“Ms. Venus, Mr. Sebastian is here to see you.” Gail said to Venus as Venus was busy working on something.
“What does he need? Okay let him in. Thank you Gail.” Venus said.
Gail left Venus’ office and then Martin suddenly appears.
“Mr. Herrera, what are you doing here?” Venus said to Martin.
“Henry told me to accompany you to the hospital since he’s a bit busy. He also told me you don’t like going to the hospital but according to Henry, you need to do this certain check up that you can’t do at home.” Martin said.
“Oh that’s today? I completely forgot.” Venus said then fixed her things and got her bag. “Okay I will go to the hospital now. But you can go back to your work Mr. Herrera. I can go to the hospital on my own.”
“But Henry told me to accompany you. Henry would get mad at me if I will not accompany you.”
“Mr. Herrera, I will be the one to get mad at you if you insist on taking me when I can go on my own. And between Henry and me, who’s the boss?”
“Fine. You’re the boss.”
Venus then went out of her office and said to Gail, “I don’t have any more meetings right?”
“Yes Ms. Venus.” Gail said.
“If that’s the case then I will go around to check some of our branches in Makati. I’m not sure if I would be able to come back since I still have to do something to do aside from that so just call me when you need something and just email me that the papers that I need to go through.”
“Okay Ms. Venus.” Gail said.
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Martin may have allowed Venus to go alone but secretly, he followed Venus to the hospital.
“Okay Ms. Steel. We’ll just call you when the results come out.” Martin heard the doctor say for Martin was just outside of the door of the doctor’s office.
When Martin then heard footsteps coming from inside, Martin immediately hid so that Venus would not see him. After a few seconds, he saw Venus passed by and went to the nursery where the newborn babies are. Martin immediately followed Venus. He then saw Venus looking so happy as she looks at the babies. It was the first time he saw Venus that happy.
“There’s no need to hide. You can come out Mr. Herrera. I know you have been following me.” Venus said.
“I was just concerned okay. I don’t want to leave since I know you don’t like being in hospitals.”
“Well, thank you for your concern Mr. Herrera. But you know me.”
“I know you can do everything on your own. But it’s different to have someone to just beside you. It’s different to let someone make you happy. Just like these babies, when you were watching them closely, it is the first time I have seen you so happy. Because you always look angry or sad. You always have this poker face. You know someone told me once, happiness comes in many forms — in the company of good friends, in the feeling you get when you make someone else’s dream come true, or in the promise of hope renewed. It’s okay to let yourself be happy because you never know how fleeting that happiness might be.”
Venus was about to say something but suddenly Grey appeared.
“Venus? Franc? What are you doing here?” Grey said.
“I was just visiting a friend.” Venus said.
“Me too but a different friend, he’s a doctor here.” Martin said.
“Wait, did Thea gave birth already? You should have called me so that I would be with you guys.” Venus said.
“Thea gave birth last night. I wasn’t able to call you because we’re already panicking.” Grey said.
“It’s okay. So how’s Thea and the baby?”
“They’re both fine. It’s a baby girl.”
“Wow. That’s very nice to hear.”
“You want to visit them right now?”
“Sure.”
“Let’s go.”
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“Sorry Thea. If I have known it sooner, I would have brought fruits. Don’t worry I would be back tomorrow to bring some food and things for the baby.” Venus said as soon as she saw Thea.
“It’s okay. But I am really glad that you are here. Thank you Venus.” Thea said.
“By the way, Hon, this is Franc Sebastian. The one I was talking to you about. He’s Venus’ friend.” Grey said.
“Congratulations and nice to meet you.” Martin said.
“So you’re Franc. Nice to meet you too. Thank you.” Thea said.
Suddenly, the nurse comes in with the baby.
“Here’s Baby Aya Marie.” The nurse said as she gives the baby to Thea.
Thea then held the baby and rocked him gently. Thea then gives the baby to Grey.
“What a cute baby girl.” Venus said.
“Do you want to hold her too?” Grey said.
“No. She looks very fragile. I don’t want to crush her.” Venus said.
“You’ll not. Don’t be afraid.” Grey said.
Grey then gives the baby to Venus for her to hold it. As Venus was holding the baby, Martin was thinking what Venus would be like as a mother. Will she be the strict one or the caring one?
*****************************************************************************************
Coming from the hospital, Venus said to Martin, “You might be tired from following me around today. I’m feeling generous today so I’ll treat you to dinner. Let’s go.”
They then went to this Korean restaurant near the hospital.
“A former Korean investor wanted to eat in a Korean restaurant here so we took him here. For someone told me this is one of the best authentic Korean restaurants in town.” Venus said as she and Martin were eating.
“I see.” Martin said.
After drinking Venus said to the waiter, “One more bottle of soju please.”
“You really like drinking. Aren’t you supposed to not drink when you have cancer?” Martin said.
“I’m going to die anyway so why bother take away from me the things I like.”
“But maybe by not drinking you will get well faster. Don’t you want to get well?”
“I want to but maybe I just got sick of being sick. So I will live my life according to how I want it.”
Venus then notices that Martin was already tipsy.
“Let’s play a game.”
“Okay.”
“One will say three statements. 2 of them should be truths and one of them should be a lie. And the other person should guess which one of those 3 statements is the lie. If the other person got it right, the one who said the three statements will drink but if not the person who guess will drink. Get it?”
“Yup. I’ll go ahead.”
“Okay.”
“So, three statements right? One is that I hate late people. Two, I am afraid of heights and three, I had pet snake once.”
“Well, my guess the lie is that you had a pet snake once.”
“Wrong. The lie is that I am afraid of heights. I love being in high places. And I really had a pet snake when I was a kid.”
“My turn.” Martin said after drinking his soju.
“Go.” Venus said.
“Well, I am afraid of cockroaches, I am afraid to die and I want to kiss you right now.”
Venus first took a shot of soju and said, “Well, I have to go with that you want to kiss me right now.”
Martin then smiles and pours some soju in Venus’ glass . He then leans and kisses Venus on the lips.
“Wrong.”
Venus was so surprised that as soon as she realized what was happening, she immediately slapped Martin.
“What was that about Mr. Herrera?” Venus said.
“We’re playing game right?” Martin said.
“Well that kiss was never part of the game.”
Venus then stands up, places money on the table and goes out of the restaurant.