Ginny marches in, refusing to look back at the shirtless figure of Santi. She walks in, as if it's not her first time entering the unit.
His eyes just follow her in disbelief as she walks toward the living room.
INT. UNIT 923, DINING ROOM, GRAND OASIS TOWERS – DAY
SANTI
Julienne.
Ginny takes out all the food from the paperbag.
Santi watches her do it across the table, still not processing anything.
GINNY
Stop staring at me, Santi. Get a shirt na muna.
SANTI
Why are you here?
GINNY
Sainte said you're sick.
SANTI
Ah.
SANTI
Sorry. I'm—what?
Ginny brings her eyes to stare at him worriedly.
Santi stares back.
GINNY
May sakit ka raw. He said you're not feeling well. I figured I'd bring some food.
He scoffs and looks away, remembering what he did last night.
He clears his throat.
GINNY
(worried)
Oh, Santi, water? I'll get a glass.
SANTI
No na. I'm okay.
SANTI
I just didn't—
SANTI
Expect you here.
Ginny freezes.
She cracks a laugh.
And that catches Santi's gaze.
He stares at her for a couple of seconds.
GINNY
Ay. Oo nga. Sorry.
GINNY
I should've texted you muna. I'm sorry.
Santi helps Ginny unpack the food on the table.
SANTI
It's okay.
GINNY
Mag-clinic ka pa ba later?
SANTI
Yeah? Why?
GINNY
Baka mabinat ka naman?
Santi stops removing the tapes wrapping around the takeouts. His eyes remain on Ginny doing it without looking at him.
SANTI
(softly)
I'll be okay.
GINNY
Nag-temperature ka ba yesterday?
SANTI
No.
Ginny stops what she's doing.
She eyes him.
GINNY
And you call yourself a doctor.
Santi chuckles.
He presses his lips into a tight smile, seeing an annoyed Ginny.
SANTI
(smiling)
I'm sorry.
GINNY
(shaking her head)
Makulit ka pa rin pala after all these years.
GINNY
I'll get you a shirt. Mamaya lamigin ka pa. Ayaw mo kumuha. Where room mo?
SANTI
Door to the left when you walk out of the hallway.
GINNY
Okay.
GINNY
I'll get you a shirt... ha? Okay lang?
SANTI
Sure. Go ahead lang.
Ginny stops midway from taking a step.
GINNY
And a thermometer na pala. Nasa room din mo?
SANTI
Yup. Bedside.
Ginny smiles.
It magnets his gaze once again.
Santi feels his eyes warm at the sight.
GINNY
(smiling—softly)
Okay.
GINNY
(softly)
Eat ka na, ha? Maganda soup sa may sakit. May clinic ka pa pala later.
GINNY
I'll be back din kaagad. Mauna ka na.
But Santi sits still, elbows propped against the table, even as Ginny walks out of the dining room.
His eyes remain on the hallway she walked right through.
Julienne's perfume leaves a trace.
Santi looks away at its familiarity.
Santi feels his eyes warm.
His eyes, then, land on the ring on his finger.
His other hand touches it.
He smiles to himself with the warmth dissipating across his chest. And he brings his knuckles to wipe an escaping tear in the corner of his eye.
Because even for its brief moment, in four years,
he feels home.
YOU ARE READING
More of Nothing, Less of You
RomanceGinny married Santi at twenty-seven, barely knowing anything but love. A year later, Santi bought a three-storey house away from the city, standing still by the shore. Three years later, the house remained the same the way it was; lilac painted wall...
