SOLEMN
NAGISING ako sa malalim na pagkakatulog ng maramdaman kung may tumatapik saakin. I opened my eyes, and saw her. Yung babaeng kasama ko kanina.
"Hey, you okay?" She asked. Napa-ungot muna ako. I also stretched my arms since medyo nangangalay ito. Maybe I used my arm as a pillow when I was sleeping.
"Yeah." I plainly answered.
May inabot siyang unan saakin.
"What happened, kanina?" She asked. She sat in the chair next to mine. Napabuga pa siya ng hininga.
"Long Story." I just answered. I'm not really in the mood to storytell her everything that happened.
"How about the pregnant woman?"
Nilingon ko siya.
"I think she's fine. Good thing, may libreng Doctor kanina."
She smiled sabay hawak sa kanyang tuhod. Napunta ang tingin ko doon, it has bruises. Wala naman iyon sa tuhod niya kanina. I know she got it recently.
"What happened to that?" Kunot-noo kung tanong.
"Wala, ito yung sinipa mo kanina." She answered
I shockingly looked at her.
"Huh, did I?"
Tumawa naman siya.
"Char lang haha. Niwala kanaman. Don't worry, wala lang to." Nangiti niyang ani.
I know she's lying. But I don't want to force her to tell me. She has her own privacy, I respect it.
I just heaved a sigh.
It's kinda funny that kahit wala pang isang araw kaming magaksama, I admit that it feels comfortable being with her. Kahit hindi pa ganon katagal na kilala ko siya marami akung nalaman sa kanya . Her attitude na paiba-iba. Sometimes she's serious, sometimes hardheaded, sometimes crazy. Isa rin siyang babae na medyo panglalaki kung manamit, but it can't hide the fact that she's still a girl. Maarte parin, kidding aside.
I do know some of her attitudes but it's kinda funny that I don't even know her name- plus I can't even just ask her that directly. I know they are acquaintances or even best friends with the owner of this body, which is named 'Ejie'. Baka magtaka lang siya kung tanungin ko. I know, someday malalaman ko rin.
"You should thank that Doctor,"
I looked at her with question in my face.
"He just only not saved the Pregnant woman. He also saved you, ya know? Bro, nalaman ko kanina sa nurse na nagbabantay na walang ibang doctor na libre kanina kundi ikaw. We all know that you never tried C.S operations that's why I doubt that you'll accept it. Mabuti nalng that Doctor Lawrence accepted it, kahit kakauwi lang nito. That's why you should thank him." Nakangiti niyang ani.
I nodded. Yeah, I think I should really thank that Dr. Kung magkikita kami magpapasalamat ako.
"By the way, kanina nung natutulog ka, hindi muna kita inistorbo. Pinuntahan ko yung ama mo and.... he's really angry. I think you should go and talk to him now." Kita ko ang pagkabahala sa mukha niya but shr hide it with a smile. Thought I can still see it.
"The bruise. Did he do it to you?" I asked her intently. I can't think of any possible reason na makukuha niya yon kundi iyong sinasabi lang niya. Her bruise is kinda big at medyo nangingitim kaya hindi ko maiwasang magtaka.
"Um, no." She answered. I know she's lying.
"Really?" I looked at her intently like i'm trying to get an information from her.
"Promise hindi. Pumunta kana doon." She said pushing me.
"Okay, but you should treat it first." Tumayo ako at hinila siya. Hindi na siya nakapalag.
I walked trough the elevator. Pagkarating namin doon ay pinindot ko yung button para sa first floor nitong hospital.
After we arrived, tinungo ko ang daan papunta sa babae na nurse kanina.
"Excuse me." I asked the nurse who was currently sitting and who's currently in her phone.
Naapaangat ito ng tingin.
"Can you please treat her bruise?" Tanong ko, sabay turo sa babaeng kasama ko.
"Oh sure Dr. Solemn, papasukin mo lang po siya." Aniya sabay turo sa pintuan sa gilid.
"Pumasok kana." I told her. Nakita kung alanganin siyang naka tingin saakin.
"Hindi na kailangan Ejie. Myghadd parang kagat lang ng lamok eh." She said. She also laughed to make it more believable that she's fine.
"No, we should treat your bruises." I insisted.
She heaved a sigh.
"Okay, okay. Ikaw po ang masusunod."
She's still laughing for an unknown reason. What's funny?
"Caring mo talaga eh ano? Kung hindi lang talaga tayo magkaibigan—" She stopped. "I am sure, teally sure tgat I would really fall for you!" Tumatawa at pahiro nitong ani.
"Am I really caring?" I confusely asked.
"Oo, kahit noon paman."
Oh, so the Ejie he knows is a caring guy, based on what she just said. The thing is i'm not a caring type of guy or a person but if they put it that way well it's not a problem, i would appreciate it though.
"Sige na Ejie, pumunta kana doon."
I nodded.
"Where is him, by the way?" I said referring to the doctor. I think it's alright asking that.
"Oo nga pala, buti natanong mo. Nasa rooftop yung tatay mo, he said magpapahanhin lang daw siya. Puntahan mo nalang doon yun."
See?
I nodded then took my leave.
I martched through the elevator and when I arrived, pinindot ko ang button papunta sa rooftop. It took only seconds and it opened.
Lumabas ako sa elevator and it closed. Medyo madilim dito sa rooftop. Tanging dim light at liwanag lang ng buwan ang nagbibigay ilaw dito. Buti ngalang at kita parin ang paligid.
I looked for him. The Doctor.
I turned my gaze around until I finally saw someone. A person who's sitting in one of the bench. I can't figure it out if it's a girl or a boy since di masyadong kita. But since, she said that he's here so that man is maybe the doctor.
I walked towards him. Silently. Then I confirmed it's a guy. A guy on his 50's, I guess? To be more precise.
"Excuse me." I blurted.
I saw him dringking something.
A wine.
There's a bottle of Doñ Pereiñon wine. One of the most expensive wine in the world. He's rich. To afford something like that.
I know he heard me but he didn't replied. I saw him drank the wine in the glass he's currently holding. Nang maubos niya ito, sinalinan niya ito ulit.
I was shocked when he stood up and offered it to me.
I declined his offer.
Napangisi siya.
"This is the first time you refused my offer." I can feel the dominance of his voice. He's scary.
I declined, not because I don't drink. It's because I know how strong Doñ Periñon is. It's alcohol content surpasses many kinds of alcohols. I do drink but, I refuses his offer because I have tried this wine once and I can say that it's really strong. I can't hold my liquor if I drink this kind of wine
"Nevermind." He said.
I stood there silently.
"Elijah, let's talk in my office.... Now!" I can feel the anger on his voice. He's really creepy— scary at the same time.
I saw him martching through the elevator, holding the bottle of Doñ Pereiñon on his right hand and the glass in his left hand.
***