Dangerously Yours (SERIE FEROCI 10)

Chapter Eighteen

"What do you feel now? You can tell me everything," Dr. Virez, my psychiatrist, said.

I smiled at her and bit my lower lip. "Hmm, there's still a little emptiness... but I don't feel as miserable and pathetic as before. I'm... happier than before. Thank you for everything."

Dr. Virez smiled. "That's good to hear. You don't have to thank me for it. You really did a great job in healing yourself. I'm genuinely happy for you."

I still thanked her for all the patience that she poured to me for the past years. I remembered being so hopeless before. I lost count on how many times I tried to give up on healing myself. It's a good thing that I didn't give up. 

"Pupunta ako sa restaurant mo paminsan-minsan para kumain. I heard a lot of good reviews sa mga dishes mo roon," nakangiting sabi ni Dr. Virez habang hinahatid ako palabas ng office niya. 

I chuckled. "I'll give you a discount, don't worry."

Pagkatapos kong dumaan kay Dr. Virez, dumiretso na ako sa restaurant. Every week kasi talaga akong pumupunta kay Dr. Virez para magpakonsulta. Palagi niyang sinasabi na ang laki ng improvement ko, I felt that too. Pakiramdam ko, ibang iba na ako ngayon. Pakiramdam ko may lugar na ako sa mundo. 

"Ma'am Luisa!" 

Yumakap agad sa akin ang isa rin sa chef sa restau ko na si Bonnie. She's always bubbly and energetic, maybe because she's just 22 years old. She's a good chef despite being young. Halata rin na mahal na mahal niya ang pagluluto. 

"Hello, kumusta naman?" tanong ko na lang. 

Tanghali kaya ang daming tao sa restau. I just smiled as I roamed my eyes around the place. I still couldn't believe that the small restaurant that I build just last year flourished like this. 

I remember being lost when I first step foot here in Palawan. I didn't get help from anyone, kahit kay Neron hindi ako humingi ng tulong. That time, I just wanted to be alone, and think about life... Kung ano ba ang dapat kong gawin sa buhay ko. 

Caius was my life... it was hard for me to find purpose in my life aside from loving him. But I still tried harder, though it wasn't easy. All my life, I etched in my mind that I have no purpose in life. Itinatak ko sa isip ko na walang kwenta ang buhay ko. Lumaki ako na ganoon ang paulit-ulit kong ipinapasok sa isip ko. Dr. Virez had a hard time with me. But I'm thankful that she didn't give up. 

I took culinary arts program three years ago. Marami agad ang naging offer sa akin nang maka-graduate ako, but I chose having my own restaurant. I want to have freedom in my dishes. I want to cook with no restrictions, I want to invent dishes freely. I just want to cook. Bonus na lang na kumikita ako ng malaki. 

"Ma'am Luisa, may flowers na naman sa office mo. Meron din mga alahas. Galing sa mga gusto manligaw sa'yo. Nakakastress. Naii-stress ka rin ba maging maganda, Ma'am?" pangungulit ni Bonnie saka yumakap sa braso ko. 

Natawa na lang ako nang pumasok kami sa office. I looked at the flowers, chocolates, and jewelries on my table. I shook my head and sighed. Almost all of them are from rich bachelors. Sinubukan kong isauli ang mga binibigay nila, pero hindi naman nila tinatanggap. 

So, it means... those are mine now. 

"Bonnie," I called her. 

"Yes, Ma'am ganda?" she asked and even saluted. She's always full of energy. 

"Sa inyo na ang mga 'yan. Paghati-hatian niyo ng mga staff at chef."

Natigilan si Bonnie sa sinabi ko. "Hala, Ma'am? Pati 'yung mga jewelries?"

I nodded. "Yes, even the jewelries. Basta kapag may nagpapadala ng mga ganiyan, kuhanin niyo na lang agad. Okay?"

Kahit nag-aalangan, tumango na lang si Bonnie. Nagtawag pa siya ng kasama para kuhanin ang mga kung ano-ano sa table ko.