Almost, But Not Quite (COMPLETED)

Chapter 44

#ABNQ44 Chapter 44

"Good morning," Psalm greeted, handing me a paper bag from Starbucks. Lumabas na ako mula sa bahay kasi gusto ko na agad pumunta sa testing site. I didn't want to stay longer inside because I was itching to get this day over with.

I smiled, taking the paper bag from him. "Thanks," I replied. Sumakay na ako sa sasakyan niya. "Can I eat here?" I asked. I haven't eaten inside Psalm's car yet kasi una, feeling ko bawal dahil sobrang linis ng sasakyan niya. Pangalawa, I never had the chance to eat here kasi lagi naman kaming nasa library or gym or resto.

He nodded, revving the engine. "Is your test kit ready?" he asked.

I nodded, then showed him the transparent envelope. "Here."

"Test permit?" he asked again.

"Here," I replied.

He nodded. "I don't know if you can bring food, but I prepared snacks for you," he said, then pointed at the backseat of his car kung nasaan iyong isa pang paper bag. "Looked up your sched, and you have an hour for lunch break. I'll just buy lunch for us. What do you want to eat?" tanong niya sa 'kin.

Lihim akong napa-ngiti. It's nice to be taken care like this. To feel so special like this.

"Bahala ka na," I said. "Okay ka lang?" I asked because he looked so tensed.

"Yeah," he said, then quickly looked at me. "Why?"

I shrugged. "Wala, parang mas kinakabahan ka pa sa 'kin, e."

He did a nervous laugh. "Yeah... I don't know why I'm feeling nervous," he said, then ran his hands through his broccoli hair. "We'll arrive early. Do you want to review or what? I borrowed Jed's flash cards," he said tapos kumunot iyong noo ko. "Jed's my doctor cousin. He still has the flash cards he used when he took up NMAT," paliwanag niya.

I nodded. "Pwede naman, pero baka ma-mental block na ako, e," I said. Sabi kasi ni Marcus mas okay if relaxed na iyong utak bago mag-exam kaya nga kahapon half-day lang kami nag-aral, e.

Tumango na lang si Psalm. I continued to ask him, instead, tungkol sa mga ginagawa niya sa embassy. If I didn't plan on pursuing med, maybe I'd work in an embassy, too. Tutal doon din naman talaga papunta iyong degree ko, e. But life has a different plan for me.

"Ano'ng ginagawa mo 'dun?" I asked.

"Just meeting people," he said.

"May babae?"

Finally, Psalm laughed. "Yeah..." he said, then looked at me. Red iyong stop light kaya grabe kung maka-tingin si Psalm sa akin. He was grinning, then reached for my hand. "I just talk to them for work."

"Talaga lang, ha."

He was laughing again, then he brought my hand up and kissed the back of it. "Of course. I only have eyes for Joey."

"Tss. Siguraduhin mo 'yan. Kapag busy na ako sa medschool, dapat busy ka lang sa trabaho o sa basketball o sa family mo. 'Di ka pwede maging busy sa ibang babae, sinasabi ko sa 'yo."

Psalm bit his lower lip. My god, na-distract agad ako. He shouldn't be doing that!

"Okay," he said. "Anything else?"

"Uhm... Dapat magtetext ka sa 'kin palagi kahit hindi agad ako makaka-reply," I said, and he nodded. "Required na at least once a week magkita tayo para naman 'di mo maka-limutan 'tong mukha ko."