Love Me From Yesterday

Chapter 7 - Francis' POV

Nagulat ako sa mga nakita ko. He slapped her? I was bewildered. After seeing that, napalabas ako sa sasakyan. I was raging mad. I'm not trying to be a prince saving his princess, but how can I stand seeing a woman get slapped by a man? I slowly approached them and, once again, I flinched after hearing another loud slap. This time, she slapped him back. I was flustered so I immediately hid in a corner.

"I hope this will be the last time I see your disgusting face. You disgusting piece of sh*t," she said with such poise.

I don't know why but I smiled after hearing that. Hindi ko alam kung bakit. It felt as if a thorn in my chest was removed. Maybe because it's just satisfying to see my partially comrade-in-arms stand her ground and fight back. Anyways, that's what happened an hour ago.

Kakatapos ko lang magshower and now, I'm just blankly staring at my phone. Should I call her or not? Calling her immediately might be overwhelming, so should I text her first? What if she thinks I'm weird? I was so hesitant.

I heavily sighed, "Ah! Ewan!"

Napahilata ako sa kama ko at bigla na naman akong napaisip sa mga nangyare kanina. Starting from the hospital and then to that unexpected meeting with my comrade-in-arms and yeah, that's the weird part. Napatalukbong ako bigla sa kahihiyan. Why was I so relaxed when I was with her? No matter how comfortable I am with her, I wasn't the type of person to open up to people I hardly know. She's a stranger, a complete stranger. Strangely, she popped up in my head again.

Napangiti na naman ako as I recall her brave act from earlier.

"She's cool though," I whispered.

Without noticing, I was blushing the entire time. I buried my flushed face into the pillow and mumbled, "I'm weird ..."

"Louis ..," I added as I recalled his ex-boyfriend saying her name. "What a pretty name."

Days had passed after that, and still I couldn't dare to text her, the eldest daughter of the Montenegro. It's just not right. These past few days, I barely even had time to eat. Ganun kabusy yung hospital. There was an accident on a nearby highway. That's why back to back yung surgeries, since no available doctors were available. I was exhausted, like a dying zombie. After my last surgery, dali-dali akong bumalik sa office ko. Tinapon ko yung sarili ko sa sofa at napapikit sa sobrang pagod. After a minute, I slept like a log.

Nagising na lang ako nang biglang may kumakatok sa pinto. I checked my watch at nanlaki bigla yung mga mata ko. Napatayo ako sa kinahihigaan ko nang makita kong nakatulog pala ako buong maghapon. I checked outside and the sun was already setting. I actually had another operation that afternoon. I'm not the main surgeon but I will be assisting with doing that surgery before I actually leave. I checked my watch again and it had been an hour since the operation started. Inayos ko yung sarili ko before I opened the door.

I fixed myself and opened the door.

"What is it?" I greeted the person knocking outside.

"Kakagising nyo lang ba, doc?" she asked.

"About tha-," she cut me off.

"Okay lang po, doc. I would like to inform you lang din po na si Doc Montenegro na po yung pumasok sa OR para mag-assist. Kakatapos lang din po ng surgery, and it went well."

"Is that so?" I sighed in relief.

"Yes, po."

"That's a relief then. I'm sorry by the way, di ko talaga namalayan yung oras."

"Actually, pumasok po kanina sa office ninyo si Doc Montenegro kase hindi po kayo nagreresponse sa mga page ng head nurse. Nakita niya po yata kayong pagod, kaya siya na po yung pumasok sa OR at hindi na niya po kayo ginising."

I smiled and replied, "I'm really sorry about this. I'll treat you to some food next time, okay?"

"Okay po, doc. Pwede na din daw po kayo umuwi para magpahinga. Well then ..," she bowed down and left.

I really thought I messed up. I fixed and dolled myself up in a rush at pumunta sa office ni Doc Montenegro to express my gratitude.

I knocked and entered after hearing his response, "You can come in."

Doc Montegro was sitting on his chair, with piles of documents lying around. After I entered, he immediately cleaned out his desk and welcomed me with a smile.

"Why are you here, Doc Bernaldez? Bakit hindi ka pa umaalis?"

"I would like to say thank you for covering up for me," I answered.

"Oh, I see. It's fine. I can cover another doctor from time to time. So yun lang?"

Napatango ako ng ulo sabay sabing, "That's it."

It was somehow awkward for a few seconds. Nagkatitigan na lang kami ni Doc.

I awkwardly pointed outside the door sabay bulong, "Then, I'll go now ..."

Paalis na sana ako nang bigla akong tawagin ni Doc Montenegro.

"Wait, Doc Bernaldez."

"Yes, Doc?" I replied nonchalantly.

"So, did you text her? I mean, my niece."

"Ah, that's a bit ..," para akong naputulan ng dila.

Doc Montenegro sighed and scratched his head in disbelief, "Oh god, this kid. I get it. You can go now. Knowing her, she's probably waiting for you."

Medyo nalito ako sa mga sinabi niya. Why would she wait for me?

I had this clueless look on my face as I said, "Huh? I'm sorry pero bakit po niya ako inaantay today?"

He looked straight at me and replied, "Diba ngayon kayo magmemeet? Are you not informed?"

I rummaged through my small backpack and checked my phone. Pagka-on ko pa lang ng phone, tambad na yung sandamakmak na tawag coming from my dad. Napansin agad ni Doc yung mga strange na kinikilos ko.

"So hindi mo pa pala alam?" He facepalmed. "I will not occupy you any further. You can go now," he added while he shooed me off with his hand.

Dali-dali akong tumakbo papunta sa sasakyan ko. I checked the address sent by my dad through text and immediately started the engine and raced against time. Sana wala pa siya dun, that's my wishful thinking. I arrived at the place, Blackbird Makati. I parked my car somewhere near and immediately went inside the restaurant without even changing. Sadly speaking, I was wearing my scrub.

The attendant guarding the lobby quickly noticed my attire and immediately stopped me from coming in.

"I'm sorry sir, but you can't come in," he stopped and prevented me from going in.

"Bakit?" hingal na hingal kong sabi.

Bakit ako hingal? All the parking near the restaurant was already occupied. I parked somewhere far and ran as if a rabid dog was chasing me. Tagaktak din yung pawis ko.

"We do follow a strict dress code and ..," he scanned my entire body with his eyes. Kahit di niya sabihin, I already knew what he was thinking.

"I do actually have an arranged date here today. As you can see, I'm a doctor at kakaout ko lang sa hospital," I reasoned out.

"We're really sorry, but we need to adhere to the rules."

"If that's the case," I searched the inside of my bag once again. Kinapa-kapa at hinanap ko yung valid ID ko and showed it to the attendant. "My father actually owned this place. As you can see, I'm his son."

He was quite confused. Kinuha at tinignan din naman niya yung ID ko, but to me, it seemed like he didn't know me at all.

"Wait lang po," dala-dala niya yung ID ko at pumunta siya sa kitchen.

I waited and exactly a minute later, a flustered guy rushed in my direction and immediately bowed down and apologized as he return my ID.

"Pasensya na po. Bago lang po kase siya kaya di niya po kayo namukhaan sir," sabi niya.

As if I caught everyone's attention, nakatingin lahat ng mga kumakain sa amin. It was hella awkward and uncomfortable.

"It's okay. You don't have to do that," pilit ko siyang tinatayo as he was still bowing down.

"We were already informed of what to do, please this way," he directed me to a seat near the entrance.

I sat down and immediately asked, "The girl, I mean the Montenegro eldest daughter, wala pa ba siya?"

"Yes po. Hindi pa po siya dumadating. We'll start preparing your meals, so if you would excuse me," he said as he slipped away.

Thank goodness at di pa siya dumadating. I was anxiously thinking na kanina pa siya nag-aantay. I sighed in relief after hearing that. I looked around the place and it was gorgeous. I briefly looked at myself and seeing that I am wearing a scrub, napakamot ulo na lang ako sa kahihiyan. I mean who would present theirselves in a date wearing a scrub? But I still can't blame me, I was in a rush.

Maya-maya, a girl entered the restaurant that caught my attention in an instant. She was stunning in her white dress. She was wearing a gorgeous sequin corset with a slight glimpse of an off-shoulder look, has a deep V-line and long sleeves, while being covered all around with dazzling details. A gorgeous midi skirt with a slit made out of satin, and is shaped in a tulip bloom that makes her legs look longer and her entire look more feminine.

I was in awe. Tinitigan ko lang siya habang papalapit siya sa akin.

She stopped and stood in front of me and asked, "Excuse me, are you perhaps Francis Bernaldez?"

I carefully looked at her. At that time, it was slowly coming to me how familiar she was.

"Oh," she pointed at me. "Ikaw yung grab driver diba?"

That's right. It never came to me. Doc Montenegro addressed her as Louis when I came to visit. I didn't know that she's the same Louis I met a few days ago. Hindi ako nakasagot. Deep inside me, I felt something weird.

"Ah, that's right," nanginginig kong sagot.

She smiled and offered her hand, asking for a handshake, "It was sure nice to meet you again. I'm Louis Montenegro."

Nangangatog akong tumayo at hinawakan ang kamay niya, "I'm Francis Bernaldez, nice meeting you again."

Her hards were warm. For whatever reason, I felt warm as well. It was surely strange but, I didn't hate it.

.