Chapter 3. Confession

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CHAPTER THREE: CONFESSION

LOVE ANDREI LEE

Sa loob ng isang buwang pagtuturo ko sa Lee University, mas nakilala ko pa si Aria. She’s brilliant. Walang quiz at activity ang hindi niya na-pe-perfect. That’s part of what intrigues me about her. She’s such a simple woman, unassuming in her demeanor, and yet kakaiba ang talas ng isip niya. Hindi ‘yon mahahalata sa gayak niya dahil sobrang simple niya lang.

From what I’ve overheard, she’s a full scholar sponsored by the mayor of her hometown. That’s how she’s able to study here at Lee University, which is, without question, one of the most prestigious universities in the country.

At kasalukuyan siyang nanunuluyan sa apartment na malapit sa university dahil sa malayong probinsya pa pala siya galing. That fact added another layer of admiration—I could only imagine how much effort and determination it must take to balance everything and thrive the way she does.

And yet, despite everything I’ve learned about her, she still remains a puzzle I can’t quite solve. The more I observe her, the more I realize that there’s so much more beneath her quiet confidence and unassuming exterior.

“Villaflor, Aria.”

“Present,” sagot niya matapos kong tawagin ang pangalan niya na laging huli sa record.

The classroom was empty now, save for the two of us. It had become my routine to check attendance at the end of class, allowing students to leave immediately after their names were called. I told myself it was a practical system, but the truth? I liked the excuse of keeping Aria in the room with me, even if only for a few fleeting seconds.

Akala ko lalabas na siya sa lecture hall dahil humakbang siya papunta sa pintuan. Pero nagulat ako sa sunod niyang ginawa. She closed it—and locked it. ‘Tsaka siya humakbang palapit sa desk kung saan hindi pa ako tumatayo.

When she stopped right in front of my desk, I raised an eyebrow, masking my surprise with nonchalance. “What, Miss Villaflor? Do you have a question?”

“Yes, Dr. Lee,” she replied, placing both palms flat on the surface of my desk, leaning slightly forward as she looked me directly in the eyes. “Alam mo kasi, last week ko pa napapansin.” Her tone was steady, but there was an unmistakable edge of boldness in her words. “Mukhang sinasadya mo na talagang sa huli mag-check ng attendance,” she continued, her gaze not faltering for a second. “At minsan pa… kahit ako na lang ang natitira, ang tagal pa bago mo tawagin ang pangalan ko.” She paused, her expression sharp and her voice laced with curiosity. “Why is that? Do you… like me, Dr. Lee?”

Hindi ako kakibo. But it wasn’t just her question that stunned me—it was the sheer audacity of it, the way she delivered it without a hint of hesitation. Para bang komportableng-komportable siya sa ‘kin, hindi gaya ng karamihan sa mga estudyante na ilag sa ‘kin dahil kilala nila ako bilang istriktong guro at doktor.

I leaned back slightly, keeping my composure even as my mind raced. “That’s a bold question, Miss Villaflor,” I said, my tone calm, though I couldn’t help the slight curve of a smirk forming on my lips. “And what if I said… yes?”

Saglit na katahimikan ang namagitan sa amin bago siya natawa. Her loud laughter echoed through the empty lecture hall, catching me completely off guard. I raised an eyebrow, puzzled. Ano’ng nakakatawa sa sinabi ko?

Nakahawak pa siya sa tiyan niya habang tumatawa. Noong kumalma na siya, tiningnan niya uli ako habang naiiling. “Akala ko ang isang kakambal mo lang ang joker sa inyo. Ikaw rin pala, Dr. Lee.”

Hindi na ako nagulat na kilala niya si Hope. Kilala kasi ang buong pamilya namin hindi lang dito sa university.

“And what makes you think I’m joking?” I asked, my tone steady, though I was genuinely curious about her answer.

“Dahil ang isang tulad mong guwapo, mayaman, hinahabol ng mga babae, at may magandang career… would never fall for someone like me. Someone so ordinary.” She paused, her gaze steady on mine, then added, “And even if you did mean it, I know it wouldn’t last. It never does. Dahil ang mga lalaking tulad mo, once na makuha n’yo na ang gusto n’yo, sasaktan n’yo na kami at iiwanan sa ere.”

Her words struck harder than I expected, a mix of bitterness and conviction that hinted at something deeper—like she’d been burned before, or at least seen it happen enough times to believe it was inevitable.

I leaned forward slightly, my gaze unwavering as I searched her face. There was no anger there, just guardedness, a defense mechanism she clearly wielded well.

“And you believe that’s all I’m capable of?” I asked, my voice quiet but firm. “Taking what I want and walking away?”

Her silence in response said more than her words ever could.

Tumayo ako sa upuan ko at inayos ang mga gamit ko, methodically placing them into my bag. Her eyes never left me, her gaze steady and unwavering. I could feel the weight of her thoughts in that silence, but I chose not to address it.

Once I was ready to leave, I looked at her again. She was still watching me, waiting for something—what exactly, I couldn’t tell.

“Wala ka bang susunod na klase? Kung wala, mauna na ‘ko sa ‘yo, Miss Villaflor. I have a surgery to attend in thirty minutes.”

Hindi ko na siya hinintay pang makasagot, just offering her a small nod before turning to leave. My footsteps echoed in the quiet lecture hall, and as I reached the door, I glanced back briefly.

Nakatayo pa rin siya sa puwesto niya, nakatingin sa ‘kin, pero hindi ko mabasa kung ano’ng nasa isip niya. Something about that look lingered with me long after I walked out.

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My hands moved with precision, carefully suturing the incision on the patient’s abdomen. Beeping lang ng heart monitor ang maririnig sa kuwarto dahil lahat kami ay focus sa pasyenteng walang malay na siyang inoperahan ko. Patapos na kami.

“Clamp,” I said.

The scrub nurse handed me the tool swiftly, and I secured the blood vessel. Just as I was about to tie the final suture, the heart monitor let out a sharp, irregular beep.

“BP is dropping, Dr. Lee,” the anesthesiologist announced, steady lang siya pero may bahagyang pagkataranta sa boses niya.

“Check the IV line,” mabilis kong utos sa isa pang nurse na kasama ko sa operating room. She moved immediately to adjust the flow, while I scanned the surgical site for any signs of bleeding.

“Vitals are stabilizing,” the anesthesiologist reported a moment later, his voice a little less tense.

Bumalik ang focus ko sa pagtatahi sa sugat ng pasyente. Ang ilang nurse ay focus sa bawat galaw ng kamay ko, ang isa naman ay focus sa monitor para bantayan ang vitas ng pasyente.

“Vitals are now stable, Dr. Lee,” anunsyo nito.

“Thank you,” tipid kong sagot. “Sutures complete. Dressing, please.”

The scrub nurse handed me the clean dressing, and I carefully placed it over the incision. I straightened slightly, the tension in my shoulders easing as I looked at the team.

“Procedure complete,” I said, kasunod ang paghakbang ko paatras para ipaubaya sa scrub nurse ang pagpa-finalized sa dressing. “Good work, everyone. Make sure the patient is taken to recovery smoothly.”

Tumango sa ‘kin ang anesthesiologist bago i-double check ang kondisyon ng pasyente, while the circulating nurse began tidying up the instruments.

“One small hiccup,” sabi ng isang nurse na babae, bahagya siyang nakangiti, “but still a successful procedure, Dr. Lee. Ang galing n’yo po talaga.”

“Hindi ko ‘yon magagawa kung wala ang tulong n’yo,” I replied, pulling off my gloves and stepping toward the sink to scrub out. “Good job, everyone.”

Suot ko pa rin ang scrub suit ko pagbalik ko sa sasakyan. Hindi na ‘ko nagpalit ng damit dahil gusto ko nang makauwi agad at magpahinga. Balancing two jobs wasn’t easy, especially when one involved saving lives. The pressure was immense, but I couldn’t deny that I loved what I did.

Hindi pa man ako masyadong nakalalayo sa ospital, may nadaanan akong babaeng naglalakad sa gilid ng daan na mukhang pamilyar sa ‘kin. Binagalan ko ang pagmamaneho at ibinaba ang salamin sa gilid ko para silipin ito.

“Miss Villaflor?”

She stopped mid-step and turned toward me, surprise evident on her face. “Dr. Lee?”

Iba na ang suot niya ngayon, hindi na school uniform. Leggings at simpleng blouse lang at flat shoes. Ang buhok niya nakabagsak lang sa likuran niya. Simple, but she still stood out effortlessly.

I couldn’t help but take a moment to observe her—it was a side of her I hadn’t seen before. No books in hand, no sharp remarks, just Aria in her most natural state.

“Saan ka pupunta?”

“Uhm… pauwi na po sa apartment.”

Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ko. “Apartment? Tapos naglalakad ka lang?”

Nahihiya siyang tumango. “Sayang kasi pamasahe, Dr. Lee. ‘Tsaka exercise na rin naman ang paglalaka—”

“Get in. I’ll drop you off.”