CHAPTER 5
1558 Words
"That was the first time you've called me by my first name," sabi niya.
I shyly smiled at him. "S-Sorry, Doc... I didn’t mean—"
"It's fine, I like it. Feel free to call me Yvo when we're outside," Nakangiti niyang sabi.
I froze.
Pakiramdam ko ay bumilis na naman ang t***k ng puso ko.
"Okay, Do—I mean, Y-Yvo," I stammered, feeling embarrassed as he raised an eyebrow when I called him "Doc" again.
"Why were you late?" Tanong nya habang seryosong nakatingin sa kalsada.
Napayuko ako. "Do—I mean, Yvo, there were a lot of new supplies for surgery. I was doing inventory for hours, and it took a while—what’s so funny?" Nakakunot-noong tanong ko.
"You're so cute, Lucia. I'm just teasing," sabi niya at ngumiti sa akin. "I know it's been a tough day; I've had a lot of patients myself."
Yet, despite that, he still waited an hour for me.
"Yvo..." I whispered.
I felt him stiffen.
I glanced at him and smiled softly. "Thank you... for waiting for me."
It was such a simple thing, but it made me so happy. Hindi ko alam kung bakit hinintay nya pa din ako kahit pagod din sya sa trabaho.
But why? Why is he so kind to me?
---
"WOW... ang ganda," sabi niya
"Indeed," I replied. I caught her looking at me and quickly shifted my gaze away, feeling my cheeks warm.
I smiled and turned back to the view. I had brought her to an overlooking café in Rizal, four hours away from Manila.
We sat on the hood of my car, taking in the city lights.
I remembered her earlier words. "Thank you for... waiting for me."
It was the first time I’d seen her smile so genuinely.
"Sobrang layo... pero worth it," she said.
I nodded. We had just finished dinner and decided to sit on the car's hood, enjoying the breathtaking view of the city lights.
"Bakit mo ba ginagawa to?" Lucia's voice brought me back to reality. She looked confused.
"Doing what?" I asked, puzzled. She shrugged.
"Ito, bakit sobrang bait mo sakin?" she asked.
I just smiled. "I don't know either," I said. Her brows furrowed, and she muttered, "Just this morning you were so grumpy."
I chuckled. "Well, about that, I just wanted to apologize for what happened this morning. I was really busy; the ER was crazy," I explained. It was true; I was caught up with a patient's lab results on the second-floor stairs when she saw me.
Tumango siya. "It's okay, it’s just... I thought..."
Is that what's been bothering her?
"Lucia," Tawag. ko. She frowned as she looked at me, pouting. Cute.
"Y-Yvo?" she asked nervously, swallowing hard.
I gulped too, glancing at her lips, and she did the same to me. In an instant, I felt my lips against hers.
Our lips met.
I was stunned when she pushed me away. I couldn't deny the sting of rejection, but I understood. She barely knew me, and I shouldn't have done that.
"U-Uh... I-I..."
I gave her an awkward smile.
Wrong move, Yvo.
I quickly stood up and turned away. "I'm sorry. I'll drive you home," I said, getting back into the car.
When she got in, I sped off in silence. The entire ride was quiet until I pulled over.
"Lucia... I didn’t m—" I turned to her, hearing her soft snores. She was already asleep? She must be exhausted. I smiled and shook my head before starting the car again.
I sighed. I guess I'll talk to her some other time.
---
"ANO BANG problema mo, Lucia? nakabusangot ka na naman, baka matakot na sayo mga pasyente nyan" Sermon ni Rochelle.
"Pa check lang ng temperature, ma'am," Sabi ko at hindi na pinansin si Roch na nagbibigay ng gamot sa pasyente.
I ignored her and continued working.
I sighed deeply. It’s been a week since that incident, and I’ve been avoiding any chance encounters with Yvo—I mean, Dr. H.
Sa sobrang pagod ko ata noong araw na iyon ay nakatulog nalang ako bigla, kinabukasan naman pag gising ko ay nasa sofa na ako ng bahay ko.
"Aray!" Daing ko nang marahang hilahin ni Rochelle ang buhok ko, snapping me back to reality. Hinila niya ako palabas ng ward.
"Ano bang problema mo? Halos isang linggo ka nang parang wala sa sarili, pag tinatanong ka naman sagot mo lang wala. " she said, glaring at me. "Para kang may pinagtataguan palagi, kala mo ba di ko mapapansin."
Umiling ako. "N-No, it’s nothing. Baka guni-guni mo lang yon," I replied. I couldn’t tell her that Dr. H kissed me; it would definitely become gossip. Knowing her, she has a big mouth.
"May tinatago ka ba sakin?" she asked, pretending to be upset. I smacked her lightly. "May maitatago pa ba ko sayo?" Natatawang sabi ko.
Natawa nalang din sya at tumango. "Basta tandaan mo kapag may problema, wag kang mahihiyang magsabi sakin." sabi niya pagkaraan ay bumalik sa loob ng ward.
I sighed deeply, feeling guilty for keeping secrets from her, pero wala naman akong choice.
I followed her back inside the ward to continue checking the patients' vital signs. This was important because when the doctor did rounds, all nursing assistants had to be there to assist.
"Lucia, hinahanap ka ni Nurse Lea." Sabi ni Jessica. Sya ang partner ko ngayon dahil absent si Sir Benny. I was assigned to the adult ward while she was in pediatrics.
"Okay," Yun na lang ang sabi ko as I finished with the last patient.
When I reached the nursing station, Nurse Lea scolded me for not reporting that a post-op patient had a fever and high blood pressure. We were almost overwhelmed, but Rochelle quickly came to the rescue, giving the patient medication.
"Nurse Lea, I’m sorry. Hindi ko po na-chekc agad," Sabi ko. Kung meron man akong kinakatakutan pa bukod kay Sir Benny, si Nurse Lea yun, nakakatakot din kasi siya pag nagagalit hindi kagaya ni Nurse Gelyn, na chill lang palagi, pero mabait si Nurse Lea.
She nodded. "It’s okay, but make sure next time you report any abnormal vital signs, so we don’t have any issues," Sabi niya
I nodded and apologized again.
Since wala pa naman akong gagawin dahil tapos na lahat, napagdesisyonan kong pumunta sa hagdan ng 2nd floor at doon naupo.
Hindi ko alam kung anong nararamdaman ko. Sa totoo lang naguguluhan ako. This all started after that night...
When he kissed me.
I glanced to the side and smiled. This had become my favorite spot because it was quiet, and not many people came here. It almost felt like our meeting place, me and Dr. H.
Meeting place?
I looked around, worried that Dr. H might be there, remembering I was supposed to be avoiding him. I felt relieved when I didn't see him.
I didn’t realize how much time had passed; I must have been sitting there for about 30 minutes. I stood up and decided to leave, but suddenly someone grabbed me. In an instant, I was in the second-floor storage room.
"Ano ban—Yvo?" Gulat na sabi ko.
"It’s been a week, Lucia," he said, looking tired. His eyes were dark and hollow.
"Y-Yvo, anong nangyari sayo?" Tanong ko. We haven’t seen each other for just a week pero parang anlaki na ng binaba ng timbang niya.
"It's been really stressful these past few days," he replied, his eyes filled with sadness. "Why are you avoiding me?" he added.
I froze. He had noticed.
"Is it because... I kissed you?" he asked again. I swallowed hard, remembering what happened that night. My heart started racing.
"D-Doc H..." I muttered softly. Ano ba talaga ang problema ko?
"I'm sorry," Sabi niya. Was he apologizing for kissing me?
"Ano an—"
I stopped as he smiled and ruffled my hair. "Don't worry, I'll take responsibility for what happened."
Lumayo siya ng bahagya at ngumiti "Lucia, can I court you?" he asked, then quickly turned away. "No, let me rephrase that..."
"H-Huh?" Nalilitong tanong ko.
"You asked why I’m like this with you, right?" He put his hands in his pockets. "It's because I'm into you, Lucia. It just happened. In the week I didn’t see or talk to you, I realized—"
"No, hindi pwede." Sabi ko. I was confused; I didn’t know what I was feeling. Humarap siya sa akin.
"Why?" Tanong niya.
I shrugged. "I just don’t want to. You’re not my type," I said casually, averting my gaze.
I heard him laugh. "Lucia... I'm sorry," he said, smiling as he leaned closer to my face. "But I don't take 'No' as an answer. See you around," he said with a wink before leaving.
I was left standing there, stunned.
Okay... what the hell just happened?
Is he really going to court me?
Napasabunot ako sa buhok ko at napakagat sa labi para pigilin ang pagngiti. I couldn't understand myself, but a part of my heart was happy because of what Yvo had said.
"Yvo.." nakangiting bulong ko.
Bigla akong natigilan.
Napawi agad ang ngiti ko nang maalala ko ang mama ko at kung paano siya nagmakaawa, wag lang kaming iwan ng papa ko.
Napayukom ako ng kamao.
I sighed.
Hindi pwede..
- Writer
