Sweet Rejection

Chap 8: Drunk out of love

Jho

Two months after...

I see no reason to stay here. But that statement was a lie. I tried to stay away and leave the past behind but the woman I still love keeps on haunting me. Haunting me of the pain it caused my heart numb. Despite all, I see hope that we could go back how we used to be in love to each other.

I saw her in my peripheral vision genuinenly laughing at the woman she loves even though Kianna couldn't love her back. She still hopes they could get back together. Bea hopes Kianna would love her while I hope she would love me again. How irony it was chasing love we couldn't have.

I sighed at the thought still staring at them from afar.

"Jho, tama na yan. Lingon ka sa'kin para di ka masaktan." Jia spoke.

She knew everything. She was my confidante and my colleague. When Bea has fogotten me, I was lost. Even now, I am.

"Di ko mapigilan Ju. Para lang kasing hindi ako nag-eexist sa buhay niya. Parang wala lang yong ilang years na mag-on kami."

"Kaya nga tinawag na past, diba Jho? Tsaka, friends pa din naman kayo. Kasali ka pa din sa gala nyo. Yan na lang muna ang e-embrace mo sa ngayon."

Nakaupo kami sa labas ng hospital na may malaking garden habang umiinom ng coffee. Hindi kami nakita nila Bea, nilagpasan lang kami. Earlier out kasi sila dahil mga consultant na sila samantalang kami, kailangan pa naming magduty ng 12 to 24 hrs.

"Oo na. Past na kung past. Pero ilang years din kaya kami nun. Hay, Jia ang sakit na sa puso."

"Eh, di humanap ka ng iba. I'll help you!"

"Tange! Hindi usong nasa stage pa ako sa pagmomove-on? Kung ano-ano sinasabi mo."

"Mas tange ka! Kaya nga maghanap tayo para makamove-on!"

"Tara na nga! Sobrang nonsense ng advice mo!" tumayo na ako sa kinaauupuan namin.

"Ako pa talaga ang nonsense. Tinutulungan ka na nga!"

"Ay, hindi ka nakakatulong.. Hinaan mo nga boses mo, pinagtitinginan tayo ng mga tao."

Tumayo na din sya at nagsimula na kaming maglakad papasok ng hospital.

Jia put her one arm over my shoulder as we walked.

"You'll be fine, Jho. Not today but for sure you'll get over it." she smiled.

Those words soothed me. She's right. Magiging okay din ako. And I smiled back at her.

***

I was busy monitoring my patient when my phone vibrated. I ignored it and continued on checking. Afterward, I answered my phone that was still vibrating.

"What time is your out, Jho?"

Hindi pa nga ako nakakasagot. Inunahan na ako ni ate Ella.

"Busy ako ate Ells. Anong kailangan mo?"

"Tinatanong kita kung kailan ang out mo. Hindi kita tinatanong kung busy ka o hindi." pilosopang sagot niya.

As much as possible, I have to avoid them dahil alam kung kasama nila si Bea at Kianna at ayokong titirik na naman ang mga mata ko sa selos.

"Hanggang bukas pa uwi ko ate Ells. Bye!"

"Hoy, Maraguinot! Alam kong out ka mamayang 11pm kaya pumunta ka dito sa bahay. May handaan ngayon sa'min..madaming pagkain kaya wag mong palagpasin to!"

Kung walang Bea dyan, pupunta talaga ako!

"Nagtatanong ka pa, eh alam mo naman pala! Pagod ako ate Ells, drecho na uwi ko after." pagdadahilan ko.