WHEN HEART SHINES BRIGHTER

Chapter 1

"Huwag ka na lang umuwi! Habambuhay ka nang tumira diyan sa Amerika!" galit na galit na bulyaw sa akin sa telepono ng aking ina.

"Mommy naman. Sino bang ayaw umuwi. Gusto ko rin naman kaso di talaga ako pinayagan ng hospital eh. Short kami sa residents ngayon," nagsusumamong paliwanag ko.

"It's William's wedding Lauren! Inunawa na kita na ilang pasko o family occasions na hindi ka umuwi. Pero ngayon ay kasal naman ng kapatid mo baka naman pwede mong gawan ng paraan."

"Mom, I love to be there in William's special day. But I really can't make it aside sa duty ko dito sa hospital, naextend din yung specialization class ko."

"Puro sarili at career na lang yang iniisip mo. Mukhang nakalimutan mo na ata kami ah. Sige simula ngayon kalimutan mo nang may pamilya ka dito sa Pilipinas!"

Hindi na ako nakasagot dahil pinutol na ang tawag. Naiyak ako nang tahimik. It's not because of my Mom's nagging, sanay na ako roon. I'm crying and my heart is tearing apart because of the fact that I can't attend William's wedding.

Kasal ng pinakamamahal kong kapatid pero wala akong magawa. Gustung-gusto kong umuwi but I can't abandon my responsibilities.

My life had completely turned into black and white.

Hospital. Aral. Apartment.

Yan lang ang buhay ko dito sa Amerika. Sobrang lungkot. Pero tinitiis ko lahat dahil may mga pangarap akong gustong abutin. I can't stop midway kahit ano pang hirap at matinding kalungkutan ang pagdaanan ko.

Dr. Kumar entered the staff room. "Dr. Salazar are you done for the day?" she asked. She's an Indian doctor, an internal medicine one. Just like me she's been living alone since she migrated to the US. I'm twenty seven, she's thirty.

Pinahid ko ang aking mga luha at bumuga sa tissue. "Yes."

"Are you crying?" kaswal na komento nito habang nilalapag ang mga gamit niya sa kanyan mesa. "Let me guess, it's your Mom again." She just shrugged palibahasa sanay na siyang naririnig ang pagtatalo namin ni Mommy sa phone.

"Dr. Kumar...I'm really sad this time. It's my baby brother's wedding but I can't go home." Muli na naman akong napaluha. "How I wish I could go back to the Philippines even just for a day."

"Oh sweetie, I feel you." Malungkot na ring sabi niya. "Hey, you don't have duty tomorrow right?"

"Yes."

"And you have no class too."

Tumango ako.

"Why don't we go out tonight, have few drinks..." ibinuka ko na ang aking bibig para tumanggi. "Today is my birthday."

"Really?" I couldn't reject her anymore. I wiped my tears. I suddenly feel guilty. It's her birthday tapos umiiyak ako sa harap niya."Happy Birthday." Pinilit kong pasiglahin ang aking boses.

Palibhasa walang mga espesyal na araw dito sa hospital kaya pati mga birthday ay di na napagtutunan ng pansin.

"I'm a little depress lately too. Maybe it's just birthday blues," she said. "I have no one to drink with today. Would you mind accompanying me?"

"S-Sure. Let's celebrate your special day," may malamlam na ngiting sagot ko. It's been ages since I went out for a drink. Maybe it's a good chance to remind myself that there's still other world out there.

We went to a bar in the midst of the busy night of Brooklyn. It's a honky-tonk. Just the right place for us. Not too solemn but not too loud either. Magaling ang country singer, a male in probably his fifties.

I suddenly missed my lolo. He loves country music. Naalala ko dati na yung mga kanta ni Kenny Rogers ang gumigising sa akin sa umaga.

We ordered margarita. Dr. Kumar really made the most out of this little escape from the hospital. She was clearly trying to enjoy every second of it. Mga isang oras lang kaming magkasama sa table. After that naiwan na akong mag-isa because she's already enjoying a conversation with a light-skinned good-looking guy in the bar.

Pinanood ko na lamang ang singer habang inienjoy ang aking margarita. Inangat ko ulit ang cocktail glass to take one more sip ngunit natigilan ako.

I saw a very handsome man who's also alone in his table. Quietly drinking a mug of beer. My heart raced which was unsual. Dati nakakaramdam lang ako ng ganito pag may kritikal na pasyenteng sinusugod sa ER.

He might just be the most handsome guy I’ve ever laid eyes on.

A thick brows but looks like perfectly drawn. Pair of deep, piercing eyes, a sharply defined and high-bridged nose, and a jawline that exceptionally chiseled with just the right amount of scruff, giving him a rugged, manly look. And just by the way his broad shoulders filled out his shirt, I could already tell he was well-built underneath.

Para siyang yung mga nakakakilig na leading man sa mga romance movies na pinapanood ko noong marami pa akong libreng oras sa buhay.

He looks like a Mexican or maybe an Asian American. Napalingon siya sa direksiyon ko. Mabilis kong inilipat ang aking mga paningin sa singer at itinuloy ang pag-inom ng margarita. Napadami bigla ang aking nainom. Naubos ang laman kaya omorder ulit ako ng isa pa.

Few more minutes, natutukso na naman akong lumingon sa table niya. Hindi ako nakatiis, I did it.

Oh my goodness! He's also looking at me. And to my surprised, he smiled!

Ako nga ba ang nginingitian niya? Napalingon muna ako sa kaliwa't kanan ko pati na sa likod. There's no one around.

I think he's really smiling at me. Tumayo siya, holding his mug. I instantly panicked inside when he began walking towards my direction. I was right. He's well-built and tall too. Maybe six feet or just a bit under. He's wearing a navy blue slim-fit long sleeve. Nakabukas ang tatlong butones sa itaas, giving off that effortless, rugged charm.

I was dumbfounded when he sat beside me.

"Are you a Filipino?" he asked smiling. He got some kind of deep sexy voice too. His lips is more visible now. They are full and naturally pinkish, slightly parted in a neutral, almost pouty expression. And his teeth... nothing but perfect.

"Yes I am. How did you know?" ngiti ko rin. Trying my best not to show any hint of awkwardness.

"I know one, when I see one," kumpiyansang sagot niya.

Binitawan niya ang mug. Pinunas ang kamay sa pantalon at inalok ako ng hand shake.

"I'm Franco."

"Lauren."

"Do you live here in Brooklyn?" he asked.

"Yes. How about you?" I asked back.

"I'm here for a vacation."

"Where are you from?"

Saglit siyang napatingin sa akin pagkuway ngumiti. "Philippines."

Kumislap ang aking mga mata. "Really?" Bigla akong natuwa. Nawala ang kaba at pagkaasiwa ko. Napalitan ng excitement na makipag-usap sa kapwa Pilipino.

He doesn't look very Filipino. Kunsabagay ang lahi naman natin ay kadalasan mixed bloods.

"Do you speak tagalog?" he asked.

"Oo naman!" ngiti ko.

"Great. Akala ko laki ka dito."

"I came here three years ago. Work reasons.."

He drank on his mug and smiled again at me. Nakakatunaw siya tumingin kasi diretso talaga sa mga mata. Nakakaconcious din. Nung umalis ako sa hospital, nagsuklay, nagpowder at konting lipstick lang. Ang mga ER doctors na kagaya ko, effort na ang ganyang level ng pagpapaganda. I feel so unpretty beside him.

"How about you? Hanggang kelan ang bakasyon mo dito sa US?" tanong ko.

"I had two months break. Pangalawang linggo ko na ngayon, I still have one and a half month."

"Are you planning to visit other states," tanong ko.

"Hmm... It depends. It would be great if I just stay here," he said with smile."What do you do?" tanong niya uli.

"I'm a doctor, and at the same time, I’m taking specialization as a surgeon," sagot ko nang may kaunting pagmamalaki. Ito na lang ang kunswelo ko sa lahat ng pagod, hirap, at mga sakripisyo kaya hindi ko na ipinagdadamot sa sarili ko na ipagmalaki ito.

"Wow, that's one respectable job. You look young for a doctor. How old are you?"

"Twenty seven."

"I'm twenty eight," ngiti niya. "Single? Enganged? Married?"

"S-Single," I replied, suddenly feeling a bit embarrassed. "But it's because of my job. I don’t really have time to attend to my personal life," I added, almost defensively as if I needed to explain my relationship status.

"Me too," may galak na tono niya.

Natigilian ako. "Ikaw, single?" hirap maniwalang bigkas ko. "With that face? You're single?"

Natawa siya sa aking reaksiyon. "I'm not lying."

"So what do you do that deprives you of love life?" usisa ko.

"I'm an actor."

I stared at him, momentarily speechless. "Ah... so that’s why you look that good. Where do you act? Stage? Film?"

"Film."

"Are you famous?" diretsong tanong ko.

Tumawa siya. "Maybe but not famous enough because you don't know me."

I blushed. "Please don't feel offended. I'm a person who's living under a rock. My life only revolves around hospital. I really don't know much about what's going on in the world right now," paliwanag ko.

"No, I’m not offended at all," he said with a light laugh, reassuring me.

I reached for my phone to secretly look him up. I quickly typed "Franco Philippine actor." I gasped softly when thousands of results popped up. Countless images, and yes, it was really his face. Nakaawang ang bibig na napatingin ako sa gwapo kong kaharap.

Oh my god, I think he's a very famous actor!