Winning Hurricane

XI - Buspirone

"Hi,"

I looked up to the man who sat beside me. He's holding a cup of coffee, smiling gently. It's been what? Three months since I've seen my dad up close again. He's so busy being a good doctor and now I got the chance to be with him again. His hair's getting gray.. he's getting old without having much memories with his children.. he and mom were growing old taking care of other people.

And here I am, walking in the path they took.

"All your siblings are there celebrating and you're here.." he gently said as he reached for my hand. "Kumusta, anak?"

"Fine po."

He nodded, "How fine? How's second year?"

"I'm doing good, dad."

He cleared his throat, "Don't push yourself too much, okay? Learn how to rest."

Tumango lang ako. I was never close to my parents. Si Lola talaga yong nag-palaki sa amin but Lola explained us why dad and mom weren't always present. They're out saving lives and we should be proud to have parents as a hero. My dad's a cardiothoracic surgeon while mom's a neurosurgeon.

But I can see them exerting effort to reach out kahit malaki ang gap sa pagitan namin.

"Mabilis lang naman ang apat na taon sa medisina. Kapag doctor ka'na iba yong pagod.. sobrang sulit dahil masaya ka."

I cleared my throat. My dad always tells us stories about his and mom's adventure inside the hospital. How they operate on a dying man and how they sneaked out to date. His eyes always glimmer everytime he tells his hospital stories. He's happy being a good doctor.

"You know, what's the biggest strength a doctor should possess?"

"Humbleness." I answered. He always reminds us of that.. not to be eaten by our own profession. We shouldn't act as though we're superior than others.. we're given the privilege so we should use it to help the mass. He always quoted that humanity is far greater than any status or any titles.

Nakita ko siyang ngumiti bago humigop sa kape niya.

"Are you dating someone?" pabiro niyang tanong. Siniko pa niya ako na parang kumpare lang niya ang kausap niya.

I looked at my dad with my usual straight face. He cleared his throat upon seeing my reaction. "Wala?"

"I don't find the need to."

He chuckles, "Pansin ko kanina pa kayo nagti-tinginan ni Hurricane ah, kalako kayo."

I wanna face my palm because of dad! Para siyang teenager makipag-usap. "He's a.." friend? Are we already friends? We've known each other for years but I don't know if I can call him my friend because that title only belongs to the people I truly trust.

"A?"

"Friend." I decided.

"A friend who keeps on glancing?"

I felt my blood rushing from my thoracic area up to my face. I looked at dad with my face saying 'just shut up'. He laughed. "Di'ko alam kanino kayo ni ate mo nag-mana. Wala naman kaso sakin pag mag-boyfriend ka."

I just shrugged, restraining myself to look at Cane. Binalik ko nalang ang tingin ko sa TV like may something interesting sa pinapalabas.

"Aalis din kami ni mommy mo mamaya. Kailangan sa hospital."

Tumango lang ako. Sanay naman na kami na umaalis sila lagi at iniintindi namin yon.

"Kapag may kailangan ka tawag ka lang samin ha, kung may tanong ka text ka lang."