روايات بقلم TERIE SHIN

CHAPTER #6 SIENNA POV "Charity gala. Formal attire. Plus one mandatory." That was the message. From Lolo. And guess who my plus one was? I stared at my reflection. Champagne-colored silk. A soft slit on the side. Hair pulled up, with a few strands loose to soften my face. I looked… elegant. Like someone who belonged to Dorian’s world. Even if I never really did. Dumating siya sa pickup location not in his usual SUV, but in a sleek black car that probably costs more than my entire medical school tuition. He stepped out in a tailored black suit. Clean. Crisp. Lethal. Pagbukas niya ng pinto, nagkatitigan kami. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako natigilan. Maybe it was the way he looked at me not with awe, not with charm… Just attention. "Okay ka lang?" tanong niya, casual. Tumango ako. "Let's get this over with." The ballroom was glowing in soft lights. Crystal chandeliers. Golden table settings. Photographers. Socialites. CEOs. Political names. And us. "Smile," he whispered haba

Chapter #05SIENNA POVPagod na pagod ako. Twelve-hour shift. Dalawang pedia case. Isang hindi natuloy na lunch break. At isang maliit na batang pasyente na halos hindi na humihinga nung dinala sa ER.Tapos biglang may text si Lolo.“Sien, padaan si Dorian d’yan. May naiwan raw siyang files sa Lolo niya, baka pwede mo na rin ibigay. Pakisuyo na lang.”Seriously?I thought we were done for the week. Isa lang dapat ‘yung fake date, diba? Bakit parang may plot twist na hindi ko napirmahan?Nasa pedia nurse station ako, kalalabas lang ng isang case, when I felt someone’s presence behind me.“Busy ka?”Paglingon ko, andun siya. Suot pa rin ang usual niyang neutral-tone na damit. Clean. Composed. At oddly… out of place sa hospital setting.“Medyo?” sagot ko, pinipilit maging civil. “Akala ko may schedule lang tayo pag kailangan.”He raised an envelope. “Files daw. Lolo errands.”Hinablot ko ‘yon nang may ngiti. Plastic nga lang. “Next time, pwede mong i-book sa courier.”“Wow. Noted.”Tahim

Chapter #04PLAYING ALONG.SIENNA POV“Be at Café Le Monte. 4PM sharp.”That was the text from Dorian. No emojis. No greetings. Walang kahit anong effort.“Busy ako,” reply ko agad kahit hindi naman. Routine ko ang lahat kaya para sa'kin trabaho, responsible, profession na matagal kung pinaghirapang makuha. ‘Yun lang.“I'm busy too. Or maybe you want… kailangan kitang puntahan d'yan.”Napasinghap ako at luminga-linga sa gilid.Parang binubuhay niya ang inis ko. Ano bang problema niya? Kung busy siya… ba’t pa siya makipagkita sa akin.“Puntahan kita d'yan?” message niya ulit dahil wala akong reply.“KAYA KO NAMAN!”Kung hindi ko alam ang context, iisipin mong may business pitch akong pupuntahan hindi fake date.Nasa harap ako ng salamin, nakasuot ng neutral-colored dress na hindi masyadong effort pero hindi rin mukhang wala akong pake. Simple makeup. Loose curls. Just enough to look convincingly interested.Pero habang nagda-drive ako papunta sa café, hindi mawala sa utak ko.Ano bang

Chapter #03SIENNA POVA quiet Italian restaurant.“Dinner lang.” Yun ang usapan namin. No pressure. No expectations.Pero habang binabaybay ko ang daan pa-restaurant, bakit parang hindi lang basta dinner ang pakiramdam? Siguro dahil matagal ko ng iniwasan ang ganitong dinner. Kahit mga kaibigan lang. Wala na akong oras.Pagdating ko, nandoon na siya. Naka-black turtleneck. Mas relaxed ang ayos. Pero elegant pa rin. Too elegant for someone na ayaw daw sa arranged marriage. Compatible kami.Tumayo siya agad nung nakita ako. Akala mo formal meeting, pero may softness sa mata niya.“Right on time,” he said.“You sound surprised.”“I am. Most doctors I know are late.”“Most CEOs I know cancel last minute.”Napangiti siya. “Touché.”The restaurant was quiet. Dim lights. Warm wood interiors. Walang masyadong tao. The kind of place na pinipili ng mga taong ayaw mapansin.He ordered red wine. I asked for water. Ayaw kung uminom. Matagal na no'ng huli.“So,” he started, swirling his glass. “Le

Chapter #02SIENNA POVThree days later.12:47 A.M. – East Crest Medical Center, Emergency RoomBlood. Noise. Monitors. Calls for "O2 stat" echoing across the walls.Gabi na, pero parang di natutulog ang ER.I had just finished stitching a little boy’s forehead when the automatic glass doors burst open. May mga nurse agad na sumalubong."Code yellow incoming! Multiple patients, vehicular accident along South Bay!" sigaw ni Nurse Jessa.I took off my gloves, quickly grabbed a new pair, and fixed my coat. I was already walking toward the trauma bay when__"Doc Sien!" tawag ni Jessa, catching up. "May naghahanap po sa inyo.""Huh? Sinong__""Si Mr. Dorian Valencia po. CEO ng__"I froze."Anong ginagawa niya dito?"But I didn’t wait for an answer. I rushed to where she pointed, and there he was standing by the wall, sleeves rolled up, hair messy, a small cut on his right temple.But he wasn’t the one bleeding.My eyes followed his arm… he was holding a man, older, limp, duguan.“Lolo…” he

Chapter #01SIENNA POVPilit ang bawat hakbang ko. Nakasuot ako ng best Sunday dress ko, pero parang may pabigat sa dibdib ko habang papalapit ako sa private dining room ng Villa Valencia."Lolo, sigurado ka ba dito?" tanong ko habang hawak ang malamig kong mga palad."Just meet him, Sien. Walang pilitan. Pero pag nakilala mo, baka magbago ang isip mo," sagot ni Lolo habang binubuksan ang pinto.At ayun siya. Siya na kaya? Obviously. Nakita ko na ang picture niya. But first time now sa personal.Gusto ko nalang matawa. No'ng nakita ko ang picture niya inisip ko baka filter lang 'yon but... hindi pala. Judgemental naman masyado ang utak ko.Nakatayo. Suot ang itim na long sleeves, formal pero relaxed ang postura. Gwapo, oo. Malinis tingnan. CEO nga raw, sabi ni Lolo. Pero ang unang pumasok sa isip ko?'Mukha siyang hindi marunong ngumiti.'"Sien, this is Dorian Aldrich Valencia," ani ni Lolo, proud na proud. "Dorian, apo ko. Dra. Sienna Apple Diaz."Tumango siya. Walang ngiti. Walang p