I've always been drawn to the idea that people enter our lives with purpose—they either bring blessings or valuable lessons. Yet, I've never considered my own impact on others. Was I a blessing to someone, or merely a lesson? It's a question that lingers.

I've distanced myself from interactions, believing that people can bring both joy and pain. I've opted out of potential hurt by keeping to myself. But now, looking back on that choice, was it the right path to happiness? Was I really happy?

"We'll miss having you around, Cali," my colleagues, with whom I never really bonded, bid me farewell as I pack my things.

"Don't forget about us, Cali. Make sure to bring us chocolates as pasalubong, okay?" another colleague, who had never paid me much attention until now, said as I prepared to leave. Even before I could leave, they're already asking for pasalubong? I couldn't help but make a face, though I made sure they couldn't see it.

"You're so lucky to have had that opportunity." said by another colleague, her tone dripping with mockery. Luck? I've never relied on luck. I've earned everything through hard work.

After packing my things, I turned to them with a smile. "I'll miss you all too," I said, though I didn't really mean it. Honestly, I couldn't care less about them. But I figured it's what they wanted to hear. Their expressions were unreadable, but it didn't matter to me.

I went straight to our head nurse after and said goodbye. She seemed equally disinterested so I just left. Now, as I am walking through the hallway where I used to rush, I couldn't help but wonder, would I miss this place? Probably not.

As I made my way past the receptionist towards the entrance, I caught sight of Manong Guard, whom I could say is the most genuine here. His face looked a bit sad. "You're really leaving, Cali?" he asked as I stopped in front of him. He had always been close to me, greeting me warmly over the past years since I was hired.

I nodded, "Yes po." I took a deep breath and reflect on how I arrived at this decision. I turned to face him once more and continued, "Staying here has taught me a lot, but now I just want to take a breath and savor life, perhaps in a new place with fresh surroundings." I said, my voice tinged with a little sadness. If you're going to ask me if I'll miss Manong, definitely. He's been like a father to me here, and I've grown to see him as family.

"If that's how it is, I wish you the best of luck, Cali," he said genuinely, in stark contrast to my colleagues inside. I gave Manong a brief hug as a farewell. Now, I felt a pang of sadness at the thought of leaving.

"Thank you, Manong. I'll be sure to bring you some chocolates when I return, but let's keep it between us." I said with a wink, to which he responded with a nod.

"Alright, go on now before it gets late." he said with a gentle smile. I turned and started to walk feeling a mix of emotions as I left.

With a final wave and a last glance at the hospital where I'd spent five exhausting years, I couldn't help but mutter, "Bet you're gonna miss me." As I turned away, I raised my middle finger in a defiant farewell. "Adios, stress factory." Finally, I felt free.

Lost in my thoughts, I was abruptly pulled back to reality by the sharp honk of a car horn nearby. Glancing over, I saw my best friend Jana pulling up beside me, her window rolled down.

"Are you really flipping off the building?" she asked, her tone tinged with disbelief and a hint of amusement. Before I could answer, she cut me off with a shake of her head. "Never mind, Cali. You're hopeless. Get in before that building starts to curse back at you." With a playful grin, she motioned for me to join her in the car, and I couldn't help but laugh as I climbed inside.

"You're really something, Cali." my best friend Jana said once more.

"Cut me some slack. All the stress in my life is because of that hospital," I replied, a hint of frustration creeping into my voice.

"Not all, some rooted from your past." Jana teased.

"Ugh, don't get me started." I sighed.

"So, what's your plan now? You're still waiting for the paperwork, right? Are you going to do part-time work or something?" she asked.

Honestly, the idea of what to do while waiting for my papers to be processed hadn't crossed my mind until now. I left my job early because I couldn't bear to stay there any longer. Plus, I already have enough savings to tide me over for a while. With savings in hand, perhaps I should consider going on a vacation? After all, my agency did mention that it could take quite some time before my application is processed.

But as I sighed again, I wondered, would a vacation really make things better? The idea of packing my bags and exploring new places didn't exactly excite me. Maybe my best friend was right, 'You're really hopeless, Cali.' I muttered to myself, feeling a bit defeated.

"I just want to take a break for now. I want to relax and breathe," I said, leaning closer to the window.

Jana sighed in what seemed like agreement, but she remained silent thereafter. As we drove on, she reached over to turn on the music, filling the car with melodies that somehow brought peace over me.

Jana and I had been friends since college, always having each other's backs. We met at nursing school. While I was determined to pursue my passion for nursing, Jana's heart wasn't in it. Her path wasn't as clear as mine. Despite her love for the arts, she felt pressured by her family's expectations to pursue nursing and the weight of this expectation caused her a great deal of frustration. Eventually, my best friend found herself lost — even faced an unexpected pregnancy, with the father's identity unknown. I never pressed for details as I sensed she wouldn't want to discuss it.

As Jana's best friend, I can't help but feel like I should have done more for her. It's tough knowing she was disowned by her family and had to work while studying to finish college. Though she pursued arts afterwards, I still couldn't shake off the feeling that I bear some responsibility for how things turned out. But looking back, I realize I was also dealing with my own struggles at that time.

Despite everything Jana's been through, she remained a good friend to me and so I was to her. I've never judged her. After all, she's just like the rest of us—human, flawed, but inherently worthy. She didn't choose the circumstances she was born into, and that doesn't define who she is as a person. She has been both a blessing and a lesson to me. But what am I to her? That's something I've always wondered about.

I was lost in thought and didn't realize how quickly time had passed. Jana pulled over near the school, and it dawned on me—we're picking up my favorite nephew, Bambi! He is Jana's son, a bright 7-year-old with a knack for art, just like his mom. Jana has been raising Bambi on her own, though I've always been there to help whenever I can.

"Stay here, I'll just pick up Bambi," Jana said as she stepped out of the car. I nodded in response.

It didn't take long for them to return. Soon, my nephew wrapped his arms around me from behind, "I miss you, Auntie!" he said.

"I miss you too, Bamb!"

"Bam-bi is just two syllables, Auntie. Why do you always have sound it like bomb? I don't like it," he complained, crossing his arms. He always does that when I call him that, it's just too cute!

"You're turning red, Bambi! You look like you're gonna explode any minute now," I teased, watching his face grow even redder. Now, I could tell he's mad. But I couldn't resist annoying him a little.

He wasn't talking anymore, so I had to bribe him. "Fine, let's make up. I'll treat you to some ice cream," I told him, and his face lit up with happiness.

"Mommy, come on, let's go to the ice cream shop!" Bambi exclaimed excitedly. Jana just chuckled and started the car engine.

We didn't have to go far to find the nearest ice cream shop. I treated Bambi to a chocolate ice cream, while Jana and I enjoyed some popsicles to cool down. It was a refreshing treat on a hot afternoon.

After a quick snack, we headed to the nearby playground, where Bambi could play. Jana and I sat on the swings while watching Bambi. No one was talking, so I glanced at my best friend and noticed she was looking at me, as if she had something on her mind to ask. I couldn't help but wonder what was going through her mind.

With an awkward glance exchanged between us, I knew I had to break the silence. "So, how's work been treating you lately?" I asked her.

Jana snapped back, "Work is fine, still the same. I love doing my thing," she said, but I sensed there was more she wanted to share. I was about to speak when she continued, "Look Cali, I'm not sure if this is the right time to ask, especially with your plans for a break, but could you possibly postpone it and do me a favor?" she asked hesitantly. It seemed like she had been wanting to ask me this for a while.

I couldn't help but wonder what favor she had in mind, "Sure, Jana. What do you need?" I responded, curious about what she was about to ask.

Jana paused, her gaze flickering with uncertainty as she gathered her thoughts. "You see Cali, we're in a bit of a bind," she began, her tone measured yet urgent."Our previous nurse unexpectedly found herself pregnant, leaving us in urgent need of a replacement. Thing is, there's a generous referral bonus up for grabs and I'm hoping to earn some extra money for Bambi's tuition and our other expenses. I know it's a lot to ask, but please, consider it. It would really help us out financially. The work environment is genuinely stress-free, and you'll have the freedom to run the clinic as you see fit. You'd be your own boss, in a way. Please, think about it, Cali." She said as she reached out, her hand trembling slightly leaving me torn between my own plans and her desperate need. How could I turn her down?

"Sure!" And without a second thought, I said yes. I hadn't really planned anything yet, so taking on the temporary nurse role seemed like a good way to fill my time while waiting for my paperwork.

Jana's eyes lit up with relief and gratitude. "Really? You're a lifesaver and a blessing in one, Cali!" she exclaimed. In that moment, it dawned on me that perhaps this was my chance to make a meaningful difference in her life.

After Bambi had finished playing, we made our way back to Jana's car. As we strolled back, Jana's phone rang, her face lit up with excitement as she answered the call. She seemed thrilled by whatever news she received, but I didn't bother to ask.

Jana drove us back home. My apartment was right next to theirs. As we arrived, Bambi rushed into their apartment and just as I was about to head inside mine, Jana stopped me with yet another favor to ask. This time, her request caught me completely off guard, leaving me speechless. Could she really be serious about this?