BOLADCT-6
Caldwill Enzo
I LOOKED at Andy with a big doubt on my face. He's acting weird since the day he visited his another ice cream parlor branch in Quezon City.
"Are you okay?" I asked. He smiled from ear to ear and nod at me.
"Why?" I shrugged my shoulders.
"You looked weird. What is it?" He sat down on the couch.
"May malaking regalo kasi akong natanggap kahapon. And she's my date for my upcoming birthday party." I rolled my eyes and grab my stethoscope.
"Well, good for you. I'll leave you here. I'm just going to take my rounds." I looked at my wrist watch.
She's twenty minutes late again.
"Are you in hurry? You own this hospital anyway. You don't have to do their works," Andy said.
"I do owned this but I am tired seating in my swivel chair, heating my ass on that leather chair. No way!"
Lumabas ako ng opisina at lumakad na papuntang ward area.
"Doc!" Napalingon ako sa tumawag sa akin.
"Jill, hey." Lumapit naman ito sa akin.
"Sorry po kung na-late ako," aniya.
Nailing ako.
"It's okay Jill. Did you brought the hospital bill?" Tumango naman ito at nahihiya pang inabot sa akin ang kanyang hawak na papel.
"Come." Pinasunod ko siya sa akin papunta sa billing station. Jill is one of my maids at home. Her mother was admitted last week because of mild stroke.
"Doc, babayaran ko na lang po iyan kapag nakasahod na ako," aniya.
"Kulang pa ang suweldo mo para sa inyong pamilya Jill. At hindi naman kita sinisingil." Napayuko naman ito at muling nag-angat ng kanyang ulo.
"May malaking sahod naman po akong natatanggap sa pagtu-tutor ko Doc." I sighed.
"I know that Jill but even if you tripled your job, still it won't sustain your family needs, lalo pa ngayon." She sniffed.
"Salamat po talaga, Doc." I shook my head.
"You deserved my help, Jill." She just smiled at me and I got froze. Marinel interfered in my mind. I closed my eyes for a moment and opened it.
"Ayos lang po ba kayo Doc?" Tumango lang ako at lumakad na. When we finally reached the billing station. I command the cashier to charge Jill's mom bills into my account.
"Doc., salamat po talaga," Jill said after I signed her mother's discharged paper.
"You are welcome Jill. Tell Manang Ester and Ivan that I am going home today." She just nod and hug me suddenly. I just patted her head.
"Caldwill!" Dumako ang mga mata ko sa kadarating lang na si Moana.
"Go Jill," bulong ko. Jill automatically turned her back on us.
"Pati ba naman maid mo, papatulan mo!" Nagsalubong ang dalawa kong kilay.
"Stop yelling at me! You're getting some attention in here woman," I said and walk out. Well, Moana is Moana. She grabbed my left arm.
"God! Why are you doing this to me!" I faced her.
"For Christ's sake Moana! Stop acting like a jealous girlfriend of mine!" She cried. Marahas akong napabuga ng hangin.
"Look, Jill is my maid and stop thinking that shit on me." Tumalikod na ako.
"I want to go with you," she said. I stopped.
"Where?"
"Andy's birthday. I want to be your date." I faced her again.
"Fine, just don't bother me. I will pick you six in the evening, Sunday." Tuluyan ko na siyang tinalikuran. Being with Moana is a hell, yet she's useful to me. Yeah! Kailangan ko lang ng pang-display sa mga pinupuntahan ko. Ewan ko nga ba kung bakit ipinagsisiksikan niya pa rin ang sarili niya sa akin. She knows the truth and yet she's acting blind and deaf. I went back to my office. Andy is still facing my laptop.
"What are you doing?" I asked as I closed the door.
"Naghahanap ng damit sa online shop," sagot niya.
"For what?"
"Sa party ko, may date ako niyan. Come and help me find something good for her." Ipinakita pa niya sa akin ang mga pictures.
"Well, what is she like?" I asked and sit beside him.
"Well, she's really a hot woman. Like a Ms. Universe, but she's simple. I want her to look like simple, classy yet elegant. Plus I wanted her to be a head turner. Iyong tipong pagtitinginan talaga siya ng mga bisita ko." Napataas ako ng aking kilay.
"Are you serious?"
"Of course! Come on!"
"Alright! I want to see that woman of yours too," I said. I started scrolling the pictures.
"Set of jewelry also," he added.
"Shoes din!" hirit niyang muli.
I just nodded. I started picking evening gowns and after I chose, ipinakita ko kay Andy ang mga napili ko.
"You chose the black long gown, with a long slit beside on the gown. It's kinda hot, yeah! Specially the upper area of the gown. It's like a brassiere but have this citron cloth on the middle part," describe pa ni Andy.
"And oh! That's perfect! Even the shoes and jewelry set! Thanks buddy!" Tinapik pa niya ang balikat ko.
"You're weird," biglang kumento ko.
"Just excited!" Napasandig ako ng todo sa sofa.
"And who's this lucky woman of yours?" He smiled.
"She's the second woman I've always cherished the most. You'll meet her soon in flesh!" Halata sa mukha niya ang sobrang pagka-excited and I felt weird. Parang iba ang kutob ko.
"Have you seen Marinel?" naitanong ko bigla.
"Marinel? Not yet, pero plano kong makita siya. Oh? Why are you asking Mr. Lust Man?"
"Not funny!" He laughed at me.
"You missed her? Don't you?" At talagang inaasar niya ako.
"No way! Well anyway, sa mansion na ako titira ulit. You can use my condo or Calvin's place if you want," imporma ko sa kanya.
"Okay!" Kinuha naman niya ang laptop ko at may tinawagan sa phone niya.
"Available pa 'yong nasa online niyo? Yes! I already message and attach the photos. Oh great! Thanks! I will pick up that today! Yes! Bye!" After he take that call, he looked at me.
"Don't you dare invite that woman!" Si Moana ang tinutukoy niya.
"Why? Wala akong pang-display sa birthday mo. She's not gonna ruin your party," sagot ko.
"You knew our past and I hate that bitch! Hindi ko talaga maintindihan kung bakit nakikipag-fling ka sa babaeng 'yon. Ex-girlfriend siya ni Calvin at pinsan siya ni Marinel. And I hated her!" I brushed my hair.
"I have a deep reason why I let her stayed beside me. You'll know it soon. Don't worry," sagot ko.
"Siguraduhin mo lang 'yan dahil ako mismo ang mag-aalis sa kanya sa oras na maghasik 'yan ng lagim." I smirked and wet my lower lip.
"I'm serious," dagdag niya. Nailing lamang ako.
"Aalis na ako," paalam niya.
"Yeah, me too." Tumayo na ako at kinuha ang susi ng aking motorbike. Umuna na ako kay Andy sa pag-alis at tinungo ang aking motorbike na malapit lamang sa labas ng aking opisina. Pasakay na ako nang makasalubong ko si Jill, ang aking maid.
"Where are you going?"
"Ay Doc. kayo po pala. Ibinigay sa akin ni ma'am Moana po ito, suotin niyo raw sa party." Tiningnan ko lamang ang dala niyang paper bag.
"Ibenta mo para magkapera ka Jill. Sumabay ka na sa akin." Agad naman itong umiling.
"Kasama ko po ang alaga ko, Doc. 'yong tinuturuan ko po." Napatingin naman ako sa kanyang likuran. No one's with her.
"Ay nasa canteen pa po sila Doc." Napatango lang ako.
"Why are you still working with me Jill? Kaya mo naman na ang magtrabaho gamit ang profession mo." Ngumiti ito sa akin.
"Masaya po ako sa paninilbihan ko sa inyo Doc. kaya saka na po muna ako magre-resign sa inyo."
"Okay," sagot ko na lamang.
"I have to go, Jill. Be safe. Call Mang Gabo para sunduin ka. Got that?" Sumaludo naman ito sa akin.
Isinuot ko na ang aking helmet at ang aking sunglass. Nagmaneho na ako pauwi. At nang makarating ako sa dating bahay ko ay bahagya akong nahinto muna sa labas ng gate. For almost three years, ngayon lang ako ulit titira sa bahay ko. I don't know what should I felt right now. The day I lost Marinel, is the day that my life changed a lot. I became a hopeless romantic.
"Sir?" pukaw sa akin ni Ivan.
"Hey," simpleng bati ko lang at initsa sa kanya ang susi ng aking motorbike.
"Welcome home sir," Ivan said. I just nod. Hinubad ko ang aking helmet at ibinigay din ito kay Ivan. Lumakad na ako papasok sa loob at agad na sumalubong sa akin si Manang Ester. Agad nito akong niyakap.
"Nako, sir! Na-excite ho ako e," nahihiyang dispensa nito sa akin.
"It's okay. Pahingi po sana ng juice. Pakidala po sa kuwarto ko." Dumiretso ako agad sa hagdan at tinungo ang kuwarto ko.
Nang makapasok ako sa loob ay parang bumalik sa akin ang lahat. The wound of my past are still on the process of healing. I sighed. Hinubad ko ang aking jacket at t-shirt. May kumatok naman sa pinto ng aking kuwarto. Pinagbuksan ko ito, si Manang Ester, may dalang juice na kanina lang ay inutos ko.
"Thank you," I said after I got the glass of juice.
"Welcome po sir," anito. Paalis na sana ito nang mapuna ko ang hawak nitong picture frame.
"What is that?" tanong ko.
"Ay, ito ho? Lumang litrato ni..." Hindi ko na siya pinatapos dahil agad kong kinuha sa kanya 'yong picture. It was Marinel, a stolen shot of her. Isinirado ko agad ang pinto at inilapag ang basong hawak ko. I looked closer to her picture. God! Napahilamos ako ng aking mukha.
"Stay away from my mind Marinel," I mumbled.