To The Moon And Never Back

C4

"Hi, Ms. Jimenez... How are you?"

I'm having my monthly check up. Doc Mendez always ask the same questions. Like really the same. And this time, he looks serious. Parati naman to nag jojoke saakin ha...

"I'm good,Doc." I smiled.

"Wala bang effect ang beer saiyo? Gumaan ba pag hinga mo?" Doc Mendez smirked and wrote some notes.

Doc Mendez is my doctor since 13. He really know me so well. It's like mas kilala niya ako, more than my parents know me.

I sighed and gave him an apologetic smile.

"Uhm, I felt dizzy. Of course! And, I fainted. But I'm fine, it's only for once? Doc sorry!" I said sorry and gave him a smile.

He just laughed and looked back at me.

"You're a grown up now Tori, you know what to do. Alam mo na ang bawal at pwede. Ang ililimit at hindi. Kelan mo huli naramdaman ang pag sikip?" He asked.

" Uhm, Nung isang gabi doc, but I took my meds immediately, and took my inhaler" I said.

" Hija, stop ka muna sa drinking alcohols, driving too much, and worrying. Sa case mo may chance na lumala ang sakit mo." He looked at me with his serious face.

I'm speechless. And nodded.

I'm at the mall right now, window shopping. I still have 1hour bago ang afternoon class ko.

"We've known each other for years hija, I know may mga tinatago ka. And I know na nag sasawa ka sa old questions ko na paulit ulit. Right?" I remembered doc Mendez's words while ago. "Pero, kailangan mo ingatan ang sarili mo, iwasan mo ang worries, takbo... And you know, drinking. I'm giving you another medicine and mag tatanggal na rin ako ng isa..." He said.

Pag balik ko sa University, I saw Nathan walking towards the public library near our building. And saw him with a friend.

They didn't know na nasa likod lang nila ako.

"Lakad mo na ko sa isang puti!"

I heard his friend asking for an American girl. I laughed a little bit and hinabol sila.

" Hey!" I greeted him. And pumunta sa harapan nila. Hindi naman siya mukang gulat pero tumango lang sha at huminto.

"Dito nalang pala boy!" Sabi ng kasama niya.

Dito?? Anong meaning niya?

Nathan looked back to his friend in a serious face. Kanina lang nag tatawanan sila ha... Then he looked back at me with same face.

"Toria, this is Dan...From nursing, Daniel this is Toria. Victori—" Nathan didn't finished what he was about to say when Dan grabbed his hand and looked at me.

Daniel... Siya ba ang tinutukoy ni Trish?

"V-victoria... Jimenez?!" Nanglaki ang mata niya at tumingin saakin at kay Nathan paulit ulit.

I nodded and he gave me a bow.

What!? Bow!?! For what?

My other brow went up. Same reaction with Nathan.

"What the hell are you doing?" Nathan whispered to Dan.

"Queen daw 'yan sa building na ito, umayos ka!" Dan said na may halong pabiro.

" Hey! I'm not!?" I looked around to ease the awkwardness.

"Queen my ass." Nathan laughed and rolled his eyes.

"Okay... Okay... Let me get this straight, I'm not a queen dito. Okay? And don't praise me like that!" I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms.

Umayos ng tayo si Daniel and tumitingin sa paligid.