City Lights of the Avenues (Avenue Series #1)

xxix

∞ xxix ∞

"You're late, Doc Garcia."

My mouth was still slightly opened when I saw Aurelio in front of me. His cold gaze never changed even when he saw me. I wanted to tap my chest hardly. It was aching for a sudden reason!

"Engineer, siya po 'yung magiging kliyente niyo, si Doc Garcia," Jojo introduced me even though there's no use. We already know each other... before. That was before. I don't think we know the new us within each other.

"As for the discussion of your house, I'm afraid to say that we need to move our meeting anytime we are both free. I'll excuse myself for now," then he just walked and went inside his car.

My mouth were hung open while following his car getting away with my eyes. I blinked twice and scoffed. What the fuck did just happened?! I screamed in annoyance and looked at Jojo.

"Maghahanap tayo ng ibang Engineer," I told him.

"Pero Doc, si Engineer Fernandez na po ang tumanggap ng project. Baka mahirapan tayong maghanap ng ibang Engineer, saka sayang kapag hindi natin siya kukunin. Galing pa sa ibang bansa-"

"Wala akong pakialam!" I hissed. "Kahit guguho ang mundo, maghahanap pa rin tayo ng iba, naintindihan mo?"

Kinakabahan siyang tumango. "O-opo..."

I screamed in annoyance again before going inside my car. I can't believe I went here early just to find out our meeting will be moved?! Hindi ko naman alam na ganoon na siya ka-arogante! Imbes na konsensya ang maramdaman ko ay naging inis 'yon!

I scratched my brow while breathing heavily repeatingly. It's still early for my duty, so where should I go at this hour? I planned to go grocery since my stocks were already at limit, but since I'm already near the hospital, then I just decided to just take a duty and do the groceries later.

"Aga mo, ah," napalingon ako sa gilid nang may sumabay sa 'kin sa paglalakad malapit sa attendance machine. It's not really an attendance but an identification for the Doctors for their duties. "As far as I remember, mamayang ala una pa ang shift mo."

After I tapped my ID on the scanner, Santhe followed.

"Nagising lang nang maaga. Wala naman akong gagawin kaya rito na lang ako dumiretso sa ospital," it's half-true. It seemed like he bought it because he laughed.

"Napaka-grabe talaga ng dedikasyon mo sa pagiging doktor. Kung bored ka, rito ka naman talaga dumi-diretso kahit hindi mo naman shift."

Naglakad na kami papasok sa hallway. Hindi katulad kahapon, mabilis lang kaming nakapasok dahil wala nang masyadong media na nakaharang sa main entrance. Mukhang sapat na 'yung sinagot ng ibang doktor sa kanila, pero may iilan pa rin namang naghihintay roon para makasigurado.

Natawa ako ng mahina sa sinabi niya. "Hindi naman."

"Ano'ng 'hindi naman'? Kahit 'yung iba nating kasama alam nilang iba ka ma-bored."

Hindi na ako sumagot dahil hindi ko rin naman alam kung ano ang isasagot. I didn't even know that I was like that. Maybe because I was easily attached by the patients that's why I unconsciously go here even it's not my shift.