang kamay) sige na?
Ian: (laughs)
Elle: naiihi na 'ko. Sige na (she begs)
Ian: ang yabang, kala mo kung sino. Hindi naman makatayo (smiles)
Elle: oo na. 'Wag mo na 'kong bwisitin.
Elle does her thing in the bathroom while Ian is waiting for her outside...
Elle: (pagka-upo sa bed) pano mo tinext yung tatay ko?
Ian: edi ginamit ko yung phone mo na wala man lang lock.
Elle: ah, oo nga. Di ko naisip 'yon.
Ian: (medyo galit) bakit hindi ka naglalagay ng lock?! Pano kung may kumuha niyang phone mo? Edi maa-access nila lahat ng files mo? Ano baa? are you giving it away?
Elle: Syempre hassle pa yon pag nagmamadali ako.
Ian: (calms down) kahit pa. Mag-lagay ka ng lock, hmm? (eye to eye)
Elle: (raises eyebrows)
uy teka, anong sabi ni Doc? Hanggang kailan daw ako rito?
Ian: hangga't namamaga yung kidneys mo, hindi tayo pwedeng umuwi.
Elle: tayo? (violent reaction)
Ian: alanganamang iwan kita dito? Eh 3 steps na nga lang yung bathroom, di mo pa mapuntahan mag-isa.
Elle: edi magbabayad ako ng private nurse ko! May pera ako, excuse me.
Ian: bakit, sabi ko ba wala?
Elle: hindi.
Ian: oh, hindi naman pala eh.
Elle: eh ka nagagalit?
Ian: eh kasi ang kulit mo! You always push me away.
Silence...
Elle: you don't want that?
Ian: who the hell wants that?
Elle: crush mo talaga 'ko, no?
Biglang napatigil si Ian sa sinabi ni Elle. Kumalma ito at nanahimik ng ilang sigundo. Tapos ay bahagyang napangiti - pero kanya itong pinilit itago.
Elle: why the hell are you smiling?
Ian: am I? (maang-maangan)
Elle: that's b*llsh*t!
Ian: (hindi na napigilan ang pag-ngiti)
Elle: (to herself) 'yan na nga ba sinasabi ko.
Ian: (sits beside her) ayaw mo ba?
Elle: okay lang, sanay na 'ko. Maganda kasi ako, kaya kayo ganyan.
Ian: (laughs) wow!
Elle: (serious) Kung hindi naman ako tisay at matangos... Men, I bet you.
Hindi na umimik pa si Elle matapos sabihin iyon, at ganon din si Ian. Instead, he chose to transfer from the bed to the sofa because he felt quite bad and sad for what he just heard. Malungkot ito dahil naisip niya, ganoon siguro ang ipinaramdam ng maraming tao kay Elle kaya ang akala niya, ganon siya tinitignan ng lahat ng tao sa paligid niya.
Habang nakaharap si Ian sa bintana - nakatalikod kay Elle...
Ian: not everyone you will meet will treat you the way you think they will. It's hard, I know, to give them a chance and see what's gonna happen, coz I've been there. But you have to tell yourself that, every person who'll come along is a different story - a different lesson. You just have to teach your self to discover the underlying treasure this person is bringing into your life.
Elle: 'no?
Ian: you know what, you are doubting your worth. Don't do that. If you can't see it in other people's eyes? then you see it with your own eyes. You determine your value as a person, as a woman. Don't expect it from other people.
Elle: (smiles) you've.only.seen.a.portion.of.me. you.have.no.idea.where.I'm.coming.from.
He faces her again while leaning on the window.
Ian: you're scared. Arent' you?
Elle: who's not?
Ian: Then tell me what you can't love about yourself because I want to know where to begin.
She is so flabbergasted, thinking if everything is real, if her heart is still beating. Well, yeah. It is, but not the way it used to.
