1

Celine's Point Of View

LINGGO na ang lumipas subalit hindi pa rin ako nabibigyan ng tawag ng secretary ni Dr. Emmanuel. I've been waiting for her call for so long. Inis akong umupo sa couch at padabog na ibinaba ang cellphone ko sa lamesa.

"What's wrong?" Takang tanong ng aking kapatid.

I heaved a deep breath then stared at her, thinking if I will tell her that I like her Doctor. After thinking twice, I immediately shook my head telling her that there's nothing bothering me.

"Oh come on! I know you so well, Ate. But if you're not yet ready to open up about what's bothering you, I understand." She said then smiled at me.

Cyrille really changed a lot. I've been very busy with my work last month that's why we seldom see each other. But now that I don't have any work to attend to, I decided to focus on her while waiting for the announcement of Dr. Almoreno's secretary if I am fit for the job that I am applying with.

Well, alam ko na mayroon pang mas magaling at deserving sa 'kin bilang secretary ni Dr. Almoreno pero hindi pa rin nawawala ang pananalig ko na makukuha ako. Sa mahigit isang daang aplikante ay isa lang ang maaaring kuhanin, subalit sa kabila no'n ay hinihiling ko at ipinagdarasal ko na sana ay makuha ako.

"Hello? Nasa'n ka na?" Tanong ni Shamae sa kabilang linya.

Kasalukuyan akong nasa parking lot. Pagkatapos kong kunin ang regalo ko para sa kaniya ay agad kong sinara ang compartment.

"Heto na, papunta na. Sigurado kang invited d'yan si Dr. Almoreno, hah?" Paniniguro ko.

Kahit naman wala si Dr. Almoreno ay pupunta ako sa party niya, pero hindi ako mag-aayos ng sobra. Pero ngayong nalaman ko na pupunta siya ay talagang kinuha ko ang pinaka-maganda kong damit na hindi ko pa nasusuot sa closet at naglagy ng kaunting kolorete sa mukha upang maging presentable ako sa paningin niya.

Hindi ko nga rin alam kung bakit nagustuhan ko siya gayong alam ko naman na malabong magustuhan niya rin ako pabalik. Well, magmula nang makita ko siya na bumisita sa Ospital na pinag-ta-trabahuan ko noon ay doon ako nagkaroon ng lakas ng loob para mag-apply bilang secretary niya.

"Oo nga! Dalian mo na! I'll drop the call na, okay? See you!" Ani Shamae.

Shamae has been my best friend since we were highschool. Para na nga kaming magkapatid kung tutuusin dahil sa lalim ng pinagsamahan namin. I still remember when I wasn't ready to report in front of the crowd, she was the one who helped me and risked her grades just to make sure that I'll deliver the report smoothly.

I stopped thinking a lot of things when the elevator suddenly opened. Sa isang magarbong hotel kasi ginaganap ang party ni Shamae. Maraming mga elites na invited. Well, hindi naman na nakapagtataka iyon dahil popular ang pangalan ng pamilya ni Shamae. She is the heiress of Brandon's clan for Pete's sake!

I was about to tap the close button when the door suddenly opened and Dr. Emmanuel spat out. I couldn't control my emotions. Tila ba may mga kabayong nagtatakbuhan sa aking dibdib dahilan para hindi ako makahinga ng maayos.

Naglakad siya papalapit sa akin at dahan-dahang ipinaglapit ang aming mga mukha bago siya nagsalita, "Breathe," aniya na siyang naging dahilan ng pagbalik ko sa reyalidad.

Nag-init ang aking ulo dahil sa kahihiyan at patagong kinagat ang aking pang-ibabang labi upang doon ilabas ang galit ko sa aking sarili. Kasalukuyan siyang nasa aking harapan habang inaantay na bumukas ang elevator, maging ako rin.

Paniguradong sa floor din ni Shamae ang punta niya dahil base sa pag-uusap namin ni Shamae ay invited siya sa party nito.

I was amazed the way he stood. His perfect culprit body is one of his assets why many women fall for him, so do I.

I stopped imagining things when the elevator opened. He immediately went outside and I followed. Seconds passed, I'm still behind him that made him turned his face towards me. He heaved a deep breath then spoke. "Excuse me? Are you up to Shamae's party?" Aniya.

"Y-yes, why?" Kinakabahang sagot ko.

"Care to walk first?" sambit niya.

Kumunot ang noo ko at tinignan siya ng mataman sa mga mata niya. "H-hindi, mauna ka na." I faked my laugh.

"Alright!" He said then he plastered a smile on his face. Pagkatapos noon ay naglakad na siya palayo.

I was expecting him to look back but I already counted 1 to 10 yet hindi pa rin siya nag-abalang tingnan ako.

I heaved a deep breath and right after that, I decided to slowly walk at the venue where Shamae's party will be held. Nang tuluyan na akong makapasok sa loob ng venue, nilibot ko ang paningin ko at hindi ko maiwasang mamangha sa ganda ng venue. Pinag-isipan talaga ni Shamae ang kanyang party.

Ang bawat isa ay may kanya-kanyang grupo, habang ako ay nag-iisa na naghahanap ng ilan sa mga kaibigan ko. Huminto ako sa pag-ikot sa sandaling nakita ko ang isa sa aking mga kaibigan sa kolehiyo pagkatapos ay nagpasya na umupo sa table nila. They're starting to get wasted.

"You really chose your passion, didn't you" Biglang nagsalita si Imelda-isa sa mga kaibigan ko noong college.

Ngumiti ako sa kaniya tsaka nagsalita, "I really did. Ang pagiging nurse ang gusto ko. And I can't see myself entering the world of business," I uttered then laughed.

They have started very early and I just got here a couple of minutes ago. I stopped talking to my college friends when Shamae suddenly approached me and borrowed me from my other friends.

"Why?" I confusingly asked.

"Kristine has arrived. They will obviously be the center of the attention," my friend-Shamae spoke.

Huminga ako ng malalim tsaka ngumiti ng mapait. "As if I still have any other options just to steal his attention?" sambit ko.

"Pinagkakatiwalaan mo ba ako?" Tanong niya.

I looked at her using my confuse eyes then spoke, "I do. Why?"

Hindi niya ako hinayaang mag-abalang sumagot at agad akong ikinulong sa loob ng madilim na kwarto. Sisigaw na sana ako nang magsalita si Shamae sa labas ng kwarto. "Don't you dare make a noise, Celine! Wait a minute and he'll obviously give you the best night of your life!" Sabi niya at naramdaman kong umalis na.

Ilang minuto ang lumipas at narinig kong may nagpupumilit na buksan ang pinto. "Who's outside? Can you please help me open this door? I've been stuck here for a couple of minutes and I can't go outside." I said then continuously knock the door while I was speaking.

Biglang bumukas ang pinto pero wala pa rin akong makita dahil buong dilim ang sumalubong sa akin. "May flashlight ka ba?" sambit ko.

The person didn't speak and I suddenly hear the door slammed causing me to scream. I looked for the doorknob then tried to open the door but no matter how hard I try to open it, I couldn't.

"Hello?! Can you help me?!" I shouted.

"Could you please stop shouting?! We're obviously stuck!" I suddenly heard a familiar voice that made me shiver.

"Dr. Emmanuel..."

"Do I know you?" He uttered, the coldness of his voice is evident.

Ito ba ang plano na sinasabi sa akin ni Shamae kanina? Well, dahil kung ito nga, hindi ko talaga gusto ang plano niya!

"Pasensya na sa abala. Hmmm, pwede magtanong? Anong nangyari? Pinilit ka ba nilang pumunta rito?" Tanong ko.

Namayani ang katahimikan sa pagitan namin. Hindi siya nag-abalang sagutin ang tanong ko. I just decided to close my mouth and didn't bother to speak since he obviously doesn't want my presence, I decided to act like I was not with him.

"Shamae and her friends told me that someone is freaking out inside this room so I quickly ran inside to check the person but this bullsh*t happened. Did you all planned this?" He irritatedly asked.

I wanted to tell him that Shamae planned this because I don't want to lie to him. I want him to know the real reason why we ended up being here.

Magsasalita na sana ako pero bigla siyang nagsalita, "Kasama mo sila 'di ba?"

"Best friend ko si Shamae." I simply uttered.

"Baka hinahanap na ako ni Kristine. Fvck!" Inis niyang sabi.

Halatang gusto niya talaga ang babaeng iyon. I sighed in disbelief and remained silent. Ayokong makipag-usap dahil baka lalo akong mahulog sa kaniya.

Lumipas ang ilang minuto bago siya nagpasyang magsalita, "Do you have any ideas how to get out of here?" He asked.

"None," I uttered.

"This is bullsh*t!!" He screamed in annoyance.

Nakaramdam ako ng inis sa paraan ng pagsasalita niya. Dahil sa inis, nagsalita ako. "Pwede bang itigil mo na ang pagmumura? Hindi lang ikaw ang nakakaramdam ng ganyan, para alam mo lang." Inilibot ko ang paningin ko.

I was about to speak but I heard someone knocking the door. "Is there anyone here?"

"We're stuck here! Can you help us?!" I screamed and decided to stand near the door.

Dr. Emmanuel stood, pushed me away, and started bamming the door. "Kristine!! It's Emman. We're stuck here!" He screamed for help.

Gumalaw ang doorknob at sa isang iglap, biglang bumukas ang pinto. "Emman? Anong ginagawa niyong dalawa rito?"

Nakita ko na rin sa wakas ang mukha ni Emman pati na rin ang babaeng tinawag niyang Kristine at magsasalita na sana pero biglang nagsalita si Kristine dahilan para mapabaling ang tingin ko sa kaniya. "Magkasama ba kayong dalawa?" Kristine asked, giving me a discombobulating stare.

I frowned and was about to speak but Dr. Emmanuel suddenly spoke, "I-it's not what you think, Kristine....-"

"I'm not asking you, Emman!" She cut off Dr. Emmanuel.

"Why are you two together inside this dark room alone?" She uttered.

I heaved a deep breath then spoke, "We've been locked here for a couple of minutes and we can't get out. My friends were probably the reason why we got locked up here," I explained.

Ngumiti si Kristine at huminga ng malalim bago siya nagsalita, "Alright, it seems like you two aren't going to confess the real reason behind this. Emman, from now on, stop courting me. Have a wonderful night, lovers!" Kristine uttered then left us dumbfounded.

3 DAYS PASSED and I still haven't receiving any messages from Dr. Almoreno's secretary. Why am I even waiting for his secretary's call after all the inconvenience that I've been given to Dr. Almoreno, right?

I stopped searching some foods on the internet when Cyrille-my sister spat out. "Waiting for someone's call?" She teased me.

"Naghihintay ako ng pag-apruba sa application ko pero walang tumatawag sa akin." Kibit balikat na wika ako.

"Nasubukan mo na bang mag-apply sa iba't ibang Ospital?" Tanong niya saka umupo sa tabi ko.

She actually has a point. I only applied with Dr. Almoreno and didn't even bother to try applying on different hospitals. Instead of waiting for their call, why won't I try to apply on different hospitals instead?

"You have a point, Cy. Why haven't I thought of that before instead of being stagnant and waiting for uncertainties, right?" I said then smiled at her.

Tumango lang siya at nagpalitan kami ng mga iniisip namin sa isa't isa bago ako nagpasya na umalis sa aming bahay. I sent an application to different hospitals and waited for their calls.

Lumipas ang mga araw bago ako nakatanggap ng mensahe mula sa sekretarya ni Dr. Sanchez. Agad kong inihanda ang sarili ko at dali-daling pumunta sa ospital nila-na kaparehong ospital ni Dr. Almoreno.

Huminga ako ng malalim bago ako pumasok sa elevator. Pagdating ko sa tapat ng kwarto ni Dr. Sanchez ay agad kong kinatok ang glass door niya bago ko ito binuksan. "Magandang umaga, Doc." bati ko sa kanya.

Kasalukuyan siyang may sinusulat sa papel niya at dahan-dahang ibinaling ang tingin niya sa akin. "Good Morning," bati niya.

After our conversation, he congratulated me. Probably because I am officially part of their team. I smiled at him then thanked him.

The former secretary briefed me about the things that I needed to do as Dr. Sanchez' new secretary.

I listened carefully and wrote some important information on my notes. It wasn't as hard as I expected. After she explained to me all the important things, I immediately went to the office desk near Dr. Sanchez' room and sat there. The former secretary of Dr. Sanchez left the moment she got all of her stuff. I am still in shock because I can't believe that I am already hired.

I was busy checking all the schedule of Dr. Sanchez when I suddenly saw Dr. Kristine entered Dr. Sanchez' room. Naalala ko ang nangyari two days ago. Kasalanan ko talaga dahil hindi ko ipinagtanggol si Dr. Almoreno sa nangyari kung bakit kami napadpad sa loob ng madilim na kwarto. I feel bad at Dr. Almoreno because of the decision of Dr. Kristine. If only I explained everything to her, this wouldn't happen.

Hours passed and I am now able to go home. I knocked on Dr. Sanchez' room and excused myself before I leave. He congratulated me again and gave me a permission to go home.

It has been a tough day and I don't know how I survived without seeing Dr. Almoreno. I went to the store first and bought some foods. I was about to go home when I suddenly saw Dr. Almoreno inside the boutique of flowers.

He really loves Dr. Kristine. She's such a lucky girl.

to be continued