Chapter 26

The You Vs. The Other You That This Society Crafted

"Did you page me to save me?" The intern De la Mora suddenly appeared in front of me, quite panting. This De la Mora guy was tall, bulky, and he has that shaved hair making him look like the guy in Prison Break and Alex Karev in Grey's Anatomy combined. But flaw check, this guy is a walking asshole.

Why do good looking guys always have to be the assholes?

I stopped from walking, nasakto kami dito sa nurse's station. I saw from my peripheral vision how Nika stiffened and stopped from doing her charts the moment she felt my presence. Napangisi ako sa loob-loob ko.

Damn. Where the hell is Gemma and Courtney? It would be more fun to roast three fishes in a single grill.

"Yeah, I did. Three times, De la Mora. Three times." I said, my eyes quite growing wide.

"I was currently dealing with a vagina while you were paging me. A vagina with a baby coming out from it." He explained. I rolled my eyeballs. Couldn't he use some medical terms that will make him sound professional at least?

I pushed out a sigh. "Accompany me for rounds. Come!" I said with authority before turning my back at him. I stopped when I saw Nika.

"Can I borrow your pen?" I asked her, forcing myself to let out a faker than a china smile.

"I have a pen," The intern said and I immediately snapped my head towards him.

"Hindi ikaw ang tinatanong ko!" I hissed before quickly looking back at Nika.

"Dr. ClaBitch." De la Mora uttered and it did not manage to escape my ears. Mamaya ka sa'kin, De la fucking asshole.

My attention was still on Nika. Pati iyong mga kasama niya sa station ay pasimpleng sumusulyap-sulyap sa akin, halata ang takot sa mga kilos nila pero itong nurse ng mga Alfieri ay talagang pinakatitigan ako at tinigil ang kung ano man ang ginagawa niya. I don't care.

"I said, can I borrow your pen?" I asked, Nika, subtly gritting my teeth in annoyance. Nurses hate it when Doctors are borrowing their pens dahil alam nilang hindi na ito babalik sa kanila.

She was kind of hesitating at first but then I eyed her, hard.

"S-Sige po, Doc. H-Heto po." Ibinigay niya sa akin ang ballpen na kasalukuyang ginagamit niya.

I flashed a smile that doesn't meet my eyes. "Thanks." I said, putting the pen on one of the pockets of my coat.

Muli kong hinarap si De la Mora. "Let's go!" I commanded, curtly. Sumunod naman siya kaagad sa akin.

"What are we gonna do now, Doc?" He asked as he kept up with my pace.

Kakasabi ko lang na mag ra-rounds kami, hindi nakikinig! Punyeta! Ayaw ko pa naman ay iyong paulit-ulit!

I stopped from walking, facing him. "I will do my rounds and you go back to your vagina." I told him, firmly while widening my eyes at him.

His lips parted. "But Doc—"

Pinandilatan ko siya ng mga mata. "Go!" I said. His jaw clenched, scratching the back of his neck. He opens his mouth again but I didn't give him a chance to utter even a single word.

"Get out of my face," I cut him off immediately at wala siyang nagawa kung hindi umalis.

When he's gone, I paged another intern to accompany me. Someone who is genius enough to not call me a 'ClaBitch' while I was just actually standing two feet away.

After doing my rounds, kaagad akong nagtungo sa clinic ni Castro. She's a psychologist in this hospital. She handles patients who are suffering from mental illness.

"Hey," she greeted me, removing her specs. Hindi ko siya sinagot. Nagtuloy-tuloy ako sa sulok kung saan nakalagay ang trashbin niya at itinapon doon ang ballpen na ibinigay ni Nika.

I paused when I saw the three pens that I threw in there on different days were still in there.

"God, Castro! Why are those still in there?" I asked, sitting on the chair in front of her table.

"What?"

"Those pens that I borrowed from that Nika." Nakangiwi kong sabi.

"You mean, the pens you never returned to the owner because it is more convenient to you to just throw them in the trash?" She rephrased.

I gave her my sweetest yet sarcastic smile. "You got it." I said, without feeling any guilt just like what she's trying to make me feel.

"God, you are such a bitch." She said, chuckling. "Do you know the names that they are calling you in this hospital? Dr. ClaBitch! McWitchy! And so on!" She exclaimed, as if she's breaking the hottest and freshest gossip ever.

"I know. Then so be it." I said with a straight face. "So, what are those pens doing there?" I asked, once again.

She flashed me her sweetest yet sarcastic smile. "Sinandya ko talagang ipaiwan ang mga 'yon nang maguilty ka naman kahit kaunti dahil sa pagsasayang mo ng mga ballpen niya."

"Well, I'm sorry to break your bubbles, Castro but it didn't work. I don't feel guilty at all. Not even a bit." I told her, matter of factly.

Her smile disappeared, looking at me as she pushed a deep sigh. "You need to stop doing that, Mona. Leave the girl alone. What you are doing is not healthy..."

I clenched my jaw as a mocking laugh escaped from my mouth. "When they drugged my drink and planned to sexually harass me, sa akin pa rin ang sisi. Kasi malandi ako, eh. Oh, I have three guy friends that I'm sleeping with. It's impossible for me to be harassed, ginusto ko 'yon kasi nga tatlo-tatlo gumagalaw sa'kin 'di ba? I'm a sexually open slut!" I said, raising both my hands in the air as a broken laugh escaped from my mouth.

"Mona..."

I clenched my jaw, pushing out a sharp breath. "They put me into a deep humiliation, Castro and no one ever dared to stop them! And now that I threw her pens in the trash, you're trying to stop me, telling me that it's not healthy? How about all the screwed up shits that they did to me? You think that's healthy?"

She paused, looking at me with sadness in her eyes.

"It's been 12 years..." she quietly said, looking at me with sympathy or pity? I don't know!

"12 years and it's still there, Castro. 12 fucking years and all the shits that they did to me were still vivid,"

"Mona, you are being driven by your hatred and anger—"

"So let me! I have all the rights to be angry and hate them for as long as I like! Those are just pens that I threw! Pero sila, dignidad at kapayapaan ko ang sinira nila!"

Castro raised both her hands. "Alright, alright... I don't want to argue with the greatest and prettiest cardiothoracic surgeon in town. " She said, backing down.

I eyed her, trying to see if she's being genuine or just being plainly sarcastic.

She chuckled at me, making the atmosphere turn lighter. "What?"

I just rolled my eyes at her as a smile appeared on my lips.

"So, what do you—"

"I am not one of your patients, Castro." I cut her off and then she chuckled once again. I know what this asshat is trying to do. I don't trust her sentence that starts with 'So'.

"I was just trying to ask if you want some ice cream!" Tumatawa nitong palusot.

"That doesn't sound like it." I told her. "But yeah, an ice cream would be nice. Something vegan and fat free." I said, grinning.

--

This is the first time that I felt excited to be home. I've been up for almost 36 hours straight and I just can't wait to reunite with my bed, especially with this kind of weather, a bit windy and gloomy.

After parking my silver Porsche, I immediately went inside the building where I live.

"Good evening, Doc!" The guard on duty greeted as he opened the door for me. I gave him my faint smile before finally stepping in.

I've been so used to this. Being greeted by random people. Everytime I walk around the hallway of the hospital to go for rounds, everytime I come home here, and sometimes when I'm simply eating in a restaurant with my parents there would be people coming to us, greeting me and my parents. Some were claiming to be my or my parents' previous patients, some were just the relatives of our previous patients.

"Ah, oo! 'Yan si Doktora Clavel! 'Yung nag-opera sa pinsan ko!" Puro mga ganyan ang maririnig mo. Kung ipagyabang ka nila sa mga kasama nila ay parang sila ang nagpa-aral sa'yo.

Not that I'm complaining. It's just that I've realized how a person's profession could automatically gain the respect of the people around you. When they see you, they automatically smiles pulling out the better version of themselves.

"Welcome back, Doc!" The receptionist greeted me, flashing her brightest smile. I just nodded before taking frantic steps towards the elevator that was about to close.

Lucky for me, I didn't have to pull up a dramatic stunt where I would jump to press the elevator's button so that it would open again because I assumed that the old guy inside the elevator saw me since the elevator doors miraculously opened again.

"Thank you... and good evening, sir!" I greeted the old guy because no one ever does. People don't automatically smile and pull out their best behavior whenever they see an old guy who mops every hallway of a certain building. People don't greet them a good evening or good morning. It sucks.

His mouth parted and I'm even positive that he kind of felt embarrassed. "Naku, Doc. H'wag niyo na po akong tawaging 'sir', nakakahiya naman..." Aniya at napakamot pa sa kanyang batok.

I just smiled at him and in no time, I've reached my floor.

"This is me..." I said pertaining to my floor. "Ingat ho kayo!" Sabi ko, nginitian niya ako nang matamis at tinanungan bago ako tuluyang lumabas mula sa loob ng elevator.

I stopped on my front door, frantically fishing my keys inside my bag. God, I just want to get inside, take a shower and lie in my whore of a bed that never failed to seduce me to get another five minutes of sleep.

"Fuck..." I cursed under my breath, losing my temper because I just couldn't find where the hell my keys are! Lintik! Kung kailan uwing-uwi ako ay saka mangyayari 'to?

Halos baligtarin ko na ang bag ko pero wala akong nakitang susi. Then I remembered while I was driving on my way home, my Mom called me. Baka noong kinuha ko ang phone ko sa loob ng bag ko ay nahulog sa kotse?

O baka nahulog sa locker noong kinuha ko sa bag ko ang kwintas ko para muling isuot dahil tapos na ang duty ko? Fuck! Hindi ko na alam!

I immediately rode the elevator again to go to the lobby. It was still raining cats and dogs and I don't have any umbrella with me.

Nakita ko ang gwardya sa labas, may itim na payong na nakalagay sa may gilid niya.

Kaagad akong lumabas.

"Kuya, pwede ba'ng manghiram ng payong?" I asked, politely.

"Ay sige po, Doc! Heto po!" Aligaga niyang iniabot sa akin ang itim na payong na mamasa-masa pa.

"Salamat!" Sabi ko bago sumulong sa ulan gamit ang itim na payong na ipinahiram sa akin. Bagamat nakapayong na ako ay nabasa pa rin ako lalo na nang buksan ko ang sasakyan ko para muling pumasok doon.

"Ugh. Shit!" I groaned. Medyo nabasa ako at ang lamig ng tubig ulan sa aking balat. Ang gulo pa ng buhok ko dahil sa lakas ng hangin sa labas.

Sinubukan kong hanapin ang susi ko sa loob ng sasakyan, halos baligtarin ko na ito pero wala pa rin talaga. Isa na lang ang option na mayroon ako... Sa ospital.

Napabuntong hininga ako sabay sandal sa driver's seat. I don't want to drive again!

Napatuwid ako nang upo nang bigla kong maisip ang receptionist sa may frontdesk.

Muli akong bumaba sa sasakyan at sumulong sa ulan gamit ang payong kong hiram.

My hair's a bit wet and my bangs a damn mess the moment I made it inside the building. I was now standing in the frontdesk, suot ko pa rin ang blue scrubs ko, a uniform the screams with dignity pero ang pagmumukha ko ngayon ay iyong parang kinulang sa ayuda.

Pasimple kong inayos ang buhok ko dahil bigla akong naconcious sa pagtitig sa akin no'ng receptionist.

"Y-Yes, Doc? What can I do for you?" She asked, politely.

"Uhm... Can I ask if you have a spare key for unit 605? The former unit of Dr. Samael Clavel?" I sounded hopeful while asking her that. Please. Please. Sana meron. Sana meron.

"Ay, Doc, pasensya na po. Kinuha po kasi lahat ni Doc Samael 'yung mga susi niya. Ayaw niya po kasing may ibang humahawak ng spare keys niya." Malungkot nitong pahayag sa akin.

Muntik akong mapairap. I adore how precise and secure freak the Clavels are... but now I don't.

"Okay, thank you." I said, sighing in dismay.

"Gusto niyo po ba'ng maghingi tayo ng tulong, Doc? Ipasira na muna natin 'yung pintuan niyo?" She suggested. Halos malaglag ang panga ko sa suhestiyon niya.

Damn. Utak De la Mora!

"Oh... No, no. It's okay. I'll just call my uncle." I told her.

I just decided to sit on the couch of this lobby.

I fished my phone inside my bag, tried calling my uncle but he's not answering and I understand. He's the chief, of course he's busy.

I bit my bottom lip and decided to text him instead.

Tito Samael:

Tito, may spare key ka pa ba sa condo mo dati na condo ko na ngayon?

I turn my phone into sleep mode as I wait for his reply. Sumandal ako sa couch na inuupuan ko at ipinikit ang mga mata ko.

It feels comfy and cold. I think a thick blanket and a cup of coffee would be nice.

The sound of the rain from outside and the exhaust that I'm feeling at the moment pulled me to sleep.

Hindi ko alam kung ilang oras o minuto akong nakaidlip pero ramdam kong unti-unting nagigising ang aking diwa dahil sa marahan na pagyugyog na nararamdaman ko sa aking balikat.

"Kanina pa siya dito?" I heard a familiar deep and low voice coming from the background but I'm finding it hard to understand his words.

"Mga kalahating oras na siguro, Cap... Sobrang pagod yata si Doc at nakatulog na diyan."

"Bakit dito siya natulog? Walang susi?"

"Nawawala yata, Cap. Sabi niya tatawagan niya si Doc Samael, eh. Hihingi yata ng spare key."

"Ah, sige salamat. Ako na ang bahala kay Doc."

My brows creased. Sino ba itong mga 'to? Ang iingay!

"Mona..." I heard that familiar voice again, calling my name but this time, softer.

I tried to open my eyes and I saw a silhouette of a man, looking down at me.

"Come on, sleepyhead... Let's get you home." He said, softly. I even felt a thumb, gently stroking my shoulder... a simple touch that felt like home.

A smile formed on my lips as I blinked for a few more times.

But my smile suddenly fell the moment I saw the man's face clearly. Deep brown eyes, parenthesis-like dimple, hot as fuck curls. Ciel Fucking Alfieri.

He was staring down at me, the grin that I saw just two seconds ago suddenly disappeared the moment his gaze went down on my neck. It was replaced by a thin line and a jaw that twitches hard.

I almost creased my brows but I don't want him to know that the sudden change in his facial expression makes me confused, so I remained stoic instead.

What's with my neck that made him—oh...

I cut my own thoughts off with a sudden realization.

The paper airplane necklace.

Does that piss him off? That I'm still wearing the necklace? Why would that piss him off? Why would I care?

And have I already mentioned how close he was? So close that I can feel his warm and minty breath, fanning my cheeks and as well as my lips.

"Let's get you home," he whispered.

"I lost my keys to my home." I said, still looking into those deep brown eyes.

"Alam ko. Kaya iuuwi kita... sa akin."

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This is for you. You are not going to be a great surgeon like Mona, you are going to be a great surgeon like YOU.