The Right Calling (Tagalog)

Chapter 2

Theo

Fate must be on my side because I didn’t have to look for her. She herself came to me and helped me. That minor accident was a blessing in disguise. Mabuti na lang at tumawid ako nang hindi ko sinasadya.

I sighed hard after being x-rayed. I already know that there’s no fracture. I can move my leg just fine and I can feel my toes. Paika-ika lamang akong maglakad dahil sa impact pagkabunggo pero hindi naman iyon ganoon kalakas para maospital pa ako.

“All clear, sir,” ani radtech sa orderly bago ako ibinalik sa emergency room.

Sa totoo lang, I didn’t expect this hospital to be like this. I expected a lot more than this. But I guess I shouldn’t judge a hospital by its appearance.

Malinis ang emergency room despite the fact that it looks old. Tumayo na ako at lumipat sa kama bago nagmanman sa buong ospital.

I found Revi smiling widely at a child. Is she a resident? Pero ang tingin ko kanina ay bihasa na siya. I would think that she’s already a fellow.

I wasn’t able to ask more details about her from Dr. Miranda kaya naman ang alam ko lang ay kung ano ang itsura niya. She’s pretty, yes, but I’ve seen prettier women in Manila. Her eyes are gray and I wonder if her mother is a foreigner.

She looks really caring and approachable. She talks to everyone like a friend instead of a colleague. And maybe that’s one of the reasons why she loved working here. Everyone seemed nice and kind.

Lumapit sa kanya ang nurse na nag-asikaso sa akin kanina at hawak-hawak nito ang isang x-ray film. I think that’s mine because I can see that it’s an image of a leg.

Naningkit ang mga mata ni Revi habang itinatapat ang film sa ilaw para makita ito nang malinaw. Mabilis siyang lumingon sa akin at ngumiti bago naglakad palapit.

“Hey,” aniya. “Wala namang problema ang x-ray mo.” Idinikit niya ang film sa negatoscope na nakakabit sa dingding. “I can prescribe you pain relievers.”

I shook my head. “No need,” sagot ko. “Hindi naman masakit.”

Kumunot ang noo niya. “Talaga?” tanong niya, tunog hindi naniniwala. “You were limping a while ago.”

I smiled and shrugged. “It’s fine. I don’t want to take pain meds on things I can tolerate.”

She arched her brow before nodding. “Okay,” aniya. “I hope that doesn’t swell though.”

I chuckled and nodded. “What time do you finish?” tanong ko. Alas dos siya pumasok kaya maaaring matapos siya ng alas dyes o alas onse.

She gave a me look. “Bakit?”

I shrugged. “Wala lang. Just wanna ask if you’re free to go out after your shift.”

Nagtagal ang tingin niya sa akin. I know it’s weird to be asked out by someone you just met and I won’t judge her if she would decline. I would also decline if it were me.

“Why?” tanong niya habang tinatanggal ang film sa negatoscope. “I don’t have time to flirt.”

I chuckled. I kind of like how straight-forward she is. Hindi siya natatakot sabihin kung anong nasa isip niya and I think that’s admirable. Some people don’t have that courage that she has.

“I won’t be flirting,” paliwanag ko. “Can’t I just be a friend?”

She scoffed before shaking her head in disbelief. “Ano namang gagawin natin? Alas onse ako matatapos. You won’t be able to go and have fun.”

“Any bars?”

She paused and smirked. “Lalasingin mo agad ako?” pabiro niyang tanong.

I laughed and shook my head. “Don’t worry, Revi. I don’t take advantage on women who are smashed.” I assured her.

She narrowed her eyes at me before sighing. “I’ll text you, then,” aniya. “I’ll get your number from your chart.” She smiled at me before walking back to the station.

Napailing na lang ako. Great, now I am closer to my goal.

***

It’s ten thirty and she’s still not texting. I laid on the bed of my hotel room. Dapat siguro ay kinuha ko rin ang number niya. I shouldn’t have just settled to waiting her text me.

I sighed and stared at the ceiling. I wonder what her stand is when I tell her about her father. Hindi ko alam ang kwento niya kaya kailangan ko muna siyang kilalanin—kung gugustuhin niya.

Well, if anything goes wrong, I can always just tell her the truth and ask her nicely if she wants to go to Manila and practice there.

Yes, honesty is always the best policy.

Pero bakit nga ba hindi ko na lang sabihin nang diretso sa kanya? I drove to Baguio for this. I can end my misery early if I break it to her as early as now.

If I told her what my real purpose is then everything would be done in a minute. She could turn it down or think about it but, at the end of the day, at least I’m done.

Everything is that simple. It’s supposed to be as easy as that. No one ever told me to get to know her more. Dr. Miranda just asked me to look for her and try to convince to come to Manila and work in Sta. Monica. I should just do that and leave.

But there’s something about her that draws me in. It’s as if she’s trying to lure me in her trap. Hindi naman ako nagrereklamo pero kung hindi dahil doon, siguro ay tapos na ang misyon ko rito.

I was asked to bring her to the hospital so she would be able to inherit it from her father. Hindi ko alam kung gugustuhin niya iyon pero ano naman ngayon sa akin kung ayaw niya?

I told Dr. Miranda that I’m not going to promise anything. But why am I even trying to get to know her—trying my hardest as if my life depended on it?

I sighed hard and my phone beeped. Mabilis akong napaupo sa kama at dinampot ang cellphone ko sa nightstand. It’s from an unknown number.

Unknown number:

Let’s meet at Rumours. You can go there by cab.

I raised my brow. Nilingon ko ang orasan sa dingding. It’s already quarter to eleven. Tapos na kaya siya sa duty niya?

Me:

Are you done with your shift?

Dali-dali kong sinave ang number niya sa contacts.

Revi:

Oo. Palit lang ako tapos magtatawag na ako ng taxi.

I pursed my lips together before nodding kahit hindi naman niya iyon makikita. Agad akong nagpalit ng damit. Tingin ko ay mga tatlumpung miunto ang aabutin galing sa ospital pabalik sa Baguio.

Tinanaw ko ang kalsada mula sa bintana ng kwarto at nakitang wala namang masyadong traffic. Maybe she can go back to the city in fifteen minutes?

My phone beeped once again.

Revi:

On my way.

Naningkit ang mga mata ko sa screen. Tapos na siya agad magbihis? In all fairness, she’s simple. When she came to me when I bumped into the taxi she’s riding, she looked plain—blue T-shirt, faded jeans and a pair of white sneakers. Her shoulder-length hair freely flows down.

Natawa ako nang maalala ang sinabi niya sa akin nang makita nakatitig lamang ako sa kanya. She’s funny at sa totoo lang, pwede ko siyang maihilera kay Margaux dahil sa kanyang ugali. I’m sure when she comes to the hospital, she’ll be able to be close to her. And maybe to Deonna, too. Pare-pareho sila ng ugali.

Siguro nga isa iyon sa mga rason kung bakit gusto ko siyang mas kilalanin pa. Because I see Deonna in her. I really liked Deonna until she started seeing that lawyer. Nang makita kong sobrang mahal nila ang isa’t isa, tumigil na ako. Anong laban ko kung mahal nila ang isa’t isa? I don’t want to be the villain in a love story.

I bit my lower lip and grabbed my phone and wallet. Dahil hindi ko naman alam ang pasikot-sikot, nagpasya akong magtaxi na lamang. Kung iinom kami, hindi rin naman ako pwedeng magmaneho dahil mahal ko pa ang buhay ko.

Luckily, the hotel I am in is in the heart of the city. I asked the receptionist where Rumours is and she said it’s walking distance from here. Mabait naman siya at itinuro sa akin ang tamang daan.

I’m not sure if it’s safe to walk alone in the streets of Baguio at night pero nang may mga nakita akong taong naglalakad sa direksyon na pupuntahan ko, kumalma na ang kalooban ko.

After walking for less than ten minutes, I saw that the restobar is closed. Napahugot ako ng malalim na hininga bago inilabas ang telepono. I was about to call Revi when I suddenly saw her walking towards me. She’s wearing the same clothes she wore when I first met her but her hair is already tied in a messy bun.

“Ay, sarado?” Iyon ang kanyang unang mga salita nang makita niya ako. Hindi man lang niya ako binati. Well, not that it matters anyway. I was just relieved that she’s already here kasi hindi ko alam kung saan ako tatambay habang naghihintay sa kanya. “Padi’s na lang,” she suggested and I nodded.

She started walking to the north and I had no choice but to follow her. I watched her while her eyes roamed around the buildings we were passing by. She had a smile on her face. Ni hindi ko makitaan ng pagod ang kanyang mukha.

She paused and suddenly turned towards me.

I raised my brow. “What?”

She shrugged. “Akala ko nawala ka na,” aniya. “Dito ka kasi sa tabi ko.” Hinila niya ang kamay ko para tabi kaming maglalakad. “Nakapasyal ka ba?”

I shook my head. “Dumiretso ako sa hotel at natulog,” sagot ko.

Tumawa lang siya. “Dapat pumunta ka sa Diplomat.” Then she gave me a look. “O baka takot kang pumunta roon?” tukso niya.

Tinitigan ko siya. “Pwede siguro akong pumunta roon kung may kasama. Ayokong mawala sa Baguio.” I was partly insinuating.

She gave me a side-eye before laughing. “Are you telling me you want me to accompany you?” nakangisi niyang tanong. “I thought you’re not flirting?”

I shrugged. Okay, maybe I was flirting a little. Hindi ko mapigilan. At hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi ko mapigilan. Tanginang buhay naman ‘to.

“Are you free?” I asked instead. “Tomorrow, perhaps?”

Ngumisi siya at nagkibit. “Depende kung malalasing ako ngayon,” sagot niya.

“Huwag kang mag-alala. Sisiguraduhin kong magigising ka nang maaga.” Malapad na ang ngisi ko sa kanya at wala na siyang nagawa kung hindi ang tumawa at umiling.