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#NY05 Chapter 05

I was busy minding my own business when suddenly, Sean was standing beside me. I slightly arched my brow as he slid a cup of coffee in front of me.

"What is this?" I asked.

"Coffee."

"Yes, but what for?"

"I know it's none of my business, but Eli," he said and then proceeded to sip a cup of coffee as he played oblivious.

"What about him?"

"The nurses—"

"And since when did you listen to gossip?"

He smiled at me like he was teasing me. "Why are you so pressed, Kels? I'm just asking."

I rolled my eyes as I grabbed the cup of coffee. "Because if I have a choice, I'd rather for people to stop talking about me," I said. But maybe it was because of the choices that I made—nobody told me that it was a good idea to marry Sean. I knew from the get go that he was still in love with someone else and half the hospital's in love with him.

"Sammie's also talking about him."

I groaned. "That kid!"

Sean laughed. "She just asked my opinion if she has to call him Papa."

I narrowed my eyes. "I really don't know where she gets it! We're both not like that!" I exclaimed. "Must be recessive genes!"

Sean laughed at me, still. "I just want to know if he's good to Sammie and to you—that's my only concern."

I stared at Sean. It was weird talking about Eli. There's nothing going on between us—sure, he gives me coffee every time he'd bring his mom for check-up, but that was it. He didn't even have my number—not that he asked for it, anyway.

"He's nice," I said because he really was.

"I'm glad to hear that, Kels," he replied with a genuine smile on his face. I knew that Sean's rooting for my happiness—that's why I could never really get mad at him. It wasn't his fault that his heart belongs to someone else. It wasn't as if he could force that... and it wasn't as if I wanted him to do that.

Eli was right—if it's really for me, I didn't have to force it.

What's meant for me will come to me eventually.

I just needed to be patient.

"But there's nothing going on," I said.

"Really?" he asked like he didn't believe me.

"We're just friends."

"That's not what I heard from Sammie."

I rolled my eyes. "You know that kid's not reliable."

Sean laughed. "Whatever you say, Kels," he replied, laughing.

"Shut up. Nothing's going on."

"Then why not try asking him out?" My eyes widened a little. Sean shrugged. "Maybe he's just shy? He looks shy."

I blinked. "What?" Sean smiled at me again. My lips parted. "You saw him!" I accused him.

"Just saw him while I was on duty."

"How? You're on the opposite side of the hospital!"

"I have feet, Kels. I can walk."

"Sean!"

He laughed again. "I was just curious with Sammie's future—" he said, but I hit him with the clipboard in front of me. He laughed louder that the nurses stared at us. Great. Another cause for rumors. "Fine, fine, I'll stop."

"You freaking stalker!"

"I didn't really look for him. I was just walking and I accidentally overheard him talking to the nurse, asking her to give you the coffee. 'Wag ka nang magalit," he said using his malambing voice, but I just glared at him.

"I hate you," I said.

"You don't," he replied with a grin. "But seriously, Kels, try asking him out. I know a lot of doctors who have a crush on you but can't ask you out because apparently, you're intimidating—whatever that means."

My forehead creased. What? Me? Intimidating? How come? I just mainly mind my own business.

"Just ask the guy out. Help him out a little," Sean said as he grabbed the cup of coffee and walked away. So annoying.

I continued with work the rest of the day. I kept on hearing Sean's suggestion inside my head and however I tried to tune him out, I still kept on hearing that.

I was so annoyed that I thought I was hallucinating because I thought I heard Eli's voice.

"Okay ka lang?"

I frowned.

God, why wouldn't my imagination let me rest?

"Kakapagod ba sa trabaho?"

"Shut up," I said. The shift was toxic and I just really wanted to go home and rest.

But the Eli right in front of me looked shocked. "S-sorry," he said.

I blinked.

What... the hell?

"Eli?" I asked, trying to make sure that it wasn't my imagination and he really was in front of me!

"Pasensya na. Busy ka ata—"

"No," I quickly said. "Oh, my god. I'm sorry. I didn't think you were really in front of me. I thought I was imagining things—" I quickly said.

A grin appeared on his face. "Iniimagine mo ako?"

My eyes widened.

I really should just head straight home when I'm tired like this! My mouth often betrays me!

"No," I said after I gathered myself. "Why would I?"

He was still grinning. "Ewan ko nga, e..."

"Stop grinning."

"Hindi naman, ah."

"There's a grin on your face, Eli," I said.

He tried to stretch the grin off his face, but it kept on coming back. I frowned at him, but he kept on grinning. And then he laughed.

"Sorry na, Kelsey, ang hirap kontrolin ng mukha ko," he said while sporting the annoying grin on his face.

"Why are you here anyway? Where is Tita?" I asked because he's always here for the check-up, but as far as I knew, there's no schedule today... but I really didn't know for sure. It felt weird to ask around about his mom's schedule.

"Sa bahay, nagpapa-hinga."

"Is she okay?"

"Okay naman—kung hindi magpapasaway at susunod sa bilin ng doctor."

I smiled. "You just have to be patient, Eli," I reminded him. Based on experience, it's really hard to take care of patients when they're parents especially if they're used to working. They didn't like feeling like they're doing nothing. It makes them feel guilty. You just really have to have extra patience.

"Oo nga, e," he said with a small smile.

"Are you going to buy meds?" I asked because I didn't know why he's here if Tita's not with him. He placed his hand on his nape and smiled awkwardly. My forehead creased. "Are you okay?" I asked.

"Uhm..." he said and then stopped. I looked at him, waiting for him to continue talking, but it felt like he was still gathering himself.

"Are you okay?" I asked. He's been quiet and still for almost a minute that I might start suspecting stroke.

"Kelsey," he said.

"Yes?"

"Uhm..."

"Eli, are you okay?" I asked again because he's starting to sweat. It's already summer and maybe he's having heatstroke? But he's not showing the symptoms. "Eli—"

"Uh... ano, project ni Sammie. Magdala siya ng bulaklak bukas."

"What?" I asked. "Tomorrow is Sunday."

Eli blinked.

And panic washed over his face.

"National flower's day bukas."

My forehead creased. "National flower's day?" I asked because that sounded like it's made-up. I'd never heard of such a holiday.

He was blinking rapidly again like he was starting to have seizures. "Eli—"

"Alis na ako. Bye, Kelsey," he said before he ran so fast he almost left an Eli-shaped smoke in front of me. I just shook my head as I smiled while I walked to my car.

* * *

I was able to rest the entire Sunday because Sammie was with Sean. I went to a spa and treated myself and then went to check on the progress of the apartment.

At night, I tried to scroll on Facebook—which I rarely did because I was never really interested on what happens in the life of people around me. I didn't really post pictures of myself and of Sammie—Sean never posts picture of Sammie, either. It's just that we both knew that some people were interested and we just didn't want to give them something to look at. Whatever the mess was, Sammie's out of it.

Elias Jose Buenviaje

My eyes automatically squinted as I tried to look at the picture before me. It was just a silhouette of a guy sitting before a sunset. I didn't know what went in my mind that made me click the profile.

And it's him.

His work shows that he's a teacher at Sammie's school.

I tried to scroll, but his profile was set in private. I debated for a while on what I'd do next... but it was so annoying because Sean's voice kept on echoing inside my head.

So, what if those doctors found me intimidating?

That's not my fault.

And definitely not my loss.

I do not have the responsibility to make myself look available.

Add as friend

I drummed my fingers against the desk as I stared at the screen of my phone. Did Eli find me intimidating, too? That would be too presumptuous of me... but the last time we met, he looked like he was suffering from seizures with his rapid blinking.

Maybe he did try to ask me out.

Maybe Sean was right—I should help him out.

Maybe—

Click

Whatever.

It's done.

I threw my phone inside my bag and tried my hardest to fall asleep. It's been a long freaking day.

* * *

When I woke up, I didn't know why but I was too scared to check my phone. I just quickly prepared and then asked manang to check my notification and then tell me if there's anything urgent and work-related, but she said nothing. I didn't know why I did that because that just made me more curious and it took all my self-control not to ask if there was a notification from Facebook.

Why was I even acting this way?

The guy just brought me coffee!

'Ten cups in total,' the annoying part of my mind said.

"Whose birthday is it, Mommy?" Sammie asked when we stopped in front of the flower shop and I got an arrangement of daisies and rose buds.

"No one," I said as I placed the arrangement on the backseat. "National flower's day," I continued.

"Really?" she asked, surprised.

"Apparently."

"Why are we only celebrating that now, Mommy?"

I shrugged. "It's a new holiday, baby."

Sammie kept on asking about this holiday, and I just kept on inventing things and even a freaking parade! I had no idea, but I even made a promise to bring her to Baguio to watch the parade of flowers.

How did the made-up holiday get that far?

"Bye, mommy! Drive safe! I love you!" Sammie said before she got out of the car and walked inside the school. I watched as I saw her get in. I was about to drive away when I saw Eli walking towards the gate, too. I immediately parked and got out of the car.

"Eli," I said.

When he turned around, his eyes widened like he saw a ghost.

"K-Kelsey..."

"Sammie forgot," I said as I showed him the bouquet. His face was so red—even his ears turned red! "National flower's day, right?"

He was blinking rapidly again.

"Kelsey—"

"I don't know if I'm reading this right but... do you want to have dinner with me some time?" I asked. His eyes widened. He took a deep breath. I waited for him to speak, but a few seconds passed and all I got was him blinking at me. "Uh... blink if you don't want to? It's totally fine—" I said, but he widened his eyes that made me widen my eyes in surprise, but eventually, I laughed because he looked so funny.

"Is... that a yes?" I asked as he still had his eyes wide open. He wasn't blinking. He wasn't saying anything. "Blink if yes?" I asked again and he blinked. Why was he adorable?

*** 

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