Me and Galina (2nd Edition)

II

The car drove away under the gradient blue sky. Galina spun around and poked at the doorbell. A blonde, taller than her, opened the door.

It’s her friend, Thea the gynecologist… Her gynecologist. “Hey! Galina, welcome to London! Come here!” She drags her luggage into her house. The places the luggage in the living room. “I need a hug from you, bro.” She chirped.

Galina only smiled. “Yeah, me too!” she wrapped her arms around Thea and Thea hugged her back. As they are released from each other, Thea’s hand motions to sit down. “So how was your day, Galina?”

Thea was her internet friend two years ago. They met at Snapchat by sending a picture with a scribbled “S” written on it. And Thea visited her last year. They have fun together at the rice field when Thea, accidentally, slipped herself from riding on the water buffalo..

“Well, it wasn’t good at the start.” Galina sat on the couch beside her. Folded her legs and looked at her friend. “Well, the thing is… The taxi I got gave me the wrong address.” She pouted and sighed, rolling her eyes. Thea giggled, imagining her friend doused in the rain. But the fact she laughed at was rude. So Thea bit her lip, seeing her friend furrowed her eyebrows. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to.”

Galina breathe deep and gave her a weak smile. The guy with a tattoo.” Then I met a man who offered me a ride.”

Thea’s back straightened. “Who’s that?” She would be euphoric to find her meeting someone else. Galina was an introvert, likes no other than cooking and cleaning the house. Choleric. And Thea was an extrovert, loves traveling and socializing in events. But having a ride with a stranger is not good for most first-timers. Especially to Galina.

“It’s a friendly guy, you know?”

“Friendly GUY!” Thea’s voice raised at the last word. She stomped towards the dining table, fuming with heat. Galina kneed and hugged Thea’s leg. She doesn’t want to see her friend, who was annoyed with her tactics.

“I’m sorry, Thea!” she cried. Thea walked, pulling the weight of her leg, which was added to Galina’s. She sighed, rolling her eyes at her friend’s innocence towards the stranger.

“What’s his name?

“Nikolas?” She was unsure about his name. As long as it’s Nikolas with a rose tattoo on his left bicep. Thea widened her eyes. The name was familiar to her.

“Nikolas Kent?” She questioned, making Galina shrugged with no idea. “If it’s Mr. Rebellious, then you should stay away from him.” Thea’s eyes shot Galina a warning. “How did he react?”

“Uh… he’s soft and helpful.”

Thea crunched her eyebrows. Confusion spiraled her mind with questions. How did he act? Why? Is he targeting Galina into his trap? She shook her head and stood up. “He’s the son of a local pastor.”

“Why?” Galina’s innocence made Thea huffed. Thea, this is your friend’s first traveling in Europe. Don’t be upset. She said to herself. Thea walked towards the kitchen and turned on the kettle. “Why you don’t want me to befriend him?”

“No, I just… I mean, you can befriend him, but…” She took two mugs from the shelf and placed some tea bags in each mug. Thea doesn’t want her friend to suffer. “I don’t want you to be trapped in his schemes.”

“Schemes like dating?” Galina wittily asked her. Thea, been used by her ignorance, only nodded while placing their drinks on the front table. Thea sternly looked at her. “Listen, He’s my cousin’s friend. They involved something illegally towards women.”

“Do you mean r-“

“No! You’re too much, Galina.” She faced palmed and crossed her arms on her chest. Galina took a sipped from her tea and spoke. “Galina, do you read contemporary romances like bad boys and good girls dating like… That?”

Her expectations didn’t meet with the reality. Galina shook her head in disagreement. She only read cookbooks and academic ones. Her mother forbids her to read fiction after her sister was addicted to romance novels and became sexually involved with a politician. “No, I was forbidden to read.”

“Well… Do you know playboys?” Her blonde friend asked. “Like playing some girls and-“

“I knew that… We called it ‘Babaero’ in my town.” Galina took another sip from the mug of lemongrass tea. “Is he one of them?” Thea agreed at her question, tipping her own mug with her fingers. “Notorious wayward son of Pastor Roger.”

Galina was not religious, even her grandma taught her to do the ritual culture in her old-time family cult. “Do you believe in God?” Her question didn’t shock Thea. She got used to hearing those questions from her working colleagues.

“Yes, but I’m not into rules and stuff.” Thea smiled at her friend. “I simply believe in Him.” She twisted her gaze to the frame on the bookshelf. “My parents were devoted Christians.” The frame shows off her parents, lovingly embraced each other on their wedding day.

“So, your friends with Nikolas?” Galina followed her gaze and looked at the frame.

“Yeah, I was sixteen that time when I met him.” She replied. “But only in church anniversaries and youth activities. He’s not a regular church-goer.”

Why? Did his family encourage him to go on Sunday services? Galina then shifted her gaze to Thea. Thea stood up and strode across to the bookshelf and got a newspaper in her hand. She shoved it on Galina’s lap. The newspaper’s headlines caught Galina’s attention. “Did he vandalize the church building in Ilford?”

“Yeah, probably he was angry with his dad. I think?” Thea sipped her tea. She went to the kitchen to make another one. Again, she turned on the kettle, leaning on the table. “I’m not sure of the reason he did that.”

“There must be one reason to know that.” Galina laid the mug on the kitchen sink. “But it might be a family problem. I guess.”

Then, after their talk, Thea showed her into the bedroom. “This is your bedroom, Gal.” In front of Galina, the room showcased some pastel colors. Galina smiled with glee. “I like the bedroom! Thanks, Thea.”

“No worries, Gal.” Her friend set up Galina’s luggage. “Goodnight, see ya tomorrow!”

“Goodnight, Thea!”

Thea winked at her before closing the room. The room was decorated with light pink prints of cupcakes, a white wooden closet, and a side desk with a yellow lampshade. Galina sat on the mattress. She let her hand ran on the duvet and laid her back on the bed horizontally. I wonder why he did those things. She thought.

Nikolas’ face came across her mind. His fair skin with thin lips and disheveled wavy hair. Those soft hazel eyes. Was he kind to other people? She got up, took her phone, and switched on the Wi-Fi. Then Galina searched his name on f*******:.

Nikolas Kent.

The search engine flaunted his name on the top list. Mutual friends with Thea Portland. Galina clicked his name and his profile section revealed his picture with party lights while he was drinking shots.

Under his profile picture unveiled his bio: Get Lost Fools! Galina crunched her eyebrows. She suspiciously read his posts. But most of them were tag posts. Friends and women. Thea might be right. He’s incredibly a playboy.

She accidentally hit the ‘add friend’ button. Rattled, she bit her lip and placed the screen on the duvet. The f*******: notification sound rang and Galina hastily checked the notifications.

Nikolas Kent accepted your Friend Request.

Then followed by a message. It’s from him. She stopped and stared at his first message from Messenger.

Nikolas: Hey, it’s you! How are you?

Her heart beats faster. Her fingers shook so hard for her to press on the screen.

Nikolas: Can I call you?

Stay away from him… Thea’s words rang in her head. She typed the keyboard slowly and hit the send button.

Galina: No, not comfortable yet. Why?”

Nikolas: Never mind. I won’t force you to… Are you going to sleep now?

Galina: Yes. Shall I say goodnight?

Nikolas: Yes, of course… Good night Galina.

She exhaled, lie down on the bed, and stared at the ceiling. If he’s lying that I’m beautiful, then why has he hardly said it? Galina pictured out how Nikolas slipped his tongue, saying that she’s beautiful…

A fresh morning aroma of pancakes came into her nostrils as she walked downstairs. Galina was carrying a handful of documents. She’s going to have a job interview at the nearby hospital. “Good morning, Thea.”

“Good morning. How’s your sleep last night?” Thea emplaced the plates on the dining table with hot pancakes on them. Galina chuckled. “I forgot to wear my PJ’s and brush my teeth.” She placed the docs inside her bag.

“Ew… bad breath.” Thea joked. Galina laughed while pulling out the chairs to sit. “Good thing was I drank water from my tumbler.”

“Feeling exhausted by your flight, girl?” Thea asked after saying her silent prayers. Galina nodded. She didn’t want to tell Thea about the last night. “So Do you need a taxi to the hospital?”

“I think so…” Galina shoved her forkful of sliced pancakes into her mouth. “I’ll be waiting at the shed,” she swallowed and pressed her lips. Aye! It’s my job interview!

Until her last bite, Galina quickly stood up, got the plate, and shoved it into the sink. Thea was just studying her motions when Galina hastily grabbed her bag and marched towards the door. “See you soon, Thea. Keep Safe!”

Dumbfounded, Thea responded after her friend shut the door. “Uh… ok. Keep safe. Eh?” She shook her and laughed, thinking about Galina’s adventure as an overseas worker.

The hospital was filled with bustling workers, sickly patients, and white walls. White means innocence and purity. Just like the wedding dress of the bride. Galina’s heart pounded with nervousness.

She felt nauseous. She covered her mouth and closed her eyes. Then she took away her hand. Galina is now in the hallway up to the Doctor’s Office.

She knocked on the wooden door three times. After hearing the call, Galina slowly opened the door and peeked to look inside. A cheerful lady in her fifties smiled. “Good morning! Are you here for an interview?” she said it in her southern accent.

Galina swallowed. “Good morning ma’am, yes I’m here for the interview.” She came into the room. The comfortable atmosphere greeted her and the lady gestured her to take a seat. Galina pressed her lips, putting her bag on the floor after removing the documents, and sat on the chair.

Dr. Catherine Woodrow-Smith

Her name carved on the wooden pencil holder. Catherine licked her lips, studying Galina’s facial expression. “What’s your name? And tell me about yourself.”

Galina took a deep breath and spoke. “Galina Dias Salvatore Ponce, graduated in Bachelors of Science Degree at the University of Cebu and worked as an orthopedic nurse in Cebu Doctors for two years. I’m twenty-five and registered at NMC. I think that’s it.”

Catherine nodded as she read the documents that Galina gave her. Then another question rolled off from her lips. “Why do you choose to work as a nurse?”

“As my grandma’s only granddaughter after my sister died, I was influenced to take care of her when she was paralyzed and, I take care of those people whose lives were affected with orthopaedic issues at my uncle’s Physical Therapy Clinic. I grew up learning to care about these patients. That’s the reason I chose this position as a nurse.” Galina confidently told her with enthusiasm.

When Catherine heard her answer, sweetly smiled at her and placed the documents on the brown folder. After a series of questions held by Catherine, Galina fidgeted with her fingers and waited for Catherine’s response.

Catherine walked towards the other bordered room and went out with a fold nurse uniform in her hand. She stood in front of Galina and gleefully smiled. “Congratulations! You can work as an Orthopedic Nurse. The color of your uniform varies the position you have now.”

Galina was shocked when she shook Catherine’s hand. She couldn’t believe that she was accepted right after the interview. Catherine gave her the uniform. As she looked at the scrub, it was seaweed green. Am I a seaweed nurse?

She dabbed it on her chest and tearfully smile at the doctor. After the meeting, she quickly called Thea on the phone. Thea answered on the other line.

“Hey, what’s up? How’s your day?”

“Well…” Galina licked her lower lip and continued. “I passed the interview!” She cheered, raising her hand in the air.

“Congrats, Gal!” There’s a slight of doubt in her cheers. But she knew Galina wouldn’t mind at the way she congratulates her.

“How about you, fella?”

“Nah, there’s a woman who grumbled because her organ was hurting.” Thea sighed, rubbing her forehead in frustration. “She gave birth to triplets lately.”

“Oh… that’s painful.” Galina imagined how painful the labor was. “I think I better go now.”

“See you soon!” Galina hanged up and shoved her phone into her pockets. She’s now walking on the busy pavement in London. It’s almost ten o’clock in the morning and the road was less busy than before.