Chapter Five

Masterpiece

So on a Sunday I went out on a date with Yessa. Ito lang din kasi ang araw na wala kaming trabaho pareho sa hospital. Well, except when there's an emergency at work and we're called. Mabuti naman ngayon na wala talaga kaming trabaho na dalawa. So we can enjoy a day of getting to know each other more.

Yessa said that she knows how to drive. But I also offered na sunduin ko rin siya ngayon sa bahay nila. Para na rin maipagpaalam ko siya nang maayos sa parents niya. And also, parang mahirap naman kung nasa magkaibang sasakyan pa kami sumakay. And she agreed.

And just after I had my breakfast at our house, umalis na rin ako at nag-drive ng kotse ko para puntahan at sunduin si Yessa sa bahay nila. Just like me she also currently stay at her parents house. Nagpaalam din ako kay Mommy and she's happy to know that I'll be out on a date with Yessa today.

I was greeted by Yessa's parents, both doctors Sisons, as soon as I arrived at their house. Yessa was still upstairs in her room and just finishing getting ready to go out. So her parents welcomed me first.

"We're glad na mukhang nagkakamabutihan naman kayo agad ng anak namin, hijo." Yessa's mom smiled at me.

I also politely smiled at Yessa's parents.

"I'm also glad that you have allowed me to take your daughter out on a date today." I said.

Umiling naman sa akin si Doktora Sison. "Walang problema, hijo. Masaya nga kami ng asawa ko na naisipan mo pang magpaalam din sa amin." She smiled.

"Well, of course. I think it's only right..." I smiled.

Tumango naman ang mag-asawa sa sinabi ko at mukhang natutuwa.

Although Yessa and I are already both of age now, I think it's still proper to be respectful. Hindi lang sa babaeng sinusubukan mong ligawan, but also to her parents and her family.

I remember that all the relationships I had in the past were all serious, at hindi nga lang talaga nag-work. But I hope this time it does...

"Leo..."

Pareho kami ng parents niya na napatingin kay Yessa nang makita naming nakababa na siya mula sa kwarto niya at handa nang umalis kami.

I promptly stood up from their living room sofa and my eyes remained looking at her. Today she's wearing a nice outfit as well. Kagaya noong nag-dinner sila ng parents niya sa bahay namin ay maganda rin siyang nakaayos ngayon. Sa hospital kasi madalas ay halos naka-scrub suit lang din kami doon. Although it doesn't make her less beautiful. Maganda naman yata siya kahit na ano pa ang isuot niya. At lalo na ngayong nakaayos siya nang ganito. I appreciate her efforts for preparing to go out with me today.

"She's here." Doktora Sison smiled at her daughter.

Nakita kong ngumiti rin si Yessa sa Mom niya.

Pagkatapos ay nagpaalam na rin kami sa parents niya na aalis na. And they just told us to take care and enjoy.

Pagkalabas namin ng bahay nila ay pinagbuksan ko rin ng pinto sa sasakyan ko si Yessa. And she smiled at me before she went in and sat there in the shotgun seat. Pagkatapos ay umikot naman ako papasok sa driver's seat. And then we drove off to where we will be going first today.

I already asked Yessa about this date. At sa kung saan ba niya gustong pumunta kami ngayon. And she said that since it's a Sunday she wants to go to the church first and attend the mass. And after that we can look for a restaurant on the way and have our lunch date there. But I already booked us a reservation at a fine dining restaurant. I also asked her kung ayos ba sa kaniya ang restaurant na napili ko ang she said that it's okay. So I reserved a table for us there after we attend the church mass. We also planned for this day kahit noong isang araw ko lang din siya niyaya na lumabas kami ngayon at pinag-usapan namin itong date namin.

We went inside the church after leaving my car in the parking lot outside. Marami rin tao ngayon sa simbahan na magsisimba rin at aattend ng mass lalo na at dahil linggo ngayon.

I'm also used to coming to church dahil palagi rin nagsisimba ang parents ko at ang family namin. My mom always go to church and offers some donations and her tithing.

"I hope this is really okay with you. Going to church on our first date." Yessa said and she smiled a little at me.

Ngumiti rin ako sa kaniya at umupo na kami roon habang magsisimula pa lang ang misa. "Yes, it's okay. Sumasama rin naman akong magsimba sa parents ko madalas." I said.

Tumango naman siya sa akin at muli lang ngumiti. Pagkatapos ay handa na kami parang makinig ng misa at nandoon na rin ang Pari.

And after that we went to the restaurant I had a reservation for us. And we were immediately lead to our reserved table when we arrived at the place and looked at the menu.

At habang kumakain ay nag-uusap din kami ni Yessa. "You have plans on moving out of your parents' house?" She asked me.

Tumango naman ako. "Of course. I actually already did before. When I was still studying I've got my own place, too. A condo. Because it was more convenient for me. At malapit lang din sa university kung saan ako dati nag-aaral. But after that my Mom just asked me to move back to our house because she said that she missed me. And I also love her home cooked meals, so..." Bahagya akong napailing at ngumiti na lang kay Yessa.

And she smiled at me as well. "I can see that you're close with your parents."

"Well, I'm an only child, so..." I shrugged my shoulders a bit.

Tumango naman siya sa akin. "I'm also an only child. But I grew up with my busy parents. They were just so focused with their careers back then. And I'm always left at home with just my nanny." Tipid siyang ngumiti sa akin pagkatapos ng sinabi niya.

"Well, I remember that my parents were also busy as doctors while I was growing up..." But they still make time for me, their only son, even sometimes.

Tumango lang naman si Yessa sa sinabi ko.

"I think, pinagbibigyan mo lang ang Mommy mo na i-date ako?" She looked at me after a while.

Nanatili rin akong nakatingin sa kaniya. "Oh. Well, you can say that at first... But, didn't I invite you myself to this date?" I smiled at her. "To be honest, I didn't really thought about dating just until recently. I was just always busy with work at the hospital and my patients' treatments. And when my Mom asked me about it, at na may ipapakilala raw siya sa akin, I just nodded in agreement. I thought to myself that I might just also give it a try... And since I'm not getting younger anymore..." Bahagya kong pinilig ang ulo ko at ngumiti na lang din sa kaniya.

Bahagya rin naman siyang napangiti sa sinabi ko.

"And your Mom must be a really nice person, para pagbigyan mo siya kahit sa pagpili ng babae para sa 'yo..." She halted her words a bit.

Nagkatinginan naman kaming dalawa.

"Oh. I really like her as well. She was nice to me on our family dinner. And also whenever we see each other at the hospital, she would also greet me often." She said and she smiled.

Ngumiti naman ako pagkatapos ng sinabi niya.

"How about you..." I asked her slowly.

Tumingin siya sa 'kin. "Uh, about me... Okay lang din. I mean, my parents have been always strict to me since I was young. Kahit na busy sila sa hospital as doctors, palagi pa rin nila akong pinapaalalahanan... That's why I wasn't able to move out until now... as you can see I still live with my parents..." She sighed a bit. "At siguro ay papayagan lang nila akong umalis na sa bahay namin kapag nagpakasal na ako..." She smiled a little awkwardly. At pinilig din niya ang ulo niya.

And I just smiled at her.

Ganoon siguro talaga kapag only child ka. Medyo mahihirapan din ang parents mo na pakawalan ka.

At dahil maaga pa naman para umuwi na pagkatapos ng lunch date namin, we also decided na mamasyal na lang din muna. Apparently Yessa likes museums so we visited one.

"This painting was painted by Filipino painter Juan Luna. He spent eight months completing this painting... and it garnered the first gold medal in Madrid... It's a masterpiece." Yessa said while looking at the huge painting in front of us called the Spoliarium.

I think I didn't know much about paintings. But I guess it's interesting, too. I watched the masterpiece in front of us again.

Pagkatapos mula sa painting ay bumaling sa akin si Yessa.

"To be honest, at first I wasn't really so serious about becoming a doctor, you know... As you can see my parents were both doctors, and they wanted me to become one as well... just like them." She said.

"But when I saw you at the hospital that day, the first time that I saw you... You were at the emergency receiving a new patient coming in. Galing sa isang aksidente at mabilis mo itong inasikaso. You were very fast in attending to them... Kahit pa halos mag-isa ka lang doon nang oras na 'yon. You quickly gave them treatment... and you saved their lives. Even when those patients were almost to be announced dead when they arrived in the Dela Cuesta Medical, but you still managed to save them both. Especially the child who was in a very critical condition. I remember that it was a mother and her son who got into a car crash..."

Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa.

Nakatingin siya sa akin. "You were like a masterpiece, too... When I saw that great passion in you in attending to the patients... I think you're really made to be a doctor who truly saves lives. And who cares deeply for his patients..." She told me.

My lips parted at what Yessa said.

While she just smiled at me beautifully...

Halos matulala ako sa magandang mukha niya at sa magaan niyang ngiti.

"And you know, you inspire me to become just like you. You're like my role model. And I also want to become a doctor who's as passionate as you are, Doctor Leonard Madrigal." Nagpatuloy pa ang ngiti niya sa akin nang sinabi niya ito sa 'kin.

And I feel like my heart started to beat more... Parang lumakas ang tibok sa dibdib ko. At parang may init din na humaplos sa puso ko...

My lips slowly curved into my really genuine smile for her. I smiled at her. Pareho kaming nakangiti habang nakatingin sa isa't isa, in front of the huge masterpiece beside us...