Winning Hurricane

VIII - Amiodarone

"Chandy.." Barb uttered. Nakabawi na sa gulat sa pagkakakita sakin. She's now smiling pero napansin ko din ang pag-higpit ng hawak niya sa paper bag. "You're here."

Obviously.

"Paalis ka'na? Let's eat muna. I brought food." Alok niya.

"I'm full."

"Oh. Sige, ingat ka."

I just gave her a nod bago sila nilampasan para maka-sunod na ako agad kayna Ansel but Cane was too fast. Humabol siya sa may gilid ko.

"Hatid na kita."

"No need." I answered with my usual straight face. Sa elevator nakatingin.

"Sa parking lang."

I faced him. "Can you just stop? I really don't appreciate your presence near me." I stonily said bago pumasok sa elevator. He looked stunned sa sinabe ko, he didn't move until the elevator finally closed.

I know what I said was rude.. I came all the way here to check on him and ended up saying inappropriate..words.. pero ayoko talaga sa makukulit. He's so makulit, may sakit siya tapos parang tanga na ipipilit akong ihatid hanggang parking.

Ako na naman makokonsensya kapag may nangyari ulit sa kanya.

Nang makarating ako sa Starbucks nagta-talo na naman si Cy at Ansel, wala naman ng bago except for the fact na we're with Ada tonight.

"San ka galing? Tagal mo." Ansel asked.

I just shrugged bago nilabas ang book stand ko. "Hey, are you okay?" Ada asked with great concern.

"Yeah."

**

"Kanina ka pa?"

I shook my head as I stood up. Today's Sunday, my sister invited me for lunch. Himala na may time siya ngayon. She's a surgeon, the youngest one in the city. I have two older brothers, both doctors too but already married. Actually, we're a family of doctors.

Before, ayoko sana pumasok sa line ng medicine because I witnessed how hard it is sa parents ko. They barely have time for us. They sacrificed too much time but everytime iniisip ko kung anong gusto ko.. I always see myself inside the operating room, holding scalpel.

"What do you want to eat?"

"Pinoy food." I answered. She hates it when someone answered her 'kahit saan' or 'kahit ano'. So tuwing mag-aaya siyang kumain sa labas iniisip ko na kung ano ang gusto ko.

"Oh, I know a place." She smiled as she led me to her car and drove to the restaurant she was saying.

"How's school? I'm sorry I barely message you." She said after we ordered.

"Okay lang."

"If nahihirapan ka on something just ask me okay? Or mom, or sila kuya. But I'm the best option." She winked. I just nodded.

Something changed in her. She's usually mataray and super ikli mag-salita. Three months lang kami hindi nag-kita medyo naging jolly na siya.

"Have you visit Charlie?"

"No. I'm planning to mamaya."

"Okay. Check on Chad too. Hindi daw umuuwi."

I nodded. Charlie's the youngest samin. She's only 15. Chad's the one next to me. He's taking up engineering. He really hates being involved in medicine.

"Okay. We'll visit din maybe one of these days."

"We?"

"Oh, I didn't tell you pala. I am already dating."