PATRICIA’S POV I really hate goodbyes. People who left I considered as one of heartbreaking moment in someone’s life. When someone leaves your life...the pain is different. You feel like you can't be made up again but you have to trust. One of the things I've learned in life is that you always have to be prepared. Because not all the people you are used to being by your side will be with you forever. That is probably how my family feels right now. “Patricia, take care of yourself. I will miss you…” I bit my lip when I heard mommy’s trembling voice. Bumuga ako ng hangin at binitawan ang mga bagahe ko. Nilapitan ko si mommy at niyakap siya. We are here at the airport because I am leaving now. My family is complete and also my friends, Jess and Tyrone. Umabsent pa nga si Jess ngayon sa school para lang maihatid ako. “Gosh, stop crying, mom…” I caressed her back when I felt her crying. “I thought you won’t cry?” “I-I just can’t help it,” she removed from the embrace and wiping he
PATRICIA’S POV Naging mahirap sa’kin ang mga unang linggo at buwan. Ako lang mag isa, walang makausap at nag-aasikaso. I can cook so I’m the one who cooks for myself. Naging hobby ko na rin ang mag linis ng bahay kaya ibang iba na ito sa itsura noong una kong matirahan. I was currently making coffee and sitting on the high chair when I heard a few knocks on the door. I frowned when I saw Beatrice holding a box. “Beatrice? What do you need?” “I have something for you!” I let her in, she placed the box in the table. “May nakalkal lang kami roon sa bahay. Alam kong mahilig ka rito kaya sayo na lang!” My eyes lit up when she took some art materials out of the box. Different types of brushes, color paints and hard papers. “Wow, ang dami naman!” I said in amazement. “Saan ito galing?” “Kay kuya Josh ang mga yan pero no’ng mag proceed na siya sa law school, hindi na niya nagamit,” inilahad niya ito sa’kin. “You like paintings, right?” Alanganin ako’ng tumango. “Noon, Beatrice. I jus
CALLUM’S POV “You’re different now, huh. You look…in love” Napangiti ako habang umiiling. Hindi ko pinansin si Austine at nag patuloy ako sa pag pirma sa bagong project na gagawin namin. “Hindi ka pa nasanay kuya Austine,” segunda ng kapatid kong si Ramon na hindi ko alam kung bakit narito. “Simula no’ng mag buntis si Patricia, mas lalo siya’ng sumipag sa trabaho…” Kumunot ang noo ko. “Stop calling her just like that. Call her ‘ate’, Ram” saway ko sa kapatid. “What’s wrong with that?” his lips lifted. “You’re 4 years older than her and she’s 1 year older than me…” he said teasingly. “I don’t care! Tawagin mo siya’ng ate!” “Oh…” umawang ang labi niya. “You’re a jealous pet!” He and Austine laughed so I got annoyed. Maya-maya pa ay may tumawag kay Ramon kaya nag paalam na rin siya’ng aalis. Si Austine ay nanatili parin sa office ko. He’s watching me like an idiot. “Wag mo naman masyadong galingan sa trabaho, bro! I noticed these past few days you’ve been so tutok sa trabaho,”
CALLUM’S POV “I don’t want to see you! I despise you! You killed my child…” Hearing those hurtful words from her is like double pain that broke my heart into pieces. Seeing her so broke, wreck and continuously crying makes my whole body trembled. Accusing me as a cheater and the one who killed our child feels like a heavy thing that I can’t swallowed. Why did we end up like this? “Callum…it’s better if you’ll just go home” Pakiusap ni Mrs. Clemente pag labas niya ng room. I could still hear Patricia’s shout here even though she’s not seeing me anymore. I looked up at Patricia’s mom but she can’t look at me straightly. Tanging lungkot at awa para sa anak ang nakikita ko sa mata niya. “She’s hysterical. She keeps shouting your name” her voice is pleading. “Please, don’t make this thing hard for her. I can’t stand seeing her like that. It also hurts me,” Napayuko ako at bahagyang napalunok. Naramdaman ko ang pag hawak ni mommy sa balikat ko, kanina ko pa siya kasama rito pero kah
CALLUM’S POV “Akala ko ba hindi ka na iinom?” I looked at Austine with my drunk eyes. He’s here in my office again. “Well, I changed my mind…” I uttered and take another shot of whiskey. “Leave me alone,” He gasped. “Look at you. You’re being irresponsible now. Drinking inside your office with your paper works around? Really?” Nilingon ko ang kabuuan ng office ko. Nag kalat ang mga papeles sa isa kong table at sahig, sa couch naman ay ang dalawa kong coat na noong isang araw ko pa isinuot. Dalawang araw na ako’ng hindi umuuwi sa bahay namin ni Patricia. Ayaw kong umuwi dahil hindi ko lang naman siya madadatnan roon. I felt so incomplete without her. “It’s been months since she left you yet you’re still acting like that. Move forward, Callum. Just accept her decision-“ “I fucking can’t!” galit kong sigaw. “Hindi ko matanggap na iniwan niya ako! I love her, only her! I want to build a family with her yet I’m the one who destroyed with that chance!” Nabasag ang shot glass nang i
PATRICIA'S POV “Doctor, Clemente?” Itinigil ko ang ginagawa at lumingon. I automatically smiled at the cute nurse peeking through my office door. “Yes, Nurse Shane?” I said in a friendly voice. She entered and slowly walk towards me. “I heard from Doctor Sauler that you are leaving? You’re not going to work now?” she asked in a low voice. “Uh, y-yes…” I said awkwardly. Ngayon na ang huling araw ko rito sa ospital at siguradong nag announce na si Doc Sauler tungkol dito. Ang alam ko ay nakahanap na rin siya ng kapalit ko. After seven years of staying here, I finally decided to finally go home, returned to the Philippines. “Actually, I submitted my resignation letter last week. I'll just grab my other stuff now. It’s already my flight later” “I will miss you, doc…” she said in a sad voice and offered her hand with a blue plastic. “It’s for you. My appreciation gift for guiding me here since you were leaving already…” Parang piniga ang puso at nakangiting tinanggap ang regalo n
PATRICIA’S POV “Congratulations to your new clinic!” Jess’s voice echoed throughout the clinic who was just at the entrance. Tyrone was with her holding a flower. “Lessen your voice,” saway ko. Mabuti at kakaalis lang ng huli kong pasyente. I stand up and stretch a bit. Marami ako’ng bagong pasyente kanina at ngayong hapon lang ako natapos. “For you, Pat. Congrats for the new success,” Tyrone handed me the flowers. Umismid ako. “Salamat pero…kahapon pa ang opening nitong clinic ko,” Natigilan silang dalawa. They weren’t here at the opening yesterday. Kahit sa celebration ay hindi sila pumunta. “Uh, ano kasi…” Jess look hesitated. “We picked up someone at the airport yesterday so we couldn't go,” “So, that person might be so important than my opening yesterday,” I said in a jealous tone but I’m not really, I just want to teased them. Lumapit ako sa table ko at inilapag ang flowers. Hinubad ko ang puting coat at isinabit sa swivel chair. I’m now wearing gray shirt and jeans.
PATRICIA’S POV “Nurse Aubrey? Pasensya ka na talaga, ha? Medyo masama ang pakiramdam ko kahapon, ikaw lang tuloy mag isa rito,” Isang matamis na ngiti lang ang sagot ng assistant nurse ko. I was not able to work yesterday because of my tummy. Mula noong kumain kami sa labas at nag bar nila Jess ay nagsusuka na ako. “Ayos lang, doc. Puro check-up lang naman po ang ginawa ko kahapon. Okay na po ba kayo?” Ngumiti ako. “I’m already fine,” Good thing she didn’t get mad. Since I came in earlier, I've only been saying sorry to her. At kapag naaalala ko kung sino ang nag hatid sa’kin sa bahay noong nag lasing ako ay parang gusto ko na mag kulong sa kwarto. Hindi ko ‘yon makalimutan hanggang ngayon. Mabuti at hindi nalaman nila mommy dahil katulong ang nakaabot sa’min. Nagtataka rin ako kung bakit wala ako masyadong maalala no’ng gabing ‘yon. Dahil ba sa sobrang lasing ako? Ang naalala ko lang ay pinainom ako ng gamot ni mommy. Si Jaime, marami ako’ng natanggap na messages galing sa kan