Chapter 34
Today is our first anniversary! Nakaupo lang kami sa harapan ng dagat. Nandito kami ngayon sa Bolinao Pangasinan. Pinapanood ang papalubog na araw habang nakahilig ako sa balikat niya.
"We started at the beach and now we're celebrating our first at the beach." Ngiting sabi niya sa akin habang nakangiti sa araw, hindi ko kasi maiwasan iangat ang ulo ko para makita ang mukha niya.
"And we will celebrate forever." Mahinang bulong ko. Sana nga laging nakaayon sa amin ang tadhana.
Mula nung nangyari sa hospital, natatakot akong i-open ang tungkol kay Gail. And he made it clear that he is no longer into her, I trust him. I really do. I don't want to create misunderstanding between us kaya hindi ko na nasasabi pa si Gail.
Besides, Gail is my best friend. She is like a sister to me. Being jealous with her is not really good, I love her like we share the same blood.
From that, Jonas proves to me that he is no longer into her. He's always there for me, understanding me and helping me to reach my dream. Everything went smooth for us.
Sometimes I'm scared because I think it's not a normal relationship anymore. Our relationship is smooth and happy not like the others who are always fighting.
Besides, Jonas didn't do anything for me to doubt him. He is always preventing misunderstanding in our relationship, he's trying to say words clearly so I can't misinterpret it and he's always trying to understand me especially when I'm with my mood swings.
"Of course we will." He's always assuring me with his words and actions.
"I won't get tired saying I'm so proud of you, Doc."
He passed the Physician Licensure Examination happened last month, November. And they released the result last week.
Yes, kahit nagdelikado siya noon dahil sa isyu. Nagawan ng paraan ng lolo niya para hindi masayang ang mahigit walong taon na dinanas niya sa pre-med at med school. Look how powerful they are.
You know what's really good aside from him passing the board, him topping the board. Yes, he notch the third spot! Kaya hindi lang ako ang proud sakaniya, hindi lang pamilya niya kung hindi pati na rin ang SLU. It's been years since SLU top the board examination.
He's currently taking his residency at SLU. Five more years then matatapos na siya sa residency niya. And I'm one of the people who will be proud of him.
"Don't worry, you'll pass the board. Claim it, Doc!" He cheered me up. He's always like this, he's always on my side while claiming the MD on my last name.
Second year na ako ngayon sa med and all I can say is it's exhausting than you think. Second sem na next month and then short term. Tapos dalawang taon na lang bago mag graduate at makapag-internship.
We spent our first anniversary like that. Watching sunset and sunrise together. Swimming and availing other activities of the resort.
Para akong nakapag-unwind dahil sa pagod ko sa med-school. Yung isang araw sa med school parang isang taon na ang pagod mo.
It's good to unwind with the person you love.
Second sem started. Naging busy kaming pareho ni Jonas, lalo na siya na-residency na siya. They even offered him to become a professor for pre-med but he politely declined it.
"If I accept the offer, I will be busy and lose time on you." That's the word he exactly said.
True to his words. He never failed to have time with me. Be it on a coffee shop or video call while I'm reviewing. He is like a human reviewer to me. I am really blessed to have him.
Minsan ako ang bumibisita sakaniya sa hospital. Cooking his favorite food or the one he's craving for. Ganon lang ang routine namin araw-araw. For some, that was boring but for me it kept me happy and inspired to reach my dream. Para pareho na kaming may MD sa pangalan.
Kuya Nathan took his residency at Manila. They are one of the highest shared stocks on a certain hospital in Manila kaya kailangan niya roon mag-residency.
Iverson and I still a good friend. Even though, sinasabi sa akin ni Jonas na may secret crush daw sa akin si Iver ay hindi ko na siya pinaniwalaan. Siguro, pagod lang siya sa duty niya kaya kung ano-ano na ang naiisip niya.
And besides, why would Iverson like me, right?
Addhie and I become really close friends. Maybe because she's like Gail kaya hindi ako nahirapan na pakisamahan siya. She's approachable and kind too.
We celebrated our second anniversary in Ilocos. We travel the tourist spot and syempre pumunta rin kami sa Pagudpud.
We’re staying here at Casa Consuelo and we’re having lunch in their Cabana.
“You like it here?” Nakangiting tanong ni Jonas sa akin.
The Casa Consuelo resort is peaceful plus it’s dog friendly pa! May mga nag check-in kasi na kasama ang mga aso nila. Matatanaw mo rin ang dagat.
"Or we should transfer at Villa Consuelo?" Sa kabila kasi yung villa consuelo na mga modern. Dito kasi sa Casa Consuelo ay made of wood and hut.
Jonas being Jonas, he's always asking me if I like a certain food, thing or place. He's always making sure that I am comfortable with what we are doing or eating.
"No. It's okay, it's relaxing nga." I honestly answered. May mga aircon din naman ang mga rooms kaya hindi ganon kainit.
"Nice to hear you're relaxing. The third year of med is not really that easy." Kada year nalang ata sa med pahirap nang pahirap.
Talagang dedication and extra effort ang puhunan mo sa med school. Dedication na gustong-gusto mo talagang mag Doctor at extra effort na madalas twenty four hours kang gising. Mukhang nasasanay na nga ang katawan ko rin kapag walang tulog.
Sinamahan ako ni Jonas para magpacheck up, mga vitamins na kailangan kong inumin para lumakas ang resistensiya ko. He knew na hindi maiiwasan sa med school na walang tulog be it one day or two days bukas ang mga mata mo.
Naglakad kami sa dalampasigan pagkatapos naming kumain. Rinig ang bawat paghampas ng alon dahil sa tahimik. May mga tao naman pero hindi ganon ka-crowded ang area.
"Grabe ang bilis." Sabi ni Jonas sa tabi ko habang nagsusulat siya sa gamit ang napulot niyang stick sa buhanginan.
Tiningnan ko kung anong sinulat niya. Two years at heart.
"It's been two years since then," I nodded. Yeah, it's been two years. "I really didn't expect we would fall in love with each other."
Yeah, I really didn't expect you'll fall for me.
"But it happened," ngiting sabi ko. "And it was one of the best things that happened in my life."
"I am so grateful to have you, near me." His smile eager me to smile more. "The number one person who supported me and always by my side through ups and downs. When I'm on my best and worst."
"And I am really blessed to have you. My human reviewer," I chuckled so did he. "You are my rest."
He cups my cheeks and gives me passionate kisses. He rested his forehead on me.
"I love you."
Sumilay ang ngiti sa aking labi pati na rin sa mga mata ko.
"I love you too."
New year's eve. We celebrate it again through video chat. At kagaya nang nakagawian namin nina Mama, kina kuya Nathan kami nag new year.
Nakaupo kami nina kuya Nathan at ate Nathalie sa labas habang hinihintay namin ang pagpatak ng alas dose. We're drinking coffee while our parents are busy preparing food together with the househelpers.
"Ilang taon na nga kayo ni Jonas?" Tanong ni ate Nathalie. Kanina kasi napagkuwentuhan namin ang buhay ni Nathalie at kuya Nathan, ngayon na sa akin na ang atensiyon nilang dalawa.
"Two years."
"Two years," kuya Nathan scoffed. "Malapit ng mag three years. Ingat, base sa sinasabi nila may sumpa raw ang three year." Hindi ko mapigilan ang pag ngiti at pag-iling ko kay kuya Nathan.
"What the hell?" Hindi makapaniwalang sabi sakaniya ni ate "You believe that? Walang scientific explanation iyon!" Kontra pa niya.
"Oh bakit? Kayo rin naman ng fiancé mo ngayon nagkalabuan at nagbreak nung third year kayo ah?" Ate Nathalie rolled her eyes. Paakyat pa lang ng Baguio ang fiancé niya dahil kakagaling lang ng business trip sa ibang bansa.
"Hindi porket nangyari sa iba, mangyayari rin kay Daisheen!"
"Don't you find it weird? Walang masyadong problema sa relationship nila."
"Because they handled their relationship well, asshole!"
"Edi sila na pinagpala kung gaano nila kagaling mahandle ang relationship nila! Sila na favorite ni Lord."
Weird ba talaga ang relationship na walang masyadong away na nagaganap? Minsan ako nagdududa na rin e.
Pero hindi ba pwedeng sobra lang ang tiwala at pagmamahal namin sa isa't-isa? Hindi ba pwedeng inuunawaan namin ang punto ng isa't-isa?
Months passed. Nothing has changed between me and Jonas.
That was I thought.
Because when November came, everything fell apart.