Number Fifty Two
Seven's (Seoul, Korea) (Hangul)
Dapat ba kong maging masaya na walang reporters na naggugulo sakin at wala ring tao na nakasunod sakin everywhere I go? Nakakalabas na nga ako ng bahay kahit pa walang disguise but no one tried kahit isang beses na lapitan ako. Bumalik na ko sa bahay ko than staying in Lex's condo. Bakit pa kung hindi ko naman na kailangang magtago?
"Sir Seven san po kayo pupunta?"
Napahinto ako sa paglabas ng bahay ngayong gabi ng tanungin ako ng maid ko all of a sudden.
"Out" tipid kong sagot.
"Sir sabi po ni Manager Rica wag daw po kayong palalabasin"
"And why not?"
"Delikado daw po baka kung anong mangyari sa inyo"
"Ako ng bahala kay Rica"
"Pero Sir Seven--"
"You should be following my orders okay? Don't mind her"
Hindi ko na sya pinansin. Lumabas na ko ng bahay and instead na gamitin ang kotse, nagpasya kong magcommute na lang. Wala din naman akong particular place na pupuntahan. Gusto ko lang maglakad lakad.
When I took the subway, wala man lang pumansin sakin. Para bang kinalimutan na ko ng lahat. How pathetic. Mahigit isang buwan na rin pero wala paring nagbago sa sitwasyon ko. Maybe I really deserve a punch from that stalker more than a month from now.
Napadpad ako sa Hongdae area kung saan may mga street musicians na nagpeperform either by group, duo or all by themselves. Buti pa sa kanila may gustong manuod. Nakuha ng isang pair na lalaki ang atensyon ko sa dahil sa dami ng nanonood. Siguro magaling talaga sila. I stayed at the back watching them pero in the end, nabored lang din ako kasi their voices are somewhat ordinary. Nang mapagod ako sa pagtayo, umalis na ko sa crowd at nagdecide na maglakad lakad na lang.
(click!)
Napatingin ako sa paligid ng makarinig ng tunog ng camera shutter. I caught a guy hiding in a nearby tree trunk na agad naman pumuslit bago ko pa malapitan. Tss paparazzi. Hindi na ko magtataka kung may mabasa na naman akong article about me wandering the streets of Hongdae dahil wala na kong music career. Every now and then kasi may write-ups akong nababasa tuwing naglalakad lakad ako sa labas at lahat negative. I know that's what worries Rica all the time.
"Annyeong!" napatingin ako sa boses ng babae malapit sakin. "Care to sing with me?"
"Huh?"
I saw a young teenager na babae in nerdy eyeglasses na may hawak na gitara sa may sidewalk. She's not really a nerd but she looks plain and not flashy unlike nung duo na kala mo nasa concert stage sa kinang ng suot. Am I staring at her for quite sometime now? Hindi ko kasi pansin kakaisip sa paparazzi kanina.
"Ikaw lang kasi ang gustong manuod sakin"
I took a quick glance all over the place at nakita kong ako nga lang ang nakatayo sa harap nya since most of the people gathered on that duo few meters from us.
"Hindi mo ba ko nakikilala?"
"You're Seven Lee right?" I nodded. "Sabi ko na eh! Baka kasi kako namamalikmata lang ako haha. Ang swerte ko naman ngayong gabi! Oh I'm a big fan!"
"F-Fan?"
"Yep! Ang ganda kasi ng music mo"
Her shining eyes behind her thick eyeglasses, her smile and her words bring me hope.
"Sigurado ka bang gusto mong kumanta kasama ako?"
"Bakit naman hindi?"
"Hindi ka ba natatakot that I can pull you...down?"
"Not at all. May mas down pa ba sakin na ni isa walang gustong manood at makinig? Hahaha"
Lumapit na ko this time sa inuupuan nyang foldable chair saka naupo sa semento beside her.
"Naku wag kang maupo jan! Dito ka na lang sa upuan--"
"I'm fine. Sit still okay?"
"O sige na nga kahit nakakahiya. Ako nga pala si Han Ju-hee"
"Nice to meet you Ju-hee. So what should we do?"
"Ah! I'll sing one of your songs!"
"Which one?"
"I'm going crazy"
Of all the songs, bakit yun pang kanta ko kay Sujin? Naman. Eh lahat naman ng kanta ko para sa kanya eh. Kaso bakit yun pang kanta nung nagbreak kami? Sabagay that's my last hit song bago ako nawala.
"Seven?"
"Ha? Ah sige yun na lang. I'll do some second voice. I can play the guitar for you too"
"Sure!"
She handed me the guitar she's holding. I started to strum the guitar. When she starts singing, nagulat pa ko how cool her voice is. I can even say na mas deserving pa syang panoorin kesa sa dalawang lalaki kanina. Paminsan minsan nagse-second voice ako and I'm surprised how she complements my voice so well to think na panglalaki yung I'm going crazy.
"Ui si Seven oh!"
Nagkatinginan pa kami ni Ju-hee in the middle of the song ng may university girls na napadaan sa harap namin.
"Tara na. Di na sikat yan kaya kahit sa newbie nakikikanta na lang"
"Ang harsh mo naman, Min-ji"
I tried so hard na hindi magpaapekto sa narinig ko. Bat ba di pa ko masanay sanay? Naramdaman ko ang pagdantay ng kamay ni Ju-hee sa balikat ko saka sya bahagyang umiling at ngumiti habang patuloy sa pagkanta. We played a couple more songs that she picked which are usually mine before she called it a night.
"I enjoyed jamming with you, Ju-hee"
Tinulungan ko syang bitbitin yung gitara nya habang papunta kami sa subway station since may dala syang foldable chair at backpack.
"Me too! Gustong gusto ko talaga mga kanta mo, Seven. Yung mga classmates ko nga ayaw na ko pakantahin kasi puro yun ang kinakanta ko kahit di pangbabae haha"
"Why?"
"I can deeply feel the melody kasi. Naka loop nga sa phone ko yung songs mo tingnan mo" pinakita nya sakin ang phone nya at nakita kong nagsasabi nga sya ng totoo. "Lalo pa nung nagbreak kami ng boyfriend ko haha"
"Ju-hee"
"Ano yun?"
"Why are you not indifferent to me?"
"Ha?"
"I mean wala na kong fans dahil sa nangyari pero bakit para ka paring number one fan ko?"
"Haha bakit naman hindi? Pag fan ka naman diba dapat suportahan mo ang idol mo kahit anong mangyari? Dapat ka parin maniwala sa idol mo lalo pa kung wala na syang pwedeng ipagmalaki. Dapat nandun ka parin para suportahan sya all the way. Diba?"
I suddenly stopped walking. She's full of hope. I can see that time again in years nung nagsisimula pa lang ako. I was like her na kahit may isa o dalawang nanonood sakin masaya na ko. But with her, kahit walang nanonood sa kanya she still gives her best na para syang nagpeperform sa libo libong tao.
"Seven?"
"Ju-hee"
"Feel na feel mo ata ang pangalan ko at tawag ka ng tawag sakin haha"
"Thank you"
"Ha?"
"Tuloy mo lang ang pagkanta okay? You have a voice to die for so don't give up on dreaming"
Nakita kong natulala sya sa harap ko which worries me. Hinawakan ko sya sa magkabilang balikat.
"Bakit, Ju-hee?"
"Ah haha wala naman. Bigla ko lang kasi naalala na nung bata pa ko, I heard that same remarks from someone"
"Kanino?"
"Hindi ko na matandaan ang pangalan nya dahil bata pa ko nun but she inspired me to sing just like you. Maganda syang babae. A teenager with that pretty green eyes"
Green...eyes?
Nang maghiwalay na kami ng daan ni Ju-hee, umuwi na din ako sa bahay but her thoughts still litters in my mind. I decided to send an email to that stalker.
To: Three Month Stalker
Message: I don't know if I'll be able to make a comeback again now that it's barely more than a month and the deal will end. However, my inspiration is coming back slowly. I don't care about the punch if I'll see you right in front of my doorstep soon. But let me tell you stalker...the music in me is still beating. I'm not giving up--ever. I'll continue singing even if it's just that young girl I met tonight or that doctor I made a promise that are going to watch me perform. Music is hope. I hope it will reach a cold-blooded you as well.
I sent the email with a smile.
----------
Nine's
"How's your surgery, Dr. Grey?"
"Excellent" he gave me a confident grin habang tinatanggal ang face mask nya. "Napadaan ka? Oh my scheduled surgery kadin?" he replied as he glanced me from head to toe.
"Yeah. Can't help it. Kulang sa tao eh. Pero in an hour pa naman"
"If I know gustong gusto mo naman na nasa operating room haha. Tara kain muna tayo"
"Kaya nga ako nandito eh"
"Bah. Hindi na ko ang sumundo sayo this time. Bago yan ah haha"
He chuckled as we walk away from the operating room.
"Minsan lang naman pagbigyan mo na haha"
"I'm glad. Nga pala, di ko pa namemeet fiance mo ah. Mahigit isang buwan na ko dito di pa sya nagpapakita"
Come to think of it simula nung umalis si John, ni hindi na rin sya nagparamdam sakin. Ang alam ko lang bumalik sya sa States dahil sa trabaho.
"I don't know. Baka busy"
Pagdating namin sa hospital canteen, kumuha agad ako ng tray saka nag-order ng pagkain. Nasa likod ko naman si Justin.
"How did you treat him ba?"
"So conyo"
"Hahaha. Parang sya hindi. Ano nga kasi?"
"Cold"
"Kaya naman pala eh"
"Busy ako that time eh"
"Busy o nagpapakabusy? Magkaiba yun, Nine"
"Tse! Tigilan mo nga ako"
Tinawanan nya na lang ako hanggang sa makaupo na kami sa apatang table ng cafeteria. I'm already indulging my food ng magsalita si Justin.
"Ginagawa mo kasing complicated ang buhay mo eh"
"My life's always been complicated, Dr. Grey"
"Not when you were still Shanine Torres"
That's why I never wanted to be Nine again. Being Shan Torres made my life a little bit easier. Busy na kami kumakain ng may unwanted visitor na tumabi samin.
"You two get along pretty well. Can't help to think that maybe the next day may ififire na namang surgeon sa university hospital na to. May nahanap na kasing partner in crime ang isang incompetent surgeon"
I simply ignored professor Marquez who sat beside me in particular. Lalo lang akong ginugutom sa mga sinasabi nyang wala namang kakwenta kwenta. Kahit director na ko, he and the rest of the Professors always have this joke of me being incompetent. Talaga lang ah. Kahit nga si Justin di nakaligtas sa kanila since the first meeting ng ipakilala ko sya as the new surgeon. Lalo pa at lagi kaming magkasama.
"Nine parang may naririnig akong maingay na langaw"
"Gamitan mo ng fly swatter"
"Insecticide kaya?"
"Pwede din"
"Kaso wala naman dito sa hospital nun"
"Yaan mo papastock akong marami"
I answered with a blank face trying to fight the urge to laugh out loud. Mahirap na baka mabugahan ko pa ng kinakain kong stew si Justin na nasa harap ko. Ni hindi na kami parehas nagulat ni Justin ng kumalabog ang table namin ng marahas na ipukpok ni Professor Marquez ang kamay nya sa table. Lumigwak tuloy ang stew na kinakain ko. I can sense the cafeteria fell silent that same moment.
"How dare you both insult a Professor, Carter?!"
Ako lang talaga ang namention? Si Justin kasi nagsabi pa ng langaw di ko na nga pinansin.
"Dr. Grey let's go. Naubos na kasi ang food ko kahit di ko pa tapos kainin" I said then stood up calmly.
"After you milady"
"Are you testing my patience, Carter?!" sabay hablot sa braso ko.
"You're actually testing mine...Professor" pinakadiinan ko pa ang pagsabi ng Professor. At least ako marunong ng good manners. Though di ko lang alam kung hanggang kailan ko mapaninindigan kung ganito ang kausap ko.
"Then you're going to fire me too just because you're losing your patience on me huh?"
"Wag kayong mag-alala. Darating din tayo jan"
"What?! How dare you! I dedicated my entire life in this university hospital! You can't do that!"
"Try me...Professor"
Nakita ko ang pagtiim-bagang nya sa harap ko which I don't mind. Mas nakakapagtaka pa nga if he's calm in front of me. I know he's up to something if he do that.
"Hanggang kelan mo ipagyayabang yang posisyon mo na hindi naman dapat sayo??"
"Does my position supposed to belong to you?"
"You--" inalis ko ang braso ko sa pagkakahawak sa kanya saka nilapit ang bibig ko sa tenga nya.
"Professor you're actually making a scene here. Okay lang ba sa inyo yun?"
Natigilan sya saka nagpalingon lingon sa paligid. His jaw tightened as he looks back at me. Hindi mo ko matatalo dahil nasakin lahat ng kapangyarihan sa ospital na to. I have all the reasons too kaya wag mong sagarin ang pasensya ko.
"You're still incompetent to me, Carter. Wag kang magmalinis dahil alam natin na isa ka din sa dahilan bakit namatay ang kakambal mo"
His grin made me clenched my fist habang ang mata ko naman ay nag-aapoy habang nakatingin sa kanya. I don't mind kung nasa public area kami but Shanon is out of line. Alam ko naman na ganito ang ugali nya pero to the point that he's still at fault pero nagagawa nya pang isisi sakin ang kasalanan nya? He's really disgusting.
"Then prove to me that you are the competent one, Professor"
I said in a straight face. Kung kaya ko lang syang ipakulong, matagal ko ng ginawa. But being the Director of this hospital is meaningless.
"I'm already a Professor so I don't have anything to prove to an incompetent sinister doctor"
"Then...I'm ordering you to prove your worth as the hospital Director, Professor Marquez. I don't think it's a big deal since as you said--you are competent"
"You're just making a fool of yourself with this stupidity. Try me and see for yourself"
I want to wipe that smirk on his face so bad.
"Fine. I want you to start performing surgery--again"
"What??"
"We need surgeons right now alam nyo naman siguro yun diba? Sayang naman ang pinapasweldo ko sa inyo kung tutunganga lang kayo maghapon sa office nyo--Professor"
Hindi sya nakapagsalita so I took the chance to speak loud and clear.
"Oh well. Hindi ko pa naman kayo pinagdedecide right now. But soon...I'm gonna force you to do it--the most competent Professor"
Paalis na sana ko pero eto na naman sya at hawak na naman ang braso ko para pigilan ako. Gusto nya pa ba talaga ng gulo sa harap ng lahat ng taong nandito??
"Professor Marquez, I know I'm not supposed to meddle but Dr. Nine Carter should already be in the operating room right now" Justin interrupted saka inalis ang pagkakahawak ni Professor Marquez sa braso ko.
"Sure. Go ahead. I just want to tell this surgeon one thing"
He glanced at me wearing a sulking grin. Nilapit nya pa ang mukha nya sakin para ako lang ako makarinig sa sasabihin nya. I want to punch him straight in his face pero napatiim-bagang na lang ako sa sinabi nya.
"Test me all you want. It's up to you. But let me remind you...Dr. Smith is not guilty as well for the death of your twin sister. I'm just the secondary surgeon. He's still the primary surgeon when you left the operating room three years ago"