Battle Scars (Amorous Revival Series #1) (COMPLETED)

Chapter 1

I took a hot shower pagkarating ko sa apartment. Uminom na rin ako ng gamot para iwasang matuloy sa lagnat 'yong nangyaring pagkababad ko sa tubig-ulan kanina.

I smiled bitterly while remembering that unexpected encounter I shared with Ravi.

Am I awful? Deserve ba niya 'yong pangtataboy ko pagkatapos niya akong tulungan?

Maybe... I really did overreact.

With a turbulent mind I'm experiencing, I need an effective distraction.

Kakatapos ko lang mag-jogging sa may malapit na park dito sa area. I glanced at my smartwatch. Alas-syete na ng umaga kaya naramdaman ko na ang pagkulo ng tiyan ko.

Dahil wala pa namang laman na groceries ang aking kusina, wala akong choice kundi mag-breakfast sa may ibaba ng building.

"Good morning! Mind if I join you?" tanong ng isang lalaking mukhang ka-edad ko lang.

Inikot ko ang tingin sa paligid. Madaming vacant tables kaya walang rason para dito siya maupo.

Wait? Do I look lonely sitting here alone?

"I may sound creepy but I can't help but notice how beautiful you are," inilahad niya ang kanyang palad sa harapan ko. "By the way, my name is Jake," nahihiya niyang sambit.

His branded clothes and aura clearly showed he's not a low-class poseur. He looks cute but not enough to reach my standards.

I sighed. Itinaas ko ang kaliwang kamay ko as I flashed my ring finger. "You see, I'm married."

I know that this act I'm pulling out is a total sham. Nevertheless, it always works all the time.

Tumikhim ako at nagkunwaring chineck ang phone. "Actually, Jake, I'm waiting for my husband. Kakagaling niya nga lang sa gym. And based on his text message, he's on his way here."

Napakamot siya ng batok at tuluyan nang napa-atras. Nag-desisyon siyang doon nalang kumain sa kabilang dako nitong restaurant. Nilamon siguro ng hiya ang loko.

Nagsimula ang paggamit ko ng singsing na ito when I was a third-year student. Natawa ako sa naalala. Matagal na pala kaming magkasama nito.

The reason why I'm using this is to drive away any guy that will dare to ask for my name or personal number. Lapitin kasi ako ng mga lalaki simula pa noong high school. I can have a boyfriend anytime if I want to, but I chose to be single ever since I learned that there is a dangerous word called love. Saka sakit lang sa ulo ang mga lalaki. Mas pipiliin ko nalang mag-focus sa career ko at ilaan ang buong oras sa pag-aasikaso ng mga pasyente ko sa hinaharap.

Involuntarily, something in my mind made me remember who gave this ring.

"No way!" I almost spilled my drink no'ng bigla akong mabilaukan.

Damn, oo nga! Sa kanya galing ito.

Flashback

"Mrs. Saavedra, we still need to monitor your husband's condition before we proceed with the nephrectomy. Hinihintay pa rin kasi namin ang lab result kung benign ang cancer na nakita namin sa bato niya. We will soon determine if we are going to perform a partial or radical nephrectomy," rinig kong sabi no'ng doktora na naka-assign kay Dad.

(A nephrectomy is surgery to remove a kidney. A surgeon may perform a partial nephrectomy to remove only a portion of the kidney. Or, a radical nephrectomy, where a surgeon removes the entire kidney.)

I was only fourteen years old at that time when I noticed my mom turned the car away from the route where our house is located. I spent an entire night in the hospital after Dad was admitted. Hindi ako maiwan ni Mom sa bahay nang mag-isa dahil wala akong makakasama. My two older siblings were studying in Manila. Tuwing weekends and holidays lang sila nakakauwi ng Ilocos kaya walang sinumang available para mabantayan ako.