Garden of Wounds (Panacea Series #1)

Chapter 22

I shook my head and sighed. Indeed, time flies fast when you're really happy. I was in my room, staring at the abyss when my phone beeped because of a notification. My mouth gaped when I realized that today is Zavion's birthday. My gaze shifted on my calendar and it's really his birthday! Today is November 19!

Damn, I almost forgot.

I get up from my bed and quickly went to our kitchen to bake him a cake. Since he doesn't want to celebrate his birthday and I respect his decision, I'd just give him a cake for a gift. Zavion is not materialistic. Wala rin akong maisip na puwedeng ibigay sa kan'ya kung sakali man kaya mas maayos na rin na sariling bake ng cake ang ibigay ko sa kan'ya dahil puwede pa naming makain dalawa.

It took me an hours to finish everything. Naabutan pa ako ni Elaine sa gano'ng lagay nang kumuha siya ng kan'yang maiinom. Nanliit ang kan'yang mga matang napatingin sa akin nang mapagtanto niya kung ano ang aking ginagawa. Her brow arched. Her lips curved into a thin line upon seeing the finished product of my cake.

"So the rumor was true, huh..." She started talking that made me want to cover my ears for a while because I don't want to listen to her shitty words. "That's for Zavion, right? It's his birthday today." I could hear the sarcasm in her voice.

"Wala akong panahong makipag-away sa 'yo," mariin kong wika.

"Ano kaya ang nakita ni Zavion sa 'yo? Tapos ikaw naman, tuwang-tuwa sa pang-uuto niya sa 'yo?" She raised a brow. "I can't believe he lowered down his standards," nanunuya ang kan'yang boses.

"He didn't lower his standard. He made me his standard. I am his standard, I am the standard," I said confidently. "Tips, Elaine. Kapag inggit, pikit ka, ha?" And with that, I flashed a playful smirk and left her dumbfounded.

After putting the cake carefully inside the box, I put a mini ribbon on the top of it. Inayos ko rin ang aking sarili bago ko mapagdesisyonan na umalis na at pumunta sa hospital kung saan siya nagdu-duty. I was a bit nervous and excited at the same time because I did not inform him about my arrival. We texted but I didn't tell him that I'm coming.

It was my first time visiting him here. Siya palagi ang bumibisita o pumupunta sa akin. Kung hindi naman, nagkakasundo na lamang kami na magkita sa ganitong lugar. He's always the one who's doing or making an effort, though I know that it should be the both of us to balance our relationship.

For now, I could say that he loves me more.

Pumasok ako sa Arevallo Hospital at inilibot ang aking paningin. There were a lot of patients and almost everyone are busy. I took my phone out of my small bag to text Zavion. I am currently typing a message for him when my eyes caught a glimpse of a familiar figure, standing in the corner and looks like waiting for someone.

My lips automatically formed a smile when I recognized that it's Zavion. Lalapitan ko sana siya nang may maaninag akong matangkad na babae na nakatayo sa kan'yang tabi. The girl is talking while Zavion is listening to her attentively. Pangiti-ngiti pa ito na animo'y namamangha sa sinasabi ng babae.

My smile fades the moment I saw him, carrying the girl's bag beside him. Hindi ko maiwasang 'di mag-overthink at mangamba habang pinapanood ko silang nagsisimula nang maglakad at mukhang may pupuntahan na silang dalawa lang ang magkasama. Tuluyang nanghina ang kamay kong may hawak sa cake na hinanda ko para sa kan'ya. Tuluyan akong kinain ng aking mga pangamba habang nakikita ko ang ngiti ni Zavion sa kan'yang kasamang babae.

Bigla na lamang nanumbalik sa aking isipan kung paano ko nahuhuli si Ambrielle na may kasamang ibang babae noon. Bigla na lamang nanumbalik 'yong pakiramdam na niloloko ka ng isang tao.