Chapter 03
"What?" I asked when I saw both my parents staring at me with her brows furrowed.
"Nothing," Mama replied as she reached for her cup of coffee. "You look beautiful today."
"Hindi ba ako maganda araw-araw?" I asked as I pouted a little. I saw how Papa shook his head as he reached for his newspaper. Every day, these two would get breakfast together, no matter how busy they both might be. They said na minsan kasi busy sa business na hindi sila nagkikita sa gabi, so it's a must for them to have breakfast together. Back when we were younger, it was a family tradition. But now, Rhys has his own life and I am always in the hospital, so it became a Sunday dinner tradition instead.
"Of course you are, my baby girl," Mama said. "But if I may ask, is this because of Chester?"
I felt my cheeks heating up when she asked me that. Narinig ko iyong pagtawa ni Mama. Hindi ko naman alam na kilala pala siya ng parents ko! Seriously, how busy was I na hindi ko alam na kapatid pala ni Cha si Chester! Ganoon ba ako kawalang pakielam sa nangyayari sa paligid ko? Mama was so surprised to see Chester yesterday. Pinilit ko kasi siya na instead na maggrab siya pabalik sa resto, pinahatid ko siya sa driver. Nakakahiya kasi. He was wearing pambahay pa nga. Mukhang ginulo lang siya ni Iñigo para puntahan ako. He looked like he was ready to sleep. Buti pinapasok siya sa resto, come to think of it.
"We're just friends," I said. I mean... maybe? Hinatid niya ako last night... but one could argue that it was because Iñigo asked him to. But he could've left me after we got out of the resto... but he insisted na ihatid ako sa bahay.
No. I shouldn't overthink things! First, dapat ko munang malaman if may girlfriend siya kasi if meron, no matter how much the mere thought of him was making me blush, I would stop immediately. I didn't want to be a villain in someone's love story—the same way na ayoko na may kontrabida sa akin.
"If you say so..." Mama said with a grin.
I frowned. "I do say so," I replied before I kissed them goodbye because may duty ako ngayon.
Before I went to work, dumaan muna ako sa coffee shop and got two coffees. I didn't know why I kept on practicing saying thank you. I'd been saying that phrase since I was a child. Growing up, my parents would always remind me how they love me and how blessed we are and how we should always be thankful. I guess na nasanay na ako magthank you palagi. Not to do so makes me feel weird.
"Good morning!" I greeted everyone na makasalubong ko. Paikut-ikot lang ako sa hospital. I forgot to ask kung saang department dito si Chester. Ang bilis lang kasi nung drive kagabi at saka ang tahimik niya lang. He wouldn't talk unless I talk first, so instead, I just stared at him while he was concentrating on driving.
I had always loved how huge St. Matthew's is... but at this exact moment, I disliked how huge it was dahil hindi ko makita kung nasaan si Chester. But maybe hindi niya duty today?
"Hi!" I greeted April, one of the nurses here.
"Good morning, dokie," she greeted back.
"Can I ask something?"
April leaned in. "Chismis ba, dokie?"
I laughed. "No," I said. "But... do you know Dr. Viste?" I asked.
She looked at me and grinned. "Nako, dokie, ha... Bakit?"
I shrugged. "Nothing. Just curious."
"Kunwari naniniwala ako, dokie," sabi niya sa 'kin. "Pero sa general 'yon."
I nodded, acting disinterested, or at least not that interested, but April knew me too well! She knew that I love love! Ano pa ang sense ng pagpapanggap na hindi?
"Single?" I asked because it's super important to check if single!
"Feeling ko, dokie," she replied. "Pero 'di kasi ma-chika 'yon kaya 'di rin verified. Ask mo na lang! Mabait naman daw 'yon 'di lang machika."
"Okay. Thank you, April!" I said. In the end, I gave her the coffee na lang and hindi ko na nahanap pa si Chester because duty called.
* * *
It had been an eventful day. Flu season kaya ang daming may sakit na bata. It was tiring, but very fulfilling. Kahit na tinutukso ako ni Rhys na wala akong pera, I didn't really care. I love what I am doing. And I'm not doing this for the money naman because if I am doing this for money? I would have quit the first day of med school. Ang hirap kaya! Halos mabaliw ako sa dami ng memorization.
At the end of my shift, I was yawning on my way to get my coffee. I needed coffee to keep me awake. Ayoko magdrive na inaantok. Back when I was doing my ER rotation, half ata nun ay road related accident. Since then, I'd been more careful whenever I am driving.
I was midyawn nang mapa-tigil ako dahil nakita ko na napa-tingin din sa direction ko si Chester. Gosh! Sa lahat naman ng opportunity na makita niya ako, doon pa sa naka-bukas nang malaki iyong bibig ko!
Mabilis kong isinara iyong bibig ko. I forced a smile as I waved at him. He was wearing his coat with his scrubs underneath. May hawak din siya na board. Mukhang may binabasa siya before siya mapatingin sa gawi ko.
Chester slightly nodded at me. Tama nga si April—hindi siya machika. It meant na ako dapat iyong chumika kasi if wala, ano ang mangyayari sa aming dalawa?
"Hi!" I said as I walked towards him. Hindi naman siguro weird kasi doon din naman talaga ako dadaan since iyon iyong way palabas ng hospital kasi bibili ako ng coffee.
"Hello," he replied. Napatitig ako sa naka-stitch sa pocket ng coat niya. Chester Viste, MD. So weird na ngayon ko lang nalaman na magkapatid sila! But come to think of it, no wonder magkapatid nga sila ni Cha... Parehong matipid sa words. But I hoped that like Cha na give it some time at magiging madaldal din. I mean, given the right topic, ang dami-dami kaya sinasabi ni Cha.
"Thank you pala ulit sa pagpunta," I told him.
He gave me a small nod once again. It was starting to seem like this was his favorite response. "Naka-usap mo na si Iñigo?" he asked.
"Not yet," I replied. We already agreed to meet this Sunday afternoon, though. Doon ko sasabihin sa kanya lahat ng nangyari nung date ko. Okay lang naman sa akin na sabihin kay Iñigo kasi sure ako na hindi niya sasabihin kay Rhys. Siguro sa lahat ng tao sa buhay ko, kay Rhys ko pinaka-ayaw na sabihin kasi for sure he'd make a really big deal out of it. Pero okay naman ako and wala akong plano na makita ulit 'yung Patrick na 'yon. Also, wala akong plano makipagdate in the near future...
Muli siyang tumango. "Okay," he replied. "Just asking kasi nag-aalala 'yon."
"Oh, I know," sabi ko sa kanya. "He must've pestered you na puntahan ako."
"Hindi naman," he replied tapos ay bahagyang tumingin sa hawak niyang papel. It looked like he was working. I wanted to to leave to give him time to work but at the same time, it seemed like ang hirap niyang hanapin sa ospital na 'to so I wanted to cherish this moment. I was torn!
"Kasi you looked like you just got out of bed nung pinuntahan mo ako."
Napa-tingin siya sa akin na bahagyang nakakunot ang noo. "Di naman ako nakapajama."
"So nakapajama ka kapag natutulog?" I asked, suddenly intrigued by the idea of a grown man like him wearing pajamas. Kasi kahit si Rhys kapag natutulog 'yun ang suot niya lang 'yung PE shorts from college and random white shirt.
"Hindi," he replied.
"But why would you say na nakapajama ka?"
He shrugged. Mukhang kailangan ko mas magexert ng effort! Ang tipid naman nito sa salita! Should I ask about his car now? Pero baka 'wag na lang kasi judging on how he acted, it seemed like he was aware na maraming basura sa sasakyan niya. He seemed ashamed about it even kasi pinilit niya na sa car ko na lang kami.
I was still in the middle of thinking of a new topic na pwede naming pag-usapan. Worse comes to worst, I was going to ask him about his sister!
Pero hindi pa man ako nakakapagsalita, his phone vibrated. He looked at me as he put his phone back in his pocket.
"Ten," he said.
Kumunot ang noo ko. "Ten?"
"Ten times ka ng nagpapasalamat sa akin," he replied. "I was not inconvenienced. I'm glad I came just in time, Grace," he added before he did a little wave to signify na aalis na siya.
I knew he meant that he came just in time to save me from my disastrous night, but judging by the way my heart was beating inside my chest? Gosh... ito na ba iyong sinasabi nila Rhys na kapag alam mo, alam mo?
At ngayon na alam ko na... what do I do?!
* * *
"Problema mo?" Iñigo asked habang naka-kunot ang noo.
"Before ako magkwento, I have to ask something. And you have to promise me something."
He eyed me. "Illegal ba 'yan?"
I rolled my eyes. "Kailan ako gumawa ng illegal, ha?"
"Naalala mo nung college ka nung may dinowload ka na libro—"
My eyes widened. "That was a time of need!" I told him kasi kailangan ko na talaga iyong book and wala akong mabilhan na makakapagdeliver on time. "And nagsend ako ng bayad sa mismong author!"
Tumawa siya. "Still, I am within reason to ask kung illegal ba iyong ipapagawa mo sa akin."
I frowned at him. "So mean."
Tumawa ulit siya. "Ano ba kasi 'yon?"
Huminga ako nang malalim. "Promise me first na hindi mo sasabihin kay Cha."
"Nako... Delikado 'yan."
"Hindi 'to illegal, promise."
"Pero 'di ko pwedeng sabihin kay Cha?"
"Yes."
"Pag-aawayan ba namin 'to?"
"I don't think so?"
"Ayoko ng 'di sure. Hirap kaaway nun."
"I mean, I am sure na 'di niyo pagaawayan," I replied kasi hindi ko maisip kung bakit nila pag-aawayan kaming dalawa ni Chester, if ever.
"Okay, fine," he said.
Huminga ako nang malalim ulit. "So... I have to ask—" I paused. "Promise me first muna pala na hindi mo sasabihin kay Cha."
Iñigo rolled his eyes before he raised his hand. "I promise. Okay na?"
I nodded. "So... single ba si Chester?"
Iñigo was drinking his coffee nang biglang lumabas sa ilong niya iyong coffee sa pagkabigla. Mabilis ko siyang inabutan ng tissue. Grabe naman! It's not that shocking!
"Ano?" he asked as he was wiping his nose. "Bakit mo tinatanong? Grabe naman, Graciella Rae! Pinasundo lang kita, nainlove ka na agad?"
I glared at him. "In love agad ka d'yan!"
"E bakit ka nagtatanong?"
"Di pwede crush muna?"
So crush mo nga?"
I frowned at him. "Can't you just answer my question? Hindi ako client mo, okay? No need to interrogate me," sabi ko sa kanya kasi I felt like we're one step away from this being a cross-examination.
Tumawa siya. Sumandal siya sa upuan at saka nagcross arm. "Hindi ko alam kung may girlfriend," he replied with a small laugh. "Gusto mo ba tanungin ko?"
"If you ask, malalaman niya na ako nagtatanong!"
"Ayaw mo ba malaman niya?"
"Hindi ko alam," I replied, groaning. "Baka kasi may girlfriend. Ayoko maging epal," I added. I remember pa na sinabi ni Cha sa akin before na akala niya may something kami ni Iñigo. Ang tagal ko nagexplain nun na walang something! I really had to convince her kasi ayoko na isipin niya na may kaagaw siya kasi nakakapraning kaya 'yon.
"E pano ko malalaman?" he asked. "Di ko pwede itanong kay Cha pati kay Chester. 'Di naman ako manghuhula," natatawang sabi niya.
"Return the favor. Tanungan din ako ng friends natin kung single ka," pagpapaalala ko sa kanya dahil sa nakakalitong 'housemate' status nila ni Cha.
Natatawa siya. "Sabihin mo nga may selosang housemate ang status ko."
I frowned at him. "Come on... Can't you... research?"
"Di ako detective. Wala rin akong database sa kung sino ang single sa mga tao sa paligid ko," sabi niya na natatawa. "Tanungin mo na lang kasi kung single. Kailan ka pa nahiya sa ganyan?"
I rolled my eyes. "Parang sinasabi mo naman na makapal ang mukha ko," I said and he nodded, this jerk!
"Bakit? Crush na crush mo ba kaya umuurong iyong kapal ng mukha mo, Gracey?"
"Hindi—"
"Fine. Try natin ngayon," sabi ni Iñigo kaya naman napakunot ang noo ko... na mabilis napalitan ng panlalaki ng mga mata nang bigla niyang sabihin iyong "Chester" sabay kaway sa kung sinuman ang nasa likuran ko.
**
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