Brave Hearts

Kabanata 23

Oh my God! Alegre! They have the same surname!

"P-po? Sorry, Doc! I didn't—" he suddenly laughed, namula ako sa hiya roon pero umiling lang siya at kinumpas ang kanyang kamay sa akin.

"Oh no, Lia. It's okay." He chuckled at kinagat ko ang labi ko, nahihiya.

"Pasensya na, Doc." I said. "Nakakahiya tuloy..."

"No, it's okay." He chuckled again and nodded at me. "I'm glad you two get along."

"Mabait po siya, she even told me na if may problema o kailangan ako, I can contact her." I told him and he smiled, looking so pleased and happy.

"That's good, I'm happy you met her." He said. "I have kids too, Lia, halos kasing-edad mo lang sila."

"Talaga po?" I asked and he nodded.

"One is a doctor here too, hindi mo pa siguro nakikita kasi madalas ay nasa convention. I hope you'll meet them too."

"Sure po, I hope to meet them." I told him and he smiled, staring at my face again.

"I'm happy you grew up a strong woman," he suddenly said.

"Po?" I asked and he cleared his throat and spoke.

"I saw from your data, your mother died while you're studying in med school?" he asked and I nodded, remembering my mother. Medyo malungkot ay alam kong masaya naman na ang Nanay ngayon at nasa paligid lang, binabantayan ako.

"Yes po," I answered. "Heart problem, may Lolo at Lola pa po ako sa probinsya tapos wala na akong Tatay."

I saw him stopped for a while, he nodded and smiled a bit.

"Can I ask why?" he asked, tinatantya pa ako kaya tumango ako.

"Hindi ko po alam ang buong kwento pero nasabi sa akin ni Nanay na pinagbubuntis pa lang niya ako ay wala ang Tatay, iniwan kami." I felt a bit down telling it to him. "I haven't seen him or even knew his name."

Silence filled us after that, nakatitig lang siya sa akin kaya ngumiti ako.

"It's okay, Doc. Matagal naman na rin po iyon. Nanay did her best to raise me, she did a great job at siya na po ang tumayo kong Nanay at Tatay." I told him.

I saw his eyes soften, may napansin ako roon na hindi ko mapangalanan.

"Perhaps, do you hate your father?" he asked and it never occurred to me, saglit akong napaisip pero nagkibit-balikat.

"Hindi ko po alam, I'm thinking if I could hate someone I don't even know or what. Hindi ko na rin naman pong masyadong naisip kasi masaya na ako kay Nanay. Nga lang, minsan lang po naiisip ko kung nasaan siya no'ng kailangan ko siya." I said, trying to smile but ended up being quite emotional.

"No'ng nawala po ang Nanay, inisip ko...bakit niya kami iniwan para sa iba." I said and sighed. "But I got over it, malaki akong napaayos ni Nanay and if I'm mad at him? Hindi ko pa po masabi talaga dahil hindi ko pa siya kilala."

Natahimik siya saglit at napatitig sa akin bago nagsalita.

"You're a strong woman, Amalia. You're very brave." He smiled at me. "I know, wherever your mother might be, kung nasaan man ang Tatay mo, I know they're proud of you."

It touched my heart, napangiti ako roon at tumango.

"I hope so too, Doc."

"They are, trust me..." he said genuinely.

After a few minutes talking to Dr. Sean, I felt relaxed and comfortable. Kinumusta niya ang unit ko at kung komportable ako. He even told me about a volunteer work, pina-finalize pa ang details at gusto niya akong sumama dahil maganda raw sa credentials ko ito kaya kaagad akong um-oo.