Destiny's Game

35

Rj sat at a corner table of the café and studied the tiger stethoscope cover that was still wrapped around his stethoscope. When he moved to the US, a tiger appeared many times in his dreams. As years went by, he had forgotten it's meaning and significance in his life.

Rj reviewed the events that transpired the past days – the new work assignments given by Drs. Agoncillo and Rodriguez, Mamita and Papito's wedding anniversary, how nostalgia hit when he drove around his old village, how the children seemed to respond better after his team-up with Nic. Nic.

"Nic. Teka. Bakit parang lahat ng mga nangyari, involved sya? Tapos, eto pang tiger at..."

"Dude!" Carlo was seated in front of him and leaning forward. He had just lightly slapped Rj on the face.

"Ano ba?" Rj said, dropping the stethoscope to rub his cheek.

"Bigla ka kasing natulala dyan. O tapos, ninakaw mo pa yang sticker sa mga bata pati yang tiger." Carlo said.

Rj looked at his hand. He had not removed the sticker which Nic stuck earlier.

"Bigay ni Mendoza"

"Huh? Bakit?"

"Ang yabang! Sabi pa, mag-vitamins daw ako. Enervon...something like para mas may energy ako o basta para mas masaya daw ako" Rj huffed.

"Mayabang sya? Hindi mo ba alam kung ano ang tawag sa yo?"

"Sungit" Rj replied.

"Exactly! Doc Sungit! Try mo din kayang ngumiti. Mas mapapabilis ang paggaling ng mga pasyente mo kung di sila stressed sa yo"

"Stressed sa akin?"

"What do you think? Bakit ka kaya bininyagan ng Doc Sungit?"

Rj sighed and leaned back on his seat. He looked at the stethoscope and glanced at the smiley face sticker on his hand. A small smile started to form on his lips.

"Hmm..."

"Huh?"

"Mukhang may tama ka dyan kay Mendoza e" Carlo said.

"...'namo!" Rj said while glaring at Carlo.

"Kanino ba galing yang sticker mo?"

"Kay Mendoza..."

"Ikaw din ba ang nagnenok ng tiger na yan sa mga bata?"

"Hindi...kinabit ni Mendo..." Rj said then abruptly stopping and looking at Carlo.