PROLOGUE

"Dr. Emman?"

I came back to my senses the moment that Dr. Sanchez shook my arms. I was busy checking the patient's profile that made me fell into oblivion that's why I didn't answer him immediately.

"Sorry about that, Doc. Hmm, I was just wondering. Is this the heiress of Navarro's clan? I mean, engineering runs in their family's blood. Why did this woman ended up being a nurse?" I questioned Dr. Sanchez.

They are known for being the best engineers here in the Philippines so why did she chose to be a nurse if all of the opportunities are already behind her?

"Maybe it's her passion. I can't see anything wrong about it. She's a good and responsible nurse. Everyone looks up to her as an epitome of a woman who chose to serve people whose in need, Emman." Demion Sanchez uttered then sat properly on the swivel chair in front of me.

I raised my eyebrows then flicked my tongue inside my mouth. Well, I can't deny the fact that all of her skills and experiences as a nurse are quite good and passed the qualifications that I am looking for, but I am still looking for something or someone that I can't even distinguish.

"Alright, I'll include her to my options then," I said then smiled at him.

Demion Sanchez is a best friend of mine who stayed with me even in my darkest nights. He is Kristine's cousin-the woman that I am pursuing no matter how long it will take just for her to be mine.

Kristine is a kind-hearted and a bright woman who will do everything for her family. Well, her Dad is known for being one of the most excellent Doctors not just here in the Philippines, but also in the international scale.

Demion was about to leave but I suddenly spoke that made him stop from opening the door. "Where's Kristine?" I uttered while pretending that I was reading all the applicants that are applying to be my assistant nurse.

"As usual. She's busy with her patients." aniya.

"Thanks," turan ko.

Nang tuluyang umalis si Demion ay agad kong inilagay sa gilid ang profile ng mga aplikante para maging Assistant ko at inilabas ang aking cellphone upang ma-text si Kristine.

She's probably hungry.

I ordered some foods online and wrote her name as the receiver. Bilang Doktor, hindi namin maiiwasan ang pag-skip ng pagkain dahil abala kami sa aming mga pasyente. Maski nga sa important events ng mga magulang ko o 'di kaya'y kapatid ko ay hindi na ako nakakadalo bagay na ikinakatampo nila.

Minutes passed before I received a message from Kristine, thanking me for delivering her foods to eat.

I unconsciously smiled then bit my lowerlip. It's just a 'thank you' message but why am I acting like a teen-ager who's blushing?

I immediately texted her back then focus my attention on my work.

I stopped checking the profile of my patients when my Secretary, who's unfortunately resigning two days from now, came in.

"Sorry for intruding, Dr. Emman. Your patient, Mrs. Cañaveran just cancelled her appointment. Cyrille Navarro will be the one to replace her appointment later-three o'clock PM."

I just nodded then thanked her and right after that, she left. Navarro has been my patient for 2 years. Well, I can see her improvements the way she talks and tells me the important events happened in her life. But the bad thing is she's not obeying whenever I tell her not to buy all the prohibited drinks that may trigger her mood.

Hours passed before my patient, Cyrille Navarro, came. I prepared myself and took a 3 deep breaths before I nod to my secretary telling her that I am ready to meet my patient.

"Good Morning, Cyrille." I smiled after greeting her.

"Good Morning, Doc!" She uttered.

We exchanged words and asked her about what happened to her life after our previous check up. While she's telling me what happened to her, I listened and focused on her intently. Since we, Psychiatrists, don't give an advices, I asked her about her thoughts or solutions to the problems that she's facing.

We can't give them an advice, we need to know their insights or thoughts and solutions that she thinks will help her cope up to her problems with of course, our guidance.

After our counselling, I thanked her and told her that I need to talk to her guardian for us to discuss about her medicines that she will take.

"Doc, my Mother can't talk to you today but my sister is outside. You can tell and ask her everything instead." Cyrille stated.

After she went out to my room, someone immediately knocked on my door and her Sister spat out.

She's one of those people who applied to my secretary's position.

I looked at her using my peripheral vision and greeted her.

"Good Morning." I greeted then smiled at her.

"Good Morning, Doc!" Aniya at ngumiti sa akin ng pagkalawak-lawak.

I asked her observations towards her Sister. After asking her about her observations, I immediately told her about my observations too. Since I observed that Cyrille has lots of improvements, I decided to adjust the dosage of her medicines.

"Salamat po, Doc!" Turan niya at ngumiti muli na animo'y mapupunit ang kanyang labi dahil sa lawak ng kanyang ngiti.

"I guess that would be all. Her next visit here in my clinic would be on December 24, 2023." I said.

"Thank you, Doc! Isa ka na sa mga magiging inspirasyon ko para pagbutihin ang propesyon ko. Salamat, crushie!" Aniya at agad na lumabas sa aking kwarto dito sa clinic ng ospital na pinag-ta-trabahuan ko.

Kunot noo na lang akong umiling at muling tinawag ang aking sekretarya upang tanungin kung sino ang sunod kong pasyente.

It has been another exhausting yet fulfilling day for me. I'm already on my room, balancing my thoughts and emotions as I think about Kristine. I've been courting her for a long time but she keeps on rejecting me before. It just happened that this year, she stopped rejecting me and accepted all the gifts that I'm giving her unlike last year, whenever I give her presents, she would immediately dump them and didn't even bother to speak any single word.

I think she's starting to like me. This is a good sign, Emman. You got this!

to be continued