Taking A Step Closer To You

PART NINE: Love or Not?

Simula nang mangyari ang insidenteng iyon, nagbago ang buhay ko.

Not in a way that I suddenly became a millionaire or anything exaggerated. Let's say, kahit papaano ay nakilala ako.

No, not as famous as a celebrity-not even an influential either.

May nakapag-video kasi ng insidente at in-upload iyon online. Mabilis iyong nag-viral at naging sikat ako overnight. Naibalita rin in a national television kaya mabilis na kumalat ang nangyari.

Nang dumating ang ambulansya nang araw na 'yon, sumama kami sa ni Felix pareho para masiguradong okay ang pasyente at wala kaming ginawang mali.

Thankfully, the doctor informed us that we really did great. Dumating din ang pamilya ng babae at iyak nang iyak ang mga bata nitong anak, lalong-lalo na ang ina nito.

"Salamat po doktor, maraming-maraming salamat po!" Umiiyak na sabi ng matanda, pinasasalamatan ang doktor.

Akmang ituturo kami ng doktor bilang ang mga sumagip sa anak niya pero sumenyas si Felix na 'wag na. Naintindihan naman iyon ng doktor at nirespeto.

When things were finally alright, sabi na kaming lumabas ng hospital. Wala kaming kibuan ni Felix sa daan nang mga sandaling iyon. In fact, we were even walking beside each other. Madalas na dumidikit ang mga braso namin pero wala siyang reaksyon. Tuwid lang ang tingin niya at naglalakad.

I felt the awkwardness so I tried to slow down. Nirerespeto ko ang space na gusto niya. If he were mad, I would totally understand. After giving him mixed signals before, it's undeniably okay if he feels mad. Sobrang naiintindihan ko siya.

Pinanonood ko ang mga paa ni Felix habang naglakakad. Nasa likuran na niya ako. In a blink of an eye, Felix stopped. Pati ako ay napahinto dahil doon. He looked back at me and he just stared at me for few seconds.

"Ayaw mo akong kasabay maglakad?" tanong niya.

"Uy, hindi!" Mabilis kong sagot.

"Then there shouldn't be any reason why we shouldn't walk beside each other, right?" Felix asked.

Ibang-iba ang aura niya ngayon. I can't see and feel the ever-caring, soft-spoken and smiley Felix that I fell for.

"O-Of course," sagot ko at mabilis na lumapit sa kaniya. Just then, we started walking alongside each other. It was a moment of awkward silence again until he finally broke the ice.

"You did great, Maia," Felix suddenly uttered.

Napatingin ako sa kaniya at bahagyang napangiti. "Did I?"

Felix smiled a little too and nodded.

I then sighed as I looked straight. "I should be the one telling you that. Ikaw gumawa ng lahat, ano? Ako lang ang naghanap ng mga gagamitin."

"That's why I said you did great," Felix told me. "Kung ako lang ang nandoon, I would definitely panic a little. It was my first time and there were bloods. Maselan pa ang case and there were bystanders. Kung ako lang ang kikilos, it would be a hassle looking for ice, plastic-everything while trying to control the bleeding and calming the patient."

Felix smiled a little more.

"A complete catastrophe."

"It is," sagot ko naman at napangiti na rin.

"Kaya salamat at nandoon ka. Things were easier," Felix said. "You were on the right path, Maia. Maraming pasyente pa ang nangangailangan ng doktor na gaya mo. Thank you for choosing to be a doctor."

I can't help myself but to feel so damn good yet feel terrible at the same time.

"I think, mas kailangan ka nila," sabi ko naman. "The way you handled the situation, it seemed like you're already a pro. The world needs you, Doctor Felix."