After The Sunset

37

"You did well" sabi sa akin ng doctor na nakasama sa surgery.

"Thank you Doc!" sagot ko naman sa kanya. He smiled at me. 

Pagod akong nagpalit ng damit bago lumabas sa locker room. Overtime na naman. Pero ayos lang din dahil may first experience na ako sa pag-assist sa OR! I grabbed my things and left the hospital. Finally! It's the weekend! I was surprised to see Cede at the entrance of the hospital. I approached him. 

"Hi!" I chirped.

"Maggy..." tawag niya sa akin. I smiled at him.

"How are you?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"I am good. How about you?"

"Doing great!"

"Are you going home?"

"Yes"

"Ikaw ba? Uuwi ka na din?

"Hindi pa"

"You must be tired. Do you have a car with you? It's already late."

"I have one. I already know how to drive!" I said to him. Napangiti siya dahil sa sinabi ko. Dati hindi naman niya ako gustong turuan dahil siya nalang daw ang magiging driver ko habang buhay. Kaso nga lang things happened.

"Can I ask you out? Let's catch up" heto na naman tayo sa catching up. 

"Sure!"

"Can I get your number too? So I can message you.." ang bilis naman ng isang 'to! Kinuha niya ang kanyang cellphone at tinype ko ang number ko. Sinave naman niya iyon. "Thank you. Drive safely!" I nodded before going to the parking lot. What was that?

Dumaan muna ako sa subway para kumain. Gutom na gutom na talaga ako! Minessage ko si Mama tungkol sa unang experience ko sa operating room. I even sent her the picture. Baka mamaya pa niya makita iyon dahil panigurado abalang-abala siya. Dahil nagugutom pa din ako pagkatapos kumain sa subway ay dumaan pa ako ng KFC para mag-take out ng fried chicken at mashed potato. 

Unknown Number:

Are you home? This is Cede.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko dahil sa na-receive na text. Sinave ko ang number niya. Kaagad ko naman siyang rineplayan.

Ako: 

Almost

Cede:

Where are you? You should go home. It's already late.

Kanina pa siya sa go home na 'to. Mamaya ikaw ang iuwi ko eh!

Ako:

I'm eating. I don't have any food at home. 

Hindi ko na siya rineplayan pa kahit na tunog ng tunog ang cellphone ko. Ang mashed potato lang ang kinain ko. Agahan ko nalang ang fried chicken. Pagdating sa bahay I did my routine before going to bed. Dahil hindi pa ako dinadalaw ng antok, I searched some places where I can go tomorrow on my day off. Hindi rin kasi ako masyadong nakakapaglibot noon kahit na nandito sila Tito Mau. Masyado akong busy sa pag-aaral at part time job. Wala din naman akong mga kaibigan na makakasama sa paglilibot. Nang makakita ng particular spots, kaagad ko itong sinave. I'll check them out tomorrow. 

Bigla kong naisip si Cede. Should I ask him to go with me tomorrow? Pero paano kung may duty siya? I have so many questions in my mind. I want to make kwento with him about how the years went without him. After all, I am already healed. I have long accepted what happened before. There's no use if I will continue to be mad at him for doing that. He had his reasons and that's more than enough.

Cede:

You should eat a lot. You look skinny.

Cede:

Are you home?

Cede:

Text me when you are home.

I read his messages. I was shocked that he sent me those.

Ako:

I'm already home. Are you on duty tomorrow?

I waited for a few minutes before I got his reply.

Cede:

Yes. Why?

Ako:

In the morning?

Cede:

No. In the evening. 

Ako:

Can we meet?

Cede:

Just text me the place. You should sleep now. I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight Maggy.

I smiled after reading his text. I think I'm gonna have a good sleep tonight.