Unexpected You

"Attorney Venganza, what brings you here?" Nandito ako sa ART building ng St. Lukes Hospital. May ibibigay akong papeles dito sa kliyente ko. Tamang tama din naman na may bibisitahin din ako dito sa ospital kaya sinabay ko na. Nagfile ng annulment papers si JC sa kanyang asawa who cheated on him. 6 months nang pinoproseso ang annulment at ngayon na-grant na. I am a corporate and criminal lawyer. I like the thrill, but I don't let go of any of them. Kilala na ako dito sa field na 'to. I was known because of my winning cases. Halos lahat na napapanalo ko ay related sa crimes at least I tried not to lose my principles, but I had no choice but to consider the cases as they were, individually, because that is what we does. Ako na mismo ang pumunta sa kanya at sinadya ko talagang pumunta dito para ibigay sa kanya ang good news. "Mr. Montano, I have some exciting news for you," I exclaimed. "Take a sit first," he offered me the chair opposite to him. Umupo ako dito at pinatong ang envelope sa table niya. "Ano nanaman 'yang pa-good news mo?" Kunot nuong tanong nito. "Here, open it" nilahad ko ang envelope dito " Well, JC, usually pinapadala through a letter ang desisyon ng korte," wika ko rito. JC and I are childhood friends, kaya wala ng kaso sa akin ang pagtulong ko dito sa annulment niya. "And I can't resist na ako mismo ang magdala ng balita. I'm sure, you will be happy. It's a good news," I said smiling at him. He slowly open the envelope and read them quietly. I am happy for him, finally his free to his so called wife who used him and cheated on him. Bata pa lang kami nito, magkakilala na kami, pinsan siya ng kapitbahay ko nuon na close ko din. Kaya ganon na lang ang saya ko ng ma-grant na ang kanyang annulment papers Bumuntong hininga ito "I'm free?" tanong nito habang nakangiti na abot tainga "Yes, Doctor Montano" I chuckled at him, "Pinanigan ka ng korte and they had granted your petition for a ratification of your marriage," I said, with confident smile on my face. Napasuntok ito sa hangin at ngumiti "Hell, so pwede na akong manligaw?" he chuckled "Sira ka talaga!" I smacked his head using the envelope, "Umayos ka, hoy! Kaka-grant lang ng annulment mo mambababae ka na kaagad. Kating kati ka na ba?" pananaway ko dito habang tumatawa. "Hindi naman! It's just that I met a girl here in this field. She's a doctor, cardiothoracic surgeon," he said smiling making me cringe into his face. Muntanga lang. Cardiothoracic Surgeon? Maybe it's Citi? "Ang landi mo, JC. Sino ba 'yan? Baka kilala ng friend ko na cardiothoracic din. Makatulong pa ako," I said confusingly having a hint of Citi. "Nah, close na siya ng kaibigan ko. Magka highschool batch daw sila. Si Doctor Feliciti Wilson," wika nito. Makikita ko talaga siya sa korte kung ganoon, yawa! Natawa na lang ako dito at umiiling. The thought of him being killed by Ivo is really a savage thing! Napukaw ang atensyon namin sa kumakatok sa pintuan . "Come In" seryosong tugon ni JC. Bumukas ang pintuan at nakita ko ang isang nurse dito kapagkuwan ay nagsalita din ito"Uhmm, Doc... Dr. Santillian po, hinahanap kayo. Papasukin ko na ba?" magalang ang pananalita ng nurse dito. Doctor Santillian? I couldn't help but to froze as I was familiarize with that surname. "Yea sure, let him in," nakangiting tugon ni JC at umalis na din ang nurse bukas ang pintuan. Hindi ko maiwasan mapaisip na maari siya ito. I mean the world is small, and hospital ito. Malamng sa malamang pwede siyang doctor dito sa hospital na ito. "Tamang-tama, Syd. Since single ka at single si Doc Santillian, baka maging kayo, malay natin kayo pala tinadhana. He is odd from others, maybe because he couldn't move on from his past," abot taingang ngiti nito. I felt nervous all of a sudden. Binalot ako ng takot at kaba nang sandaling iyon. Maybe it was him? But maybe it was a different person. Maya maya nakarinig kami ng boses sa labas... "Doc, sorry natagalan. Puwede ka na po pumasok may ka-meeting kasi si Doc Montano," wika ng isang babaeng boses. "It's okay." His voice... I may be mistaken but I heard those voice before. Fuck it, Syd! It has been years. My heart is pounding nonstop. It may be him and I can't face him; I'm still not able to face the man who shattered my heart into pieces. Hindi rin nagtagal napukaw ang atensyon ko sa lalaking pumasok sa pintuan. His face... Napaawang ang bibig ko at nagulat ng makita siya'ng muli I looked back at JC and didn't even bother to look at his face again. Tumayo ako at kinuha ang bag ko nang matigilan ako ng may magsalita sa bandang pintuan, dahilan para mapapikit ko ang mata ko ng mariin at kumawala ng isang buntong hininga. "I thought it's your break? What's with the meeting?.."