The Second Fall

Wakas

A/N: Hello po! Maraming salamat at hindi kayo bumitaw hanggang dulo. Ang dami kong pinagdaanan last year at this year. Umabot ako sa point na pati sa pagsusulat ay nawalan na rin ng gana dahil sa recent issue. But I am grateful that you stayed with me. Through my ups and downs. Through my successes and failures. Magpapatuloy po ako hanggang sa kaya ko pa kaya sana ay kasama ko pa rin kayo.

See you sa fourth series!

"I do not deserve your cruel judgement. I am a self-made woman. I reached success because of my wit, hardwork, and dedication. And never because of some weak and stupid man." —Doctor Abigail Claudine Manalo 2022

Wakas

"I'm sorry. We did everything we could but... we could not save your daughter," the doctor announced with a forlorn face.

Nanlamig ako. To hear a hopeless news like that stabbed something sharp in my gut. If saying things like this is a doctor's job, then I don't want to become one. Or so I've told myself.

Sinulyapan ako ni Doctor Alejandro matapos niya itong i-anunsiyo sa immediate family ng pasyente. His eyes told me, "This is what you've signed up for." I swallowed hard and accepted the challenge. Maski na gustong bumaliktad ng sikmura ko. And just ran for the hills. I was on my first year of residency back then.

Kapag tinatanong sa'kin ng mga kakilala ko kung bakit Medicine ang kinuha ko, hindi ko alam ang insaktong isasagot. It wasn't because my parents are both doctors nor do I see myself as a philanthropist. I can be passionate sometimes, but cold most of the time.

When I finished my residency, I decided to make my own name in the field of Medicine. Kilala na ang mga magulang ko sa Pilipinas kaya nagdesisyon ako na magpuntang Canada para gumawa ng sariling pangalan. There I met Winona. I had my first fall then.

I guess fate had other plans. Fate had allowed my heart to be broken so I could love again. Love better. Be loved back.

"So, you'll meet someone else and you'll fall in love again—"

"That's impossible," I cut Claudine off. I was too stubborn and felt like what she said was ridiculous. "Si Winona lang ang mamahalin ko."

"Mas mamahalin mo siya kaysa kay Winona," she insisted.

I muttered a soft curse. Bakit ba ako nag-aaksaya ng oras na makinig sa kanya? Hindi naman ako naniniwala sa hula. Tao ang nagdidikta ng kapalaran niya, hindi ang palad. It's not luck that will get you somewhere but hard work and dedication.

"Let's say na totoo 'yan," sabi ko para lang matigil na ang kahibangan. "How does she look like? Where do I find her?"

"Sa gubat."

Natawa ako. Naisip ko na ang lasing ko na siguro para makinig sa kabaliwang 'yon.

But damn, she was right. I met her again in the forest she mentioned. In that forest of love where I was only a tree, she bloomed next to me.

Sa hindi inasahang pagkakataon at lugar, naging malapit kami sa isa't isa. Mas nakilala ko siya. And eventually, I fell for her. Kung gaano naman kasagad ang inihulog ko sa kanya ay gano'n din kasagad sa buto ang sakit na naramdaman ko nang itaboy niya ako.

I would understand if her reason was that she fell out of love. Kaya ko namang respetuhin iyon. Ang hirap lang tanggapin na hindi niya pala ako minahal dahil ang ama ko ang gusto niya.

"You had feelings for him," sabi ko. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa lahat ng rebelasyon nila sa gabing iyon. I brought her as my date for my mother's birthday. I introduced her to my parents as the woman I love.