Chapter 8
Professional Advice
He has no idea why he said it. But picturing out her situation alone in her unit made him worry. He knows her wound from the surgery still hurts and she wouldn't be able to do quite much. Dahil baka dumugo o bumuka 'yong tahi ni Francine kapag pinilit niyang kumilos.
He didn't want to snoop around her unit either. He was just curious on how she was doing alone so he looked around. But he didn't see quite much because her unit was empty.
Halatang hindi gaano natitirhan at mukhang tulugan lang din ang purpose ng unit niya. He didn't notice that before when she invited him over the first time. But it felt empty.
The only thing that was in her fridge were pitchers of water, a lemon, and two carrots. Sa cupboard naman isang de lata ng pork and beans at dalawang spanish sardines ang nandoon. Ni wala rin siyang bigas at halos paubos na rin ang drinking water niya sa galon.
Her living room area had a mounted TV on the wall, a small coffee table and a bean bag. He figured she eats her food there because there's no table set at the dining area either.
And perhaps that was all okay for her and he's just worrying too much. Pero hindi niya rin matiis isipin na mag-isa lang si Francine doon tapos bagong opera pa siya. Surely she's going to do everything on her own, from chores to groceries. Lalo pa kasi ayaw niya ring umuwi sa bahay ng parents niya.
Nicco sighed. He didn't have any idea he'd spend his free time at the grocery, buying all the stuff on her list. Nagpapahinga't natutulog dapat siya ngayon.
But looking at her handwriting on a piece of paper feels like he's back in college again. Gagawa si Francine ng listahan ng kailangan niya sa grocery para masundan ang budget. Then she'll leave the rest to him because he's better at picking the right vegetables and fruits and poultry. Nagsasabi na lang siya dati kung anong ulam ang gusto niya at si Nicco na ang bahala sa pagkuha ng ingredients.
He missed that.
It was past eleven o'clock when he made it back to his unit. Sinalubong siya ng tunog ng exhaust fan. There was also a lingering smell of tocino and coffee.
"Hi! Sana okay lang na nagluto ako ng lunch. Nakita ko kasi may tocino ka sa freezer and eggs. Kaso hindi pa tapos maluto 'yong rice," sabi ni Francine nang pagbuksan siya ng pinto.
She was in the middle of washing some pans in the sink.
"Pahinga ka na, iwan mo na lang 'yan. Ako na d'yan mamaya," sabi ni Nicco sa kanya nang ibaba ang mga pinamili sa upuan.
"No, it's fine. Ito lang naman saka patapos na rin ako dito. Ikaw 'yong magpahinga na kasi wala ka pang decent sleep 'di ba? Tapos may duty ka ulit mamayang six."
He nodded. "Pero iwan mo na 'yan. Ako na lang mamaya. Baka mapasma ka rin."
Francine smiled. "Ayos lang. Pasmado naman na ako dati pa saka babanlawan ko na lang 'to."
Nicco stood beside her on the sink while she was rinsing off.
"Abot mo sa akin pagkatapos mong banlawan."
"Okay . . ."
Tahimik na binabanlawan ni Francine ang mga ginamit niya kanina para magluto, tahimik ring nilalagay ni Nicco sa lagayan ang mga 'yon matapos punasan.
Francine cleared her throat while she was wiping off some water splat on the edge of the sink.
"Thank you pala," sabi niya.
"For?"
"For letting me stay here. And sa pagkuha ng gamit ko sa condo kanina and pagbili ng ibang needs ko sa grocery."
"Ah . . . " Nicco smiled. "You're welcome pero wala 'yon."
And for some unknown reasons, he likes doing it too. Kahit pa inaantok siya.
Francine turned her gaze to him after wiping the sink, smiling back at him. "Thank you pa rin! Kain na tayo ng lunch? Para makapagpahinga ka na."
He nodded. "Sige."
He was the one who set the table for them. Especially when his plates were all in the bottom drawer. Nahihirapan din kasing yumuko si Francine dahil kumikirot 'yong sugat niya.
"Gumawa pala ako ng coffee for you. Tikman mo na lang if okay 'yong timpla. 'Pag hindi, add ka na lang ng milk or creamer," sabi niya kay Nicco.
He took a sip of the coffee she made for him. Napansin niya rin ang tingin ni Francine si kanya habang tinitikman niya 'yong kape.
He secretly heaved a breath when the familiar taste registered in his senses.
Gano'n na gano'n din kasi 'yong dati. He tried to replicate it for so many times but something was always lacking or sometimes, something was always too much.
And he missed her coffee, too.
"Okay lang ba?" she asked.
"Oo." He smiled.
"Sure? Hindi naman super tamis?"
"No. Sakto lang."
"Okay." Napatango si Francine. "May surgery ka ulit mamaya?"
"May isa. Assist ako do'n."
"Oh . . . mahirap ba ulit katulad no'ng kagabi?"
Nicco shook his head. "Hindi naman."
"I see."
"Ikaw ba? Wala kayong promotion ngayon para do'n sa upcoming film? Nabanggit mo kasi last time na katatapos lang ng shoot ninyo."
"Next week pa start ng promotion namin pero ang alam ko may mga naka-post ng teasers ngayon sa social media. Pero next week na 'yong interviews and guesting," sagot ni Francine.
"Kaya mo na ba next week?"
Francine wiped her lips before sipping on her water.
She shrugged. "I don't know. Ano bang advice mo, Doc?"
Nicco cracked a smile and she did, too. "Alam mo first time ko marinig sa hospital na Dr. de Silva tawag sa 'yo. Nakakapanibago pero bagay naman."
"Talaga? Bagay?"
She nodded. "Yup. Ang lakas kaya ng dating ng Dr. de Silva. Try mo."
"Hmm . . . Dr. de Silva?" he said.
"Bakit parang hindi ka sure? Try mo ulit 'yong parang tinatawag mo lang isang colleague mo."
"Dr. de Silva," he repeated. "Dr. de Silva, p'wede ba makipag-switch ng duty?" paggaya ni Nicco sa ibang kasamahan niya tuwing nanghihingi ng pabor para makipagpalit ng duty.
Francine chuckled. "Palagi ba silang nakikipagpalit sa 'yo?"
"Hindi naman. Minsan lang."
"Pumapayag ka?"
He nodded. "Oo. Valid din naman 'yong excuse nila sa akin every time nakikipagpalit sila."
"I see."
"Pero kaya mo na ba mag-promote next week?"
"It depends on your professional advice nga," sagot ni Francine.
"My professional advice?"
"Yes. Ikaw naman doctor dito and kaya ko kumilos kaunti. Tingnan mo nga o nakapagluto nga ako ng lunch natin," sabi ni Francine.
"I don't really recommend it kasi nasa recovering state ka pa. At least 2 weeks sana after your surgery before you do any work-related activities."
She nodded. "Okay."
"Okay?"
"I'll follow your advice since ikaw ang doctor. Kaya okay. I'll talk to my manager about it tomorrow na lang."
"Ah . . . sige. If kailangan mo ng any written document like medical certificate, sabihan mo na lang din ako. I'll make you one."
She smiled. "Okay, Dr. de Silva. Thank you."
Hindi nakasagot si Nicco do'n. There was something about her addressing him like that. So he just sipped on his coffee instead because he could feel his cheeks getting warm.
"Iwan mo na lang pala 'yong mga pinagkainan natin. Ako na maghuhugas," sabi ni Nicco.
"What? No. Ako na lang. Kailangan mo na matulog may surgery ka pa kamo later."
"Ako na maghuhugas. Ikaw na nagluto kanina," sagot ni Nicco.
Francine shook her head. "No," she said with finality. "Magpahinga ka na. Kaya ko maghugas ng plates. Nakatayo lang naman ako sa sink kaya I'm fine. And you have to rest. Makinig ka sa patient mo, Doc."
"Professional advice mo rin ba 'yan?"
"Yup! Professional advice of a concerned friend."