Chapter 3

Rumors

-Dinner

I read Chims text message while I am getting ready. Tapos na ang shift ko at balak ko sanang mag grocery ngayon.

-10 minutes

I replied to him at lumabas na. I saw them at the visitation area, kumaway ako ng makita sila. Mga mga iilang doctor at nurses na kumakausap kay Yuhan at Elijah…yeah! Elijah is still here and he is now talking to Dr. Humble, nagtatawanan ang dalawa. Hindi ko alam why do I feel weird.

“Mabuti naman, gutom na ako”. Saad ni Chim ng makita ako at kinuha ang bag mula sa upuan at kumapit sa kamay ko.

Napatingin naman si Yuhan at Elijah sa amin, agad itong nag paalam sa kausap. I also saw Dr. Galves in the crowd.

“Dr. Verde, shift’s done?”. Tanong nito.

“Yes doc”. Sagot ko naman.

“Malapit mo palang kaibigan si Mr. Veda”.

“Opo”.

Tumango naman ito.

“By the way, I already discussed with Mr. Ricaford about his grandma situation”.

“Thank you po doc”. Saad ko at nasulyapan si Jacob na papalapit na sa gawi namin. Kumunot ang nuo ko ng mapansin kung nakatingin ito sa akin, agad naman akong nag-iwas ng tingin.

“You’re going to be the doctor-in-charge with mameta? Good luck dear, masungit yun!” bulong ni Chim. “But you’re a sweet talker… kaya di ako nag aalala”.

“Tumigil ka nga”. Saad ko at sabay kaming nagtawanan. Di ko maiwasang kabahan sa sinabi nito.

“Let’s go?”. Yaya ni Yuhan na nasa harap na naming ngayon. Sabay kaming tumango at nauna nang nagpaalam sa mga naroon pagkatapos ay sumunod naman ang dalawa sa amin.

“Crush mo nho!?”. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa tinuran ni Chim. Sinusundot sundot nito ang tagiliran ko. Panay naman ang ilag at tawa ko.

“What?”. Takang tanong ko.

“Don’t what what me! Matagal ko nang napapansin na namumula ka tuwing andiyan siya”. Natatawa nitong sagot.

“Tumigil ka nga!”. Pag iwas ko ng tingin.

“You’re blushing again dok, may lagnat kaba?” panunuya nito. Pabiro ko namang inalis ang kamay nito na nakakapit sa akin at mabilis na nag lakad, agad naman ako nitong hinabol habang malakas ang halakhak.

“Dok pikon!”. Natatawang sigaw nito habang mabilis din ang lakad.

“Love, be careful”. Habol naman ni Yuhan.

“Careful daw baka makunan ka”. Pabiro kung balik dito.

“Inggit ka?”. Saad nito, still teasing me. Umirap lang ako at sabay kaming tumawa sa kalokohan namin.

Sa malapit na restaurant kami kumain. Naka convoy si Elijah sa amin.

“Wala kayong dinner meeting?”. Tanong ko kay Yuhan.

“Dinner meeting?”. Takang tanong naman nito pabalik.

“Si Elijah”. Nakangiting sabat naman ni Chimuel kay umirap ako.

“Ahhh… actually pag uusapan naming ang tungkol sa medical mission na gagawin sa probinsiya, since tatakbo si Dad bilang governor, naisip ko na mag conduct ng medical mission and one of the sponsors I am eyeing is the Ford company because his uncle is also running for higher position.”

“Payag agad yan syempre!”. Sabat naman ni Chimuel.

Tumango tango naman ako. Kaya pala.

“I’ll clear your schedule nextweek, Levy. Hindi ako papayag na di ka makakasama”. Dugtong nito.

Napatingin ako sa review mirror, our eyes meet. When he is calling me by my name, he’s serious about it. Tumango lang ako bilang pag sang-ayun.

“Sasama din kasi ako, alam mo na”. Nakangiting saad ni Chim. “May beach resort sila Yuhan doon, if we still have time, I can bring the team there to have some shoot”.

“Trabaho nanaman love? Akala ko ba pupunta tayo to relax?”.

Tumawa naman si Chim. “Kasama na din doon, love”.

Natawa lang ako sa dalawa, sanay na ako sa paglalambingan nila tuwing magkakasama kaming tatlo.

Yuhan is still wearing his suit and Chim is wearing a plain white hanging shirt with his favorite kaki sweat pants and a black gardigan, they both good looking. While I change into my daily wear, blue fitted maong pants and loose maroon long sleeve. I am still in my high cut shoes.

Sabay naming bumaba si Elijah. May iilang napapalingon sa banda namin lalo na ng pumasok kami sa loob. Looking so elegant and manly Elijah Andrew Ricaford is walking next to me.

“Reservation under Mr. Ricaford”. Saad nito ng may lumapit na waiter.

“This way sir”.

Sumunod naman kami dito while Yuhan and Chim are busy talking to each other wala naman kaming imik ni Elijah.

Yuhan ordered for Chim and me. He also cut the steak before placing the plate in front of me same with Chim, Jacob on the other hand is just watching us.

“I ordered your favorite strawberry milk shake”. Pagkakuwa’y saad ni Yuhan.

“Thank you Chim’s babe”. Nakangiti kung sabi rito.

“Humanap ka na nga ng mag aalaga sayo Levy!”. Kunwari ay masungit na saad ni Chim, he’s always like this. Teasing us, but he is used to this. Yuhan often take good care of our food every time we are outside.

“I’m a doctor, I don’t need it”. Pairap ko ding sagot dito.

“Di aalagaan nalang”. Baling nito.

“Stop bickering you two”. Naiiling na sabi ni Yuhan.

“Yes Babe!”

“Yes Babe!”

Sabay naming sabi at napahagikhik, our way to tease Yuhan. Napangiti naman ito, habang ang katabi nito ay seryoso lang na nakatingin sa pagkain nito.

“By the way Elijah, we’re all set right?”. Baling ni Yuhan dito.

Nag angat naman ito ng tingin at nag tama ang aming mga mata but I avoided his stare. Ramdam ko ang siko ni Chim kaya naman napabaling ako dito but he only gives his knowing look. Napailing ako.

 “Next week, right?”. He said in his baritone voice.

“Yes, thank you”. Saad naman ni Yuhan dito. Later on, they were both engrossed with business talk while me and Chim are talking also about the shoot.

After the dinner nag paalam na din itong may gagawin pa kaya naman nauna na itong umalis. Hinatid naman ako ng magkasintahan. Panay ang kwento ni Chim tungkol sa lugar na pupuntahan naming next week, guess I need to clear my schedule but I’m worried because I got an appointment with Mrs. Ricaford this coming Friday.

“Yuhan!”. Tawag pansin ko dito.

“Yes? Bear?”. Sagot nito.

“I have an appointment with Mrs. Ricaford on Friday, pwede ba akong bumalik agad?”. Nag alala kung tanong dito.

“Ahhh! About that, you don’t have to worry about. Nasa probinsya din ngayon si Mameta kaya you will meet her prior to your formal meeting”.

“Huh?!” Gulat kong tanong.

“What?”. Taking tanong nito. “We grow up in the same place, we’re best buddy just like you and Chim… hindi din nag kakalayo ang bahay naming, lalo na ngayong mag-eelection and his uncle is running for a congressman like I said earlier, for sure you will see each other in some gatherings.”.

“Oh! Okay.” Saad ko.

“Ayaw mo nun! Makikilala mo na siya agad”. Sabat naman ni Chim.

“Yeah!”. Sang-ayun ko naman dito. Mas mabuti nga siguro yun.

It is already past 10 in the evening when I get home. Pagkatapos mag bihis ay agad akong humiga sa kama when I heard my phone notification tone.

Napakunot nuo ako sa chat ni Chim.

When I opened it, nabigla ako. The photo of four of us in the restaurant while Chim and Yuhan are smiling to each other, I am looking at my phone and Elijah is looking at me. His eyes were soft intently gaze upon my way. It’s an article saying “The CEO’s Double date”.

I dial Chim’s number right away.

“Ano to?”. Bungad ko rito.

“Masanay kana, pero mamaya wala na yan. I already told Yuhan about this, probably by now Elijah knows too”.  

“Ford CEO’s rumored boyfriend?”. Mariing saad ko kay Chim.

“He has a boyfriend?”. Gulat kung tanong dito. Dinig ko naman ang malakas na halakhak ni Chimuel sa kabilang linya.

“Tanga! Ikaw tinutukoy dyan”.

“This is the first time actually”. Tumatawa pa ding sagot nito.

“OMG!!”. Bigla itong tumili.

“What??? What it is?”. Taranta kung tanong dito.

“You’re both on trend!”. Parang baliw na ito habang malakas pa din ang tawa.

“Gosh! #CEOandhismodelDoctor has over a thousand retweets”.

“What? Chim!!!”. What should I do??”.

“Relax!”. Malumanay na saad ni Chimuel.

“Relax? How can I?”. I said hysterically. Hindi ako makapaniwala.

“Wow! Bagay naman pala kayo, tska ano to, ha?”. Tanong nito. Habang ako ay di alam kung anong sinasabi o tinutukoy nito.

“Panay nakaw tingin ni Elijah sayo ahh”. He is now teasing.

“Tsk! Baka bukas wala na akong trabaho sa hospital, dahil sa akin na issue pa siya!”.

“Wow! You sound concern”. Panunuya nito.

“I am concern with my privacy and my job”. Pagtatama ko dito.

“Don’t worry, tingin mo ba pababayaan ka ni Yuhan? Just relax ang wait… maglalabas yan ng statement ang The Ford about their CEO dating issue. Lagi naman diba pag may na lilink dito ay pinabubulaanan agad.” Paliwanag nito. Bahagya naman gumaan ang pakiramdam ko.

Elijah been dating with several model and actresses but they always denied and wrote that it was just a friendly date.

“Are you okay now?”. Tanong naman ni Chim.

“Yeah! I guess”. Banayad kung sagot.

“Some of his followers are now posting edited photos of you and Elijah and bagay kayo… ang daming positive comments, they are also tagging me and Yuhan and the Gonzales too”.

“Gosh!”. Frustrated kung saad.

“Okay, balitaan kita. Yuhan is calling… bye! Love yah! Bagay naman kayo”. Saad niya at sinabayan ng tawa.

I hope I can sleep tonight peacefully.