Follow the Sun

Strangers "Doc, you got paged at bed three for a consult," "Coming nurse Cha!" Agaran kong sigaw sa favorite nurse ko. I was just about to finish my 18hour shift. I’m too tired but I approached bed three and viewed the chart. I looked at the patient's scans, I ordered more test to rule out some diagnosis. Pagkatapos ng consult, agaran akong pumunta sa canteen. Lunch break na at gutom na gutom na ako. Tinignan ko ang relo ko para makita kung may oras pa ba akong kumain nang may tumawag sa akin. "Doctora Barrera!" Rinig kong sigaw sa kung saan. I looked around only to see my attending calling me. He's with some people. Formal ang mga suot. Huh, ang board ba to? Lumapit ako kay Doc Michael, "Yes doc?" "Doctor Barrera, these are our new stockholders in our hospital," "Mr. Andrew Perez," saad ni Doc sabay turo sa isang gwapong lalaki na may friendly na ngiti. I bet he's young. "Ms. Michelle Torres," turo nya naman sa isang magandang ginang, she looks a bit old but very elegant. "And Mr. Montecalvo, he is part of our board," turo nya naman sa lalaking naka talikod, mukhang may katawag. I froze upon hearing that surname. Montecalvo? Surely marami namang Montecalvo sa mundo diba? Baka hindi sya to. Looking at his back, I immediately recognized him. I know that back, that's definitely him. How could I ever forget? That memory is still very vivid. Hanggang ngayon, tandang-tanda ko pa rin. That back turned against me, walking away until my tears blurred my vision. When I was about to tell Doc Michael that I got a page as an excuse, Mr. Montecalvo then faced me and said "I’ll call you back, Cara," to his phone. We looked each other in the eye, and for a moment all those memories came crashing at me. I hitched my breath. He offered his hand, only then have I realized I was staring too much, again. It feels deja vu. "This is Doctora Zaf Barrera, our brightest chief Resident," Doctor Michael, our chief of General Surgery introduced me. I smiled at him for his remarks, "Oh he's too kind," I laughed. I shook his hands, dali-dali akong bumitiw para makig kamay kang Mr. Perez at kay Ms. Torres. I smiled and chatted a bit, trying not to be rude. I tried looking at him but only to find him staring so seriously at me. He wasn't even surprised. He didn't give any reaction, or maybe he just doesn't care. All these years of wondering how he is. Wala man lang syang pake? The anger I tried hard to burry surfaced again. But maybe it’s just my pride, wounded because he doesn't give a damn. I was about to excuse myself again when he spoke, "You look tired, you should at least drink coffee," I looked at him and forced a smile. "Oh no need sir, I’m fine. Thank you though," I was about to walk out when he caught my wrist. "I insist doctor, I’m sure you'll be able to work better when you're awake and fed," I gritted my teeth, trying to stop myself from bursting into anger. I looked back at Doctor Michael, he looked at our direction, while he was talking. "Fine, Ill drink a cup of coffee. Now let me go, I’ll get it myself," He let go of my wrist and it all felt the same. The way he let go, it seemed familiar. That was the same feeling I felt when he let me go. When he left. I tried to remember what my therapist told me, breathing exercise. Doctor Michael approached me when he noticed what I was trying to do. He knows me so well. But I guess nothing like how that man, staring deeply at me, knew me. How ironic, we used to say we were perfect for each other, that we're meant to be. But now, we're just strangers who knows our darkest secrets.