A N O T H E R   D A Y    O F F

I DIALLED Lavender's phone number for the third time and she's still not answering. I sigh and lean my back on my swivel chair while tapping the table impatiently. And finally after so long she finally answered!

"Lavender! Good morning!" bati ko sa kanya.

"Good morning po Dr. Yna! Sorry po dahil hindi ko nasagot kaagad. Naiwan ko po kasi sa sala ang phone ko habang naliligo po ako." she explained. I can already imagine her face pouting and looking guilty because of not answering my call immediately.

"That's fine. Tumawag ako ngayon dahil I need to inform you na hindi ka papasok ng work ngayon." I said straight to the and I heard her tiny gasp and once again I imagine her face looking shock and wanting to protest.

"Huh... A-ano pero Dr. Yna? Sabi niyo po 3 days lang? Kaya diba po dapat ngayon ay papasok ulit ako? Nagkaproblema po ba? Kamusta po si Blade? Dr. Yna?" sunod sunod niyang tanong.

"Basta hindi ka muna papasok ngayon. I need to do a little experimenting that involves me, you and Mr. Leones. And about him..." I poked my cheeks with my tounge thinking on what to answer her about his condition right now.

I can't say he's fine when clearly he's not. Hindi ko pwedeng sabihin na hindi siya okay dahil baka hindi mapakali si Lavender kakaisip sa kanya. Maybe sabihin ko na stable na naman ang isip ni Mr. Leones? Yeah I guess that'll do at para hindi na mag-alala masyado itong si Lavender.

"He's doing great the past few days! He's blackouts lessen a lot and he's taking his medicine on time so don't worry and stay at home muna okay? Okay bye!" I bid my goodbye and my gusto pa sana siyang sabihin pero pinatay ko na ang tawag. Basta huwag muna siya pumasok para makita ko kung may differences bang mangyayari kay Mr. Leones.

Kailangan kong malaman kung somehow ay comfortable siya kay Lavender kasi kailangan kong alamin ang memory na nagaganap kay Mr. Leones habang nagkaka-temporary memory loss siya after mag-faint. His blackouts reflect his past, his past had more than enough violence na sobrang affected parin ang brain niya ngayon. He must have suffered since childhood to have such mind trauma that he shuts everybody down.

"My dear beloved favourite friend!" I jumped up in surprise at mabilis na pinatay ang monitors connected sa kwarto ni Mr. Leones at humarap sa nag-tresspass sa office ko.

"River!" I frown dahil feel na feel naman niya ang office ko at naupo sa sofa at nakataas pa sa coffee table ang paa!

"Hi Ynalyn!" ngumisi siya ng nakatingin sa akin. I sigh dahil alam kong may kailangan siya.

"What do you need?" I asked boredly and sat down in front of him. Malapad siyang ngumiti at umayos ng upo.

"Pwede ka bang magpanggap na girlfriend ko?" He asked.

I stare at him dumbfounded and I cringe when he looks at me with his so called 'handsome beautiful eyes'. Ano na naman kalokohan ang trip ng isang to?!

"As much as I love doing reckless things. I would never ever pretend to have a relationship with you! Don't push it or I will drown you in the nearest river around!" I threaten him but he just laugh.

Seriously ganon ba siya ka-bored?! Sinisira niya ang araw ko sa mga kalokohan niya.

"Please Ynalyn pretend lang eh. Gusto ko lang pagselosin ang bebe loves ko." He said with his disgusting pa-cute voice. Tumataas balahibo ko sa River na to. At sino bang bebe loves pinagsasabi nito? Kawawa naman ang pumatol dito...

"No! Umalis ka na nga sa opisina ko bago pa kita i-hypnotize para makalimutan mo ang 'bebe loves' mo!" Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin pero tumawa lang siya.

"Eh di wag. Sungit mo talaga my dear beloved favourite friend. By the way nga pala totoo ba nasasagap kong chismis na may pasyente kang Leones?" tanong niya at medyo lumapit pa sa akin na para bang ready na sa chismisan. Kalalaking tao chismoso talaga.

Tutal tinanong na din naman niya siguro ay may alam siya tungkol kay Blade. Pero masyado siyang good mood ngayon at paniguradong may hihinging kapalit pero bahala na.

"Yes it's true. I actually want to ask you a favor. Kilala mo ba si Blade Lucius Leones?" I asked very seriously at sana lang talaga sumeryoso rin siya.

"Why are you asking me? Wanna know more about him huh? Aren't you a daughter of a billionaire though?" He smirked na kinainis ko. Bakit ba kasi bumalik pa siya dito sa mental.

"I can't believe you haven't thought of this! You are filty rich so why not hire a private investigator to know more about Blade!"

"I don't want to use dad's money because he'll use it against me so I could marry he's chosen man! And I don't want to use my own money because because I'm saving up for my future and I could just ask you simple information!" I reasoned out and he just face palmed and then look at me seriously. Finally a rare sight of River being serious.

"Blade used to be my childhood friend. But I lost contact with him when we entered high school. Since then I don't know what's happening on him. But I remembered when we were still friends is he looks fine yet there are times that his eyes is showing tiredness. It's just so obvious not too notice even if it's just a small matter of time. And also when we were kids he always get into fights because he easily gets angry.

One time when someone bullied the girl he likes when we were in elementary he waited for that boy outside of school and attacked the boy without hesitation! He seriously almost killed that boy if I haven't stopped him. He was raging with anger that he also got angry at me because of stopping him. And that wasn't the only time. He also snapped at someone and almost killed them because they somehow trigger his bad side. So it's really a very bad idea to anger Blade because he snap out easily and can kill you without hesitation." I listened to him intently.

"It's good that he have someone to stop him when he couldn't control his anger. Thank you, River. You can leave now." I thanked him and went back to my swivel chair to get my clipboard. I heard him gasped dramatically but I ignored him.

"Yun na lang yon? Just a thank you?! Hey I want you to pretend as my girlfriend as payment sa pagkwento ko sayo tungkol kay Blade!" He demanded and I sigh and look at him.

"Iba nalang hingin mo wag lang yan." I said and rolled my eyes.

"C'mon Ynalyn! Hindi ka ba masaya na may babae na akong gusto? I remember sabi mo non ay kailangan kong humanap ng distraction para mabawasan ang chance na mag-take control si Ryker? Just three days Ynalyn I promise after that I'll stop bothering you!" He begged and I think I changed my mind. Hindi dahil sa mukha niya ngayon at sa pag-try niya na magmanipulate sa akin pero dahil tama siya na sinabi kong maghanap siya ng distraction.

Hindi siya pwede ma-stress ng sobra dahil mataas ang chance na mangingibabaw ang other personality niya which is Ryker. Aware siya sa other personality niya kaya kahit papano ay nacocontrol niya ito.

"Okay fine. Promise na walang intimate moments!" I said but he just laughed and nodded. Pero sino naman kaya ang malas na bebe loves ng River na to? Loko-loko at playboy din kasi itong lalaking to kaya magdudusa ang bebe loves na sinasabi niya if ever man nainlove kay River.

"At sino nga pala ang sinasabi mong 'bebe loves' ha? Seryoso na ba to o pampalipas oras lang siya? I'm telling you Atlas River Greenwood kapag nagloloko ka lang ulit ay ipapaputol ko yang kaligayahan mo!" I threatened him but as always he doesn't look bothered. Aren't I scary enough?

"She's my cutie loves and her name is Skye Rina Buenavista." He said with a dreamy smile. Natigilan ako don dahil nakita ko sa mga mata niya ang kakaibang emotion na never kong nakita sa tuwing nagkwe-kwento siya tungkol sa ibang babae. Sana nga lang at totoo na ang relasyon niya kay Skye. She's familiar to me but I can't quite remember where I've seen her.

"If you're wondering she's the new nurse. Temporary nga lang... But that's okay I'll just stalk her!"

The new nurse? The hospital have 2 new nurse the last two months and Ms. Buenavista must be one of them. I kinda pity that girl because she have to bare with River's nonsense.

"Start tayo tomorrow ha? Promise no intimate moments kasi di kita type noh! Okay aminin ko nung una tayong nagkita medyo pinagpantasyahan kita pero lumipas rin kaagad after 1 week. Okay bye!" mabilis niyang paliwanag and he left so quickly and I just stare at the door in disbelief.

I shook my head and forget what he just said because it makes me puke. I turn on the security monitors again and found Mr. Leones sitting on his bed and staring blankly at the door. I continue writing while I'm infront of the monitors waiting for the possible movements and emotions that will pass through his eye.

YESTERDAY he just stared at the door all day surely waiting for Lavender. But the difference now and yesterday is his expression is blank but now it's angry. He's looking sharply on the door while gripping the bed tightly.

He's already like this when I came to work this morning at 5 am and I also left him like that yesterday at 10 pm.

It's already 9 at night and all day he just either sit and stare sharply at the door or sleep. Should I add something in his room to entertain him? I should discuss that with Matthew some other time.

I'm planning to go all nighters and if he still stay in that position until midnight then I'll go in and talk to him. People become more honest late at night because they are tired for the day and tend to become more honest to their feelings.

I'm reviewing the notes I took about Mr. Leones when my phone rang. I thought I put that on silent mode? I sigh and check who is calling and it's non other than my dear kind dad. I answer it even if I don't want to because if I didn't he will definitely send someone to get me.

"What?" I ask with a bored tone and his joyful voice irritate my ears.

"Daughter! Why are you not home yet? Come home now because we have a visitor!" he said and sounds excited.

I have a bad feeling about the visitor he's talking about. "I'm busy dad." I said hoping he just stop about this fixed marriage nonsense.

"No! Mr. Rossi is waiting for you so don't be stubborn and go home now!" he demanded but I'm not affected.

"No dad I'm busy! Tell your visitor I'm not going home tonight!" I said and rolled my eyes. I don't know who is Mr. Rossi and I don't care.

"Go home now or I will sell your precious baby Yara?" he said darkly and now I'm affected.

Damn! Not Yara she's my weakness!

"Fine!" I answered angrily and ended the call. I have no choice but to turn off the monitors and leave my office immediately because I know that dad won't hesitate to do something bad about Yara.

HININAAN ko ang volume ng tv dahil naiistorbo nito ang pag-iisip ko. Magdamag na akong nag-iisip dahil hindi ako pinapasok ni Dr. Yna sa trabaho. Andaya naman bakit kaya dinagdagan niya ang day off ko? Hindi naman siguro ako masisisante o masu-suspend?

Malakas akong nagbuntong hininga dahil apat na araw na akong binabagabag ng pagtataka kung bakit bigla akong hindi pinapasok ni Dr. Yna. Para kaya iyon kay Blade? Nage-experiment ba siya para sa ikakabuti ni Blade?

Tinignan ko ang orasan na nasa dingding at nakitang 9:40 na kaya pinatay ko na ang tv. Tinanggal ko na ang saksak nito at pupunta na sana sa kusina para uminom ng tubig ng maramdaman ko ang kakaibang pakiramdam.

Hindi ako komportable na parang hindi mapakali? Luminga-linga ako sa paligid at napalunok ng pumasok sa isip ko si Steven.

Mabilis pa sa alas quatro akong tumakbo at isinarado ang mga bintana at ni-lock ito maging ang pinto. Pinatay ko lahat ng ilaw at tumakbo sa kwarto ko at ni-lock rin ito. Napansin ko ang mga kamay kong nanginginig at nahig ako sa kama at nagtalukbong ng kumot. Kinakalma ko ang aking isipan at pinapakiramdaman ang paligid. Sobrang tahimik at tanging mahinang paghinga ko lang ang maririnig.

Nandito ba talaga si Steven? O gawa gawa lang ng isip ko kanina ang hindi mapakaling pakiramdam na parang may nakatingin sa akin? Pero totoo man o hindi mas mabuti sigurado kaya nagsarado na ako ng bahay. Hanggang sa nakatulugan ko ang pagpakiramdam sa paligid.

I OPEN THE monitors connected to Mr. Leones room. It's 4:40 am in the morning and I'm already at work because I can't stay in the mansion. Unfortunately, Dad let Mr. Rossi to stay overnight so I sneak out when I had the chance and the guards are on break.

I found him standing in the middle of the room and he looks like he's having trouble with something because of his eyes looking so lost. I watched and in the blink of an eye he faint. My hand acted fast and smash the button to send the two security and two high rank nurse. They are available 24/7 but they exchange positions to another employee with same rank as them.

Within 5 minutes they should arrive because Mr. Leones fainting could only mean he will have a temporary memory loss and flashback.

The four arrived quickly and put him in the bed and put his hips, hands, and ankles on restraint to prevent him hurting himself or anybody. After doing their job they left and I watched intently while he's still unconscious.

After more than 10 minutes he's eyes open with no emotions and his body started fighting the restraints. His physical strength is terrifying so Matthew a special strong type of restraint for him so he won't be able to break it... for now.

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May spoilers na kay River at Ynalyn😂