Song: Complicated- Olivia O'Brien

Coffee

Gulong-gulo si Archer habang hinihila ko siya palayo kay Ate Margaux. Kahit na nakakunot parin ang noo ay nagawa niya paring mag-padala sa pag-hila ko.

"What's happening? Did I do anything wrong?" tanong niya.

Kaunti lang ang naging layo namin kay Ate Margaux dahil wala na rin akong oras pa para makapagtago pa kami ni Archer gayong nahuli na kami ng kapatid ko.

Once we've stopped, I immediately glared and pouted at him.

"Oh! Are you mad?" tanong niyang muli na para bang na-bother pa ata sa ipinapakita kong reaksyon sa kanya.

I let out an exaggerated sigh and desperately raised both of my arms up in the air.

"Why didn't you check your phone!?"

"Why? Did you leave a message?"

Namilog ang mga mata ko. He didn't know!

"Yes! And a lot of them!"

Parang gusto ko nalang maiyak sa oras na 'yon. Ilang beses na kaming nahuhuli! Hindi na talaga kami pupwedeng mag-kita pa ulit dito sa ospital.

Kailangan na itong mailagay sa listahan ng mga lugar na bawal kaming mag-kita!

Napamura ako nang ngayon palang iche-check ni Archer ang kanyang telepono. Hinilot ko ang sentido ko at sinubukang ikalma ang sarili.

"Who is she by the way? Why do you look so nervous?" inosenteng tanong ni Archer habang hinahanap ko ang mensahe ko sa kanya.

Daming ka-text, Archer? Hirap na hirap hanapin ang akin!?

"She's my sister!" I almost shouted.

Agad na napaangat ng tingin si Archer sa akin at nabigla sa sinabi ko. His mouth parted.

"Oh! That was your sister! I'm sorry... I didn't know."

Kahit gusto kong magalit, hindi ko magawa dahil mukha talaga siyang inosenteng bata na walang kaalam-alam sa nangyayari.

He tried to reach for me as he looks at me apologetically. I didn't protest and just let him hold my hand.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know... I didn't check my phone anymore because I was busy driving." alu niya. I pouted more.

"Now you know... and now she knows!" bahagyang tumaas ang boses ko nang sabihin ko na alam na ng kapatid ko ang tungkol sa amin ni Archer.

I turn to look at Ate Margaux again to see if she already left but she's still there! And she's watching us!

Oh my god! This woman didn't leave!

Nang magkatinginan kami, agad niya akong pinandilatan ng mata na para bang sinasabi no'n sa akin na bumalik na ako dahil marami siyang tanong para sa akin.

"I'm sorry. I should've been more careful."

Para namang tuloy ang bigat-bigat sa loob na patuloy na humihingi ng tawad si Archer sa akin dahil lang dito.

Hindi na niya sana kailangan pang humingi ng tawad kung hindi namin ginagawang sikreto ang mayroon sa pagitan namin. Kasalanan ko rin! Ako 'tong nag-sabi na 'wag munang ipaalam sa iba tapos ngayong may nakahuli sa amin, si Archer pa 'tong humihingi ng tawad.

"No, it's fine. Stop apologizing. But thank you for bringing this back. It must've been a hassle for you." I sighed heavily.

The side of Archer's lips rose. "It's fine, Felicity. So, what do we do now?"

"Well, obviously I have a lot of explaining to do to her. But I can handle it. I'm really sorry for putting you in this situation. I promise I'll let everyone know about us soon."

"Take all the time you need. I thought we're not rushing things?"

"Yes, we aren't. Pero hanggang kailan ba tayo magpapahuli bago natin sabihin? And it's tiring to keep this a secret especially when my siblings and friends are just around. They see everything!"

Archer chuckled a bit. "Right. Are you going back to work now? Do you need me to come with you so we can explain it to your sister?"

Agad naman akong umiling. "It's fine. I can handle it. Call me when you're not busy, okay?"

He nods his head. "I will. Tell me how your explaining goes."

Ngumisi pa siya sa akin kaya ako ngumuso ulit. Pero sa huli tumango nalang din ako.

Archer aimed to press a kiss on my cheek before he leaves but before he could even crouch down, I already widened my eyes at him. I gave him a warning look and shake my head.

Tinuro ko ang direksyon ni Ate Margaux gamit ang mata ko. Nakita ko namang bumaling siya doon at nang makumpirmang nandoon pa nga ang kapatid ko at nanonood, tumigil siya. Lumandas ang isang ngiti sa kanyang labi bago tumawa.

"Okay..." he said like he finally understood what I want him to do.

"And uh... do you have time?"

"Why?"

"Can you like stay for a while? I'm pretty sure she would want to talk to you after... this. But I'll explain to her first so... can you?"

Archer smiled and nods his head. Hinarap ko naman ang banda ni Ate Margaux at tsaka humugot ng malalim na hininga.

Iba na ang ayos niya ngayon at nakahalukipkip na, mukhang 'di na makapag-hintay na ipaalam ko sa kanya na tama nga ang hinala niya.

"What the hell is that, Felicidad?!"

Iyon agad ang naging salubong niya sa akin nang makalapit ako sa kanya. I groaned when she called me by that annoying name again. Kinuha ko naman ang braso niya at hinila pa paalis ng lobby.

Sa halip na mag-dala sa akin ay binawi niya ang braso sa akin at mukhang ayaw pa atang sumama sa akin!

"Ano muna 'yon, Felicity?! Akala ko ba sa bahay ng kaibigan mo ikaw nag-punta! Ang sabi mo review? Bakit? Kasama din ba siya? Is he a doctor now as well? As long as I'm concerned, he's a freaking pilot, Felicity. Paanong-"

"I'm going to tell you, okay? Please... just... just keep your voice down. Don't make any scene!" saway ko sa kanya at kinuha nang muli ang braso niya.

"Sorry ha? 'Di ko na kasalanan kung nabigla ako sa nakita ko dahil nakakabigla naman talaga!" she said sarcastically.

I clenched my jaw. Pwede bang mamaya na siya mag-sasalita diyan? Sasabihin ko naman, e!

"So, what happens to Lucas now huh? You've already moved on and you dare not to tell anyone? Sinasabi ko na nga ba, Felicity! Mayroong-"

"Shh!" hindi ko na napigilan pa ang sarili na patahimikin siya. Bahagya naman siyang nagulat sa ginawa ko.

"Can you please calm down? Sasabihin ko naman sa'yo, Ate. Pero hindi dito! There are people looking and they might hear us..." halos nag-mamakaawa ko nang sinabi.

Ate Margaux sneered and glared at me. Wala na rin siyang nagawa pa at tuluyan nang nagpadala sa hila ko. I brought her towards the conference room so we could talk more privately. Kilala ko 'tong Ate ko. She has a tendency to raise her voice whenever she's surprised.

We might make an audience because of her. Baka siya pa ang maging rason para kumalat ang relasyon namin ni Archer!

Hindi ko pa naisasara ang pinto ng conference room ay nagbunganga na agad siya.

"Kailan pa 'to, Felicity, ha? Kailan pa 'to? Alam mo nag-dududa na 'ko sa iyo noon, e. Ngayon hindi na dahil nakumpirma ko na! Hindi pala ako nag-kakamali! Paano nangyari 'to? Paanong-"

"Will you please let me explain first?!" I cut her off.

Agad naman siyang tumigil. Mukhang hinahapo pa dahil sa bilis ng pag-sasalita niya kanina. She tries to catch her breathing as she looks at me. She waited for me to continue.

"Just please calm down, Ate Margaux. I will explain and your questions comes after, okay?" Dahan-dahan ko pang pinaliwanag.

Umirap siya at hinayaan na akong mag-salita.

"I didn't mean to keep this thing between Archer and I a secret."

"Then why did you?"

"Ate! Can you please let me finish first!?" I exclaimed frustratingly. "You're stressing me out!"

"Fine... fine. Go ahead and explain."

I sigh in relief. Halos pasalamatan ko na siya dahil nakinig na rin siya sa wakas. Sana lang talaga mag-tuloy tuloy na 'to at hayaan na niya akong magpaliwanag na muna bago siya mag-tanong.

"I don't know when or how it exactly but it just did. I know that there's a part of me that already feels something for him but I was just in denial because I'm still hopelessly in love with Lucas that time. So... you probably know what happened during the medical mission, right?"

Ate Margaux nods her head.

"Lucas and I became casual with each other. We're in good terms. Walang away na nangyari, walang iringan, wala! We both just suddenly forgot about everything that happened and so I decided to also forget and move on about him. So far, it's been great."

"Yeah, right. Great talaga kasi mukhang naka-move on ka na." agad namang pag-sangayon ni Ate Margaux.

I rolled my eyes and continued.

"I went to Vienna, right? Archer was the captain of my flight. It was so unexpected but I also never thought that we'll bump into each other at the airport..."

Pinagpatuloy ko ang kwento ko sa kanya hanggang sa nauwi na ito noong panahon na may emergency si Ate Stella sa trabaho. I told her that Archer and I went to watch this orchestra at the Vienna State Opera and after that, we both decided to meet up again.

"So, what happened when you meet up again?" kunot noo niyang tanong.

"We hang out," I answered simply. 'Yun naman talaga ang nangyari! "And that's where he also admitted his feelings for me."

Her jaw dropped. Ate Margaux looks taken a back. Napahawak pa talaga siya sa kanyang dibdib upang ipakita na nabigla talaga siya sa nangyari.

"Ano 'yon? Dahil gusto ka niya, kaya mo rin siya nagustohan?" walang kwenta niyang tanong.

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. "Of course not! I mean ever since I've gotten close to him and the more that I get comfortable around him... there are things that started to develop which I decided to just ignore. Kasi nga 'di ba gusto ko pa si Lucas no'n? So I thought it was non-sense and nothing serious. But, Ate... remember the time we video called with Kuya Dom?"

"Uh-hmm... what about it?"

"Naalala ko kasi iyong sinabi niya na kung para talaga kayo sa isa't isa, hahanap at hahanap parin ang tadhana ng paraan para mag-tagpo kayong muli. Meeting Archer wasn't just a coincidence, Ate. It was destiny!" I said like I'm putting some sense into her. Ngumiti pa ako.

"Nagpapaniwala ka kay Dominic?"

"Oo naman, iyon na kasi ang may pinaka-sense niyang sinabi kaya naniwala ako. And can you actually believe that he was the stranger who brought me home when I was so wasted? You weren't there but of course Kuya Dom probably told you about it."

Ate Margaux gasp when she remembered. "Oh my god! He was that guy?"

"Yes! It was a surprise to me as well. Kaya pala iba 'yung tingin niya sa akin noong unang beses ko siyang nakita nung sinugod niya ang kapatid niya rito. He remembered me while I don't remember him. I was so wasted and I can't even remember what happened that night."

Ngumuso si Ate Margaux at napaisip. She nods her head when she managed to patch things up now.

"We also keep on seeing each other unexpectedly at different places. That means something, right?"

"Probably." She said and shrugged her shoulders. "But I already have a feeling that there might be something going on between you two. Because the way you look at each other when we were going up the plane..."

"Yeah, the time where you caused traffic at the stairs." Pag-singit ko naman sa sinasabi niya. I rolled my eyes.

"I saw the two of you, you know? And there was something. I thought it was ridiculous of me to think about it that way so just like you, I just ignored it. But now! Look at you! I should've believed my gut feeling! Damn it! I knew it!"

She even hissed disappointingly. Akala mo talaga at may kapustahan siya tungkol dito at nanghihinayang siyang hindi siya nanalo.

"So, what happens to Lucas now? Wala na talaga?" she asked curiously.

"Oo, Ate, wala na talaga. If you could just see how happy I am with Archer, you would be so proud of me."

Ngumisi si Ate Margaux. She even poked my side to tease me more.

"But..."

Agad naman akong tinaasan ni Ate Margaux ng kilay nang may pahabol ako.

"What?"

"Can you do me a favor?" medyo nahihiya ko pang sinabi.

Her forehead creased more. Mukhang nagugulohan na siya sa sinasabi ko.

"Can you... keep this a secret first?"

"Why would I?!" nanlalaki ang mga mata niyang sinabi, mukhang tutol pa ata sa sinasabi ko.

"Because I asked you to!"

She scoffed sarcastically. "No."

Bagsak ang balikat ko siyang tiningnan.

"Why do you want to keep this a secret? Aren't you proud?"

"Hindi sa ganoon, Ate. I'm just looking for the right timing before I let everyone know. I just want to enjoy this first. Ngayon nalang ako naging ganito kasaya ulit kaya please... pagbigyan mo na ako, Ate..." ngumuso ako at pinag-dikit ang dalawang palad para mag-mukha talaga akong nagmamakaawa.

She shut her eyes and massaged her forehead.

"You've been through this so you know why." dagdag ko.

"Anong I've been through this?" agad siyang napamulat ng kanyang mga mata upang itanggi ang paratang ko.

"Bakit? Hindi ba? Didn't you keep Kuya Jaxon a secret, too?"

"Because you know our father, Fel! At hindi ko rin gustong ipaalam pa agad! Pero dahil may nag-sumbong tungkol sa amin, wala na rin akong nagawa pa! Ugh! Damn it! I still don't know who's that piece of shit who told our father that I went out of Jaxon's office at dawn!" she irritably crossed her arms over her chest. 1

Natawa naman ako ng bahagya. It's been years since that happened. Masaya na sila ni Kuya Jaxon ngayon pero prinoproblema niya parin kung sino iyong nag-sumbong tungkol sa kanila kay Dad.

"And that's exactly what I'm doing! Idagdag mo pa si Kuya Gio at Kuya Dominic na palaging nagmamasid sa akin! Baka kapag nalaman nila, mapauwi nang 'di oras si Kuya Dom at hindi na bumalik ng New York para lang bantayan ako!"

I rolled my eyes in annoyance. I feel like that's what Kuya Dominic is really going to do once he knew. Ang epal pa naman ng isang 'yun! Gusto palaging updated kahit wala namang kailangang i-update sa kanya.

Umangat ang gilid ng labi ni Ate Margaux habang nakatingin sa akin. Hindi sigurado kung gagawin niya ba ang gusto ko o hindi.

"Please... just let me enjoy my time with Archer first. Hayaan mong kaunti muna ang makaalam bago ako tuluyang magdesisyon na sabihin na sa lahat ang tungkol sa amin. At tsaka may kundisyon pa ako sa kanya. Sasagutin ko lang siya kapag nakapasa at nag-top ako ng boards."

Tuluyan nang hindi napigilan pa ni Ate Margaux na mabigla sa mga pinagsasabi ko. I know... she doesn't need to tell me that I'm being ridiculous because I already know that I am. But that's just also my way to motivate myself.

Na kailangan kong pag-igihan sa boards at mapasama na topnotchers para maging boyfriend ko si Archer!

"Hindi pa kayo?!" hindi makapaniwala niyang tanong.

"Hmm... parang kami pero hindi."

She gasps. Kung siguro pupwede niya lang akong sampalin ngayon, talagang ginawa na niya. Unti-unti namang napalitan ang reaksyon niya at tuluyan nang natawa sa sinabi ko.

"Are you out of your mind, Felicity? Are you really going to make that man wait? Mag-rereview ka pa! It would take months! Paano kapag pumasa ka pero hindi nag-top?"

"Ganoon parin. Basta pumasa!" I smiled cheekily.

Mariin niyang ipinikit muli ang kanyang mga mata. Stressed na ata ang kapatid ko sa akin. 'Di bale... ako rin naman sa kanya kanina. Patas na kami ngayon.

"Sana alam mong baliw ka, Fel. Kasi mapapahiya ako kung hindi mo alam."

Tumawa ako. "So, you agree? You're not going to tell anyone yet?"

Tiningnan niya ako ng masama bago sumagot.

"Yes. At naisip ko rin na sa'yo parin manggagaling ang desisyon. Hindi kita pupwedeng pangunahan. Matanda ka na pero baliw lang."

I made a face to mock her. Nginitian ko naman siya kasi kahit na inaasahan ko nang papayag siya sa gusto kong mangyari, hindi ko inaakala na makukuha ko ang isang-daang porsyentong suporta niya.

"Is he still here though?"

I nod my head. "I knew you would want to talk to him after so I asked him to stay. Ano naman ang pag-uusapan niyo?"

"Mag-sosorry lang ako kasi minalas siya sa'yo."

Sinamaan ko naman agad siya ng tingin. Tumawa siya sa naging reaksyon ko kaya agad niyang binawi ang sinabi.

Anong malas? Swerte niya 'yang si Archer sa akin!

Wow! Buhat sariling bangko?

"I'm just going to warn him about how crazy you could get. At syempre, gusto ko rin siyang makilala ano?"

Ngumiti naman akong muli. I hooked my arms around her as we go out of the conference to meet up with Archer again.

Bumalik kami ni Ate Margaux sa may lobby. Agad naman kaming natanaw ni Archer. Nakita niya siguro ang ngiting-ngiti kong ekspresyon kaya hindi na rin siya nabahala pa.

"Archer, this is my sister Ate Margaux. Ate Margaux this is my-"

"Don't tell me he's just a friend. Kokotongan talaga kita." pag-putol niya naman sa sinasabi ko.

Humalakhak ako. Kahit si Archer natawa nalang din kay Ate.

"O sige, this is my husband Archer nalang." biro ko.

Binalingan ko ng tingin si Archer at tsaka siya kinindatan. Pansin ko naman na nagulat siya sa sinabi ko. Si Ate Margaux naman mukhang nainis na ng tuluyan kaya mahina na akong binatukan.

"Aw!"

"Alam mo, Archer, ngayon palang magso-sorry na ako kasi imbis na bigyan ka ng matinong babae, nabigyan ka ng baliw. But nice meeting you though. I'm Margaux."

Ngumisi si Archer at tinanggap ang kamay ni Ate.

"Nice meeting you, too. Don't worry, I can handle Felicity."

Mayabang akong ngumisi at tiningnan si Ate Margaux. Napangiti na siya sa sinabi ni Archer pero dahil nakita niya ang reaksyon ko, napawi ang ngiti niya.

"I also want to apologize if my sister is making you wait instead of making this thing between you official already. It must be a hassle. But thank you for respecting her decision. I'm glad that she found a man like you."

Umangat ang kilay ko nang dahil sa sinabi niya. Oh, wow! I did not expect that. I wonder if this is what Kuya Gio and Kuya Dominic are going to tell Archer as well once I decided to let him meet them.

Kuya Gio's like the second version of my father, bawasan lang ng kaunti ang pagka-strikto. Meanwhile, Kuya Dominic... hindi ko alam kung kanino nag-mana 'yun. Pero pansin ko naman sa kanya, kapag seryoso ang usapan, seryoso din siya.

'Yun nga lang... saglit lang tumatagal ang pagkaseryoso niya.

Ngumiti si Archer at bahagyang yumuko. "I just want whatever makes Felicity happy."

I pursed my lips to hide my smile. Pagilid naman akong tiningnan ng kapatid ko. Nakita kong nangisi siya bago tumango sa sinabi ni Archer.

They talked for a little while before we both got a page. We almost forgot that we're going to work on a case today. Masyado atang nasorpresa itong si Ate Margaux para makalimutan na niya ang ta-trabahuhin namin ngayong araw.

I also managed to time in because I already presented my ID. Archer's also going to work now so he immediately left after Ate Margaux talked to him. I won't be able to see him for a week so I hope we'll be able to pull this LDR thing off for a week.

Ate Margaux has a scheduled surgery today so I'll be there to assist her together with another surgical resident. Siya iyong madalas na mag-conduct ng lessons sa amin kaya alam ko nang magaling itong kasama ni Ate Margaux.

After we prepped our patient, Ate Margaux and I scrubbed in together. Nauna na iyong kasama naming resident at kasalukuyan na siyang ina-assist ng mga OR nurse para i-don ang kanyang PPE.

We entered the operating room together after we finished scrubbing in. OR nurses immediately flocked around us to help us don our PPEs.

"How are you feeling?" Ate Margaux asks.

I turn to her while the nurse is busy tying my surgical gown. "Great. I'm excited for what's about to happen."

"I'm not going to force you to specialize in cardiothoracic surgery but I hope what will happen today will change your mind."

I scoff and rolled my eyes. My sister loves cardiothoracic so much that she always builds her specialty up so a lot of aspiring surgeons will take the same path. Kahit ata si Ate Brittany noon na desidido na sa OB-Gyne, pinipilit niya paring mag-bago ang isip.

"I'll think about it." Sabi ko.

"No, don't. Just take it."

"I thought you're not forcing me?"

"Now I am."

I sneered and made a face. Nauna naman siyang mag-tungo sa OR bed. She greeted every one including the anesthesiologist with us. Pumwesto naman ako sa tabi ng resident na kasama namin.

Both of my arms are up a bit as we wait for the surgery to start. Ate Margaux looks over our direction.

"Dr. Pineda." She said and bowed her head a bit. Ganoon din ang ginawa ni Dr. Pineda.

Then my sister glanced over at me. She bowed her head a bit.

"Dr. Donovan."

"Dr. Ventura."

She scoffs a bit. I knew she smiled behind her mask.

"Let's work together to save a patient's life today." Aniya bago hinarap ang scrub nurse. "Scalpel."

We're going to do an open-heart surgery procedure today. Our patient has a large aneurysm on his aorta so we have to repair his aortic valve.

After Ate Margaux made an incision on his chest, I reached for the rib spreader and placed it on either side of the incision that Ate Margaux made to help us see our patient's chest clearly.

When we managed to open the chest, Ate Margaux reached for the patient's heart to show us how big the aneurysm is.

The heart lung machine is now doing its job on our patient's heart and lungs to keep it still.

"I'm now going to open up the chambers." Ate Margaux informed us.

I moved closer to I could take a good look of what she's about to do. I couldn't help but get amazed as I watch her do well during this surgery. I've already seen her do a lot of surgeries before and she never fails to amaze me every time.

Ilang oras na rin ang nakalipas simula nang umpisahan ang surgery. We encountered a problem but Ate Margaux and the resident were quick enough to respond.

After they resolved it, they went through with replacing the aortic aneurysm with a graft that will serve as a replacement for the patient's damaged heart valve. Both surgeons are now busy suturing the graft into the heart.

"Suction, please." Dr. Pineda asked. I reached for it and gave it to him.

After they completed the repair, they gave a solution to help wake the heart up before they release the aortic cross clamp.

"Pump the heart, Dr. Donovan." Utos ni Ate Margaux.

Agad naman akong napaangat ng tingin sa kanya. Nagugulohan ko siyang tiningnan. She pointed at the patient's heart.

"W-What?" nagugulohan ko pang tanong.

"Hold the heart and pump it. It could help wake the heart up."

I gasp. "O-Oh... okay."

Dr. Pineda moved a bit to give space for me. Si Ate Margaux naman ay mataman lang na nanonood sa akin. I reached for the heart and looked at my sister again.

"Pump it gently and slowly."

I nod my head like an obedient child. I can't believe I'm holding an actual heart right now! It feels weird and rewarding at the same time. Pakiramdam ko ganap na akong surgeon kahit hindi pa naman ako lisensyado.

"This is so cool." I couldn't help but comment.

"Dr. Donovan, what is it?" matawa-tawang tanong ni Ate Margaux.

Agad naman akong umiling at nag-kunwaring wala akong sinabi. Oh my god, Felicity! This is not the best time to make a comment. You're literally holding a heart on your hand!

"Oh! Nothing... I'm just... going to shut my mouth off. Sorry." I whispered apologetically.

I removed my hand over the heart so they can now remove the aortic cross clamp. The heart had an irregular rhythm so they had to shock it. I handed my sister the paddles.

"Charge 20. Clear."

We all looked over the heart monitor. I nod my head pleasingly because the heart immediately went back to its normal rhythm state. Both surgeons checked if they missed something. They also looked over the cardiography to see if the valve works normally.

"All the aortic leak has been resolved. I'm happy how this surgery turned out." Ani Ate Margaux.

I couldn't help but smile because of that. Kahit wala naman akong masyadong ginawa, pakiramdam ko ang laki parin nang naging parte ko rito. It's good to see that the heart is now functioning normally after we take off the heart and lung machine.

"Can you close him up, Dr. Donovan?"

Nabigla naman akong muli sa sinabi ni Ate Margaux. I just pumped a heart a while ago and now she's asking me to close a patient up! Reward niya ba 'to sa akin dahil ipinakilala ko sa kanya si Archer?

Of course, as an intern who is very willing to take risks and learn, I took the opportunity. I asked for the clamp so I could now start to close our patient up. The resident already left but Ate Margaux stayed.

She kept on watching me do a suture. I've been practicing so I could say that I've improved a bit. Bago kasi mag-simula ang rotation namin sa surgery, bumili ako ng suture kit para makapag-practice ulit.

Ngayon, mukhang worth it naman. I let out a deep sigh after I finished doing my work. Umayos ako ng tayo at hinarap si Ate Margaux na mukhang nakangisi na ata ngayon.

"How is my suture?" I asked nervously.

"It's clean. You have nothing to worry about."

I sigh in relief. Hindi ko na talaga napigilan pa ang sarili na mapangiti.

"You did well, Fel." She complimented me, setting aside the formality.

"You too, Ate. You were amazing."

Hindi maalis sa labi ko ang ngiti ko kahit tapos na ang surgery. I went to the nurses' station after to give back the chart I just updated. And because I couldn't contain the happiness that I'm feeling today... I decided to tell Archer about it.

I wonder how his day is going so far. I hope he's also having a great day just like mine.

Me:

You wouldn't believe what happened today!

I'm surprised that he was able to reply quickly.

Archer:

So, surgery just finished? What happened? Was it fun?

I smiled widely as I read his text. Ang liit na bagay para maging masyado akong masaya sa dami niyang tanong. Pakiramdam ko kasi interesado talaga siya sa sasabihin ko kaya siguro ganito ang reaksyon ko.

Me:

Yes, and I held a patient's heart today! As in I literally held it with my own hands and pumped it! Imagine how weird it must've felt but it feels so amazing at the same time! I feel like I wouldn't be able to forget this day. It's just so amazing. I'm still in shock to be honest.

Gusto ko sana siyang tawagan kaso baka nasa may pinagkakaabalahan din siya. Baka may briefing sila sa flight niya ngayon. Ayaw ko rin namang makaistorbo. A text will do.

Archer:

Really? That sounds super cool. I wish I was witness it. I bet you looked amazing.

My cheeks immediately blushed.

Me:

Sus!

Archer:

Believe me. You've amaze me every time I watch you do your work, Felicity.

Me:

Did you just expose yourself, Archer? I didn't know you were watching me. Ikaw ha? May lihim ka nang pag-tingin sa akin noon pa man!

Archer:

Wow! Parang siya hindi. I could even count how many times I caught you glancing over my direction. Bakit? May lihim ka ring pag-tingin sa akin noon?

I burst out of laughter because of that. Ganon? Ang bilis mabalik sa akin nung pang-aasar ko? 'Di ko man lang magawang ipagtanggol ang sarili dahil aminado rin ako tungkol doon.

Nag-patuloy kami sa pang-aasar sa isa't isa. Minsan hindi ko napipigilan ang sarili sa paghalakhak ng malakas. Tinakpan ko ang bibig ko dahil masyado atang napalakas ang tawa ko pagkatapos ng pang-aasar ni Archer.

"Oops. Sorry." Paumanhin ko sa mga nurses sa nakakarinig ng tawa ko.

"It's fine." The person beside me replied.

Nabigla naman ako kaya agad akong napabaling sa direksyon niya. My mouth parted when I realized that it was Lucas. My jaw dropped.

"Oh! I'm really sorry for the noise. I didn't mean to..." hindi ko magawang ipagpatuloy ang sinasabi ko dahil naunahan na ako ng hiya.

He is checking on some charts and I feel like my annoying laugh must've been a distraction to him. Lucas glanced at me and smirked.

"It's fine. You look happy though."

I pressed my lips into a thin line and nod my head slowly. Inilubay ko ang tingin sa kanya.

"I am." I agreed to him.

I heard him scoff so I look over his direction again. A genuine smile is now plastered on his lips.

"How are you, Felicity?"

Hindi ko agad sinagot ang tanong niya. Sa halip, nanatili akong nakatingin sa kanya. It's odd how my heart used to beat so fast before whenever he starts a conversation with me. Ngayon... parang normal nalang. Wala na akong ibang nararamdaman. Pakiramdam ko, parang kaibigan ko lang iyong nag-tatanong.

I never thought that I would be able to move on so fast. Ilang taon ko din siyang nagustohan noon kaya akala ko matagal ding panahon para tuluyan kong makalimutan kung ano man ang nararamdaman ko para sa kanya.

Pero... sadyang ginugulat nalang talaga tayo ng panahon. 'Yung akala nating imposible, biglang nagiging posible.

"I'm good. I just finished assisting an open-heart surgery with my sister and it was amazing! How about you?"

"I'm happy to hear that you're enjoying your surgery rotation. It must've been so fun to work with your sister again," he said. I nod my head in agreement. "I'm doing great. It's been so long since we worked on a case together, didn't we?"

Napaisip ako sa sinabi niya. Oo nga. Hindi ko napansin na matagal na pala simula nang mag-karoon kami ng case dalawa.

"Right... I didn't notice that it's been so long. I feel like the first case we worked on together was just yesterday." I smiled.

Lucas returns the smile and chuckled a bit. Binalingan niyang muli ng tingin ang chart na binabasa niya kaya bahagya na rin kaming natahimik.

I feel like that was my queue to leave. Aalis na sana ako at magpapaalam na sa kanya nang matigilan ako nang mag-salita siya. I stopped and turned to him again. Lucas closed the chart before he looks at me again.

"Are you busy? Is it okay if... I'll ask you to have coffee with me?"