CHAPTER 1

Pakiramam ni Dionne ay maiihi siya sa sa excitement nang walang kahirap hirap niyang naabot ang finish line gamit ang minamaneho niyang isang lumang sasakyan.

Tanaw niya ang kanyang mga kalaban na kulang na lamang ay mag wala na sa inis dahil sa hindi mabilang na pagkakataon ay siya nanaman ang tatanghaling champion ng car racing na iyon.

“Congrats, Dionne panalo ka nanaman.”

Masayang bati sa kanya ng kaibigan at mentor niyang si Josh, kasunod nito ang ilan pa nilang kasamahan sa pag kakarera.

Proud na ngumiti si Dionne saka masayang sinalubong ang mga kasamahan matapos bumaba sa sasakyang kanyang minamaneho kanina lamang.

“Dionne look out!”

Hindi pa man siya tuluyang nakakalapit ay rinig niya na ang malakas na sigaw na iyon ng kaibigang si Anya. Mabilis siyang tumalon sa gilid ng bako-bakong kalsada nang makita ang tuloy-tuloy na andar ng isang sasakyan na sa tingin niya ay nawalan ng preno.

“Ouch…”

D***g niya kasabay ng pag lapit ng mga kasamahan para tulungan siya.

“Are you okay?”

Nag aalalang tanong ni Josh.

“Yeah, malayo sa bituka.”

Mayabang niyang sabi sabi pilit na kumilos para tumayo nang muli rin lang mapaupo nang maramdaman ang hindi maipaliwanag na kirot mulo sa isa niyang paa.

“Well I was fine, except that I think I sprained my ankle.”

Naka ngiwi niyang sabi.

“Let’s take her to the hospital Josh.”

Rinig niya pang sabi ni Anya, hindi na nakuha pang tumutol ni Dionne nang walang sabi siyang buhatin ni Josh.

--

Inip na inip na siyang nag hihintay at walang magawang naka higa lamang sa hospital bed na naroon, mag i-isang oras na rin yata siyang naroon ngunit wala pa rin siyang makitang doctor na mag aasikaso sa kanya.

She felt the urge of wanting to go home grew bigger and bigger so as her bad temper starting to trigger.

“Come on Anya, will you just take me home? I am fine really!”

She said irritated.

“Oh no honey. You have to stay here.”

Agad na tanggi nito, mag sasalita pa sana si Dionne nang maagaw ang pansin niya ng isang gwapong lalaki.

He was wearing a doctor’s suit and Dionne’s attention was dawned to what seemed like angelic yet devilish look of his face.

He had dark eyes, perfectly fine jaw, beautifully curved lips that have a pinkish glow.

His skin was dark and he was so tall, if only this guy wasn’t wearing a doctors suit and was not equipped with medical tools he could be mistaken as a run way model.

“Hello there Miss…”

Sandaling tumigil ang gwapong doctor sa pag sasalita na sinabayan pa ng pag kunot ng noo nito habang pinapasadahan ng basa ang hawak na papel.

“Monteverde, my name is Blaze Elix Blancaflor and I will be your attending physician. I see you have sprained your ankle so bad, do you feel anything uncomfortable other than this?”

Seryoso ang baritonong boses na sabi nito, saglit pang napa awang ang mga labi ni Dionne habang abala sa tila ba pag kilatis sa gwapo nitong itsura.

“Well uhm- yeah, my heart… It’s beating way too fast.”

She said playfully making sure she delivers what she was trying to let him know.

Dionne fights the urge to roll her eyes at him when he only creased his perfectly curved and thick eye brows and worriedly read through the papers again.

“May sakit ka ba sa puso Miss Monteverde? I mean did you happen to have a previous record of a bad heart?”

Kaswal na tanong lamang nito sa kanya. Pilya ang naging ngiti ni Dionne saka umiling.

“Not as far as I know doctor Blaze. And you can call me Dionne as I like it that way.”

May halong kalandian niyang sabi na nag pa tango naman sa gwapong doctor.

“Well in that case, dala lamang marahil ng aksidente ang malakas na tibok ng iyong puso Dionne.”

“I don’t think that is the reason doc.”

Malaki ang ngising sabi niya rito.

Oh hell! How innocent this guy could be, not hinting that she was flirting with him?

“You see, it’s not very often that I can see a handsome face doc. And it’s very unfortunate na humanga agad sa taong unang beses mo pa lang nakita.”

Makahulugang sabi niya rito, nag pilit lamang naman ito ng ngiti saka tumikhim.

“Yes, I must agree Dionne…”

Pormal lamang na sabi nito saka nag iwas ng tingin sa kanya.

“So, I think you are in a perfectly good shape Dionne. I can already send you home and will just give you an in-home medication for your ankle.”

The doctor said then pretended to be busy writing down a prescription.

Dionne smirked as she also pretended of not feeling too well.

Bahagya pa siyang humawak sa sintido at nag kuwaring kumikirot iyon.

“Geez, my head must’ve been bumped hard on the pavement. I am not feeling too well I don’t think I can already go home…. Blaze.”

Dionne said letting out the most sexy voice she could master.

Hindi naka lampas sa mga mata ni Dionne ang sekretong pag lunok ng laway ng gwapong doctor na siya namang dahilan ng pasikreto niya ring pag ngisi.

“Hoy Dionne! Akala ko ba okay ka lang? Kanina lang ayaw mong mag stay dito because you said you were fine tapos bigla ngayon hindi ka na okay?”

Inis na singit ng kanina pang naka ngiwing si Anya sa pag uusap nila ni doctor Blaze, pasimple niyang sinamaan ng tingin ang kaibigan na agad naman nitong nakuha ang ibig sabihin kaya mabilis na tumahimik.

“Yeah, well I was feeling well earlier, I don’t know what happened now.”

She said then managed a playful wink to the doctor.

Muli pang napa tikhim ang doktor saka nag iwas ng tingin sa kanya.

“Very well, I will let you stay here then Miss Monteverde. I’ll be back to check on you in just a bit. Also you will be transferred to a private room.”

Doctor Blaze Blancaflor has informed her, Dionne’s playful smile grew wider as she secretly celebrated.

Wala siyang pakealam kung kailangan niya mang mag pumilit na manatili sa ospital na ito ng matagal.

What matters for her the most now is, she likes him. And she’ll do whatever it takes to have doctor Blaze Elix Blancaflor all to herself.

“Hoy, ano bang drama mo?”

Kunot noong tanong ng kaibigang si Anya kay Dionne na tila naman walang naririnig, nagawa niya pang hilahin sa braso ang kaibigan saka ito marahang inalog-alog kasabay ng isang pigil at mahinang pag tili.

“Oh my Gee! He is so freaking handsome Anya! Have you seen his face? God’s teeth, he looked like a living God, I need to know him!”

Kinikilig at tila ba wala sa sariling sabi ni Dionne na siya namang naging dahilan ng matalim na pag irap ng kaibigan.

--

Sa kabilang banda ay hindi naman malaman ni Blaze ang dahilan kayang pag ngiti.

Ang alam niya lamang ay kanina pa siyang ganoon mag mula nang iwan niya ang babaeng pasyente niya kanina.

Dionne Monteverde was certainly not his type, he prefers a more sweet, and very well behaved type of woman.

Mala Maria Clara sa madaling sabi, iyon ang tipo niyang babae.

And from what Blaze noticed from his what seemed like a very short encounter with Dionne at the ER earlier, he can already tell that she was far from what he wanted.

“Mukhang masaya ka ngayon doc ah?”

Blaze’s attention automatically shifted to someone by his office’s doorway.

Bumungad sa kanya ang malaki ang ngiting si Andrea, agad niya namang ginantihan ng ngiti ang babae saka bahagyang umiling.

Andrea was his sister and like Blaze, she was also a surgeon except that Andrea’s medical field was cardiology while he focuses on general medicines.

“Bakit parang naninibago ako that your girlfriend wasn’t here tonight?”

Naka ngiting tanong nito gumanti naman ng tipid na ngiti si Blaze sa kapatid saka tipid na tumango.

“Which is a good thing isn’t?”

Pabiro niyang sabi na ikinatawa naman nito.

“I won’t deny that your girlfriend is a bit too clingy, I don’t like her.”

Seryosong sabi nito na siya naman niyang ikinatahimik.

“Was it her that’s making you smile like this?”

Andrea probe, Blaze only shook his head as an answer.

“Hmm interesting, then what are you smiling about? Another woman?”

Muling napa ngiti si Blaze sa pag tatanong ng kapatid saka tipid na tumango bilang pag sang-ayon.

Andrea’s eyes grew bigger and he can read the intrigued look at her sister’s face almost instantly.

“She was a patient here ate, arrived a little while ago with a sprained ankle and a few scrapes and bruises, she’s already been transferred to the third floor, room 202. Name’s Dionne Monteverde.”

He answered with formality.

“Confined? Was her condition bad?”

Blaze shook his head for the second time.

“No just a sprained ankle wala nang iba, siya lang ang may gustong mag stay dito. She actually shows interest towards me.”

Parang bata niyang sabi na sinamahan pa ng pag nguso na siyang dahilan ng muling pag tawa ni Andrea.

“She pretty?”

Andrea teased, and Blaze gave her a shrug before he answered.

“No, she’s beautiful Andrea, probably the most beautiful woman I’ve seen. She’s sexy, no she’s ‘hot’ judging on the way she speaks, I think she’s smart too.”

Tila wala sa sarili at sincere na sabi niya.

“And I don’t like her.”

Dagdag niya pang sabi, and it was Andrea’s turn to pout.

“No?”

Tanging pag iling lamang ang ginawang sagot ni Blaze sa kapatid, he knows that Andrea will only ask why and he wasn’t sure if he has any answers to that.

She was beautiful all right, Blaze figured that he can’t argue with that.

He couldn’t help but wonder how cool the woman was, basing on the clothes she’s wearing Blaze figured that she’s in to car racing.

Naiiling na pilit winaksi ni Blaze sa isipan ang babaeng iyon, wala siyang nakikitang dahilan para mag isip ng kung ano ano tungkol sa kanyang pasyente.

“It’s time for my rounds Andrea, I must go.”

Tango lamang ang isinagot ng kapatid saka hinayaan na siyang umalis.

--

“Ano ba Anya, ano na nga itsura ko? Do I look pretty na ba?”

Maarteng tanong ni Dionne sa kaibigan, inirapan lamang naman siya nito.

Hindi na kasi malaman kung ilang beses na bang nag tanong ng tungkol sa parehong bagay si Dionne, masyado itong abala sa pag papaganda na tila ba hindi pansin ang katotohanangkahit hindi na mag effort si Dionne ay talagang maganda na ito, bawasan lamang marahil ang kaartehan, pagiging brat at kung minsan ay ang ka gaspangan ng ugali nito.

“Will you quit pampering yourself Dionne? Like seriously, nasa ospital ka ngayon at wala kang event na pupuntahan para mag ayos ng ganyan.”

Naiinis na sermon sa kanya ng kaibigan.

Dionne only rolled her eyes at Anya then continued brushing her long and silky black hair.

“No event, yes you are right. But I have a handsome doctor to impress.”

She said wiggling her perfectly plucked eyebrows.

“He is so not in to you!”

Anya said out of annoyance, she only shrugged and grinned playfully.

“Then I will make him in to me, trust me Anya. It’s just as simple as one-two-three. And besides, knowing the fact that he is not, only makes the game even more… Exciting.”

Dionne said naughtily while smiling from ear to ear.

“Are you in love?”

Kunot noong tanong ni Anya, Dionne laughs hysterically before she gets to answer.

“In love? Hell no! I just wanna play Anya, and apparently that handsome doctor is the only playmate I wanna play the game of sins with.”

She said grinning, Anya only shook her head and chose to lay on the tiny bed next to her.

Halos umabot na sa tenga ang ngisi ni Dionne nang ilang sandali pa ay makita niya na rin ang taong kanina niya pang hinihintay.

Katulad kanina ay seryos pa rin ang gwapong mukha ng doctor at ewan niya ba kung bakit hindi niya maalis ang tingin niya rito.

“Hi there, how are you feeling?”

He asked with formality, Dionne’s smile grew bigger as she found that question a good opportunity to make her way with him.

“I am good doctor, especially now that I get to see you again.”

She answered naughtily, the doctor let out a sigh and silently moved closer to check her injured ankle.

“You can go home tomorrow Dionne.”

He informed her.

“Oh yes I can, hey Blaze?”

Tawag niya rito bago pa man ito tumalikod, the doctor stopped for a second before he turned to face her.

“Let’s go out on a date.”

Walang pag dadalawang isip na sabi ni Dionne, muli pang natigilan ang doctor saka mataman siyang tinitigan.

“Sure Dionne.”

Hindi na siya nagulat sa isinagot nito, ngumisi lamang si Dionne saka muling nag salita.

“If you think that I am just fooling around you are mistaken Blaze. And now that you agreed, we really gonna have a date.”

Dionne said with all the seriousness in her sexy voice.

Ang gwapong doctor naman ang ngumisi ngayon, mataman pa rin itong naka titig sa kanya at ilang minuto din ang ginugol bago nag salita.

“I am not fooling around either Dionne, I just hope you won’t regret the day we met.”

Makahulugan nitong sabi, Dionne stifled a playful giggle and met his gaze.

“What are the odds? Besides, nobody can tell, maybe it’ll be another way around, doctor Blaze.”

Makahulugang sabi ni Dionne habang matamang tinititigan ang gwapong doctor.

“I guess you are right, tomorrow Dionne. Babalikan kita dito bukas ng gabi and we will have a date, a fancy resto maybe?”

“Hmm, sounds good… If you can carry me around all night then I won’t mind.”

Sabi niya saka itinuro ang namamagang paa. Tila natauhan naman ang lalaki na mukhang nawala yata sa isip na kaya siya nasa ospital ngayon ay dahil hindi siya makapag lakad.

“Don’t worry, you will be fine tomorrow. Hindi naman masyadong malala ang tama sa paa mo. Besides, I am sure you can do a lot more fun and hard-core activities tomorrow.”

Makahulugang sabi pa ni Blaze habang matamang naka titig sa kanya.

“Great, I like you…”

Dionne said without preamble, which only made doctor Blaze roll his eyes.

“I don’t like you Dionne.”

Mabilis at tila ba siguradong-siguradong sagot nito, sa halip na masaktan ay lalo lamang lumaki ang malokong pagkakangiti ni Dionne.

“I know that Blaze, but I assure you, you won’t hate me for long.”

Pilya niyang sabi.

“Whatever…”

“Bye, see you tomorrow night.”

Pahabol niya pang sigaw nang wala nang sabing talikuran siya ng masungit na doctor.