Kabanata 37:

Never had

Kinain kami ng katahimikan.

I think her presence wasn't much needed.

She was wearing a faded blue high-waisted jeans with a sleeveless black camisole. Her polarized shade was hanging in the center of her chest.

Ingrid had a pitiful look at me, while she stared at Blanchette with such admiration.

"Good morning, Ingrid. What brings you here?" Marky greeted her to stop the awkward silence.

"I'm going to straight to the point. Me and Mr. Devon Diavolo Belluci Lopez are cousins. To clarify what happen at your Family's hotel, nagkataong nasa harap ako ng isang Cafe kaharap lang hotel niyo at nakita ko siyang pumasok sa lobby at nag-check in. May dala siyang maleta, basically kagagaling niya lang sa Airport, so I approached him. He was expecting your presence - since you're going to have a Monday inspection. He was excited to see you. Kuya Dev has never been that excited to see someone, unless it's his favorite beer or whiskey. He said to me you were not picking up his calls. He didn't receive a simple reply from you. Kaya nauna siya sa hotel niyo para kausapin ka. Mali ang sumabay ako sa hotel room niya. I should have talk to him somewhere. Maybe that was the reason you are avoiding him. The last reunion na naganap sa family namin hindi siya dumalo. We shared some years of our childhood, Eirene. I can't imagine him as a lover. He's my favorite cousin. We were close back then and please erase those doubts in your heart. Kuya Dev is not the way you think. I know I'm not in the right position to say this, but I can guarantee that Kuya Devon don't have a side-chick. I just don't think if he can do that, especially when he is committed. He's deeply serious to you. I know he's a total and a certified drunkard. He's way attractive for women to handle, but he's really faithful to you, Eirene. Don't be mad at him." mahaba at kongreto niyang salaysay.

I couldn't absorb all she said. The more silence, the more it became difficult and hazy to understand.

"Ang haba ng sinabi mo, are you still breathing?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Marky.

"Yes, I am..."

Ingrid detailed it all, without leaving a tiny detail behind. I felt relieved. Stupidly relieved.

"Eirene, bakit mo hindi sinabi sa amin ito? Kailan pa 'to?" Marky asked me with confusion and eagerness for a gossip. Tumango-tango siya ng ilang sandal nang mapagtanto niya. "Kaya pala nag-walk out ka."

He kicked my ankle gently under the table.

"I want to keep it a secret. There's nothing to share about it."

I coughed onto my shoulders.

I didn't want them to think that I'm jealous. Kasi wala namang dahilan para mag-selos.

Marky was smiling at me knowingly.

"Yeah, I thought we're friends." Blanchette said, sipping her ice-coffee.

"Sorry, I just don't want to bother you all with all the witless happenings in my life."

Ingrid was still standing in front of us. It was rude not to invite her with us. On the other side, I wanted to get rid of her. Ingrid wasn't one of the safest people.

She lived up with her friend's validation who were also talking shits behind her.

"There's no witless or nonsense when we were talking about these things..." Blanchette told us.

Ingrid tilted her head to my direction with reconcilement. "Eirene, is it too much to ask if I can hang out with your friends sometimes? This is also a good closure for the both of us."

Palihim na umiling si Marky. I hope Blanchette wouldn't accept her request.

Ngumuso si Marky kay Blanchette. Sumulyap siya sa aming dalawa nang naramdaman ang aming lihim na pag-tutol.

"I know I treated you like an enemy before. We were rivals in academics both in high school and college. I think we need to forget what happened through the years..."

How could I forget the terrible scenes she had put me into? Being mistaken as a cheater where in fact she was the one who cheat my answers during the final exam in tenth grade. It was not plain as that.

She spread awful news that I stole her boyfriend when were in ninth grade.

We were in the right age with matured mind. I just couldn't be a close friend to her. I could only be civil to her. I wanted to believe her because of the sincerity I had seen in her eyes. There was a part of me that's blocking me.

Blanchette let out a whistle. "Drama."

Ingrid's wide-smile dropped like how a hot coffee was poured down on her.

"What?"

Naka-awang ang baba niya.

"We don't like you, so we won't be literally hanging out with you. Do I really need to say this to you? Isn't too obvious in our faces?"

"Blanchette..." sabi ko sa mababang tono.

"Keep your horns at bay." Marky whispered to her.

"I never meet a person who is dumb as you. If you don't mind, please leave."

She dismissed her with a hand wave.

Ingrid adjusted her sling blue velvety bag. She pushed her chest, lowering her eyes to Blanchette who was smirking with clear victory.

Ingrid couldn't be defeated with a simple dismissal. She had to fight back.

"I'm not pertaining to you either, Miss Blanchette. I'm kind of one of your fans but now, hearing these from you? I better change my mind. Your tongue is sharp."

She crossed her arms over her chest.

Pinag-krus din ni Blanchette ang mahaba niyang legs at tinaasan ng isang kilay si Ingrid. Kalmado lang ang mukha niya.

Her face was like a water: silent and steady but when she speaks, expect rocks beneath the lake.

"This tongue is sharp as a knife. It can slice you up into pieces..." she hissed.

"I guess tama ang mga chismis. I shouldn't have bought all the clothes, jewelries, and shoes you've endorsed! You're a shameless and brazen girl!" she remarked, bitterly.

Ingrid scooted out of the Cafe.

Blanchette whistled using her thumb and forefinger. "Burn all the clothes, jewelries, and shoes I've endorsed!"

Pumalakpak si Marky nang hindi na namin mahagilap si Ingrid.

"Like a known school bitch got ditch by another bitch."

I opened my phone out of curiosity. Baha iyon ng mensahe galing sa kanya. Unti-unting gumapang ang ngiti sa aking labi.

***

The result of Devon's late post on Instagram boomed the popularity of my clinic like how the mercury in the air's temperature reached the maximum degrees. It was beyond the regular.

Noon mabibilang lang sa kamay ang mga nagpapakonsulta, ngayon ay hanggang dalawang pahina na ng papel sa dami.

Kylie and Blachette were my new endorsers of my clinic. Marky was the photographer. They were doing the shoot behind me.

"That's it! Both of you should have a snap -facing each other with the robe slightly expose the shoulders to show off your skin. Para sa bagong front picture ng clinic."

The crew from a certain Beauty TV channel was setting up the camera, lights, and microphone on the other side. I felt a trivial nervousness. That would be my first appearance on TV.

Inabotan ako ng white towel ni Shanie dahil sa butil ng pawis sa aking noo.

"Pag naging hospital kalaki itong clinic mo huwag mo naman sana akong palitan bilang sekratarya mo, dok, ah?"

"Why would I?"

Kinuha ko ang white towel. I pat the fabric to my forehead, gently.

"How's your exam? How about your course? I mean, you should find a job that's related to your course."

Her eyes trickled down to her grasped hands. I sensed something bad news.

"Hindi ako nakapasa, dok."

Disappointment was written on her face. I folded the towel. I held her hand.

"You still have a chance next time. We have a chance every day. Hindi ka mauubusan ng pagkakataon. Alam kong dadating din ang tamang oras para sa'yo. I know you can do it. I won't replace you unless you resign. I know what you're feeling right. Naranasan ko rin ang hindi makapasa. I thought that was the ending. It was just only the beginning. At your stage, it's difficult to fight the negative whispers of failure and the disappointment. It will be hard in this stage, and it's hard to stay motivated if people in your environment are making you feel like there would be no other chance. Like you are really a total failure and deserve nothing to take another board exam."

Inipit niya ang ilang hibla ng natural na makulot niyang buhok sa likod ng kanyang tainga. She smiled eventually.

"Pero pa-blow out naman, doc, ha?" bulong niya.

"Later, we'll have pizza."

The interview started by exactly 3pm. Their pictorial ended. I caught a glimpse of Blanchette and Kylie taking selfies.

The lights and camera were focused on me. The questions were all about basic things to do the skin, and what shouldn't do to the skin.

I explained it all, and enumerated the types of skin. I recommended certain products too.

Lahat ng mga tanong ay nanggaling sa komentong naipon nila sa kanilang mga social media accounts.

"How important is our skin, doctora?" tanong ng interviewer.

"Like our heart and brain, our skin is also an organ. We should remember that. Actually, it's the largest organ in our body. Our skin has a big role in our body. It acts like a barrier from mechanical impacts and pressure, variations in temperature from our atmosphere, radiations, chemicals, and other harmful infections. Our skin regulates our body temperature through our sweat and hair and the way it changes its circulation and fluid. It also a storage for the synthesis of vitamin D. It's the main reason why we bask under the morning sun. Aside from that, it distributes nerve cells to our senses that detects in the changes of our environment. It is a receptor for heat, cold, touch, and pain. Ang ating balat ay nakakaramdam ng mga ito dahil may sarili din itong pandamdam."

"Pretty amazing..." komento niya at tumango-tango. "What is the benefit of taking good care of our skin?"

"The main benefit of taking good care of our skin, increases our confidence. Not by just looking good, and received good impression from others, but the mental benefit is greater compared to the physical effects. It makes us feel good about our self. With proper skin care, we can actually achieve it."

"Another question from @miswali69. Kayo ba ni Mr. Devon Lopez? The question is personal. We can just skip this, Doc.." nanghihingi ng permiso niyang wika.

Mabuti ay professional siya.

"No, it's ok. I also want to clarify that we're civil to each other. There's nothing going on with us now."

Goodness, I sounded so defensive!

"Do you have a boyfriend right now, Doktora?" she asked again, sensing that it was fine to ask such private questions.

"I don't really have one." diretsahan kong sagot.

Test his patience, Eirene. Let's see how far his persistence can go.

Periedot Spiels