Almost, But Not Quite (COMPLETED)

Chapter 45

#ABNQ45 Chapter 45

Waiting was one of the things that I was not particularly fond of. I didn't hate the waiting per se, but I hated the feeling that I get whenever I'd wait. Kasi hindi ko alam kung papasa ba ako o babagsak. And the uncertainty is killing me. Not knowing is torturing me.

"Good morning," Papa greeted. I woke up late today. Ngayon ko lang talaga nararamdaman lahat ng stress mula pa nung finals hanggang sa NMAT kahapon. I got a slight fever, so Psalm decided to give me a few days to rest. Anyway, I didn't think we'd both enjoy din naman kung may sakit ako.

I smiled at Pa. "Morning din po," I said while I drank my mug of water. Whenever I was sick, palagi lang akong pinapainom ni Papa ng tubig. Iinom lang talaga ako ng gamot kapag hindi ko na kaya. Sabi nga ni Papa, water is life.

"Pwede bang pumunta si Marcus dito?" he asked.

Biglang nanlaki iyong mga mata ko. "Bakit, Pa? May nahanap na kayong scholarship?" I asked. I knew Papa had some friends in high places. I mean, he's a neurosurgeon and sobrang konti lang nila sa Pilipinas.

Papa just wrinkled his nose a bit, not really giving me the answer that I needed. "Si Marcus na lang ang kakausapin ko," he said, instead.

I groaned. "Pa naman!"

"Confidential kasi 'to," he said. I eyed him. Kailan pa naging confidential ang paghingi ng scholarship? "Hindi nagNMAT si Marcus, 'di ba?" he asked, and I nodded. "Well, kung gusto niyang maka-pasok ngayong school year, I need to pull some strings... and you know that that's not ethical."

Biglang umawang iyong labi ko. Seriously?! My father's willing to do something like this?! E nung gusto kong manood ng concert tapos gusto ko sa VIP, hindi niya nagawan ng paraan! To think na pasyente niya noon iyong isa sa apo ng mga Araneta! Pambihira!

"So, I'd really rather discuss it with Marcus, anak," he said.

I sighed. "Fine," sabi ko. But I grinned. "Thanks, Pa! You're the best talaga!" I said before I ran upstairs to get my phone. There was a text from Psalm, so I replied to him first. When I was composing my text to Marcus, my fingers began to get all fidgety because of the excitement. I wanted to call him. Alam ko naman na sasagot siya kasi sinasagot niya naman kahit hindi naka-save sa phone niya iyong number dahil nga maraming tumatawag sa kanya na firms.

Quickly, I looked for the paper he gave me. I dialed his number, and drummed my fingers against the bedside table habang hinihintay kong sagutin niya iyong tawag.

"Hi!" I perkily said when he finally answered the call.

"Uh... hi?"

"Si Joey 'to," I said, then laid on my bed.

"Alam ko," he said.

Agad na kumunot ang noo ko. "But ngayon lang kita tinawagan," sabi ko tapos biglang napaawang iyong labi ko. Fuck. Matagal niya na nga pala akong kilala. Malamang may number ko din siya.

But I didn't want to dwell on that because I badly wanted to tell him about the good news.

"Anyway, busy ka ba ngayon?" I asked.

"Bakit?" tanong niya. He sounded like if he could, he'd rather not see me, and naiintindihan ko naman. But this one's about his future, so I needed to endure his tone.

"Basta. Promise, you'll regret if 'di ka pumunta agad dito," pangungumbinsi ko sa kanya. Sana pumunta agad siya kasi knowing Papa's line of work, baka bigla na lang nasa ospital na naman 'yun! Tapos 'di ko na naman alam kung kailan uuwi kasi kapag nagsimula iyong operation nun, 'di na lumalabas sa operating room hanggang 'di natatapos.