As the warm water runs down my face, I remember the touch of the sun almost half an hour ago. I closed my eyes and tried to take it all in again.

Just last month, as I was busy moving in sa bago kong condo, which already served as home near heart ages ago, I received a call from my hospital director that the I got the honorary fellowship award from ACS.

And now I'm standing in the shower, my white velvet gold-button tux dress perfectly fixed hanging on a rack beside my bed, my black Jimmy Choo's Esther Suede Pumps I ordered which came right on time; just yesterday, is now waiting for my courage to put it on.

I opened my eyes and smiled before walking out the shower and wiping myself.

I faced the mirror and started brushing my teeth, this feeling has never left me since I moved in; that I'm safe, accomplished, happy. That I'm finally overcoming the biggest steps in my life.

Today marks my biggest success so far in my career, and I can't wait to grace the stage.

Over the years, I can't unsee how much I've grown, how I got over my worst habits of pulling myself down or drowning my head with negativity. Now I'm much much higher, head always above all waters, stronger like I always should've been, but there's always this fine line between my strength and what have always been my weakness.

Love, this place kept my love, for God knows how long already. But everytime I come and leave, it has proven to get stronger.

So I looked at myself for the last time in the mirror, my pushed back hair failed to hide it's curls though minimal. I held my crystal encrusted mini hand bag on my side and tried a pose.

I laughed softly at how I shined, how it proved just how much I've been through to get here.

All the sleepless days and nights, overloaded shifts, head cracking exams and even family issues. I hung my head high and puffed my chest.

"Smile Hannah, you're doing very, very good."

Bago ako lumabas chineck ko muna kung nakuha ko na lahat ng kailangan ko. I grabbed the keys to my white tucson and walked my way to the elevator and down the parking lot, agad kong pinaandar yung sasakyan dahil baka malate pa ako.

After a 30-minute drive nakarating na ako sa event's place. Agad kong napansin na maraming malalaking tao ang part ng event and it made me evem more excited.

I walked to the red carpet as if I'm killing every step, head held high and smiling to every camera in the hall.

Pagkatapos ko sa red carpet, someone ushered me to a round table near the stage infront.

The table cloth was a blue silk above white cotton, everything was designed to elegancy. As soon as I sat, someone asked if I wanted wine, and damn who am I to refuse? so I smiled and nodded before fixing my dress as he poured half on my glass.

I took a sip before looking around again, then my eyes suddenly caught a pair of eyes looking at me across the table.

I smiled before wiping my lips with the napkin.

He was wearing a gray suit in birds eye pattern, a gingham black and white pocket square. Hair in a clean cut with a couple of strands falling down on one side. He put down his drink as soon as put mine back on the table beside my plate.

"Hi gorgeous" he spoke.

"Tigilan mo ako Lance" I laughed at him.

"Seryoso nga" he scoffed.

"Sige hi gorgeous na rin sayo" I joked.

He laughed before fixing his hair.

"But anyways, congratulations Soph" he smiled sweetly.

"Say it with a gift Gonzales" I teased before laughing with him.

After a long time of not being able to talk to each other, Lance and I finally gotten over such a big slump after we got in the same hospital. Him too with Keily, what happened was clearly a mistake and we chose to not let it resurface.

Him and Ella is an entirely different story though, winning her back with so many different things in many different ways has been Lance's middle name for a long time now, and it seems to be paying off since my last birthday.

When then again, we drank dead on a rooftop of some club I don't even remember and they spoke their hearts out on each other.

On how Ethan changed for her and how jealous she gets sa isang accountant sa bangkong mina manage ni Ethan but then again how she trusts on what they have built once again.

And for Lance, on how his parents finally were in good terms and now open to his personal life decisions instead of bossing him around and trying to steal him away from each other.

"Goodmorning fellow doctors" we immediately looked infront as someone spoke.

It's our director for his opening speech.

Later on, our table was already filled, with our co-doctors in the same hospital representing every department. Dr. Martin for Neuro, Dr. Salvador for Anesth, Dr. Valdez for Pulmo, Dr. Gonzales for Pedia and me representing the Cardiology Department.

"It is with pride that we are gathered today to give recognition to our fellow medical workers who outstanded themselves in different ways"

I then caught a glimpse of Lance suddenly facing me and giving a wink.

I just scoffed at him before smiling.

After announcing a few awards to my fellow doctors narinig ko nang natawag ang pangalan ko.

I stood up and dusted my dress, I walked gracefully through the crowd as they gave a round of applause.

"The Honorary Fellowship Award from The American College of Surgeons is awarded to Dr. Sophia Hannah Fajardo..."

I got on the stage and gave my speech.

"To the American College of Surgeons, I cannot ever be thankful enough for your trust in my work and excellence, this is such a career-setting opportunity to be able to extend the scope of my advocasy; bringing deserved medical care to places where it is denied. To our Director, Dr. Uy, thank you for you untiring support and guidance, and to all my fellow doctors, may we be able to give more everyday so we can ensure that the people who need us gets the most in time."

With that I ended my speech and proceeded in the front stage to pose for cameras before spotting Lance behind the photographers.

With his phone pointing at me, him smiling behind it before giving me a thumbs up.

I grinned from his actions.

"Bagay mo pala mag photographer e, gora na" I immediately teased him as I sat down sa table namin.

"Suggestion taken, pero alam mo namang that's for Ella. It's either I take pictures of you or she'll kick me out once again"

I smiled.

"Btw, I checked up on them kanina, available sila both for lunch, soooo"

"Mcdo!" I accidentally said louder than I should buti nalang focused lahat sa stage. Tumawa nalang kami ni Lance before fixing ourselves to listen.

"Ayan na ang big time friend naten hmm!" Ella hugged me as soon as Lance and I walked over to them sa isang table sa mcdo.

"Big time na so manlilibre na!" sunod pa ni Keily.

"Oo nga gurl ano ba yang itsura niyo pumunta dito tapos kami ni Keily gurang na"

"Ay wow sorry ha oo na ako na ang kaninang 3 am pa ang shift huhu" Keily then complained.

"Oh Gonzales, nakuha mo?" Ella then greeted Lance.

"Uhuh, for you" sabay abot ni Lance ng phone kay Ella.

She just rolled her eyes.

"Kala mo naman ako lang may gusto nito"

"Shut up" Lance commented.

"Aba! nako wag mokong shina shatap shatap lang Gonzales"

"Okay, okay" Lance immediately retreated before sitting down beside Keily.

"Amin na mga order niyo" utos ni Ella sakanilang dalawa.

"At dahil nakapangmayaman ka samahan moko magorder" she then ordered me which just made me roll my eyes.

"So? you and Lance?" Ella looked at me serious while we were standing in line.

"Wha-? Els stop, no."

"Hmmmm, fine" she squinted her eyes before facing the chasier to order.

"Huy dali dali, naka post na sa site ng ACS yung awarding hnggg, Congrats na talaga Soph" Keily softly said as we sat down to start eating.

I just smiled and said my thanks when Keily's phone suddenly beeped.

"Oh no lowbatt nako" she ranted.

"Charge ka na diyan may outlet sa likod mo" Ella replied.

"Well, I forgot my charger sa condo, 3 am shifts get the best of me talaga ih"

"Here, I have mine you can use it muna" I offered mine so we can eat in peace already.

"Omg, I really want to drink na" Keily said right after we ate.

"Gaga ka kala mo kung sinong hindi kakakain e" Ella then said.

"Kakakain nga e, kaya iinom hmp" sumimangot lang si Keily.

"No, I'm not letting all of you drink, may shift din ako ng 3 pm no. Road trip nalang oh" Ella suggested.

"Ay bet" I replied as we all looked at Lance to suddenly stopped drinking his soda.

"Dang, you all talk as if wala kayong sari sariling sasakyan" he spoke.

"Arte mo, pinakamalaki yung sayo. Let's go girls" Ella stood up and took her bag so sumunod nalang kami while laughing at Lance.

"Pacharge ako Lance ah" Keily asked as we entered the pick up.

"Tinanong mo pa, yan lang naman pinupunta mo sa sasakyan ko" he replied.

"Sa tru lang" Keily then clapped back.

"Okay so here's the plan, daan muna tayong gasoline station to get food then bring us anywhere, everywhere.. then hatid niyo ako sa hospital mamayang 2:30 got it?" singit ni Ella.

"Wow madam na madam?!" I scoffed.

"Which I am" she flipped her hair and rolled her eyes which made us all scoff louder kaya isa isa niya kaming binatukan.

"Off we go?" Lance spoke and we all nodded while laughing.

"Oh oh dito naman, yan sige sige talikod ka nga, okay pak!" sigaw ni Keily habang pinipicturan si Ella sa gilid ng kalsada.

"Oh sige atras pa, camouflage ka na sa railing" Lance teased which earned him a stone coming his way galing kay Ella.

"Aray! to naman! di mabiro e" he laughed.

"Atleast you can save people's lives" he snickered kaya pinuntahan na siya ni Ella at sinabunutan.

"Ahh! no no!" wala nang nagawa yung pagrereklamo niya sa paggulo ni Ella sa buhok niya.

I shook my head sa kakulitan nila.

"Soph, gimme your phone and strike your pose" Keily commanded.

"Huh? ako? magpopose?" nakakahiya naman nasa gitna ng kalsada oh.

"Yeah! akin na, bilisan natin baka mabangga na yung dalawang yun" sumunod nalang ako and we took a few shots before we finally got back inside the car kasi umiinit na talaga.

"Argh yung pawis ko Gonzales, papasok palang ako!"

"Why are you putting it on me?! ako ba yung nanabunot at naghabol?" Lance came back.

"Che! tumahimik ka jan!" Ella silenced him.

It's so good to have this back, they always keep me grounded even during my craziest days. I have them to thank for all the times they saved me from going under, this is such a good, good day. Perfect.

I was taking a shower when my phone suddenly rang from my room, di ko pa pala nailalabas sa bag ko, so I quickly got my towel to see who was calling and saw that is was an unregistered number.

I contemplated about answering it but as i was about to swipe my phone suddenly died.

"Ugh shit" nakalimutan ko pa pala kay Keily yung charger ko.

I put down my phone before running back to the shower.

Humiga na ako after I finished changing into my sleeping clothes and decided to open my laptop to check my schedule for tomorrow.

As I was busy scrolling, biglang may nagvideo call si Ella.

"Oh, bakit?" I immediately answered.

Nagulat ako nang nagconnect na rin sina Keily and to my surprise, si Bri. All looking so damn serious.

"Oh my- hii!" I greeted so they greeted back slightly excitingly.

"Bakit kayo tumawag ha, miss niyoko?!" I joked.

They just laughed which is kind of weird when usually they would joke with me.

"Huy pero teka nga, why did you call?" I asked.

"Ahmm diba yung charger mo nasakin" Keily answered.

"Oh yeah yeah I know, drained nga phone ko e kunin ko tomorrow"

"Okay"

Silence then came next.

"Bri?! bat tahimik ka? nuba kayo? busy kayo?" I asked since hindi sila sa camera nakatingin baka may work din.

"Shet, may buntis ba sainyo?" I asked.

"Gago ka ba?" Ella said.

"Congrats Soph!" singit ni Bri.

"Ah- yun pala ah, uwi ka na den para makainom tayo" I joked.

"Hahahaha parang mapapabook nako niyan e" she replied.

"Sophia!"  Ella then spoke.

"Hmm? so aamin ka na? buntis ka? or si Keil? hmmm suspish"

She just rolled her eyes.

"What? what else can make ya'll this serious? I mean c'mon guys laging maingay mga vid calls natin no, and Keil don't worry tanggap ko, ninang ako ha, nako sinasabi ko sayo I'm so-"

"She's getting married Soph"

~~~~~~~

uwu :\