Diagnosis for Tomorrow's Afterglow

0 0 2

Traffic ang unang sumalubong samin pag uwi sa Manila, mga walong oras ang inabot bago kami nakarating sa penthouse unit namin sa Baguio. Magkakatabi ang units namin nila Angel, Yumi at Misty. The units in every floor is four so we had privacy on us. It was a good thing every units was soundproof, I was so terrified with the moans I heard from the other unit last month and got the owners make the walls sound proof, wala eh ang wild nila Misty. Mapapasana all ka nalang talaga sa lovelife niya. I started unboxing the new medical books my dad sent me. I spent my first week reading the books to refresh my mind and had me literally practice some surgical operations over a maneqquin and a stuff toy, namiss ko tuloy si Third, siya kasi pinagpraktisan ko nung kailangan ng demonstration for

phlebotomy. He was willing eh but in return I did a collab with him which really garnered attention since that was my last project before we officially disbanded.

I continued reading while fumbling with the necklace around my neck. I wasn't sure if I'll meet that Heaven guy again and if I'm sure we did, I'm bringing this necklace back, I was so shocked nung sinearch ko yung price ng necklace na to, it was customized pa as it went to the designer's page, tumatagingting na 2.5 million lang naman ang ginastos niya para dito and sure I'm not that surprised with such money since my Dad is one of those billionaires in the world but it's just too much for someone you just met and we didn't even talk for more than a minute.

As I finished a book, I decided to go for a jog. I wore my facemask and a bucket hat to hide my identity as per se so I wouldn't be the center of attention. I jogged atleast five rounds around the village we're the pemthouse was located until I was exhausted. Nakalimutan ko pa kumuha ng water, just great. I decided to go to a convenience store instead of going home early, I need to get out of my cave atleast once in a while for pete's sake. I went to the closest store only to find Third in his usual 'im not allowed to be known' style, I grinned and slowly went to him to give him a scare.

"Jesus Christ! What the hell", I shrugged - that seems effective. I laughed at his reaction samantalang sinimangutan niya naman ako. Pumunta na ako sa chocolate shelf to get what I needed, he followed me naman.

"You could've just waved hello to me you know, what if I died?" naweirduhan naman ako sa sinabi niya , saang banda sa ginulat ang nakakamatay? I shot him a glare to which he chuckled.

"charot lang, how'd you know it was me?", kumuha ako ng chocolates, sandwich at water at saka dumeretso sa counter before I looked at him again giving the 'what-the-hell' look, he placed what he bought and chuckled again.

"bakit hindi? I know you from head to toe", iaabot ko na sana yung bills ko nung inunahan niya akong iabot yung credit card niya, shocks where's his head?

Bago pa maiswipe nung cashier yung card, I handed her the money.

"Ate I have cash, no need to go on that process" for a moment she was in confusion until her eyes went wide and freak out. Dear God, I might just kill Third in advance. Kilala talaga ako ng Mystiques from head to toe. Lucky me.

"OMG, I'm a long time fan po", I shook hands with her, nag alcohol pa siya bago niya yon tanggapin. Napangiti niya naman ako. She asked for an autograph and took selcas with me, she didn't took my money and added more chocolates she said na it's on her na daw, so I gave her a smile and waved goodbye.

"Miss Alodiah, we're rooting for you po - we're sorry po for those times na hindi namin kayo matulungan on your problems samantalang you give all to us Mystiques. Sinusuportahan mo namin mga career niyo ngayon, fighting!", she said and it warmed my heart. I went to her and hugged her before I exited the door. She said goodbye in tears.

Third was waiting by the door, he took the bags from me.

"May lahi ka bang baliw? You keep chuckling when you see me, nakakatawa ba ako?", he shrugged and went to his car, we took the backseat and ate the sandwiches I bought, of course I knew why he was there. Convenience store sandwiches are his fetish. He loved it eversince he tasted it for the first time nung high school.

"Alam mong nakaengrave sa card yung name mo and you had to punch pa your code tas ibibigay mo? I have cash Third", sinamaan niya ako ng tingin pero dedma lang yon sakin.

" Ikaw Diah? Pinaglihi ka ba sa sama ng loob? Bakit ako lagi pinagdidiskitahan mo? Nagoffer ako kasi mas mapera ako sayo", padabog niyang kinain yung sandwich niya na para talagang bata.

Kinusilapan ko nalang tong mokong na to at kinain ang share ko. Pagkatapos kumain at magkwento ni Third ng araw niya, tumawag ang manager niya for his shoot kaya kinailangan niya na ako iuwi kahit na sinabi kong hindi need. Hinatid niya ako sa may harap ng condo, security's good naman here since kailangan ng permission ng bibisitahin and identity to confirm - they also call in bago sila magpapasok ng bisita. Third, Spade and Asher were under our visitors list kaya deretso nalang silang pinapapasok.

"Gonna study again?", ngumiti ako kay Third saka inabot yung plastic ng chocolate sa back seat, pag ka abot ko non ay saka ko lang napansin kung gaano siya kalapit sakin na halos magkauntugan na kami, he snapped out of his senses when I snapped my finger.

"Chill alam kong maganda ako", he frowned with my statement kaya natawa ako. I kissed his left cheek before I went out of his car, we we're that close kaya nakakapagtaka na bago ko isara ang pinto ay nakaestatwa si Third parang binangungot nung hinalikan ko. Tsk arte alam kong namangha lang siya sa kagandahan ko. Mga nakukuha kong words talaga kay Yumi, nakakahawa.

Dumeretso na ako sa unit ko para ipagpatuloy ang pagbabasa, having my chocolates and water with me, my brain's ready for another batch of information.

Y

umi sent me a message to come at her condo to binge watch before I start my residency tomorrow, alam ko na everyone will be present because I will be busy with medicine again and so as Angel on her course. I wore my fave silk pajamas and headband , I was debating with myself if I'll bring a book as last reading bago ako magpahinga bukas pero I know Yumi would just drag it away from me, I just took my phone and locked my condo and just went to Yumi's condo, just infront of mine's.

Yumi enveloped me in a hug as soon as the party poppers exploded. A banner with a caption 'Future tagapangalaga ng tropa at future tagagawa ng medical certificate, Dr. Kim' was hanged on the ceiling. I was overwhelmed, palaging may ganto si Yumi for us pero hindi pa din ako sanay.

"Hoii guys, umiiyak si Diah", humagalpak pa sa tawa si Spade habang vini-videohan ako. Pinunasan ko naman agad yon saka siya sinamaan siya ng tingin, tumahimik naman siya non at pilit na pinigilan ng tawa, lalapitan ko na sana siya para bugbugin kaso Yumi was hugging me so tightly. Misty came to me with a cake and a candle. Napafacepalm nalang ako ng makita ang itsura ng cake.

"sino nag order niyan?", humagalpak silang lahat sa tawa. Napagalaman ko nalang na si Yumi ang bumili dahil sa higpit ng pagyakap niya sakin, I blew the candle of the p***s-shaped cake. Nahiya pa ako dahil Spade and Asher was present inside.

I hugged Yumi before kumalas sa yakap niya, I hugged everyone after except si Asher, nakipag-apir nalang ako sa kanya. Misty's a jealous type, I didn't want her to be uncomfortable with me.

"I'm here!", napatingin naman ako sa may kitchen nung winagayway ni Angel yung sandok na hawak niya. I went to her and hugged her so tight, bago tinignan yung niluluto niya.

"Tagagawa kita ng medical certificate ha? baka tamarin ako pumasok on some days", binatukan ko naman siya saka nilasahan yung niluluto niyang carbonara.

"Sige, masarap luto mo eh"

"Alam ko"

"Hindi na pala"

"Opss walang bawian", I shrugged and she clinged to my arms in return. Tinulungan ko nalang si Angel magluto habang nagsimula na silang manood ng 'Alice in the Borderland' sa Netflix. Inilapag namin ni Angel ang niluto niya sa table kung saan sila nanonood ngayon. May p***s-shaped cake, carbonara, mozzarella sticks at Hawaiian and Cheeseoverloaded pizza. Meron namang dinala si Spade na isang case ng emperador. Dun naman agad ang atensyon nila pagkatapos nila kumain, kinuha ko lang yung plato ng mozarella sticks habang patuloy na nanonood. Nasa kalagitnaan na ako ng episode seven, oo ako lang kasi tong mga walang hiyang to ay masyadong focus sa pagiinom, nagawa pa nilang maglaro ng truth or dare samantalang hindi naman ako makainom dahil wala nanaman magaasikaso sa kanila at maghahatid sa condo nila kung kailangan. Nung karamihan sa kanila ay tumba na, pinatay ko na ang tv at unang inalalayan si Yumi, sumunod naman si Spade na pagewang-gewang pa.

"Wala mga mahihina kayo, san mo dadalhin si Naomi, ha?", napakusilap nalang ako habang naririnig si Spade. Inihiga ko si Yumi sa kama niya, sumunod naman doon si Spade kaya napailing nalang ako. Kumuha ako ng towel at ng basin saka inalis yung make up ni Yumi, sunod ko namang pinunasan si Spade na salita ng salita.

"Yumi ang ganda mo kaso mayabang ka lang", Spade murmured kaya napatawa nalang ako ng mahina. Napailing nalang ako, why does every guy in our group falls inlove with the one they're close with, they're hopeless. Patuloy ko nalang na pinunasan si Spade habang patuloy siyang umiilag sa punas. I was caught off guard when he pulled me to him.

"Diah, happy residen-what the hell",bago ko pa maalis ang pagkayakap sakin ni Spade ay hinila na ako ni Third palayo sa kanya, he immediately pulled me behind his back and was about to speak when he must've realized Spade was drunk.

"Let's go", he was breathing so loud as if he was so angry, but I couldn't leave them together in a bed because Yumi would freak out so I stopped on my tracks.

"I have to put the floor bedding-", he looked at me like I wasn't allowed to talk, "I'll do it, just go to your room"

"Ako na-"

"Don't let me pull you away from here", why the hell is he cutting my sentences like I'm some kid, I just pouted and rolled my eyes at him. I went to my condo as he told, dinala ko muna si Angel sa unit niya before ako pumunta sa unit ko. Third was there by then, looking like the owner of my unit as he sit with his legs crossed and stared intensely at me. I stood naman with confidence and crossed my arms and stared at him also - like hell I'm letting him do it like that, I'm hyping up his game.

We stayed like that for a good minute until he chuckled and went to my direction hugging me directly.

"Damn", pabiro ko naman siyang sinuntok kaya tumawa ulit siya.

"May lahi ka talagang baliw no, why the hell are you laughing", humiwalay agad siya sakin at tinignan ako ng harap-harapan, "You're good at observing, you tell me"

Hindi pa ako sumasagot at lumayo na agad si Third at dumeretso sa kwarto ko, sinundan ko naman siya don at tumabi sa kanya nung humiga siya sa kama ko.

"You're gonna sleep here?", he just nodded and covered his eyes with his arms, tumalikod nalang ako sa kanya at pinatay yung ilaw saka ini-dim yung lamp. I took my book and just read. Around 11, I decided to turn off the lamp, when suddenly Third stood up at lumabas ng kwarto, susundan ko sana siya kaso bumalik siya agad holding a paper bag, he handed it to me.

"I was blinded a while ago, so I forgot to give you this. Happy first day of residency Dr. Kim"

"lols you didn't have to sir kuripot"

"all the best for you", I just hugged him before opening his gift with him watching, tears started to pool my eyes as I saw his gift to me, inside the box was a customized fuschia-colored stethoscopes with my name Rhian Kim engraved on it. Niyakap ko ulit siya samantalang ginulo niya lang ang buhok ko before going to his side of my bed.

"Best gift ever Third", he returned my gaze - directly looking at me with the smile he uses for making girls fall inlove with him.

"Yeah, best gift ever", he winked at me before turning his back on me. Pinag sawalang-bahala ko nalang iyon atsaka niyakap yung box ng stethoscopes. I slept tightly hugging the box like my life depended on it.

"Good morning b***h", I covered my self with my comforter when the sun rays hit my eyes. Hinila naman agad yon ng balahurang kaibigan na meron ako.

"Gising na, Dr. Kim. Last day bago ka maging busy again, cook mo ko dali. Masakit pa my head from migraine"

"Get yourself a damn maid", hinila ko ulit pabalik yung kumot sakin pero dahil balahura ang aking kaibigan ay hinila niya din to pabalik.

"Sayang money ghurl. Why pa kung meron naman ikaw", padabog akong bumangon paupo atsaka tinignan ng masama si Yumi.

"hehe Good Morning", my pill in the morning is here. Yumi makes sure I woke up with her as the first person I see in the morning. She was tying the curtains so I readied myself, I stretched and drank a glass of water na nasa bedside table ko, my eyes widened when i saw the box of stethoscopes at niyakap ulit yon.

"Si Third?", sinamaan naman ako ng tingin ni Yumi, tinignan niya yung box na hawak ko atsaka muling tumingin sakin.

"Ako kasama pero hanap mo siya, so unfair"

I just told Yumi to change since I wasn't in the mood to cook. We got out of the condo and headed straight to a nearby restaurant. The place was a vintage - themed resto, having a good - old hundred books with them and 70's songs playing. Pinili ni Yumi yung table na medjo malayo sa crowd, she wasn't a fan daw as of today ng people invading her privacy, we were followed by paparazzis a while ago kasi so she was so frustrated.

We ordered food and while waiting for the serving, I decided to go up to the resto's second floor to find something worth to read. I went to medical section and started looking at the titles, searching them online if they were good to read after reading the plot and contents at the back of the book. Sobrang focused na ako sa pagbabasa na hindi ko nalang namalayan na bumangga ako sa end aisle ng books, I was expecting to fall since the impact was hard but someone had to catch me while I'm falling. Napatingin ako pataas and there I saw that dark-brown eyes staring at me shamelessly.

I stood up immediately at humarap sa kanya, my heart was beating so fast as I looked at him again - he smiled.

"Didn't know you're a fan of old books", I was still in daze as I looked at him standing infront of me. He was infront of me, alive and kicking.

"are you stalking me?", masyado ata akong naging kampante sa sarili ko but I can't just believe that the person infront of me, just have to appear like that in a country, I don't think he'll step into.

"I'm too handsome for a stalker, I would love to but I'm afraid you're not the reason why I am here", I was about to speak when a petite girl popped around the left corner on the other aisle and headed straight toward us.

"Heaven, love. The foods served let's go", the girl stood in shock as she realized who was his boyfriend talking to, her eyes sparkled in tears as she saw me.

"I'm a Mystique po", she cried in happiness. Nilapitan ko naman siya and gave her a hug kaya mas umiyak siya lalo. Heaven just stood there watching. I patted her girlfriend's back and handed her his handkerchief.

"Nice meeting you", I said in between her sobs, she just nodded and looked at me like she still couldn't believe I was infront of her.

"Diah-Maduga, food's on the table na -oh", napa mental facepalm nalang ako ng biglang sumulpot si Yumi out of nowhere and made this girl cry more.

Lumapit naman siya dito at agad niyakap yung babae.

"Haluh sorry na maingay ako, tinatawag ko lang talaga yung kasama ko", Yumi was looking at me in panic while I shrugged as I looked at the man infront of me who was staring at me shamelessly. Heaven was really his name huh? Very unique.

Yumi seem to forgot that we we're celebrities so hearing the girl ask for autograph made her scratch her head, we gave the autographs she asked for and happily went to her guy, waiving the autograph papers she had.

"You're really the best fiancee, love", and she gave him a kiss. That was a sign for us to leave. Yumi pulled me out of the scene but my eyes we're glued to Heaven - and he was shamelessly looking back while kissing his girl.

He was off-limits.

✓