Chapter 6

I was taken aback as he opened his eyes and our gazes locked, a trivial moment of almost nothing yet the timeless beginning of everything.

Tumikhim siya at unang pinutol ang tinginan naming dalawa. Umayos ako ng upo at binalik ang tingin sa harapan saka napapikit ng mariin dahil sa nangyari.

"Mauna na ako, salamat at ingat kayo sa pag-uwi." sabi nito.

Tumango ako, "Sige." sagot ko saka siya diretsong bumaba sa sasakyan.

I sighed, regretting what I did and decided to forget about it.

"I couldn't possibly fall in love. I was simply mesmerized by him, which is why I did those stupid things." sabi ko saaking sarili.

I glanced at my laptop screen, satisfied with the medical drama that I had just completed viewing. Dr. Romantic 2 is without a doubt one of my favorite medical kdramas of recent years. Medical kdramas, in my opinion, are a little too repetitive. They always begin with an impossible scenario that the team gradually strives to solve; it quickly becomes tedious. This makes it impossible to take any medical series seriously, at least for me, because I know they'll save the patient's life. The patient stories were my favorite part of this season. I was particularly fond of an episode about organ donation and I cried very hard. Dr. Romantic 2 was also educational in some ways; at least, that's how it felt to me. It taught me a lot about how trauma hospitals operate, and it did so with great care. You could tell the individual authoring the script was enthusiastic about the subject matter. The strength point of Dr. Romantic 2 is, in my opinion, how moving the stories are, not how distinctive the characters are. The stories told throughout the series were not only incredible, but also realistic. I loved that the endings weren't always great and that they were unpredictable at times; this kept Dr. Romantic 2 from becoming another medical kdrama.

I haven't had a bath yet, and it's already nighttime. I've been feeling incredibly sluggish all day as I watch the second season's 16 episodes. I spent the entire day in my bed, giggling and weeping over the scenes.

Tamad akong tumayo at nagtungo sa banyo para maligo. Agad akong naghubad at nilublub ang katawan sa bathtub na may mainit na tubig.

Guminhawa ako at pinikit ang mga mata saka dinama ang init ng tubig na nararamdaman sa katawan.

Taking a hot bath feels nice because endorphins are released by the skin in response to the soothing warm water, much as they are released when we feel the sun on our skin. That is why I enjoy taking a hot bath, it's relaxing.

Isang oras din akong bumabad kaya agad kong sinuot ang aking roba pagkatapos at nag tungo sa dresser para patuyuin ang aking buhok.

To fix my hair, I quickly grab my hair dryer and comb. Napahinto ako saaking ginagawa ng biglang tumunog ang aking cellphone kaya agad ko itong inabot at nakitang si Mama ang tumatawag.

I sighed and answered the call.

"Syrhane, how are you and your brother?" bungad na tanong nito.

"We're fine Mama." I answered.

"Why don't we have a family dinner tomorrow night? We will arrive in Davao with your father tomorrow morning for a business meeting for the Davao branch."

I heave a sigh because I already know how this family dinner will turn out.

"Did you just sigh, Syrhane?" she asked, her tone betraying her incredulity.

"We will be there, Ma." I said.

"I'll text you the location tomorrow," she said, "So be formal.", she continued. My mother ended the conversation after she finished telling what we should dress and other such things.

Pagkatapos kong patuyuin ang aking buhok ay nagtungo ako saaming kusina at kumuha ng isang canned beer sa refrigerator para inumin. Naupo ako sa counter, nakatunganga sa kawalan at iniisip ang mga bagay-bagay.

"Ate?" napa-angat ako ng tingin saaking kapatid.

"Oh", umupo ang aking kapatid saaking harapan. "Mama called, they will arrive at Davao tomorrow and she said that we will have a family dinner." patuloy ko.

My brother scoffed.

"I'm afraid.." sabi ko habang nilalaro ang canned beer na hawak.

"I hope that this is not about that fixed marriage." patuloy ko at tinignan ang kapatid na may nag-aalalang tingin para saakin.

I looked in the mirror in front of me and stared at myself. I pull open a drawer in my dresser to display my accessories and select a few that will complement my formal chic dress coordinates outfit. I glanced at myself in the mirror again after putting the accessories in their proper positions, perfecting my smile for a few minutes because I need to be formal and in a proper manner infront of my parents.

Tumayo ako at kinuha ang aking Chanel sling bag saka naglakad palabas ng kwarto para puntahan ang aking kapatid. Nakita kong kakalabas lang din nito sakanyang kwarto na kaharap lang ng saakin kaya agad akong lumapit sakanya.

I made sure his tie and the rest of his suit fit him perfectly. I smiled at him and gently touched his cheeks, as though to reassure him that everything would be well.

Tahimik lang kaming dalawa ng kapatid kong si Stanley sa loob ng sasakyan habang nagmamaneho ako papuntang Lanang, Buhangin District, Davao City kung nasaan ang West Empire Chinese Restaurant.

Pagdating namin sa loob ng restaurant ay sinalubong agad kami ng dalawang server at sinamahan patungo sa table kung nasaan ang aking mga magulang.

"Good evening Ma, Pa." As a gesture, I kissed my mother's cheeks and hugged my father, Stanley did the same.

The dinner was served immediately as we exchanged greetings towards each other. My mother hasn't changed; at first glance, she remains sophisticated and elegant. My father's visage too hasn't changed; his rigid expression shouts authority.

"Are you both doing well here in Davao?" Mama asked while we're eating.

I stopped slicing my steak. "We're doing good, Ma." I replied and gave her a peek, but she just kept chopping her steak.

"How do you intend to spend your college years, Stanley?" Papa asked Stanley. Napalingon ako saaking kapatid na napatigil sa pagkain.

"I'm still thinking about it." he answered. Agad na binaba ni Papa ang kanyang hawak na tinidor at kutsilyo ng marinig ang sagot ni Stanley.

"I'm so disappointed." Father said. Nakita kong napakuyom ang kamao ni Stanley na nasa ilalim ng lamesa kaya hinawakan ko ito at malumay siyang tinignan.

"Are you seeing someone, Syrhane?" Mama suddenly asked kaya napahinto ako sa pag-nguya at napa-tingin sakanya.

"No, Mama." I answered.

She smiled at me. "That's good, you know what I mean, right?".

I nodded, nervously.