CHAPTER SIXTEEN

"DOC, ANO ba talagang meron sa anak ko?" Napamasahe ng sentido si Wynter nang muling sabihin ni Mrs. Bonifacio ang tanong na iyon sa pang-apat na pagkakataon.

Wynter let out a deep sigh before she stared at her with a stoic expression. "Mrs. Bonifacio, your daughter has a rare mental disorder called Clinical Lycanthropy. She can see herself transforming into an animal. According to the test we had before, she talked about her turning into a werewolf, and acting like a wolf—"

Napatigil sa pagsasalita si Wyn nang biglang tumayo ang ginang at nagpalakad-lakad sa loob ng opisina niya. "You mean to tell me that my daughter is crazy?" she almost shrieked.

"She has a mental disorder, Mrs. Bonifacio. That doesn't necessarily mean that she's crazy," mahinahong pagpapaliwanag ni Wynter. Ilang beses ko na ba naipaliwanag ito sa kanya? For Pete's sake, this is getting tiresome.

"—Maybe this is because of watching too much werewolf-themed movies," pangungumbinsi ng ginang sa sarili habang tuloy pa rin sa walang tigil na paglalakad.

Wynter was about to calm the patient's mother when her secretary suddenly entered her office.

"Doc Vazquez, Ms. Bonifacio had an attack," kalmadong pag-anunsyo ni Ella.

Wynter quickly but gracefully stood up and paused in front of Mrs. Bonifacio. "If you want, you can stay here for a moment, but I advise you to see your daughter and watch the nurse know how to properly react." With that, Wyn left her office and swiftly reached her patient's temporary room.

Wynter did not stop moving when she saw blood on the floor, when one of her nurses had a bleeding arm, or when she saw the girl's nails with blood. Natigilan lang siya nang marinig ang pagtili ng taong nasa likod niya bago ito tuluyang nanahimik, at sigurado na siya kung sino iyon.

"Nurse Janett, provide first aid for Nurse Lyn." Agad namang tumango si Janett saka nilapitan si Lyn para hatakin at gamutin. Tiningnan naman si Wyn ang sekretarya. "Take Mrs. Bonifacio—" She took a quick glance at the unconscious mother. "—back to my office, El. Thank you."

"Sí, señorita." Ella turned around to face the room guards. "Would you mind helping me with the body?" walang emosyong sabi ng dalaga.

Wyn couldn't let out a small smile. Her secretary looked so serious, but Wyn knows better. She's joking. "Don't throw the body in the incinerator. She's still breathing," Wynter joked as well, but no emotion was seen on her face.

Nag-aalangan naman ang dalawang gwardiya na buhatin si Mrs. Bonifacio bago sumunod kay Ella pabalik sa opisina niya. Ibinalik naman ni Wyn ang atensyon sa dalagang pasyente.

"We need to give her a sedative first," ani Wyn pero walang kumilos sa mga nurse niya. Paniguradong natakot din dahil sa nangyari sa isang nurse. So Wynter reached for the injection and readied it herself. She was about to take a step closer to the patient when the girl became wild and pounced at her.

It was a good thing that Wyn evaded her smoothly but the result didn't end well. The patient fell down on the floor and suddenly caught deep heavy breaths before losing consciousness. Nanatili namang nakatulala ang dalawang nurse sa likuran niya kaya naman siya na ang nagbuhat sa pasyente pabalik sa kama nito.

She then turned her head a little to the left. "Wake Mrs. Bonifacio for me. I need her for confirmation." Finally, the nurses moved, one obeyed her command and the other assisted her. "Nurse Ann, contact the nearby hospital. I'll be needing a cardiologist. As early as now. Thank you." Tumango na lang si Ann saka lumabas ng kwarto. Looks like Mrs. Bonifacio missed certain information about her daughter's medical condition. Napailing na lang si Wyn saka binantayan ang batang babae habang hinihintay ang mga inutos niya.

Ilang saglit lang ay pumasok si Nurse Ann. "Doc, nandito na po yung doktor," wia nitong nagpataas ng isang kilay ni Wyn. That's literally quick.

May pumasok namang lalakeng naka-pastel yellow na polong nakatupi hanggang siko, at naka-black pants. Nakasampay naman sa isang braso niya ang doctor's robe niya. "Dr. Cabrera," Wynter spoke formally.

Seryoso naman siyang tiningnan ni Mike saka tinanguan. "Dr. Vazquez, how may I help?"

Wynter took a deep breath before they shared a professional conversation. Sakto na rin namang pumasok ang ina ng pasyente saka kinumpirma ni Wyn ang kondisyon ng dalaga. Nang maayos na ang lahat ay nagpaiwan si Mrs. Bonifacio sa kwarto ng anak nito at sinabihan siyang ito na muna ang magbabantay at pinakiusapan siyang tuluyan nang gamutin ang dalaga. Tinanguan lang naman ni Wyn ang ginang saka bumalik sa opisina niya.

Sa 'di malamang dahilan ay nakasunod sa kanya si Mike sa likuran niya. Hindi siya huminto sa paglalakad hanggang sa tuluyang makapasok sa opisina niya silang dalawa.

"Speak, Mike," utos ni Wynter nang makaupo sa swivel chair niya.

Si Mike naman ay nakatayo pa rin sa tapat ng pinto niya. She then heard him lock the door, causing her to shake her head. Malalaki ang hakbang na lumapit sa kanya si Mike saka walang sabi-sabing sinakop ang mga labi niya.

Their make-out lasted for a couple of minutes before they let each other's lips go to catch their breaths. Mike remained in his position, back against her desk, his hand cupping her chin up and slightly leaning down on her. His face was two inches away from hers. He stared at her lips for a second as he softly brushed the tip of his thumb on her lower lip. "I missed you," he said, almost as a whisper.

"You mean you miss having s*x?" Wynter bluntly cleared out.

Mike's eyes bore into hers as he let out a low chuckle. Amusement was visible in his eyes. "Yeah, that too."

Wynter couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "We're both busy. Now, if you don't mind, unlock the door. Thank you." Siya na rin ang gumalaw at inilayo ang mukha sa binata. Wyn then moved her chair backward before staring at Mike. "So, why are you here? Besides the fact that you miss s*x. You are well aware that we both separate work from personal life."

Umayos na rin ng tayo ang lalakeng doktor saka naglakad papalapit sa pinto para tanggalin ang pagkaka-lock noon. Once he's done, he sat on the visitor's chair and smiled at her. "Kukumustahin lang sana kita. Hindi na tayo nagkita muli simula nang makabalik tayo mula sa Thailand."

Matagal na tinitigan ni Wyn ang kausap bago ibinalik ang atensyon sa mga papeles na nasa desk niya. "And then again, we're both busy, Mike."

"Were you busy with Dan?" bigla namang tanong nito na nagpaangat ng tingin ng babae.

Wynter's cold expression became visible. "It's none of your business, Mike."

Umayos ng upo si Mike saka ipinatong ang braso sa lamesa niya't tiningnan siya ng seryoso. "Actually, it is. Say... are you guys dating?"

Ibinaba ni Wyn ang tingin sa mga dokumento. "You know the answer to your question—"

"That's the point, Wynter. Hindi ko na alam kung ano yung sagot. So please, clear it out."

Wynter stopped what she was doing and faced Mike. "I am not dating anyone, Mike."

"Edi ba't kayo magkasama ni Dan kagabi?"

Her eyebrows furrowed. "Why do I have to explain everything to you? Pinakelaman ba kita sa mga babaeng kinakama mo? Don't act like a jealous boyfriend, Mike, because you're not." Nanatiling tahimik si Mike at sakto namang may kumatok sa pinto niya. "Come in."

Her stoic secretary entered the room and looked at her. "Doc, your two PM appointment is about to start. The patient, together with his guardians, is already waiting outside."

Tumango naman si Wyn. "Gracias, El. You may now leave. Dr. Cabrera will also take his leave."

Ella bowed her head a little before facing Mike. "This way, Dr. Cabrera."

Mike let out a heavy sigh before standing up, nodded at her, and leaving the room. Nang tuluyan siyang maiwang mag-isa sa opisina ay saka lang siya napabuga ng hangin. Hindi mawala sa isip niya ang pagtatalo nilang dalawa kanina. It was the first time that Mike took a step inside her personal zone. Wala naman kasi silang pakealam dapat sa isa't isa.

Napailing na lang si Wynter saka kinondisyon ang sarili para sa susunod na appointment.