MONTE COSTA SERIES 2: BEAUTIFUL BURNS

Kabanata 10

SILVER tilted his head after hearing the door of his office opened. Abala siyang tingnan ang recent scans ng isa sa mga pasyente niya nang pumasok ang kanyang ama sa loob ng kanyang opisina.

"May I have a minute?" Dr. Alaric asked.

Silver sighed. "Yeah."

Dr. Alaric buried his palms in his pockets as he walked towards Silver. Sumandal ito sa edge ng kanyang malapad na desk saka nito pinasadahan ng tingin ang picture frames na naka-display sa kanyang opisina.

"You really have no plans to put mommy's pictures here? We have a lot of great pictures as a family," tanong nito sa kalmadong tinig.

Napasandal si Silver sa kanyang swivel chair. "Please tell me you didn't come here just to convince me to display her pictures in my office, Dad?"

Dr. Alaric flashed a faint smile at him as their eyes met. "That new girl in your department, why did you let her get in?"

Gumalaw ang panga ni Silver. "It's none of your business."

Bumuntonghininga ang kanyang ama. "Please tell me you're not planning anything bad to that poor girl, Silver?"

Umismid siya. "Aren't you the one who didn't want her here in the first place?"

"That is because I am terrified that you will lash out on her. That you will make her suffer just because you hate your mom and her dad." Dr. Alaric sighed. "Silver, enough with this nonsense."

Naningkit ang kanyang mga mata at kumuyom ang mga kamao niya. "When will you stop pretending, Dad? When will you drop the act, hmm? Lalake ka. Imposibleng hindi natapakan ang ego mo sa nangyari."

Lumamlam ang mga mata ni Dr. Alaric. Bumuka ang mga labi nito na tila mayroong nais sabihin sa kanya ngunit hindi rin naman nagawang magsalita. Instead, Dr. Alaric removed his glasses and massaged the inner corners of his eyes while he draws in a sharp breath.

"I cannot tell you the whole story because your mom wouldn't let me, but please. Please, spare that poor girl. She isn't her father."

Umismid si Silver. "I was initially planning to make her hate her job so she'd leave Kelton on her own but you gave me a better idea, Dad." Inis siyang ngumisi. "Looks like it's better to make that poor girl fall for me then?"

"Silver . . ."

"Do not intervene, Dad." Naging malamig ang tingin niya sa ama. "I will stop if you will finally tell me everything. But as long as you're keeping the whole story from me just because mom doesn't want me to know what really happened, then I'll execute my plans the way I wanted." Tumindig siya. "Try to fire her and I'll gladly quit. You will never see me, I promise you that."

Tuluyan niyang nilayasan ang kanyang ama. Nang makalabas ng opisina ay sandali siyang humugot ng hininga. Maya-maya ay nakatanggap siya ng tawag mula kay Jael. He immediately answered Jael's call while he's on his way to the elevator.

"Ja," bungad niya.

"Chief wants to remind you about the annual medical mission."

He smirked. "I didn't forget." He walked inside the elevator. Nang mapindot ang buton ay sumandal siya sa pader. "As a matter of fact, I'm bringing someone with me."

"Who?"

His jaw clenched but the smirk on his face remained.

"Just . . . one of our nurses." He licked his lower lip. "The most annoying of them all . . ."

"NURSE Raiah, hindi ka pa ba magla-lunch?" tanong ng kasamahan ni Raiah na si Nurse Keesha.

Raiah checked her wrist watch. "Lunch break ko na nga pala." She closed the file she was checking. "Thank you sa reminder."

Tumango lamang ito't ipinagpatuloy na ang ginagawa. Raiah stood up and pulled her phone out to chat Vina. Sabay ang shift nila kaya siguradong sabay rin ang kanilang lunch break.

She waited for Vina by the entrance of the cafeteria. Nang makalapit ito sa kanya ay kaagad na iniangkla ang braso sa braso niya.

"I found something," pabulong nitong sabi.

Nabuhay ang dugo ni Raiah. They'd been trying to find answers about her parents and Silver's. Ngunit sa halos dalawang linggo nilang pag-iimbestiga ay ngayon pa lamang sila may napala.

"Ano 'yon?" she asked.

Luminga-linga muna ito bago siya sinagot. "Best friends ang mommy mo at ang mommy ni Dr. Kavinski mula high school, while best friends sina tito Samuel at Dr. Alaric. Nagkakilala sila noong college."

"And?" tanong niya.

"That's all I found out, unfortunately." Vina sighed. "Parang masyadong tikom ang bibig ng mga tenured staff tungkol sa buhay ng mga Kavinski."

"Eh, kung si Doc Silver kaya mismo ang tanungin ko?"

Umiling ito. "I don't think he's the type of person who will easily give out info's like that." Bahagyang lumaki ang mga mata ni Vina nang tila mayroong naisip na ideya. "Bakit hindi mo landiin si Doc? Tapos kapag nahulog sa'yo, saka mo paaminin sa mga nalalaman niya?"

Raiah almost laughed. "Nasisiraan ka na ba ng ulo, Vina? Nakita mo ba kung gaano kagwapo, katalino, at ka-successful no'n? Paano naman ako no'n papatulan?"

"Well, if he's after someone's status, eh 'di sana matagal na niyang pinatulan si Dra. Chrisma."

Kumunot ang noo ni Raiah. "Sino 'yon?"

Vina was about to answer her when a group of female doctors walked past them. Nakita niya ang isa na matalim ang tingin sa kanya. The doctor even glared at her before leaning to another doctor. Nagbulungan ang dalawa bago nagsipaghagikgikan.

As if Vina just waited for the group of doctors to get inside the cafeteria, Vina sighed and then finally answered her question.

"Nakita mo 'yong umirap sa'yo? That's her. That's Dra. Chrisma Pineda from Ob. Ang chika ng mga taga-ER, matagal na 'yang patay na patay kay Doc Silver. Hindi lang pinapatulan. She was an achiever since kindergarten. You heard me? Since kindergarten," Vina emphasized as if it's the most important news in the world.

"Uhm, okay?"

Vina sighed. "She's been a resident for two years now. Marami na ring achievements sa buhay. Maraming nagsasabing perfect match sila ni Dr. Kavinski pero hanggang ngayon, hindi pinapansin ni Doc Silver. Ibig sabihin, hindi ang estado o ang achievements ang tinitingnan ni Doc. Maganda rin naman si Dra. Pineda. Sexy rin. Dr. Kavinski was probably looking for something else." Ngumisi ito saka nito sinundot ang tagiliran niya. "Malay mo sa'yo niya makita 'yon kaya ilaban mo na 'to, Raiah. Para sa imbestigasyon natin."

Napailing-iling si Raiah. "Tara na nga. Mauubos na ang oras ng lunch break natin."

Tuluyan silang pumasok ng cafeteria. They took their trays and lined up to get their food. Nang matapos ay inokupa nila ang bakanteng mesa malapit sa exit door.

She and Vina talked about their theories while eating. Maya-maya ay natanaw ni Vina ang pamilyar na lalakeng pumasok ng cafeteria.

"Si Doc Silver," bulong nito. "Parang papunta rito."

She tilted her head. Napansin niyang umayos ng upo si Dra. Chrisma. Ngumiti pa ito nang makita si Silver. Akala yata ay ito ang pupuntahan ng binata.

"Silver, are you-"

Nilampasan lamang ito ni Silver. Muntik tuloy matawa si Vina dahil sa pagkapahiya ni Dra. Chrisma. Pinalo lamang ni Raiah sa braso ang kaibigan nang hindi sila magkaroon ng kaaway sa ospital.

"Sabi ko sa'yo papunta rito," Vina whispered.

Pinanlakihan niya ng mga mata si Vina saka siya nagkunwaring hindi napansin si Silver. Maya-maya ay hinatak nito ang bakanteng upuan sa kanyang tabi saka nito isinangkal ang isang braso sa likod ng kanyang upuan. Tila natahimik ang buong cafeteria. Paano ba naman? Nakaharap si Silver sa kanya at sobrang lapit ng kanilang mga katawan sa isa't isa!

"Pack your bags for a three-day trip. I'm bringing you with me," Silver said while looking at her.

Nagwawala ang dibdib na lumunok si Raiah. "A-Ako? I-Isasama mo? S-Saan po, D-Doc?"

"Sa medical mission. It's in Monte Costa. Don't worry, you'll get a double pay." Tumayo na ito ngunit bago tuluyang umalis ay muli pang bumaling sa kanya. "Hey, Chavez."

Namumula sa hiya itong tiningnan ni Raiah. "P-Po?"

He smirked. "Make sure you bring your swimsuits. I wanna see what's hiding under your boring scrubs . . ."