CLOUD AND SKY

Chapter 4

A couple of months later

Nag-umpisa na akong maging practice doctor sa isang malaking hospital. It was overwhelming at first, but I adjusted faster than I thought.

Sabi nila, “Ang talino mo daw, Cloud.”

“Ang bilis mong matuto.”

“May future ka sa field na ‘to.”

I smiled and thanked them politely. Pero sa totoo lang, hindi lang dahil matalino ako. I worked hard. Super hard.

This profession… I took it seriously. Kasi ito ‘yung pangarap ko noon pa.

At ito na rin ‘yung paraan ko para hindi lang maging fangirl. Para maging someone worth remembering.

I used to be a spoiled brat, laging alaga ni Mom and Dad, carefree, entitled. Pero nagbago ang lahat pagkatapos ng nangyari kay Sky.

Nang maaksidente siya. It was my tragic and motivation to really get this profession.

.

Listening to his songs, watching his fancams, rereading interviews—yan ang naging pahinga ko. Therapy, in a way. And motivation. Kasi kung siya, lumalaban, ako rin dapat.

Masyado ring mabilis ang panahon.

Halos walang ganap lately, kasi ang MIX ay busy preparing for their first full album. May mga rumors pa na baka magka-concert tour soon. Pero hangga’t walang announcement, I let myself focus on work.

Then one day, habang nasa lounge ako…

“Cloud,” sabi ng head ng department namin. “I’ll bring you to Korea. We’ll attend a medical conference about new research.”

“K-Korea po?” I blinked, almost dropping the chart I was holding.

“Yes. Are you okay with it?”

“Opo! Opo naman! Pangarap ko po ‘yan!” I tried to sound calm, pero sobrang kilig ko.

Sky... Korea… Fate? Huwag ganun!

Tumawa lang ang boss ko at iniabot ang isang folder. “Make sure your parents sign this permit. It’s a formal clearance. I’ll give you the full itinerary tomorrow.”

Hawak ko ang folder na parang tiket sa langit.

I wasn’t sure if I was going there as a doctor… or as a girl still waiting for someone to remember her.

But I was sure of one thing—

I’m coming, Sky.

Let’s see kung anong puwedeng mangyari sa pagbabalik ko sa Korea.

.......................

Pagbaba ko ng eroplano, I took a deep breath of the cold Seoul air.

Kasama ko ang iba pang Senior Doctor at mga ilang Practioners na kagaya ko.

“I’m back…” I whispered to myself.

This time, hindi bilang turista, hindi bilang fangirl—but as a medical professional. May dala akong name tag, credentials, at kumpiyansa sa sarili na hindi ko pa naramdaman noon.

Pero kahit anong lakas ng loob ang dalhin ko, hindi ko pa rin mapigilang mapangiti habang iniisip...

“Nandito rin siya... somewhere.”

" Cloud, ang saya saya ng aura huh. ", nasabi kaagad sa akin ni Jen. Isa sa kasabayan ko.

I smiles at her. " Well, my life is here, kaya inspired lang. hahahah",

Sinundo kami ng service ng ospital na nag-invite sa amin para sa Medical Research and Innovations Conference. It was hosted by one of the biggest hospitals in Korea. Grabe ‘yung facility, parang hotel.

Professional mode muna ako.

But every now and then, may glimpse ako ng billboards ng MIX sa streets, sa bus stops, sa mga LED screen. Lalo na si Sky—those piercing eyes, his soft smirk, his undeniable aura.

Tibok ng puso ko? Hala. Parang exam day lang.

A few days passed. I attended talks, observed surgeries, connected with other young doctors. I was doing well, focused, grounded.

Until one afternoon, habang pauwi ako from the hospital, dumaan ako sa isang quiet café sa Gangnam. Need ko lang ng break.

Pagkapasok ko, I froze.

Oh no. No way.

Si Sky.

Nasa loob siya. Nakaupo sa isang sulok, suot ang cap at mask, pero... I would know that posture anywhere. That presence.

Nakababa ang mask niya, hawak ang isang cup of americano. Parang may hinihintay.

Nag-aalangan akong lumapit.

“This is not part of the plan, Cloud. Professional ka na.” I told myself.

Pero… mas nauna ang paa ko kesa sa utak ko.

At just when I was about to pass by his table, he looked up—and for a moment, our eyes met.

Umiwas kaagad ako.

Nagmaang maangan while ordering my drinks.

Imbes na takeout, nag dine ako.

I saw on my peripheral vision na nakatingin siya sa akin.

Solid. Titig na parang may hinahanap.

Pero hindi ako nagpahalata. I pretended na busy ako sa phone ko, binuksan ang w******p at agad nag-message kay Kiara:

Cloud: “Tangina, girl. Nandito siya. As in right in front of me. SAME CAFÉ. What do I doooo?!”

Halos madulas pa ‘yung kamay ko sa pagtype. Nanginginig na ang kaluluwa ko.

I know everyone in this café is staring at him. Sino ba naman kasi ang hindi mapapatingin?

The Sky of MIX. In full visuals. No cap. Casual lang pero lakas maka-prince.

Pero ako?

Hindi ako dapat sumabay. Hindi ako fangirl ngayon. I’m Cloud. A professional. A doctor. Delegate ng conference. Not his fangirl admin. Not his childhood best friend he forgot.

So I stayed still. Gano’n lang. Inom ng kape, type-type kunwari.

But deep inside?

“Jusko. Kumalma ka, puso.”

I looked down. Tinakpan ko pa ‘yung mukha ko konti with my coffee cup.

Kung sakaling dumugin siya—then tapos na ang pagkakape niya. That’s it.

Wala nang chance. Baka di ko na siya makita uli.

But still… I held it in. I didn’t stand. I didn’t wave.

Kahit gustung-gusto ko na siyang takbuhin at yakapin. Kahit nagsisigawan na ang mga cells sa katawan ko.

Then suddenly, vibrate ang phone ko.

Kiara: “GIRL WAG KANG AATRAST. GAWIN MO NA. THIS IS FATE. YOU OWE THIS TO 10-YEAR-OLD YOU!!!”

Napakagat ako sa labi.

I can't.

Hindi ito mall show, o fan service kung saan may script, kung saan kaya kong itago ang kilig sa sigawan ng fans.

This is real life.

And in real life, hindi ako sigurado kung saan ako lulugar.

So I didn’t reply to Kiara.

I clenched my phone tighter. Pinilit ko lang mag-focus sa iniinom kong kape—kahit halos hindi ko na malasahan.

Then I glanced again

.

Ayun siya—at may pumasok na babae.

Maputi. Chinita. Classy-looking.

Parang out of a K-drama scene. Maayos ang suot. Polished. Confident.

Tumayo siya papunta sa table nila.

At sa hindi ko inaasahan… ngumiti si Sky sa kanya.

"Oh."

Yun lang ang nasambit ko. Parang may kumurot sa puso ko.

Nakangiti siya. The kind of smile na bihira niyang ibigay. ‘Yung may dimple. ‘Yung genuine.

Naglakad siya palapit, naupo sa tabi niya. Mukhang close sila. Parang comfortable. Natural.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ako dapat maramdaman.

Jealous?

Hurt?

Left out?

Wala akong karapatan, ‘di ba?

Kasi hindi niya ako kilala.

At kahit ilang beses pa kami magkatinginan,

Kahit ilang beses pa akong napansin niya sa fansign, sa debut stage,

Hindi niya ako maalala.

And here I am, still sipping this cold coffee,

habang siya—he’s smiling at someone else.

I took one last sip of my lukewarm coffee, sinubukang hindi tignan ulit ang direksyon nila.

Kahit gustong-gusto ko.

Kahit parang sinisigaw ng puso ko na “Please, just one more look…”

Pero hindi.

I had to be brave this time.

So I stood up.

Straightened my coat.

And walked.

No turning back.

Each step palayo sa table niya felt heavier than the last.

Parang may invisible string na pilit akong hinihila pabalik.

But I kept walking.

Because if I turned around… I knew I’d fall all over again.

Paglabas ko ng café, malamig ang simoy ng hangin, pero mas malamig ‘yung pakiramdam sa dibdib ko.

I took a deep breath and whispered to myself:

“That’s enough for today, Cloud. You did good.”

Because sometimes, the bravest thing you can do…

is walk away—with your head held high, even if your heart stays behind.

.......................NEXT,,,,,,,,,,,,,,