Chapter 4: Dating a University Queen

When his mom left the room, he never fell asleep easily. The thoughts his mother shared to him started bothering him this time. Marahil tama nga ang mommy niya. Kailangan na niyang gumalaw nang kusa kesa sa maghintay.

Besides, that's what guys usually do, right? Kung siya man ang gagawa ng first move, hindi iyon malaking issue kasi iyon naman talaga ang dapat niyang gawin, ang maghanap hangga't magkaroon siya ng nobya.

Nang mga sumunod na araw, isa-isang kinumusta ni Kurt ang mga dating kaibigan. Karamihan sa kanila ay mga babae. Para sa kanya, oras na siguro para pagtuunan ng pansin ang buhay pag-ibig niya. Kung hindi lang talaga dahil sa mama niya, hindi pa niya makikita na dapat na pala siyang malagay sa tahimik.

Most of his girl friends are missing the old Kurt that they knew that's why they are delighted when he's scheduling dates for most of them in some meals of the day. He admitted, he had a lot of fun meeting several of them.

Isa na dito ang matalik niyang kaibigan simula pa noong highschool sila. Niyakap agad siya nito nang makita siya.

"I missed you so much Kurt!"

"I missed you too, Leila, How have you been? How's life going, by the way?" He took a sip from his cup of coffee and looked at his childhood sweetheart casually. The girl smiled back but that smile eventually faded when she started to talk to him.

"Eto, sa sobrang tagal ng paghihintay ko sa'yo, nakapag-asawa na ako." Tipid niyang sagot. She even frowned in a joking manner. Hindi napigilan ni Kurt ang tawa niya sa isinagot sa kanya ni Leila. 

"What?! Did I hear it right? C'mon, you missed me too much that you don't have time to joke around." He sounded not very convinced yet. Napakunot noo pa si Kurt sa nabalitaan niya.

Looking at her dear friend, her body, figure and charm never changed for the past five years. Sobrang ganda pa rin ni Leila. Ni hindi nagbago ang pangangatawan niya. She's still possess that "University queen" title because of her looks and the way she handles herself.

"Please tell me you're not serious when you said that..."

She looked at him as she took a calm, deep breath. She smiled before words could escape her lips.

"Yep. I got married in the U.S. It was a private ceremony because my husband is a businessman. Sorry, I never even got the chance to invite most of our colleagues. We both agreed that it should be simple because of the time constraint. As a matter of fact, he was able to have some business deals three days after our wedding in a different city ." She confessed.

"Kahit ako na sobrang close sa'yo, hindi ko nga alam eh." Mahinang sagot ni Kurt na parang ayaw pa niyang paniwalaan ang nangyari.

"Believe me. We kept it private as much as possible. Siguro nawalan na nang malaking time talaga at preparation to announce it to everybody we knew."

"Sayang. Sana nakadalo man lang ako," He said as he smiled while scratching his head.

"Gosh, you're a slowpoke! Way back then, I had a crush on you but you're too busy to even look at me." Natatawang biro ni Leila at napahampas pa ng mahina sa braso ni Kurt. 

"How will I know? Nahihiya akong lumapit sa'yo noon. Ang alam ko, wala na akong pag-asa dahil hindi bumababa sa sampu ang mga nanliligaw sa'yo. Ikaw kaya ang pinakamaganda sa University natin. Heto nga oh, this is the first time that I ever talked to you this long." He pointed his wristwatch for emphasis. Leila can't help but smile.

"Well, lagi namang nasa huli ang pagsisisi, hindi ba?" She jokingly included sarcasm on it.

"Thank you for your time, Lei. I really appreciate it. I hope your husband will not mind if you date some of your guy friends whenever you're here for vacation." Sakto namang dumating ang order nilang steak at isa-isang inilagay iyon ng waiter sa harap nila.

"He doesn't mind. He's mature enough to understand that his dear wife is too beautiful to have a lot of guy friends."

"That's good to hear."

"Confident naman 'yun na siya lang ang mahal ko. Sa kanya lang ako pumayag na magpakasal, noh." Napatawa pa ito ng marahan. Ramdam naman ni Kurt na mahal nga ni Leila ang asawa from the way her eyes glistened. She got that magical smile of being a contented and happy wife.

"Who's the lucky guy, then?"

"You knew Albert Adreano, right?" She asked her back. Kurt nodded, not leaving her gaze. Pakiramdam niya, kahit ang mata ni Leila ay nakangiti na rin.

"Yup, he's the only guy that's persistent through all these years I'm glad he's the one for you." Kung ikumpra naman sa mga nakarelasyon ni Leila, kay Albert lang ito may tiwala. Him and his pure intentions to his friend.

"Aaaww, Kurt. Thank you. Hindi nga ako  nagkamali sa kanya. He's too understanding and patient. I can't believe he's able to handle everything of me." She gave him a satisfied and fulfilled look. Kurt can able to see it through her eyes.

"Ikaw? May maswerteng babae na ba?"

"You always know it's Jenna." He instantly answered as she grinned.

"But that's your dog! What a coincidence! Kaparehas din ng pangalan ng aso mo ang girl friend mo ngayon?" 

"Jenna is my dog, you're right about that. Girlfriend? How I wish I'll meet her soon, too." Natawa na naman si Leila sabay iling.

"That's just too silly of you!" Sinabayan pa ni Leila ang pasimple nitong hampas sa braso niya.

"Sinasabi ko lang naman ang totoo kasi nagtatanong ka."

"Just don't rush, okay? You'll have the perfect one someday." She assured him with a wink.

"Thanks, Lei. We'd better eat. The food's getting cold now." They both enjoyed the food from that new restaurant that they've discovered. Isang oras pa ang lumipas at nagpaalam na rin si Leila sa kanya dahil may girl's night out din ito kasama ng mga business partners niya sa cosmetics business niya.

He was able to drive her to the hotel where Leila will stay for the rest of the day.

"I am so happy we got a chance to talk like this again. It seemed like yesterday once more." Leila said, her smile is beaming wide.

"Any time, dear. I know Albert won't mind if we meet again for a friendly chitchat, right?"

"Of course, basta daw next time kasama na siya." Natatawang sagot ni Leila.

"Sure, not a problem. I also wanted to congratulate him in person for having you at last."

"Thank you Kurt! Let's call it a day," Sagot ni Leila at hinalikan pa niya si Kurt sa magkabilang pisngi bago tuluyang pumasok sa elevator.

Hindi niya lubos maisip na nalulong na pala siya sa puro trabaho lang at nakalimutan na niyang kiligin at may kumukumusta sa kanya kung maganda ba ang naging takbo ng araw niya.

As of the moment, love for him means service to his fellowmen. Mas alam pa niya ang mga nababasa niya sa libro at ang mga ginagawa niya para gumaling ang mga maysakit na mga taong nagpapakonsulta sa kanya keysa sa mga babae.

For him, it is better to understand the nature of his work more than to understand the nature of women. 

Marami na rin siyang naririnig na kumplikado raw ang intindihin ang mga ugali ng babae. Pabago-bago ng isip at ika nga, karamihan sa kanila ay hirap sa tinatawag nilang decision-making sa kahit anong bagay.

Napahiga siya sa kama niya sa loob ng kanyang kwarto. Sinubukan niyang magbasa ng libro pero 'nung mga oras na iyon palagay niya, walang may pumapasok sa isip niya. Pumakawala siya ng malalim na buntong hininga at inilagay ang libro sa bedside table niya. Nakatihaya siyang isinandal ang mga braso niya sa malambot na kama at ipinahinga rin niya ang ulo niya dito.

How he really wish one day, he'll find a girl who can match his personality. Hindi kasi siya katulad ng mga lalaking "show off" pagdating sa panunuyo sa mga babae. Mas gusto pa niyang kantahan o ipagluto ang magiging girlfriend niya  keysa sa pumunta sa class na restaurant.

Kurt came from a well-to-do family. Ipinagpapasalamat niya sa Diyos na suportado siya ng pamilya niya sa kinuha niyang kurso. Being in a Med school is already no joke, most especially when it comes to expenses alone. Yet, Kurt lived a simple life. Studying hard was his hobby that he has no time for any type of entertainment or trend common guys are into.

Gusto niyang baguhin ang paniniwala ng ilang tao sa mga katulad nilang doktor. Na kung mayaman, ay hindi na alam kung paano makipagsalamuha sa mga mahihirap. Na kung galing ka sa mayamang angkan, ang tanging paglilingkuran mo na lang ay 'yung mga mayayaman din sa lipunan para makaipon pa ng limpak na pera.

He's not like that. He wanted to break that common myth doctors are into. He wanted to be known, not in a bad way but in a way that common people will be able to trust doctors and be very comfortable in approaching them even 24/7.