I HELD Dad’s hand tightly as we crossed the hallway to the operating room. I just stopped and just stared at him from the closed door.
My tears fell out of fear and anxiety. “Uncle will surely be fine.” I felt Jacky’s warm palm on my shoulder.
“Yes, he will,” I convinced myself. I sat in the waiting area and folded my hands before closing my eyes firmly. I haven’t slept for almost two days since the doctor told me that Dad’s operation will start today. I watched Dad almost every night while they’re checking his vitals.
Relax, a voice whispered in my mind, so I took a deep breath. Yeah, that’s what I should do now. Relax, Cherry. I’ll bend over and pray really hard.
My father’s surgery will take eight hours or more, so Jacky and I decided to eat at the cafeteria first while waiting. I haven’t eaten since this morning because my system doesn’t wan
“PICK UP the phone,” he whispered again, but I didn’t want to do it. Damn! Why now?! Why now when I’m ready for my first kiss?!I almost cursed whoever was calling because he ruined my moment with Calixto. I didn’t want to, but I have no choice because he gradually moved away from me and finally settled down.“Uh, excuse me, I’ll just answer,” I uttered.Without warning, I answered the call to make it even more annoying.“Hi! Missed me?” I frowned at the voice I knew so well. “Oh? It seems you forget me, huh?” he said in a slow and rumble voice.“Rexon!” I said out loud.“W-wait? Are you mad?” I heard his faint laugh on the other line.Damn! You broke my moment!“Hey, are you still there?” he asked again as if I couldn’t hear him anymore.“Do you know that my first kiss was about to happened?!
“W-WHAT are you doing here?” He glanced down at his wristwatch then looked back at me again.He looked down at my bleach jeans and white shirt. I was also wearing the backpack I was carrying tightly.“It’s work time. Is there an emergency at the hospital?” he asked. “Is there something wrong?” He took another step to get closer to me, so I quickly looked up at him.“Tell me, is there a problem?” he asked again.I swallowed before speaking. “I’m fired.” I smiled slightly because his forehead furrowed even more at what he heard.“You’re fired?” He just laughed when he recovered and even held on to his two waists before shaking his head.So I did the same before leaning into the wall. I laughed a little after shaking and bowing my head.“Maybe, I’m the unluckiest person in the world, didn’t I? I’ve been given a lot of trouble
I IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED him because he was wearing a black leather jacket and his regular black ball cap. He was also wearing black sunglasses, so no one would recognize him until he removed his shades and cap. He felt my presence, so he turned to me and slightly lowered the sunglasses to looked at me. “W-what are you doing here?” I stuttered. “Visiting your father.” He looked up at me again. I barely glanced at the closed door before him. I also noticed the fruit basket he was carrying. “I was just taking care of something outside. Ah, do you want to come in?” I asked him. He stood up. “I’ve waited here for almost two hours and you will ask me if I want to come in?” He clenched his jaw as if running out of patience with what I did. I look down for a second and suddenly throw him a smile. “Come in.” Because I didn’t want to be rude, my smile remained as I waited for him to enter. If possible, I don’t want to get pissed
“HOW’S UNCLE GORIO?” Jacky stood beside me while holding an empty tray. “He’s fine. Maybe he can go home tomorrow,” I smiled broadly as I continued to wipe the table. “Well, that’s good news. You won’t be stressed by that.” I just nodded at what she said. I honestly don’t feel tired. Especially now that Dad was awake, I feel like I’m stronger. “How about you and Calixto? How are you two going?” She sat down in the black chair, and her question made me look down. “We’re fine.” I smiled slightly to hide how I really felt. “Hmm . . . That’s smile, I already know you, friend. Are you hiding something to me?!” She raised an eyebrow at me. I just sighed and sat down in the black chair beside her. “I don’t know. We haven’t seen each other lately. Maybe he’s just busy with some things.” I shrugged my shoulder. “Really? I heard that he has a new girlfriend.” I sat up straight in the chair since I heard that news
HIS WORDS hit my heart so hard that I couldn’t move. I swallowed his word, but my heart didn’t seem to accept it, so I shook repeatedly.“No, it can’t be happening. You can’t do this, Calix!” I blurted out.He furrowed his brows and looked at me with dark dispassionate eyes.“You don’t have to shout. I’m still the boss here,” he said seriously.My eyes widened, and the resentment in my heart slowly rose. Why would he ever tell me who he is and what I am to him?“I-I’m sorry,” I utterly said.I had to bend down and bite my lips hard to stop the tears from falling. So this is it? Is this the answer I was waiting for?The truth finally spoke up! I endured the pain and swallowed his exact words.“Look, I don’t want to hurt you, but if this is my only choice, I’d rather tell you the truth so you don’t have any expectations from me.&
“ENOUGH, CHERRY. You might get drunk,” he said seriously.“Come on! You like it, don’t you?! You make me sit here and drink, then you don’t want me to get drunk?!” I bravely pulled out the bottle of vodka from him.He did nothing because I immediately pour the brandy into my glass shot. Gradually, I felt the heat on my cheeks when I drank it. This was how it feels to be drunk, how delicious it feels.“For Calixto and Amanda!” I said aloud with a bitter smile.“Cheers!”“Listen, I don’t want you to get drunk,” he continued. He almost whispered those words to me.“I’m fine, Calixto. Why don’t you just mind your girlfriend instead of me?” I said with my stern lip. I raised my hand to press it to my cheek.His jaw tightened as I did. “I’ll take you home.” He grabbed my wrist.“No, I’ll take her home.&r
“MISS BANAAG, make sure that your dad will take his medicine on time. All fatty foods are prohibited. Fruits, fish, and veggies are better.”I nodded to the attending doctor of my father.“Dad, eat healthy food and have a good lifestyle. Don’t ever come back here,” the doctor said to him with a silly smile on her face.“Thank you, Doc!” Dad smiled at her before the doctor straightened up and faced me again.“Ah, Doc, thank you so much.” I wanted to hug her, but I restrained myself out of embarrassment.“I am just doing my job.” She tapped me on the shoulder before smiling.“I’ll fix your release paper and you can come out anytime. I already talked to Mr. Rexon Del’Torre about this matter.” I noticed that she smiled broadly as she mentioned Rexon’s name. “And he was asking me on a date!” Her lips turn up wide while her cheeks turned red
I LOOKED UP at the large building in front of me. I took off my sunglasses and slightly glanced at the indicated names of the company in front of me, Del’Torre Corporation.I didn’t spare the beauty and modernity of its workmanship. I can say they are very successful in the field of business. Not because he is famous but because of the extent of the business his family has.I winced when I heard my cellphone ring in my pocket.“Where the hell are you?!” I heard a loud voice to me as I answered the call.I brushed up my hair and rolled my eyes before I speak. “Already here,” I said reluctantly.“Good.” Then he turned off the call. Again I blew a violent air into my chest before stepping my feet inside the building.“Good morning, Ma’am! How can I help you?” a receptionist greeted me with a wide smile.“I was about to meet Mr. Rexon Del’Torre?” I politel