I'm Yours to Adore

Chapter 38

"Thank you again, Doctor. Maybe I was just seeking validation. I'm sorry."

He smiled and shook his head. "Seems like you needed it just this once, so don't feel bad about it."

Sabay-sabay na kaming umuwi at naghanda para sa hapunan. Hugo and his brother prepared the dinner table in the garden while I helped Manang Dessa cook our meals.

"Nabalitaan kong pumanaw na ang Lolo at Lola mo. Assassination daw?"

Natigilan ako at tipid ng ngumiti. "Medyo melodramatic 'yong term, pero totoo pong napatay sila."

Napasinghap ang ginang habang marahang umiiling. "Ang hirap talaga kapag maraming kaaway. Paano raw 'yon? Ipaiimbestiga ba?"

"My family haven't talked about that yet."

"Ha? Bakit naman? Kung ako ha, una kong ipahahanap ang gumawa niyan sa mga magulang ko, pero diyos ko, 'wag naman sana." Saka siya kumatok sa kahoy na cupboard sa itaas.

After preparing dinner, nagtipon kami sa garden at naghapunan.

"Ginny."

Nilingon ko si Doctor William.

"This is not to discourage you but what you are experiencing needs serious clinical treatment. You may need to come back again and arrange an appointment with Santi."

Santi nodded and smiled at me. "Don't worry, I got you."

Tumango ako at ngumiti sa kanila. "I will. Uh, do many people come to your clinic?"

Santi stopped for a while to think. "Well, we usually have two to three appointments per day, but it can go about 10 during weekends when students don't have class."

"Students can afford the fees?"

"Oh." He chuckled and shook his head. "Our services are for free."

Napalingon ako kay Hugo na ngumiti at marahang tumango. Bumalik ang tingin ko kay Santi at Doctor William. "Paano 'yong gastos sa clinic kung gano'n?"

Doctor William smiled. "Donations. Mula sa mga kakilala ko, sa kaibigan nila Hugo at Santi. We wanted the clinic to be open for everyone. Mental health is as important as physical health. Just like the body, when the mind is sick, cure it."

"I'll donate the next time I get back."

Doctor William smiled wider. "That's good. I heard you inherited a surprisingly good amount." Then he winked at me.

I chuckled and nodded. "I need to go back to Manila for my grandparents' wake. Is it okay if I take Hugo with me?"

Nagkatinginan silang lahat habang tahimik lang si Hugo sa gilid ko. Nag-angat siya ng tingin at pinisil ang ilong ko. "I'm not a child."

They giggled, so I scratched my head. "Well, it's just that, you were all so close, so I thought, dapat alam nila kung nasaan ka. I mean—I'm sorry. I don't really know much about families..."

They all went silent, but Hugo gently placed his hand on top of mine. "But you have us now. Let us be your family."

Unti-unti akong napangiti pero napalingon ako kay Santi nang tumikhim siya. "Uh, proposal ba 'yon?"

We burst into laughter, but I eventually shook my head. Bigla silang tumahimik habang nakatingin kay Hugo kaya napalingon din ako sa kaniya. "What's wrong?"

"You just shook your head."

"So?"

Napaawang ang bibig niya at marahang umiling. "Nothing."