Forever in a Night; Touch Me, Mr Cross

I smiled as I noticed how good the weather today, a fresh air for a new start of my life.

"Nakakainis naman 'yong bagong Doctor dito Doc!"

Simulang pag ra-rant ni Angel ng  makarating sa park na kinaroronan ko. She's a friend and a nurse sa firm na pinapasukan ko dito sa Laguna.

She used to be my Schoolmate when we were in college.

"Oh bakit? Parang lahat naman ng bagong Doctor dito may nasasabi ka." pabiro kong saad.

"Doc naman eh! Hindi naman sa gano'n! Oh bakit sa'yo wala naman akong sinabi ah?"

Defensive masyado niyang tugon.

"Aba 'di ko knows Angel." We both laughed.

I really love the weather today, parang ang sarap mag roadtrip papuntang tagaytay. Mag se-set nga ako ng time para d'yan. Lagi kasing busy at hindi na ako nakakapag laan ng oras para sa sarili.

"Kasi naman ang manyak Doc! Pansin ko din naman kasi kapag lumalapit siya sa'kin ang lagkit maka tingin! Pero in fairness ang pogi niya ah? Pero ekis pa din ang manyak sa list ko ng jojowain noh!"

Aniya.

"Baka ikaw kako ang lagkit maka tingin Angel, nako huwag ako ha? Nakita ko kayo kanina, talandi ka talaga."

umismid s'ya habang ako ay tumatawa. Nag papabebe pa talaga ang gaga.

"By the way Doc, Club tayo mamaya ah?"

Pag aaya pa niya. Her soft hair followed her swift move as she gave me a cup of tea.

I inhaled and smiled as I saw other patients walking here to sooth a fresh air. I even saw my clients passing. I smiled back as they recognized me.

"May charts pa akong ire-review. Kayo nalang muna."

Tugon ko

"Doc ang KJ naman! Sige naaa! Ang tagal na no'ng huli mong clubbing. Ando'n 'yong mga bagong Doctors sa kabilang ward, baka chance mo na ngayong year magka jowa."

She winked while crossing her arms.

"If I know, pag fi-flirt ang punta mo do'n, ayoko nang maghatid sa'yo ng lasing, may work pa bukas."

She laughs once I said na maglalasing siya. The last time we go clubbing kasi, she's so drained and wasted as hell. Ayoko nalang talaga alalahanin no'ng time na 'yon. Pa'no ba kasi sumuka siya sa kotse ko. Kakabili ko lang eh. Ang mahal kaya no'n! Psh.

"Hindi ako maglalasing. Tawagan kita mamaya ah? Sige naaa may ipapakilala ako sa'yo. Single 'yon tiyaka Lawyer pa. 'Diba gusto mo ng Lawyer? Ex mo nga lawyer eh."

She smirk after noticing that it caught me off guard.

"Wala akong naging ex Angel."

Walang ganang sabi ko.

"Ay ang ampalaya lang? Kung ako ex mo masasaktan ako kasi dineny mo na ako ngayon."

Sabay hawak niya pa sa dibdib, akala mo naman may dibdib ba.

"Well thanks hindi ikaw ang ex ko."

While sipping of my cup of tea, nakita ko kung paano mag tulakan ang mga lalaking intern sa direksyon namin ni Angel.

"Ayooonn umamin din. Huli doc pero 'di kulong hahaha."

Panunukso niya pa.

"Sige nga kung naka move on ka na, pumunta ka mamaya ah?"

Nagpa challenge pa talagang dugtong niya.

"Girl, that's childish." Irap ko.

"Sus! Bitter ka lang eh. Sige na! Gusto ko na nga magka jowa ka ulit."

Pa cute pa niya na parang isa siyang tuta na akala mo talagang ang cute niya sa ginagawa.

"Okay."

I said out of nowhere when my phone rang. It was Nurse Even.

"Doc, kailangan ka po rito."

Pag pa-panick niyang bungad.

"What happened?"

I sipped the last drop of my tea.

"Hinahanap ka po ni Mr. Dela Cruz. He said he really needs you now."

Tukoy niya sa pasyente ko.

"Okay, I'll be there in any minute now."

Binaba ko ang tawag at nagsimulang maglakad.

Dahil hindi naman masyadong kalayuan ang mini park sa ward na kinaroroonan ni Mr. Dela Cruz ay naka rating agad ako.

"Doc!"

Sigaw ng pasyente ko.

"Yes Mr. Dela Cruz, what happened?" malumanay at mahinahon kong saad to make him feel that he could trust me.

"Ang lungkot-lungkot ko po Doc. Bumabalik na naman. Ayoko na po nito!"

Mr. Dela Cruz at his young age suffered depression. Ang sabi niya ay naagapan na ito noon but now that he's a grown up man. Bumabalik daw ang sakit at lungkot niya of how he experienced from his past. He needs to take mental and physical treatment so his doctor suggest to see a psychiatrist.

He really suffered a lot.

"Ginawa mo ba ang mga sinabi ko sa'yo?"

Mahinahon kong tanong and he shake his head for me to know that he didn't.

After giving him the counsel and treatment. Lumabas ako ng ward at nag unat ng sarili.

It's really a long day for me.

Mr. Dela Cruz's case were like mine before. Well, I also suffered a lot. A lot.

I sighed. I didn't thought that I would be able to stand up and start this new life again. Malayo sa kung saan ako nanggaling.

I thought this job is not for me as how this different my dream job is. Who would be thought that I would love to be here, to be a Psychiatrist.

"Ang lalim ng iniisip natin Doc ah?" pagka lingon ko si Doc. Martinez pala. One of the friends.

I smiled.

"Kailan ka pa naka uwi?"

Ilang buwan ko ding hindi siya nakita.

"Yesterday. Babalik na din akong Spain next week. Doon na ako for life."

He smiled. I noticed how his looks changed.

"For good?" I asked.

"Somehow."

We both chuckled.

After chit-chatting we both separated ways. Dumiretso na rin ako sa condo. Mamaya pa naman 7:00 pm ang napag usapan naming time ni Angel kaya may time pa akong ireview ang mga charts ko.

After preparing myself. Nag drive na rin ako patungong club.

I thought maaga pa but when I entered the place, people were already wild as hell. Some were already tipsy and some were already dancing, swaying their hips with the hype beat.

"Doc dito!" I saw Angel already drinking.

Napa linga ako sa paligid. Ang iba ay kakilala ko lang pala.

"Huwag kang masyadong maglasing ah? Babantayan kita."

Sabi ko agad nang makarating sa kanya.

"Woah! I'm a grown up lady now Doc! Don't be like my mom for tonight! Oki? Let's just enjoy this night!"

Kahit ang lakas-lakas ng boses niya ay natatabunan ito sa lakas ng tugtog.

Nakaka bingi.

"Doc, si Att. Darwin pala! Att. Si Doc Sarmento! Single 'yan."

She winked as she introduce me to that attorney. She then leave us alone sa iisang bench after Att. Darwin asked for my name.

"It's nice seeing you here Doc." Aniya.

"Same."

I smiled. Mukhang mabait naman siya at about work lang ang tinatanong sa'kin.

"Ah, let me excuse myself for a while, I need to find my friend."

'Di ko na siya hinintay pang sumagot at nagtungo agad sa dance floor para hanapin si Angel.

Palakas ng palakas ang tugtog sa bawat hakbang ginagawa ko. Nasaan na ba kasi ang babaeng 'yon?

People were so wild as they dance on the dance floor. Nang 'di ko mahanap ay napag desisyonang babalik nalang sa paghahanap at pumunta munang restroom.

"Ah, excuse me, where's the restroom here?"

I asked a waiter nang hindi mahagilap kung nasaan ba ito.

"Thank you."

Saad ko pagkatapos niyang itinuro.

May naka sabay akong mga babae and feels like may natitipuhan ang mga ito dahil kinikilig pa nga.

"Oh my gosh! Ang guwapooo!"

Tili pa ng isa.

"Yea, but I don't think he's single. She's with a girl."

Suhetsiyon naman ng isa.

"Ay sayang! Ang pogi pa naman." Natawa ako sa narinig, mabuti nga't inirerespeto nila ang relasyon ng lalaking pinag-uusapan.

Ang dami nating nakaka salamuhang inaakala nating maaasahan but they would actually betray us in the end.

Pagkatapos mag retouch, lumabas na din ako at nagsimulang hanapin ulit si Angel.

"Doc! Are you enjoying?"

I jumped in surprise when Angel came.

"Angel! Where have you been? Kanina pa kaya kita hinahanap. Umuwi na tayo! Baka malasing ka pa."

Saad ko.

"Doc ang KJ naman! Uminom ka din kaya? Hindi nga ako maglalasing." Inabutan niya ako ng vodka.

"Sige na Doc kahit isang glass lang oh!"

Excited niyang tugon.

Kinuha ko ang vodka at dahan-dahang nilagok.

Napangiwi ako. Well, Ilang buwan na din akong hindi nakaka inom ng gan'to.

Aakayin ko na sana si Angel pauwi ng mawala na naman ito sa paningin ko. Hays. Napapagod ako sa kakahanap sa kaniya. Babalik nalang ako sa inuupuan ko kanina at doon na muna magpahinga saglit.

I stunned as I recognized the man sitting beside Att. Darwin.

It was him..

The man I loved for years.

I don't know if it was because the alcohol or I just really saw him?

Right infront of me.

I startled when our eyes met and my body froze for a while. I almost cursed when the song plays solemnly.

When our eyes met once again, my heart pounded and my body trembles.

Ilang taon na ba ang nagdaan? Yet I know that my feelings were still the same. 

Grey..

If we can have the chance, can we let the love begin between us once again? Can we let the love embrace our flaws once again?

Ang dami kong tanong na hindi ko pa nahahanapan ng sagot dahil sa ilang taon ako nangulila sa kanya. Even his love broke my heart before, I even got mad at him.

I know..

I still love him.

I hissed when I can't breath, suffocated by his presence.

I stunned again when he kissed the woman who I hated the most. Amy.. My cousin. My cousin is back.

Tears began to formed on my eyes.

He looked like he doesn't know me back then. Like he didn't hurt me.

Grey..

My Grey is back.

I saw how his eyes landed on me, angrily. Like he didn't want to see me now. That he loathed me forever.

Like he doesn't loved me before..