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
PATRICIA’S POV I can't believe that I will experience the satisfaction now that I longed for before. I am successful now. Hindi ko nga alam kung paano ko napagsasabay ang mga bagay na gusto kong gawin. Weekend ngayon kaya sarado ang clinic. It's supposed to be my rest day today but I chose to find out from Jess the update on the land I want to buy. “Why don’t you just gave me the contact number of the owner so we can negotiate, Jess!” Halos dumiin ang hawak ko sa cellphone habang kausap ko siya. I frustratingly throw a feet when she started with her bubbliness again. Gusto kong kunin ang number no’ng may ari ng lupa na gusto kong bilhin. She already send me the picture of the land and I love it, so I want to buy that immediately. “Let's meet at the coffee shop!” Napairap ako sa sinabi niya. “Really, Jess? Number lang ng owner ang hinihingi ko. Bakit kailangan pa natin magkita?” She laughed. “I’m sure you’re already rolling your eyes! You didn’t miss me? Let’s just have a quic
PATRICIA’S POV Everything feel so unreal. Akala ko pagbalik ko rito, ayos na ang lahat. I thought I wouldn’t feel heaviness in my heart anymore but the moment he looked at me with cold, the better version of myself that I build through the years slowly…loosen up. After my epic meeting with Callum, I stayed in my room all day without talking to anyone. I haven't talked to Jess in a few days now. I was mad at her. I tried to think why she had to do that to me. She set us up. “Good morning, doc…” Tumango ako kay Nurse Aubrey. Wala ako sa mood na ngumiti ngayon. Nilunod ko ang sarili sa trabaho ngayong araw kahit pa ilang beses na tumatawag si Jess. I don't want to talk to her. Para ano? Ipagtanggol si Callum? At some point, I feel so betrayed. She knows what Callum did to me and my depression when I lost Agatha was no joke. Could Callum ask her for a favor? To introduce him as the owner of the land so we can interact again? For what? “Doc, are you okay?” Napatianod ako nang mari
PATRICIA’S POV “Patricia! Bumaba ka na! Your friends are already here!” I can’t count how many time mom called me. Inaayos ko pa ang mga damit ko dahil ngayon kami aalis papunta sa preferred resort ni Kelvin. It’s his birthday tomorrow so we’ll go there to celebrate. “Tell them to wait!” Sinipat ko na ang mga bikini at dress na dadalhin. Sabi ni Kelvin ay mag stay kami roon ng tatlong araw kaya nagpasobra na ako ng mga isusuot ko. Kilala rin ni Kelvin ang may-ari no’ng resort kaya naintriga ako kung maganda ba talaga roon. Si Jess naman, wala na ako’ng choice kundi pansinin siya. I can’t really resist her. She explained everything to me when she came here last week. She admitted that she already know Callum was the owner of the land but she just pushed to recommend Callum to me because she know that I really like the land. She also admitted that Callum didn’t know that I am the buyer. Ngayon pa lang, kinakain na ako ng kahihiyan kapag naaalala ang ginawa. I left him there and ove
PATRICIA’S POV “Happy birthday, Kelvin!” Kelvin's look shows a mixture of surprise and joy. It’s already 6 am and we decided to surprise him. We’re still wearing our pajamas. Dapat talaga ay magkakaroon kami ng birthday salubong sa kanya pero pagkatapos naming manood ng sunset kahapon at kumain ng dinner ay nakatulog agad kami. “Happy birthday to you…” we sang out of tune and ended up laughing. Hawak ko ang cake habang nakapalibot kami kay Kelvin na nakaupo sa kama, si Jaime ang kumukuha ng video. “T-Thank you guys!” Kelvin said in a teary eyed then blow the candle. Niyakap namin siya. “Iinom tayo mamaya, ah! You promised!” “Whatever, Jess...” nguso kong sabi. “By the way, Austine found a way to be with me today! He has no errands and he's on his way here!” Nagulat ako pero kalaunan ay ngumiti rin. She looks excited. Akala mo’y ang tagal hindi nakita ang boyfriend. “So I'm the only one who doesn't have a special someone on my special day?” Kelvin gasped. “Sabi ko nga, singl