MONTE COSTA SERIES 2: BEAUTIFUL BURNS

"If someday love will burn me, then I'll dance with the fire with a smile on my face." Raiah traced her father's name on the granite tombstone after she read the last part of his favorite poem. Nakahiga naman sa nakalatag na picnic mat ang kaibigan niyang si Vina. Abala itong mag-scroll sa f*******: nang hindi siya mailang. Tumingala si Raiah sa makulimlim na kalangitan. "Do you think it's gonna rain tonight? I don't wanna ruin my outfit," aniya. Nakakunot ang noong tumingin sa langit si Via. "I don't think so." Payapa ang kalangitan at malamyos ang pagaspas ng mga dahon sa hindi kalayuang puno. Halos iilan lamang din ang nasa sementeryo. May ilang pamilya siyang natanaw kanina noong papasok. Ang iba namang naroroon ay tila naatasan lamang na maglinis upang maghanda para sa nalalapit na undas. She glanced at the family of four a few meters away from them. The kid was dancing while her parents were happily clapping their hands. Naalala niya noong ganoon siya kaliit. Her dad would make her stand on top of the table to dance. He and her mom would clap their hands, too. Sometimes they'd film her and show the video to her grandparents. Sadly, it was her last memory of what used to be her happy family . . . and a part of her is terrified that one day, it will fade in her memory, too like the rest of the moments she had shared with her father. Ang tatay niyang hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin nakakukuha ng hustisya. Niyakap niya ang kanyang mga tuhod saka niya ibinalik ang tingin sa lapida ng kanyang ama. "Rejected pa rin, Dad. I don't know what I did wrong for them not to accept me. This is the third time already." She sighed. "I just wanna continue your legacy, you know? Hindi ba talaga pang-plus points 'yong pagiging mag-ama natin?" Nanikip na naman ang dibdib niya nang maalala ang pangatlong rejection letter mula sa dating ospital kung saan naging doktor ang Daddy niya. She just wanted to follow his footsteps. Kahit bilang nurse man lang. He used to tell her how great Kelton Medical Center is. Kaya bata pa lang ay pinangarap niya nang makapasok doon kaya lang ay masyadong mahigpit ang KMC. Kahit dala niya naman ang apelyido ng daddy niya ay tila wala siyang swerte. "Don't worry, Raiah. Subok ka lang ulit after thirty days. Masyado lang talagang maraming applicants noong nakaraan. Karamihan pa ay galing sa malalaking university," ani Vina. Raiah felt bad even more. She graduated from a state university because her mother didn't want to support her studies. Magmula noong namatay ang tatay niya ay nagbago ito. It seems like grief had destroyed her mother. Kaya nga minsan mas gusto na lang niyang hindi sila nagpapanagpo sa bahay. She looked at Vina. "I surely aced the interview. Confident ako sa lahat ng naging sagot ko dahil pinaghandaan kong mabuti iyon. I have the experience already, maganda ang academic background ko, at mataas ang rank ko sa licensure exam. Saka lahat naman ng pointers na binigay mo ay sinunod ko so why? Hindi ko matanggap, Vina." Bumangon si Vina. "Hey. Baka bad timing lang talaga. Be patient. Saka narinig mo naman ang sinabi ni Ae. You wouldn't really want to be in the Surgical Department. Ang balita namin 'yong huling batch na na-hire na kasabayan mong nag-apply, doon ibinato." Ae is their other friend. Una itong nakapasok sa Kelton Medical Center dahil kakilala raw ng boyfriend nito ang napababalitang magmamana sa KMC. She and Vina asked for Ae's help to get into KMC, ngunit si Vina lamang ang nakuha kahit na sinubukan na nilang gumamit ng backer. She sighed. "Isa na lang, Vina talagang magwewelga na ko sa harap ng KMC. Three rejections in a row isn't fair!" Vina patted her back. "Cheer up. We'll figure out how you'll get in soon. Magpalamig muna tayo ng ulo." Raiah thought Vina was probably right. Maybe it's her obsession towards Kelton that's preventing her from getting in. Sabi nga raw sa law of attraction, the more you want something, the farther it becomes. She thought maybe if she'll loosen up a bit, then they'll finally give her a chance. Umalis sila sa sementeryo at dumiretso sa apartment ni Vina upang doon mag-ayos. They're planning to have a girl's night out with Ae. Day-off ng mga ito ngayon kaya sa wakas ay makukumpleto silang tatlo. Vina's phone vibrated. Dinampot ito kaagad ni Vina para basahin ang natanggap na chat. Vina sighed. "Ae said she wouldn't make it. She'll meet up with someone." Raiah nearly rolled her eyes. "Sigurado akong may hindi siya sinasabi. Baka may dini-date nang bago?" Vina smirked. "As if we could do something about it." "The point is . . ." She put her brush on the dresser then glanced at Vina through the mirror. "We both know she's not over Shault yet." Nagkibit-balikat ito. "Maybe she'll move on if she'll date someone. That motherfucker ghosted her after asking for her hand in marriage. We can't blame her if she'd decide to move on by using someone else." Umismid siyaq. "At kailan ka pa naging supporter ng paggamit ng panakip-butas?" Vina was about to answer her when Vina's phone rang. Nang maputol ang tawag ay malaki ang ngisi itong tumingin sa kanya. "Let's go to Ampersand instead," Vina announced with a hint of excitement. Kumunot ang noo ni Raiah. "Akala ko sa dati pa rin?" "Ae gave a tip. She said most of the residents hangout at Ampersand. Baka matyambahan natin ang ilan sa kanila. Maybe we can ask for some help to get you into Kelton." Vina held her shoulders. "Desperate times call for desperate measures, right?" She sighed. Well, she's actually ready to do whatever it takes to get into Kelton. Maybe her mom wouldn't ignore her that much anymore once she gets to Kelton anyway. Gaya ng napag-usapan ay sa Ampersand nila napagdesisyunang pumunta. Masakit lang sa bulsa ang entrance kaya grabe ang tipid niya sa pagsipsip sa inumin niya. They couldn't afford to get a table, too kaya heto sila't nagtyaga sa dance floor kahit may hawak na baso. She sipped on her cocktail then looked up. Sa itaas ay aksidente niyang nakatitigan ang lalakeng may hawak na vape at naka-lean sa railing. His prominent jaw moved after he blew out the thick smoke from his lungs. His eyes were hit by the lights, too making her realize they were a shade of gray. Parang naestatwa si Raiah sa kinatatayuan niya. She couldn't even blink her eyes that were glued on the guy's direction. Tila ba hinihipnotismo siya ng kulay abo nitong mga matang nakikipagtitigan din nang husto sa kanya. "That's . . . Dr. Kavinski, right?" tanong ni Vina sa kanya nang napansing nakatingala siya sa lalakeng hanggang ngayon ay nasa direksyon niya ang titig. Hindi niya sigurado kung siya ba talaga ang tinitingnan nito pero parang . . . oo? "Dr. Kavinski?" tanong niya kay Vina. "Oo, gaga. Huwag mong sabihing hindi mo kilala? Anak ni Dr. Alaric? Iyong director ng Kelton?" Her eyes slightly widened as she looked at Vina. Bahagya ring umawang ang kanyang mga labi dala ng pagkabigla. That guy is a freaking doctor? He looks more like an underwear model! Ibinalik niya ang kanyang tingin sa itaas ngunit wala na roon ang lalake. Natungga niya tuloy ang inumin niya kahit na balak niyang patagalin iyon hanggang sa makahanap ng manlilibre. "I'll go to the washroom. Stay here!" bilin ni Vina. She had no choice but to stay on her spot. Mayroong mga lalakeng ngumingiti sa kanya. Iyong isa ay akma na sanang lalapit ngunit bago pa nito nagawa ay nadama na ni Raiah ang presensya ng kung sino sa kanyang likuran. "Nice ass," a deep, manly voice said against her ear. His colossal hands rested on her waist as he drew their bodies closer. "Wanna join us upstairs so you can sit on my lap before I rip your dress tonight?" Raiah felt the urge to look over her shoulder. The man's expensive perfume caressed her nostrils as she slowly tilted her head to look at him. Tinamaan ng malikot na ilaw ang pamilyar na pares ng mga matang kanina lamang ay titig na titig sa kanya. Her heart nearly jumped out of her chest as soon as she realized who the man was. "D-Dr. K-Kavinski . . ." Tumaas ang masungit nitong kilay habang may lumandas namang mapaglarong ngisi sa mamula-mula nitong mga labi. "So you know who I am." His eyes darted at her slightly parted lips. "How? Did you try to find out who keeps on rejecting your applications, hmm?" Halos tumigil ang t***k ng kanyang puso. "I-Ikaw ang . . . nagtu-turn down ng applications ko?" "Yeah," he responded in a sexy way while stroking her waist with his thumb. "Wanna know why?" Lumunok siya habang pigil na pigil na maapektuhan ng init na nararamdaman . . . pati na ng iritasyon dahil sa kanyang nalaman. "Bakit?" The curve on his lips turned into a sexy smirk. "Because I might end up f*****g you in every corner of Kelton." Their eyes met as the heat she was feeling doubled. "I can't let someone die just because I'm too busy watching you c*m . . ."