Chapter 1

"Mom, I told you I'm busy." ani ng binata sa kabilang linya. Kausap nito ang ina who keeps on insisting na daluhan nito ang blind date na ginawa nito para sakanya.

"Anthony, ano ba naman yung ilang oras lang diba?" Pagpupumilit ulit ng Ina nito.

"Mom, may pasyente ako ngayon." He said kahit wala naman talaga. He's totally free at the moment, ayaw n'ya lang talagang pumunta sa blind date na ginawa ng ina n'ya para sakanya.

"Stop lying, alam kong wala. I asked your secretary about your schedule, if you have a patient or not and she said na you're totally free. Sa tingin mo ba I'll set a date for you this evening kung alam kong may pasyenteng nangangailangan sayo diyan? I'm not stupid so stop lying to your mom." mahabang lecture sakanya ng mommy n'ya at napairap nalang si Anthony sa sinabi ng mommy n'ya.

"Mom, nakailang set up kana ng blind date sakin this month. Isang araw lang ata yung absent mo sa pag set up sakin ng blind date this month and I attended everything. Napapagod na ako, lahat naman sila mga mukhang pera at katawan lang ang habol sakin." Anthony may sound boastful but it is true.

"I want a grandchild na nga kasi. I'm not getting any younger, Anthony. And you're not getting any younger as well. You'll turn 32 years old this year and yet I'm not seeing any sign of you settling down sooner." Alam ni Anthony na nababahala na ang mommy n'ya. Aside sa gusto na ng apo ng mommy n'ya, his mom doesn't want him na tumanda siyang binata as well kasi sino nalang daw ang mag-aalaga sakanya pagtanda kapag wala na sila ng papa n'ya.

"Darating naman yung para sakin kung meron man. I'm not in a hurry, mom." giit pa ng binata sa ina.

"But I am." sabay hagikhik ng ginang. "Look, anak. Naturingan kang playboy na mahilig sa sex pero wala kang nabuntis na babae? Kahit isa wala talaga?" napapailing nalang si Anthony sa pinagsasabi ng mommy n'ya.

"I was careful because I don't want one." tugon naman ng binata sa ina n'ya. Kapag tumatawag ang mommy ni Anthony, it's either magiging stress siya dahil sa pressure nito or confuse siya dahil napaka random ng Ina n'ya. Kung ano-ano nalang na topic ang binibigay.

"But I want one, can't you make one?" If Anthony sees his mom right now, he's sure she's pouting.

"Mom, quit it. I have to go, may kailangan pa akong gawin." sabi nalang n'ya sa mommy n'ya.

"But—" hindi na hinayaan na matuloy pa ng mommy nito ang dapat sasabihin nito dahil alam ni Anthony na igigiit parin nito na mag-anak na siya.

"Bye, mom. I love you." aniya at saka pinatayan ng tawag ang ina n'ya.

Nagbuntong hininga na lamang si Anthony pagkapatay n'ya ng tawag dahil sa kakulitan ng ina n'ya. His playful side, he gets that from his mom.

Tumayo na ang binata at lalabas na sana ng opisina n'ya pero tumunog ulit cellphone n'ya, it was a text message.

From: Mom

Son, attend the blind date later. Huwag mo akong ipahiya. Last na'to, I promise.

Anthony blow a very stressful sigh and put his phone on his pocket. His mom is stressing him out, that's obvious.

It's not that he's not into child but having a child at the moment, he doesn't want it yet. He doesn't see himself being a father yet and being a husband.

The thing is, Anthony loves having sex with different women but he values marriage and having a family with someone he loves so much. He is into getting married with the girl she loves and having a children with that woman. He cannot settle down unless he loves the girl. He's a playboy with a purpose, if that makes sense.

Nagpatuloy na ang binata sa trabaho n'ya at ipinagsawalang bahala ang sinabi ng mommy n'ya. Mamaya na n'ya pag-iisipan kung pupunta ba siya sa blind date na iyon or hindi. Wala naman siyang mapapala kahit puntahan n'ya iyon. For sure another woman who's after his family's money and influence lang ulit yan.

Naging busy na ang binata sa mga pasyente na hina-handle n'ya ng tumunog ulit ang cellphone n'ya. Another message from his mom.

From: Mom

Don't you dare ditch the blind date I set up for you! I know you and I also sense that you'll ditch her. I promise, if you'll show up to this date, I won't force you to have a girl anymore and set another blind date. This is the last one.

Anthony sighed once again upon reading another message from his mom. His mom knows him well, huh?

Nag reply si Anthony sa Ina nito kahit labag sa loob n'ya ang sagot n'ya.

To: Mom

Fine.

He replied and put his phone to his pocket again. For sure, his mom are jumping with happiness for what he replied. His mom knows that he has a lot of free time as a doctor and as a owner of the hospital that he's working kaya malakas ang loob nitong i-set up siya for several blind dates.

"After this, I'm done." he said because of tiredness of several blind dates in a week.

After that, bumalik na siya sa trabaho n'ya at may mga pasyente pa siya.

"Doc, the patient in room 304 needs you." Ani ng nurse sa binata.

"What? I have a patient here. Can't you call another doctor?" turo n'ya pa sa pasyenteng tinatahi n'ya ang sugat na natamo nito dahil sa isang aksidente. Maliit na sugat lang naman iyon at kaonting tahi lang ang kailangan.

"I'm sorry, doc. Kanina ko pa po siya pinakiusapan na ibang doctor nalang kasi busy po kayo but she refused to get treated if it's not you daw po, Doc. Ako nalang po magtutuloy n'yan, doc." Alok pa nito at tiningnan ito ni Anthony ulit.

"Ano ba sakit n'ya?" Medyo naiinis ni tanong ni Anthony. Ang ayaw n'ya sa lahat ay yung gagambalain siya kapag busy siya unless if it's so emergencies but if it's not, it'll piss him off.

"Hindi pa po namin siya nate-test, doc. Ayaw n'ya kasing magpa hawak sa'min and ayaw n'ya din na kami mag test sakanya para malaman kung ano sakit n'ya. She really wants it to be you, doc. Kanina pa po sumasakit tiyan n'ya at suka po siya ng suka at nahihilo din po." tugon naman ng nurse at naiinis na napabuntong hininga ang binata.

He hates that kind of patients. Nasa bingit na nga ng kamatayan, magre-request pa ng doctor.

"Fine, you finish this and I'll go take a look at her." usal ng binata at tumayo saka hinubad ang gloves n'ya.

When he arrived at that patients room, hindi na nagulat si Gideon na isang pamilyar na mukha ang bumungad sakanya. Must have been one of his one night sex woman before.

"Hi, ma'am." bati n'ya pa dito. He's not flirting, not even a single smile on his face.

"Anthony, hello baby." but she flirted with him.

Hindi ito pinansin ni Anthony. He didn't flirt just like how he used to, he just let her. Naiinis ang binata sa attitude na meron ang pasyenteng iyon. Siguro mamatay nalang ito pero hindi parin ito papayag magamot ng ibang doctor kasi gustong si Anthony ang gumamot.

"Kindly tell me how you feel, ma'am." Pagdidiniinan ng binata sa salitang ma'am. He's being professional. He may have known as the playboy and joyous doctor but when it comes to work, he's serious and professional.

"Why are you being so professional? Come on, baby, it's me. You can flirt with me here, I love it when you do it. It's just me and you lang naman dito." anito and even touch his hand which made Anthony pissed more off.

"Look, I don't who you are and if you're one of my one night stand girls before, then that stays that way. I'm working and you're my patient. I don't want to be rude here but you're making me lose my patience." Anthony burst out. Anthony is a straight forward kind of man, he doesn't mind if you'll get hurt with what he will say as long as you know his true feelings. "Now will you say to me kung anong problema mo. I don't think you'll be here just because you're going to flirt with me." He said.

Parang napahiya ang babae sakanya at napayuko na lamang. "I h-have stomachache, I keep on vomiting and nahihilo din." Anito na nakayuko parin. "Am I pregnant?" parang gulat pa nitong tanong kay Anthony.

Anthony sighed. "I don't know. I'll run some tests and I'll let you know if you're pregnant or not." tugon ng binata. "Now, if you'll excuse me." and he exit the room.

If there is top one that Anthony dislikes, it's unprofessionalism.

"So much for a day."