Diagnosis for Tomorrow's Afterglow

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"and the winner of the grand award, artist of the year goes to.."

Drum rolls we're heard, fans cheering for their idols and the idols anticipating their group name while holding each one's hand was seen. Tinignan ko ang mga kasama ko na nakatamang chill lang habang patagong iniinom yung Martini na isinalin nila sa plastic bottle. A mess I should say, my kids finally had to do something bad dahil hindi daw kami kasali sa mga nanalo kahit pa na ang concept ngayon ng AMA ay 'Secrets' and we were just invited to perform dahil malakas hila namin sa Asian countries, nice one AMA.

Martini had been they're favourite hidden drink when we go to award shows, my kids are bad. I took a sip of my water- yes water dahil ako ang may responsibility sa tatlong ugok na to. Misty continually drinking, Angel and Yumi bickering at Yumi's conyo and there's me watching them with a proud face. I am so happy having them in my life, they we're my light during those days of darkness and days of giving up. Palagi silang nasa tabi ko even if it was annoying.

"Angel's Core! Congratulations!.", napabuga ako ng tubig ng marinig ang group name namin, they even caught it on camera. Inulit pa nilang banggitin ang pangalan ng grupo to which Misty who composed herself from shock the fastest stood up and held hands with Yumi who started crying. Angel took my hand as she pulled me to walk to stage. Napahawak ako sa pisngi ko ng maramdamang tumulo ang mga luha ko. Umiiyak pala ako.

Gago, di ko pa alam.

We took the trophy from Harry Styles who was the host for this grand awarding ceremony and I couldn't be more happy because I am a fan. My 1D heart still lives till I die.

The mic and flowers where given by the organizers of the show and I held the mic as afterall, I am the leader. I looked all over the stadium and saw how our lightsticks were the brightest in the sea of crowds.

"Mystiques", yun palang nasasabi ko at napaiyak ako lalo. Hindi naman agad yon nakalampas kaila Yumi at agad akong niyakap causing us to group hug infront of the crowd, the fans were chanting 'I love you and stop crying' which made me cry more, the kids were rubbing my back as they encouraged me to speak.

"We know it's been tough for you guys to still come and support us here in New York as you've heard from the news that we we're d-disbanding", they still kept on shouting 'ily's and stop crying' that warmed my heart.

"Thank you for the endless support in the 6 years of journey, you watched us from dust on the ground to the stars that shone bright as your inspiration. Thank you for loving us endlessly, we will forever be grateful of those laughs and cries we shared from the start, this is not the end of us though. Disbanding doesn't mean cutting off the stranger-friendship we had. We are grateful to all of you who never left our sides and to my kids", I hugged them and looked at them with love.

"Let's pursue the real dream we had, Misty, you wanted to pursue acting. Angel, you wanted to be a marine biologist and Yumi, you wanted to be a teacher. I want you guys to pursue this and let's always meet like the group we are and communicate to our Mystiques when we miss them and when they missed us. I love you guys lets be friends till our hairs turned gray"

We bowed to the audience and waved at them like kids who won they're favourite candy. As the closing remarks was told by Harry, every artist on their designated seats were called on stage for the encore. We stayed on stage till everyone had to leave for the night. Nagyaya sila Blake ng dinner, it was a farewell party. Yeah right, he's losing his money makers now, he had to work double.

He held the party at a bar and like the drunkards that my kids are, their eyes sparkled as soon as they saw where we we're headed.

"May gwapo there right and definitely walang Spade?", Yumi asked like a naughty kid.

"Wala, kaya lumayas ka na sa harap ko", Yumi pouted before kissing my left cheek and run on the dance floor. Pinunasan ko yon because I wasn't really the type of a clingy and sweet friend. Madami akong nakitang mga artists na hawak ng company, hell I memorized the name of everyone para hindi sila maoffend pag kausap nila ako, the company really made sure they had this hell of vacation and just maybe alam nila na mananalo kami tonight. I wasn't an extrovert person, I'd rather seat in the corner and watch my kids slay the night. This was really the end of all those exhausting practices and hiding sickness to not worry the fans. Finally, I have decided what I really want in life.

"Hey, mag isa ka nanaman", I looked at Third as he took a sit beside me, "Usual, I hate crowds".

He chuckled and offered me a drink, proprotesta na sana ako ng nagsalita agad siya, "It's juice, like parang di kita kilala ah".

"like you know Misty ba?", he choked on his drink na para bang may mali sa sinabi ko, hay Third. He just had to hide his feelings for her and now she's with someone else.

"Of course, I know you, Misty, Yumi and Angel and that hella bastard Spade", natawa ako sa itsura niya nung minention niya si Spade, as much as how Spade and Yumi argue it was the same with him and Spade, Spade like a talker he is, always call this man a p***y.

I knew his feelings for Misty, hell I like observing people and I know feelings when I saw one. Wala naman akong experience sa lovelife na yan, I was focused on my post-graduate internship and thankfully filling in my residency in a few days na sinabayan pa ng career na to, I was exhausted but happy of what I have been.

"Third, you okay?", I asked him as he kept watching Misty who was with Asher. He smiled without reaching his eyes and shrugged and gave me his whole attention instead.

"Why are you calling me Third, Diah? My name's Fifth Damien Liano and there's no third or number three in my name", I was scrolling on my phone as the party bores me, I just wanted to be back on reviewing as I'm going for my residency. I'm willing to pursue it more than ever, tinignan ko si Third who was playing with his food. Binalingan ko siya ng tingin atsaka muling tinuon ang atensyon ko sa phone ko.

"Trip ko lang. I'm your third bestfriend", he chuckled at my silly response, "grudge mo pa din talaga yung highschool remark na yon no? Diah, we we're childish back then", wala namang masyadong interesting sa twitter except sa trending kami - ibinaba ko na yung phone ko at tinuon ang atensyon kay Third.

"still childish now", napakamot siya ng ulo sa sinabi ko, naglabas siya ng chocolate na nasa suit niya, dun agad pumunta ang atensyon ko.

"sabi mo yan ah, wala kang chocolate saken, sayang Maltesers pa naman at Safari meron ako", he slowly opened the wrapper, teasing me and the silly sweet tooth I have, watched in dismay as he ate without offering me. This guy, I'm gonna kill him.

"gusto mo?", I almost smacked him with his silly annoying question. He has this playful smile as he enjoyed my agony. He took one chocolate and I was already anticipating him to give it to me and my first response was to open my mouth when he suddenly withdrawed and ate it instead.

"bili ka", I smacked him a lot of times while he was laughing his heart out. I took it as a chance to take the chocolate from his hand. He looked at me like I did the most horrible thing to him but I was enjoying the chocolate melting in my mouth.

"apakasama mo, alam mo ba 'yon ha? you're a meanie Diah", he pouted. Why the hell is this man a baby?

"Fifth", bigla nalang umayos ang upo at itsura ni Third nung may tumawag sa pangalan niya. The man seated beside him and they had this handshake like a highschool kid, yeah Third is definitely a baby.

"Sup?", they talked about things hanggang sa naisipan kong umalis nung naubos ko yung chocolate. I was taking my bag when Third took hold of my hand, my attention went to him.

"where are you going?"

"hotel?", tumayo agad siya at kinuha ang gamit ko. I was about to protest kaso nauna na siyang tumayo.

"wait, quick bathroom break", napatingin tuloy ako sa kausap niya who had an amused face looking at Third walking away.

I smiled at him.

"uh hello?", I awkwardly stated as I didn't know the guy. He flashed me a smile and offered his hand.

"Hi Crust, I'm Mantle", tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. Was that some science joke?

"I don't Core", getting the theme of the joke real quick, pabiro naman niyang hinawakan ang left chest niya, looking a little weird.

"Aww, it Earths", he was satisfied with my reaction.

It was lame but he tried, and it made me smile the happiest I can be today. He wiggled his eyebrows and smiled at me - he offered his hand - again, so I gladly shook my hands with him.

"seryoso na to, I'm Heaven", I almost smacked him when he said the name. Sabi seryoso tas ganon, pasalamat to di ko siya kilala kung hindi, inilibing ko na to ng buhay.

"I'm Hell".

"you're witty", sasagot na sana ako ng bigla akong hilain ni Third palayo. I shot the Science guy an apologetic smile and waved.

"till we meet again", he shouted which had some people turn to his direction. Third definitely dragged me out of the party and into his car, pushing me to the passenger seat as he went to the other side for the driver's seat, napangiwi ako habang hawak ko ang palapulsuhan kong masyadong mahigpit na hinawakan ni Third. Napatingin naman sakin si Third and became concern when he saw me clutching my wrist because it hurt. Why the hell is he acting like this?

"alam kong galit ka sa chocolate na kinain ko pero baka naman, masaket", he stared at me so I awkwardly smiled at him, he sighed and closed the gap between us and suddenly hug me.

"Third, teka bat may yakap - yung kamay ko yung masaket", he remained still until I felt his shoulders shaking and he sniffed. Aalis sana ako sa pagkayakap niya para tignan siya pero mas lalong niya akong niyakap.

"Damien anong problema?" I hugged him back as I slowly rub my right hand on his back. He was crying and it's my weakness. The last time I saw him cry was when I almost died from a crash six months ago, he stayed in the hospital until I got better, until they told me the reason why we had to disband, until we finally chose to focus on what we really had wanted.

"I'll wait for you, please get that M.D. on your name officially", I smiled as my heart fluttered. Until Third calmed down, I continued drawing circles on his back. I didn't know the reason why he was crying but it got me motivated when I heard him said the word please. Maybe he'll just miss me kasi magiging tutok na ako sa residency ko two weeks from now. just maybe.

Third drove me to the hotel the company rented before we fly back to Philippines tomorrow. He got awkward with me so I waved him goodbye at the lobby, he just shut me a small smile which I didn't took at heart because if he really wanted to talk, there's no way pushing him to talk, he'll come by - afterall Third trust me with his secrets and I knew him since grade school.

I took a shower and used my silk sleepwear before facing my laptop to check updates on my application. I already sent my application forms to many hospitals but I sure knew where I was gonna be hired. Saint Melody Thalancy University Hospital. My father's blood and sweat, of course that's my only destiny. Dad didn't force me to become a doctor - hell he didn't want me to even enter the medical field because he knew how exhausting it was, Mom left for it. Mom left us and remarried due to Dad's absence but it made me want to become a surgeon - cardiothoracic surgeon to be exact, I wanted to save lives like how my father did even if he lost his first love. I wanted to know why it only beats for one person, why it aches, why its complicated.

Silly right? Silly me.

I received a notification from six hospitals but my father's sweat stood out the most. I called him for confirmation of taking place, he already know where to assign me and that he wanted me to rest first before starting my residency. I listened to his payo and sermon, just how I love my dad still treating me like a princess.

"Dad, I'm old"

"Don't use that voice on me young lady"

"Dad naman kasi, dont do favouritism ha? sige ka lilipat ako ng hospital na pupuntahan", I pouted as if he would see me, my dad's really overprotective.

"I don't want you to be exhausted, I saw how you tried to go to med school while continuing your work. I was the one who treated you for the sicknesses you got from overfatigue, Anak hindi mo alam kung ilang beses ako nagalala na halos gamitin ko na ang connection ko para matapos mo agad ang med school but I know you wouldn't want that but listen to me Rhian, don't overwork yourself, life has so many wonders - explore it".

"Dad masyado kang excited, next next week pa ako magsisimula".

"I'm on no mood for jokes".

"Yes Dad, I promise".

"Good. I'll see you when you go home, I'll send guards on the airport".

"Yes dad".

"My love is beyond the stars Rhian".

"And forever it will hold, Dad".

He ended the call and I slept due to exhaustion.

Morning came and the first thing you'll hear was Yumi's snores beside me, I figured out she came late kaya I ordered room service while I fix our luggages. Misty might be with Asher and Angel might've switched rooms since Asher kept bugging her to do so. Ang landi. Sana all.

Room service was here five minutes after, the usherette placed the food on the dining table and handed me a bag containing a velvet box, I looked at her in confusion.

"A man gave this at the reception desk late night but we don't give room numbers as privacy so he handed us this box and just told us to give you this", I opened the box and I gasp in awe as I saw a stethoscope - shaped pendant necklace. I looked at the usherette again.

"Did he tell his name?", she tried to think until she recalled the name.

"Heaven. He said his a fan of yours".

✓