2 Months Later
I was standing at the street corner waiting for the pedestrian signal light to flash nang biglang may pamilyar na boses ang nagsalita mula sa likuran ko.
"Uhh-hey, I think you forgot this." I literally froze hearing that voice again.
Halos ilang buwan din mula nong huli ko siyang makausap, we are working in the same hospital pero malimit ko na siyang nakikita hindi tulad noon. Maniwala ka man sa hindi, simula noong gabing iyon ay hindi ko na muling narinig pa ang boses niya dahil suntok sa buwan kung maging isang dipa na lang ang layo namin sa isa't isa.
I let a deep breath bago ko lingunin ang lalaking nag mamay ari ng boses na iyon. "Dr. Viceral?," I asked. Halos mapanganga ako nang makita ang biglang pagbabago sa hitsura nito. His black brushed up hair is now rooty blonde. He's now even wearing a plain black shirt, slim fit jeans and a pair of white sneakers which is utterly different from his usual smart casual workwear. Tila nasobrahan ata ito sa pagka kaswal ngayon at may suot suot pa itong designer cross-body bag na hindi naman niya gawain noon.
"You-you look so different." halos pabulong kong puna habang pasimpleng sinusuri ang nakakapanibagong hitsura niya.
He smirked nang marinig ang sinabi ko. "I don't think I've seen you before- but I'm hoping I looked different to you in a good way," nangingiti niyang turan. Napakunot noo ako sa narinig. Paanong hindi niya pa ako nakita? Ano bang pinagsasabi nito?
"I'm sorry, Doc but I don't seem to understand-"
I was quickly cut off when the pedestrian signal finally flashed. I walked briskly to catch him while he looks at me from the corner of his eye and let a soft laughs marahil dahil sa kakatwang hitsura ko habang pilit na sumasabay sa kanya. He's quite extra smiley today, which is so weird and kinda-eerie?
"For a stranger, you're quite scary." saad nito nang tuluyan na kaming makatawid, patuloy pa rin ako sa pagsunod sakanya dahil halos pareho lang din ang dadaanan namin.
"I see you're reading the last volume of his book? A surgeon's note?" Dagdag pa niya kaya tuluyan na nga akong naguluhan.
"You mean your book, right?" He just flashed a playful smile bago iabot ang brown bag na naglalaman ng bagong librong binili at naiwan ko sa bookstore kanina lang.
"Dr. Viceral right? You're Dr. Jose Marie Viceral, Head of Gen. Surgery at Hopedales Medical Center" may bahagyang pagturo pa na saad ko, ngunit imbis na 'Oo' ang sagot niya ay tuluyan lang siyang tumawa nang malakas. Napapatingin na rin tuloy sa amin ang mga taong nadadaanan namin.
"Nag ka-amnesia ka ba o ano? Ano ba kasing nakakatawa-" pasuko kong turan bago huminto nang paglalakad.
"Okay Doc, you know what, naguguluhan na talaga ako sayo. Whatever this game you're playing, or tricks you're pulling on me, pwede ba itigil mo na? If this is why you don't speak to me for almost two months and if this is why you removed me from all your surgeries that I should be in too, fine. Congratulations Doc, you've obviously won." I suddenly burst out, raising both of my hands as a sign of defeat.
Hindi naman ito sumagot kaya lalo lang akong nainis. Akmang magsasalita muli ako nang unahan niya na ako.
Gazing at me in great surprise, he asked me "He did that to you?" which brings me in befuddled state.
"What do you mean, he? Eh ikaw nga yung–" I stopped as realization hits me. My eyes widen as I gradually recognize who he really is. His looks, his personality, even his accent—that explains why. How come hindi ko yon napansin!
