"What is it?"
Agad kong nilahad ang kamay kay Ember pagkabalik niya ng pwesto namin. In the midst of celebration, she received a call from her senior, I suppose. She excused herself from the table to answer the call and now she's back after ten minutes.
She gave her hand to me and took her seat beside me. Bahagya niya akong hinarap at ngumuso. Bahagya akong nagtaas ng kilay dahil may ideya na ako kung tungkol saan ang tawag.
"We'll have to cancel our plans. I need to go back tomorrow," she whispered.
I sighed and squeezed her hand. "Duty calls?"
"Yeah," she pouted a little. "I'm sorry."
"It's fine," tinaas ko ang malayang kamay at hinawi ang takas na buhok sa kaniyang mukha. "Balik na lang tayo sa susunod. After your residency perhaps? Ilang buwan na lang din naman."
"Yes. I'll arrange my schedule. Sorry love," she squeezed my hand this time.
"No need to apologize, Doc. I understand," I smirked and fought the urge to kiss her in front of other visitors.
Dumalo kami sa kasal ng isang kaibigan dito sa Cagayan. I was one of the groomsmen, and Ember was one of the bridesmaids. Fortunately, our schedule coincided with the wedding date, so we were able to attend. We were planning to stay longer and tour around Cagayan, for we could not do that for the past years, but now, I don't think we can do that either.
She's in her last year of residency in emergency medicine, and she's got more responsibilities now. She has to make sacrifices and put duty first. I understand that because I have been there. So whenever there are plans we made that need to be canceled due to duty calls, I always understand
"Anong oras gusto mong bumiyahe bukas?" Tanong ko.
"Kahit tanghali o hapon na. You might have a hangover," she raised a brow.
"Hindi naman ako iinom ng marami," ngumiti ako.
She rolled her eyes at me. "Sa tanghali na lang tayo bumiyahe. I need to report by early morning the next day."
Ngumisi ako kay Axev habang naglalakad palapit sa lamesa nilang mag-asawa. Umiling siya at ngumisi pabalik. Tumayo siya nang makalapit ako habang ngumiti naman 'yong asawa niya sa akin.
"Akala ko tumakas ka na," aniya. "Kanina ka pa hinahanap nina Brett. Inuulan ka ng ng kantyaw kanina."
"Umuwi kami saglit para makapag-palit ng damit. Nakatulog si Ember sa pagod kaya medyo natagalan," I replied. "Nasaan sila?"
Iginala niya ang paningin sa malawak na hardin at tinuro ang pinaka-dulong lamesa, kung nasaan ang mga ibang kaibigan namin. Umiling ako at tumawa nang makitang nakataas na ang kamay ni Brett para sa akin.
"Sige, maiwan ko muna kayo. Are you going to join the fun or...?" I left the question hanging and glanced shortly at his wife.
"I'll see. My wife's tired, and it's around midnight." He replied.
"Alright, married guy," I smirked. "The first night is always important."
Tumawa siya at umiling. "Parang may experience ah?"
"Malapit na," ngumisi ako at tinapik siya sa balikat.
Iniwan ko siya at agad nagtungo sa lamesa nina Brett. Agad nila ako inulan ng kantyaw at mura, sa pag-aakalang hindi na ako sisipot pagkatapos umalis. Ilan lang naman kami sa lamesa. Mga kaibigan at mga nakakasama palagi sa basketball no'ng nasa kolehiyo pa.
"Sunod sunod na nagpapakasal ngayon, ah? Kailan kaya tayo?" Tumawa si Brett, na sinundan ng mga parehong hindi pa kasal sa amin, kagaya ko.
"Sinagot ka na ba?" Pambabara ni Camden sa kaniya. "Pa-sagutin mo muna, bago mo isipin ang kasal."
