Annika
Last day of my clinic here in the Philippines, napagpasyahan namin ni Naya na kumain sa labas. To celebrate our turn over. To my surprise, Gino was standing in the parking area beside my car.
"Gino?"
"Can we please have dinner tonight?"
"Naku, I'll be with Naya, we have planned this dinner."
"Can I come? I will drive for you"
"Saan kotse mo?"
"Nagpahatid lang ako dito, hoping to score a dinner with you."
"Ikaw talaga."
"Pwede ba ako sumama? Please?"
"Sya, halika na, hinihintay na tayo ni Naya."
I gave him my car key and let him drive the car to where we agreed to meet. Tatlo naman kami kaya hindi na namin kailangan pang magtago. Sana hindi mali ang desisyon kong isama sya. Last naman na ito.
Naya was surprised to see the two of us entering the restaurant.
"Naku Doc Annika, bakit di mo naman sinabing kasama mo si Gino."
"Nakita ko lang din sya kaya niyaya ko na."
"Hi Doc Naya, makikidinner sana ako kasama kayo."
"Oh My Gad. Ang marupok kong puso. Haha. Syempre welcome to join ka."
We started the conversations about Gino's medical condition. The do's and don'ts, the meals he should be having, the meds, exercises. At dahil ako ang naging attending doctor nya, I had known everything.
"Pero maiba ako ha, alam nyo, kung hindi ko kayo kilala, maniniwala ako sa tsismis na ikaw Doc Annika yung third party netong si Gino. Buti na lang at alam kong hindi gagawin ni Annika na pumatol sa committed na."
Napalunok na lang ako.
"Pero diba, kayo nung college? Nung bago ka tumigil sa pag-aaral Gino? Campus sweetheart pa nga kayo diba?"
Hinampas ko na at lahat si Naya, di pa rin natigil.
"Naya!"
"Totoo naman diba? Diba Gino? Kayo diba? Since high school ba yun?"
Para walang masyadong paguusapan, umoo na ako. I didn't expect that Nayaka would open this up.
"Oo, wag ka nga maingay, baka may makarinig sa'yo ah!"
"Anong nangyari? Bakit kayo nagbreak? Sorry Gino ha, pero iniisip namin talaga dati, tanga tong si Annika, kasi sa sobrang gwapo mo, andaming babaeng nakapaligid sayo, tapos to, umiiyak lang sa classroom. Meron pa nga yan sinabi samin na sana hindi sikat ang boyfriend ko. Kung ako kasi yun, nako! Pipikutin na kita."
"Naya! "
"Ano ka ba naman Annika, past is past kaya okay na ikwento. Tapos ba naman, bigla ka na lang nagartista. Edi lagi na tong tulala na baliw nato. Muntik na syang bumagsak sa chem eh ang galing galing nya doon! Di ko yun makalimutan kasi first time ko makakita ng hinimatay! Yung wala talagang malay! Doon na buo ang loob ko na magdoctor!"
"Nayaka!!!"
"Tapos feeling namin nagpapapayat sya, akalain mo ba namang hindi kumakain ng lunch kahit meryenda. Nagtitiis sa biscuit. Naglalakad ng malayo. Everyday yun ah! Ayan, tingnan mo sya ang laki ng ipinayat, mas maganda na tuloy sya sa akin. "
"Naya! Alam mo, ang daldal mo. "
"Hindi ba alam yun netong si Gino?"
"Nayaka! "
"Sabagay! Break na nga pala kayo noon. Hehe."
"Naya please!"
"Sorry na, eto naman, wala naman na yung effect. Kasi oh, magiging parents na kayo ng magkaibang bata. Anyway, hanga akong sa inyong dalawa ha. Sabi nila EXes could never be friends, eh bakit kayo diba?"
Gino's eyes are now piercing mine.
The dinner was fine except that Nayaka's mouth is so loud. I was so happy when someone called her for an emergency. Hinding hindi ko na uulitin yun. So I let her leave first.
Sumunod na rin naman kami ni Gino. He drove me to our house, nakakagulat na kabisado nya pa ang daan papunta dito, It's been 15 years.
"Iba na yung guard nyo no?"
"Ah, siguro. Hindi ko alam eh. Bakit mo natanong?"
"Hindi na ako banned eh."
"Banned?"
"I was used to be banned here."
"Baliw, sino naman magbaban sayo sa pagpasok sa village na ito?"
"I was. I really am."
I just shook my head.
"Were your parents here?"
"Wala, they went to Singapore to visit my brother."
"You live here alone?"
"For awhile, yeah."
"Bakit di ka kumuha ng katulong? Sa kalagayan mo ngayon, you should have hired someone to help you here. O pauwiin mo dito ang tatay nyan. He should not let you be here alone! Paano ka? You shouldn't be alone, someone must look after your safety."
I smiled at him while tears flow from my eyes. Hindi ko na napigilan.
"You've grown so well Gino, back then those thoughts never really crossed your mind. Remember, I was young then and was alone too in our old apartment. No one's with me. I even didn't have a dime to buy decent food. Amber must be lucky, she got you at your best."
I really can't stop crying. Maybe it's the hormones.
"I am so sorry Annika. "
"I have forgiven you, Gino, I am happy you become better."
"Annika."
"You can leave now Gino."
And I let him leave just like that.
