Annika
"Doc, pede pa daw po isa?"
"Urgent case ba?"
"Mukha po Doc."
I took a heavy breath. Ano pa bang magagawa ko? I need to help people. Sabi nga ni Mommy, passion ko ito.
So I again wear my coat. I texted Mom that I might be late again today. Sobrang dami pasyente. Gutom na ako.
"Hi Doc, mukang di ka pa kumakain ah."
"Alex?! Oh my god, Alex! I missed you. My God!! Kelan ka pa dumating?"
"Yesterday, actually I was here since morning."
"Bakit di ko alam???" I asked Alex
"I passed by kaninang morning but Joy told me you have surgery. I talked to the Chairman then I came back after lunch and you have another surgery. Then I waited in the afternoon and look, you are still here."
"Wait, you talked to the Chairman?? Oh My God! So you've accepted his offer? Wow! We'll be together again??!"
"Happy ka talaga?"
"Of course, of course! I love you so much, you know that!"
"Yes! and I love you more! You know that too!"
I clung to his arms.
"Ah, where's my baby Lexi by the way."
"Wow, anak mo? She's at home."
"I want to see her!"
"Pwede bang bukas na? Ako muna! Let's date first."
"Of course!!"
Alex and I ended up eating at Jollibee. Eto kasing isang to, mahilig talaga sa chicken. Alex is a single dad and Lexi is her daughter. Alex and I are so dependent on each other since med school. He's been there since I decided to start all over again. He'd been my pool of strength and my motivator. He's someone I wouldn't trade for anyone else.
Since we've been literally together for more than a decade, Lexi his child, grew up calling me Mama because I was the closest human to be her mother. If it's not too much, I gotta attend her parents meeting too and bring her home for a sleepover.
I left my car that day so Alex could come home with me. And of course, Mommy's so happy seeing Alex. Well, Daddy's same. He never really liked Alex. But Mommy and I don't care much. Mahal namin pareho si Alex.
The next day, I had a very cute visitor who made me so happy.
"Mama Doc."
"Lexi baby, I missed you so much."
"Miss you Mama."
"Miss you too Baby so much."
"Love you, Mama."
"Love you too Baby, but where's Daddy?"
"Hi, Doc."
"Mary! Andito ka din."
"Hindi naman po ako iiwan ni sir lalo na't isinama nya si kulit."
I smiled. Swerte din talaga tong Alex kay Mary, sobrang maaasahan. Hindi lahat makakauha ng baby sitter na kagaya ni Mary.
"Bakit nga pala pinuntahan nyo ako dito sa ospital, I can visit naman later."
"Doc alam mo naman ang batang yan, gustong gusto ka makita. Pupuntahan ko po sana sila Nanay sa Cavite at sinabi ni Sir Alex na isama ko na lang daw po kaya lang ang gusto naman nya ay sayo pumunta."
"Ay nako si Lexi talaga. Eh paano nga pala yan? Makakauwi ka pa ba?"
"Ayaw po ni Lexi na hindi ka makakasama kaya malamang hindi po ako makakauwi."
"Ganoon ba? Naku, umuwi ka na. Ako na lang bahala kay Lexi."
"Naku Doc, okay lang naman po."
"Mary, chance mo na ito makasama ang pamilya mo. Sige na ako na muna bahala kay Lexi."
"Talaga po ba Doc? "
"Oo, totoo, kahit 1 week pa."
I smiled at Mary. Napakatagal na din ni Mary na di nakikita ang pamilya nya sa pagsisilbi nya kay Alex at Lexi.
"Iiwan ko na po si Lexi sa inyo Doc?"
"Oo! Iwan mo na tong baby ko sakin. Ako na din ang bahala kay Alex."
"Salamat po Doc."
"Sige na, half day lang naman clinic ko today. Lumakad ka na. Iwan mo na si Lexi."
Mary happily went home. Si Lexi, heto at nangungulit sa tabi ko. Mom's gonna be delighted kapag nakita nya 'tong batang to. At dahil surprise naman ang pagkakakuha ko sa kanya, I need to buy her some pair of clothes so she has something to wear while she's with me.
Lexi helped me fill in something that had been missing in my life. I treat her as my own. Masaya din ako na kahit parents ko, hindi iba ang turing sa kanya.
"Mommy may bisita po ako."
"Hi Nana!"
"Mein schönes kleines Mädchen. I missed you Lexi."
"Missed you too Nana!"
"I've baked cookies, you wanna come with Nana?"
"Mommy, di ko pa naeenjoy yang si Lexi ha."
Mommy just turned her back on me and had Lexi with her on the kitchen. Minsan talaga hindi ako naniniwalang ako ang prinsesa nya. Kapag may nakikita syang apo, nakakalimutan nyang ako ang bunso.
"Hi, Daddy! Hindi po kita napansin."
"Every time I see you with Lexi, I saw your eyes sparkling."
I smiled at Daddy.
"I will always pray just to see your eyes sparkle with joy again."
"Daddy,"
"I love you so much Annika, I wish you nothing but happiness."
"I love you too Daddy, you will always be the man I will love forever."
Daddy just smiled at me.
"Let's join Mommy and Lexi in the kitchen Dad, we need to watch out for Mommy's sugar."
Dad surrounds his arms on my shoulder. I know, in his mind, in his heart, I'll always be his baby. Kahit si Daddy lang.
