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CHAPTER 8

Penulis: Jessica Adams
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-02-06 15:44:06

It was late afternoon, and the soft glow of the setting sun filtered through the large windows of Salvador Montemayor's office, casting a warm, golden hue over the room. Salvador, the former Congressman of the third district of Mercedes, sat at his desk, hands clasped together as he stared out at the peaceful view of the garden outside. Though he had left politics behind years ago, his mind often wandered back to those heady days of power, the speeches, the debates, the promises.

At eighty-five years old, he was well aware that time was no longer on his side, yet compared to many people his age, he felt remarkably strong. His body still had some vigor left in it, though his breathing would sometimes betray him—shortness of breath that he attributed to his advancing years. It was nothing to be overly concerned about, he assured himself. Perhaps it was the toll of old age, perhaps it was simply the inevitable decline of his physical form. Still, despite these minor signs of his aging, h
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  • BENEATH THE SURGEON’S BLADE   CHAPTER 34

    “Ah, and when you ask questions, you sound like an investigator,” Celeste replied, still trying to hold back a grin. But instead of dodging the question entirely, she paused for a second, thoughtful. “Why are you so obsessed with my love life anyway?” she said lightly, hoping the change in tone would make Pauline drop the topic. But judging from the mischievous twinkle in her friend’s eyes, she knew she wasn’t off the hook yet. Pauline had found something intriguing, and Celeste could already tell this wasn’t going to be the last time she’d have to explain—or deny—her feelings about a certain charming professor.Celeste heard Pauline sigh dramatically, the kind of theatrical sigh meant to make a point. Then, with exaggerated flair, Pauline closed the book in front of her and turned fully to face her. The shift in her posture alone signaled that she wasn’t letting this go anytime soon. “Just answer my question,” she insisted, eyebrows raised with mock impatience. “Because earlier—don’t

  • BENEATH THE SURGEON’S BLADE   CHAPTER 33

    Celeste laughed despite herself, her voice lighter than her mood. “I didn’t do it on purpose. Algebra followed by another boring subject? Of course I’d get sleepy!” she said, flicking her pencil across her sketchpad as if trying to shake the memory off. “Why would I deliberately fall asleep in class? I’ve always been like that, even before,” she added, forcing a smile as she shifted her focus back to the unfinished pearl earring sketch. But her hand paused mid-line. No matter how much she tried to distract herself, the irritation had already settled in her chest like a stubborn knot.She tried to pin the blame on Pauline’s endless teasing, but deep down, she knew better. It wasn’t just about the banter or the conversation. Something about the interaction with Marcus—or the lack of it—had left a taste she couldn’t quite name. There had been nothing significant about it. A simple question. A passing glance. And yet, it lingered longer than it should have. Her pencil stayed still on the

  • BENEATH THE SURGEON’S BLADE   CHAPTER 32

    As Celeste returned to their table, Pauline’s eyes immediately locked onto her with eager curiosity. “What did he say to you?” she asked, her tone light but charged with anticipation. Celeste felt a flicker of unease but kept her expression steady. She carefully set down her bag and the few things she had been carrying onto the table, then pulled out the chair she had left earlier and sat down. Her brows knitted together in a subtle frown as she raised an eyebrow and replied with innocent feigned ignorance, “Who are you talking about?” hoping to dodge the question with a hint of playfulness.But Pauline was far too experienced with Celeste’s evasions to be fooled so easily. She rolled her eyes dramatically, the gesture showing both amusement and mild exasperation. With a teasing grin, she gave Celeste a knowing smile that said she was onto her. “Oh, come on,” Pauline said with a casual shrug, clearly enjoying this little game of cat and mouse. “Don’t pretend you don’t know who I’m tal

  • BENEATH THE SURGEON’S BLADE   CHAPTER 31

    Perhaps growing up in America had made Celeste used to seeing women take the lead—making the first move, confessing their feelings, or casually asking guys out like it was nothing. Her friends back home had done it all the time, laughing off rejection and treating romance as a game of boldness and confidence. But Celeste had always been different. Even though she had never been especially close to her father, she had always longed for his approval. Maybe that was why, despite being raised in a modern, Western environment, she clung to the Filipino values her dad had tried to instill in her when she was younger. Grace, restraint, modesty—those ideals had taken root in her, guiding the way she viewed love and self-respect.So, hearing another girl flirt openly with Marcus—not just flirt, but boldly ask him out in front of others—made Celeste’s stomach knot, though she couldn’t explain why. “I’m busy,” she heard Marcus say, his tone kind and gentle, as if trying to soften the blow.That

  • BENEATH THE SURGEON’S BLADE   CHAPTER 30

    “Hey,” Celeste said cautiously, raising an eyebrow and setting her fork down. “Are you okay?” Her tone was light, but the awkwardness made her stomach twist even more than the thought of Marcus did. She hadn’t expected a dramatic reaction—maybe a bit of concern, a casual “Oh, really?” at most—but certainly not this level of stunned silence. Her chest tightened slightly, unsure if she had overshared or made the situation sound more dramatic than it actually was. Maybe Pauline thought she was being ridiculous, and the thought made Celeste glance down again, suddenly self-conscious.But then Pauline blinked, as if snapping out of a trance, and suddenly broke into a wide, teasing grin. “Wait—so that wasn’t your first encounter? Wow! That’s like foreshadowing in a romance novel!” she gushed, her voice bubbling with excitement as she practically bounced in her seat. “You bumped into him before you found out he was your teacher? That’s classic plot material, girl!” Her giggle spilled out, i

  • BENEATH THE SURGEON’S BLADE   CHAPTER 29

    Although Celeste would never admit it aloud, there was a strange and unsettling discomfort that seemed to cling to her whenever Marcus was near. It wasn’t just the awkward encounter outside the building that weighed on her—it was something deeper, tied to what had happened in class. Despite the fact that a whole week had passed and Marcus had already delivered three lectures to their block, Celeste couldn’t seem to rid herself of the uneasy feeling he stirred inside her. Every time she saw him, a subtle tension tightened in her chest, making her heart beat faster for reasons she didn’t fully understand. She tried to convince herself it was just annoyance or nervousness, but the truth was far more complicated and confusing.Across from her in the canteen, Pauline stared at her in disbelief, clearly struggling to understand. “Are you sure? You’re really going to drop it?” she asked, raising an eyebrow as she nibbled on her snack. The pancit Celeste had ordered was flavorful and tempting

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