The Playful Heartbeat

Chapter Seven

"Tatawagin ko lang muna si Ma'am Charlyn, hindi ko kasi pwedeng gisingin si Sir Chase dahil nagagalit siya kapag ginigising sa umaga." Aniya ng kasambahay pero bago pa man ako maka sagot, umakyat na siya ng hagdan. Mahigpit ang hawak ko sa aking bag habang nag dadalawang isip kung itutuloy ko pa ba ang trabahong ito. 

Nilibot ko ang aking paningin sa buong bahay at parang hindi pa ata kakasya sa mata ko ang sobrang laking tv nila. May naramdaman akong presensya sa aking likod kaya lumingon ako ngunit hindi siya pamilyar sa akin. She's dressed in a white long-sleeved blouse and brown trousers, with an iPad in her right hand and a handbag in her left. I wish I could also wear something other than this plain white uniform with the embroidered hospital name.

"Good morning, You are Nurse Aira, right?" Tumayo ako sa sofa para pormal siyang kilalanin 

"Yes, I am. May I also know your name?" Tanong ko rin at nakipag shake hands.

"I am Maggie, and I have been working for the Villanueva family for six years." Tumango ako at humanga sa kanya. She looks young but I think she's older than me. She must know a lot about their family since she's been working for them for six years. 

"You look so young and cool." I complimented her. She has long black hair, but I think she has some foreign genes. 

"I also admire you for accepting this job. The schedules for Sir Chase for today are in the email I sent you. I am looking forward to work with you." Wow, she's very nice and professional when she speaks. Nakarinig na kami ng yapak mula sa hagdan and it's Ma'am Charlyn wearing her black long-sleeved dress. 

"Good morning, It's nice to see you together." She greeted us with a smile. "Aira, nakalimutan kong sabihin sayo na you can just wear formal attire when you and Chase are going to work since not a lot of people are aware of his condition, but it's okay to wear the uniform if you guys are in a private place like here at home. I also prefer if you wear other attire that is comfortable since it must be tiring to be in that uniform everyday." She explained. Hindi ko rin naisip iyon. Hindi pa nga pala alam ng lahat ang kondisyon niya if I am wearing this uniform while we're together, it will shock other people. 

"Sorry po, nakalimutan ko. Meron naman po akong extrang damit na susuotin." I answered

"No, don't be sorry, please. I and Maggie are going on a business trip, and I don't know when we will be going back, but we will try to go back on this day if we can. Please take charge of my son. I know that he's a pain in the ass, but he's also sweet." This is more like babysitting since sometimes Chase acts like a child. 

"Mag-iingat po kayo sa biyahe. I'll try my very best to extend my patience." Marami pa kaming napag-usapan ni Ma'am Charlyn at Maggie and we even had some coffee. Pinag-usapan din namin na baka may magpakilala sa akin na iba't ibang babae bilang girlfriend niya. He is a flirt. Saka ko lang namalayan ang oras nang makaalis na sila. Kailangan ng i-take ni Chase ang gamot niya for this morning. Hindi pa ba siya gising? I asked the maid kung saan ang kwarto niya since I need to wake him up. 

"Sir" I can't believe I am calling this flirt a 'sir' "You need to wake up, may gamot kang kailangang inumin" Gumalaw lang ng kaunti ang katawan niya na tinatakpan ng comforter 

"Wake up, you need to take your medicine." Bumaling ang tingin ko sa malaking kurtina kaya hinawi ko ito para pumasok ang liwanag sa kwarto niya. Nagagalit nga ba talaga siya kapag ginigising? Tinignan ko siya ulit at nakaupo na siya sa kama habang masama ang tingin niya sa akin, galit talaga siya dahil ginising ko siya? 

"Galit ka ba kasi ginising kita? You need to eat your breakfast and take your medicine." Huminga siya ng malalim at ginulo ang sarili niyang buhok 

"You think I'm mad at you because you woke me up?" Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya, eh masama naman kasi siya kung tumingin. 

"I'll just change my clothes sa guest room at maligo ka na dahil may office ka ngayon" Kinuha ko na ulit ang bag na nakalapag sa sahig at lalabas na sana ng kwarto niya pero nagsalita pa siya ulit 

"Just change here" Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin sa sinabi niya "What I mean is I have a bathroom" Hindi ko siya sinagot at lumabas na ng kwarto niya para sa guest room na mag bihis 

"That's so unprofessiona-- OMG!" Nagulat ako pagsara ko ng pinto dahil nandito pala sa labas si Sophia 

"Good morning, is my kuya still sleeping?" Tanong niya na parang hindi ako nagulat. Kinagat ko muna ang ibabang labi ko bago sumagot. 

"H-hindi, ginising ko  na siya" Nanlaki ang mata  niya sa sinabi ko

"Ginising mo siya? He's not mad about it? Did he cursed you?" She's overreacting. Takot ba silang gisingin si  Chase? Hindi naman siya nagalit. 

"No, not at all. I just opened his curtain." This time ay bumilog naman ang bibig niya sa sinabi ko 

"You even opened his curtain? Woah, you are really not just a nurse." Pumasok siya sa kwarto ni Chase habang may gulat pa rin sa mukha. Maybe I was just lucky earlier. Baka pag ginising ko na siya bukas, tuluyan na siyang  magalit. I walked inside the guest room and started changing my clothes into baggy jeans and a brown sweater, and I had my hair in a ponytail. 

I think my clothes are very casual for wearing them to the office, but what can I do? Ito lang ang dala ko. I just plan to wear this later after my duty because I am going to meet Tita Elynna this evening. Inayos ko munang inilagay ang uniform ko sa bag bago lumabas sa guest room. Dumiretso na ako sa kusina para ma check kung meron bang hindi dapat kainin sa  breakfast na inihanda para sa kanya. 

"They might say I am dating a college student" Lumingon ako kay Chase na palapit sa dining table and he is looking on my outfit.

"I have no choice. Kanina lang ako na informed about dress code." Pinipilit kong maging nice habang sinasagot siya 

"So you agree that I look like dating you?" Wala ng  matutunguhan ang usapan kung sasagutin ko pa siya kaya kinuha ko na ang mga medicine na kailangan niyang inumin. "Join me for breakfast" Binaling ko ulit ang tingin ko sa kanya, bakit ba hindi nalang  niya asikasuhin ang pagkain niya?

"Kumain na ako. I even had coffee with your mother." Tumango naman siya sa sinabi ko. Bigla nalang siyang nangalumbaba at tumitig sa akin habang kinakagat ang tinapay na hawak niya. He looks like doing a commercial, but what the hell? 

"Can you eat properly please?" Nagpipigil kong inis na saad sa kanya 

"I am eating properly while enjoying my beautiful scenery." I admit that my heart skipped a beat when he said that, pero napalitan kaagad ng inis ang nararamdaman ko and it's better to feel that way. 

"Chase" May pagbabanta kong sambit ng pangalan niya 

"Fine" Inayos niya na ang pagkain. I keep on staring at him habang kumakain siya and asking myself na why does he keep on wasting time? He can get a surgery sa US if he want to and nandiyan naman ang parents niya para patakbuhin ang negosyo. There's no reason for him to wait hanggang sa tuluyang manghina ang katawan niya. 

"Did you get home safely last night?" Napaiwas ako agad ng tingin nang mag angat siya ng tingin sa akin 

"Obviously" Tugon ko. Kahit pa na hindi ko siya tinitignan, ramdam ko ang munting pag ngisi niya. He caught me staring at him, and it's not in a romantic way, but why did he smile? 

"You should have let me bring you home last night." Nahihiya ako kapag naaalala ko ang nangyari kagabi, bakit kailangan pa niyang i-bring up?

"I can handle myself. You had a date last night. Sir Chase, if you will date a girl in the middle of the night, bring her home safely. She needed you more last night because she's obviously cold and her feet hurt." Bumuntong hininga pa siya sa sinabi ko, tama naman ang sinabi ko ah?

"Pwede naman natin siyang sabay ihatid. I am not dating her, okay? I just met her at the party and we just have a small talk." He doesn't have to explain that. I am not interested  about his love life. 

"Okay, take your meds." Pag-iiba ko ng  usapan at inabot sa kanya ang dossete box kung saan naka bukas na ang compartment kung nasaan ang pill na iinumin niya.

"I still want you to need me, though." He whispered.