Chapter 38 | Comeback

Dalawang linggo na ang lumipas mula nang nagsimula si Mia umagilid sa hospital, understood dahil pasyente siya't may napag-usapan silang plano ni Trinity.

I knew I'd see her frequently but damn not everyday. Hindi ko alam kung sadya ba ang lahat o talagang ginagago ako ng tadhana. Dalawang linggo mula nang nagkita kami muli at dalawang linggo na rin akong walang matinong tulog.

"Wow, the early bird Lukan is late today," panunukso ni Trinity.

Bahagya pa akong napatalon sa kanyang presensya sa aking opisina. I didn't actually have an office schedule but I made sure to follow my own time management.

Everything messed up for the last two weeks due to my struggle of sleeping, ikaw ba namang gabi-gabing bisitahin ng dimonyo mong pag-iisip. I couldn't blame anyone, not even Trinity who provoked and dirtied my mind to think of Mia. Pakiramdam ko pa nga ay abnormal na ang body clock ko sa sobrang komplikado ng sarili.

"I'm not in the mood," I informed her.

Sana ay tumigil siya saglit sa mga panunukso dahil hindi maganda ang epekto ng mga ito sa akin. Even I tried to ignore, it seemed like part of my brain was active of it, nag-aabang lang lagi ng signal and when triggered, kusa na lamang akong guguluhin... at wala akong magawa upang pigilan.

"Planado na namin ni Mia ang lahat para sa party mo. Ang dami kong ik-kuwento sa 'yo—"

"Araw-araw mo 'kong kinukuwentuhan, Trinity, pati ang pagpa-alam ni Mia sa pag-ihi sinasabi mo," I cut in.

She chuckled and asked, "Can't you just be thankful that you have a supportive friend? Sina Fred, Olivver at ang gagong Gierro ba ay kaya 'tong ginagawa ko para sa inyo?"

My smirk voluntarily plastered, I swayed my head, couldn't answer her.

"Ramdam na ramdam ko talaga, Lukan, na gusto ka pa rin niya. Baka nga beyond like na ngayon!" she convinced me.

"Wala kang enough proofs, based on facts lang dapat, Trinity," I said back, chuckling.

"Gago, pinakita ko sa kanya ang mga photos natin. Kahit nakatatawa na ang nakikita niya, hindi makangiti—"

"Baka hindi mo lang na-reach level of humor niya—"

"Pinakita ko kasi muna 'yong nangyari sa atin noong college, 'yong aksidente tayong na-register sa wedding booth—"

"What the hell? I'm not proud of that event," I reacted as I recalled what happened.

"Bhie, we need to trigger her emotions to state facts—"

"Facts ba talaga iyang nakukuha mo o are you just assuming things—"

"Bhie, kung ayaw niyang makarinig ng kung anong tungkol sa 'yo o hindi na siya interesado, dapat tinigilan niya ako sa pagkuwento, 'di ba?" she pointed out.

So, anong gusto niyang ipahiwatig? Na interesado pa rin si Mia dahil pina-uunlakan ang mga kuwento niya tungkol sa akin?

God, help me understand.

"Maybe she's just too shy to decline your stories," I fired.

Hindi agad nakapagsalita si Trinity dahil sa aking sinabi. See, hindi naman sigurado ang mga nilalapag niyang detalye.

"But her reactions were really something," subok muli ni Trinity, "feeling ko nga ay iniisip no'n na boyfriend kita, e."

I made a questionable face and asked, "Bakit naman siya mag-iisip ng ganyan?"

"Duh," she even rolled her eyes, "because she's jealous of our closeness."

"Doesn't make any sense to me," I told her.

"Come on," she groaned.

"Seriously, iisipin niyang tayo dahil nagseselos siya? Trinity, give me better arguments with relative facts—"

"Then try talking to her," she challenged, "magiging busy na rin ako after ng party mo. After I do my part, ikaw na ang bahala magpatuloy ng mga nakalap ko."

"Ano namang gagawin ko? Try winning her back—"

"Yes!" she exclaimed, "obviously, you are so whipped of her. Sleepless nights of fantasizing won't help you get her—"

"I'll pursue her if she feels the same way too. Ayaw ko ng maulit pa ang nakaraang ako lang ang sigurado, Trinity. Everything seems stable now but if her mind is still confused, hindi ko na alam. I don't want to feel betrayed for the second time from the same person," I pointed out.

"Alam kong puwede ko naman siyang ligawan dahil mahal ko pa rin—"

"Wait, mahal mo pa rin?" she repeated what I said, "sabi ko na, e!"

Napasampal na lamang ako sa aking noo dahil nagsasaya na ang kaibigan sa nadulas kong salita.

"I knew it! Mahal mo pa rin! Those denials sounded like a fraud," she said, "I know, Lukan. You tried so hard not to think of it but you couldn't never deny that it was always been there in the back of your head."

Right.

"Imbis na makalimutan dahil hindi iniisip, mas lalo mo lamang minahal... and that's fine! You still love her and assuming she's still confused, use your love to clear her mind," she added.

"Look, I love her but not like before. If we're back together, I'll make sure to love her as who I am now. I don't know why am I even saying this to you—"

"I'm cool with it. Ito na lang yata ang trabaho ko, ang kiligin sa lovelife ng iba... but seriously, just try make things work today. Usap kayong dalawa as an adult and let the past not bother you anymore. I know you've recovered from it so prove to her you changed in a better way," Trinity convinced me.

"Sige ka, after talaga nito baka minsanan na lang tayo magkita—"

"Bakit? Anong pagkaka-abalahan mo rito? I thought you came here for a vacation?" I asked her.

She sighed tiredly and leaned on the couch.

"Remember when I told you I want to maintain my weight?" tanong niya sa akin.

"What about it?" I asked.

"Nasabi ko kasi kay mama tapos she told me a ridiculous suggestion! Sa gym na lang daw ni Gierro ako mag-schedule," she frustratingly answered.

I laughed the hell out, remembering something.

"Tawa ka? Tangina, nas-stress ako. I declined her suggestion pero paggising ko, confirmed na ako roon mag-work out," she added.

"I convinced myself that it's fine as long as wala si Gierro. Wala naman talaga siya dahil na sa America pero ang gago, kagabi lang ay nakita ko sa gym! Akala ko ay niloloko lang ako ng aking mga mata. Lukan, why?" naiiyak niyang kuwento.

"He approached, then he told me he'd be there on my schedule to look after me dahil utos daw ni mama like what? Bakit naman siya uutusan ng gano'n?" she ranted.

"So you'll be busy with Gierro—"

"I'll be busy taking care of myself, Lukan!" she cut in.

Humalakhak akong muli dahil pikon na pikon na si Trinity sa kanyang buhay.

"Ayos lang 'yan, Trinity. Diyan din kami nagsimula ni Mia—"

"Ah, putangina, shut up," naiiyak niyang utos.

"Malaking tulong talaga iyang gym ni Gierro sa love life—"

"Lukan, please, huwag, nasusuka ako sa mga sinasabi mo," she acted disgusted of my words.

"Wala ka bang long lost brother, Lukan? Siya na lang jowain ko," she asked me.

I chuckled and answered, "Mayroon, si Eros."

Her eyes widened and she sat normally, "As in 'yong lalaking hatid sundo si Mia?"

"Yeah," sagot ko.

"Woah, okay? Paano? Kailan? Saan? Kanino?" naguguluhan niyang tanong.

"It's a long story," tamad kong sabi.

"Duga! Alam 'to nina Fred at Olivver?" she asked.

"Of course, they were by my side on those years, Trinity. To cut the long story short, we're siblings sa ama," I told her.

"Okay?" she said, unsure, "but anyway, that's a family matter. I won't meddle with it... but lagi silang magkasama ni Mia. Close friends din?"

"Ayaw ko namang patulan ang kapatid mo kung sila na pala ni Mia—wait, paano kung sila na pala? Paano ang tandem ninyo? Team LuMia forever pa naman ako," she panicked.

I chuckled and answered her, "Hindi ko alam kung sila ba."

"Paano kung sila pala?" she asked me.

I shrugged.

"E 'di congratulations," natatawa kong sabi.

"Gago, ang sakit. Hayaan mo, sa susunod kong usap kay Mia, I'll try to let her tell me about her relationship to Eros para pareho tayong sigurado—"

"No, don't. I mean, don't force her to tell things just because you are curious of something," I cut in.

"I don't force her to tell things, Lukan, don't worry. I'm treating your girl extra careful," she assured me.

"Dapat lang. She's most of the time innocent and soft, baka nga nagulat mo pa iyon sa pagiging liberated mo," I joked.

"Feeling ko nga rin, e. Hirap niyang kausap, sa kanya lang ako naubusan ng topic," she told me, "mga tipo mo talaga, 'no?"

"Anong mga? Siya lang naman ang tipo ko," I unconsciously said.

She grabbed a couch pillow and hugged it, kinilig sa aking sinabi.

"Gago, putangina, Mia, narinig mo ba 'yon?" parinig niya sa hangin.

I laughed as she continued, "Kaya kung kayo ni Eros, I suggest na mag-break na kayo para may oppurtunity din ako."

"I dare you to tell that personally to her," I joked.

Agad naman siyang umiling at sinabing, "Sa titig pa lang niya ay nanginginig na ako. Baka imbis na magkatuluyan kayo ay maging hadlang pa."

I was about to say something when my secretary knocked and opened the door to say something.

"Sir, may delivery ng flowers para raw po sa inyo," he informed me.

"From an online shop ba?" si Trinity ang nagtanong.

Seriously, why would someone give me flowers?

"Yes po," my secretary answered.

"Shit, shit, shit," Trinity panicked.

"Why?" I asked her.

"Wait lang, receive mo muna," she ordered me.

We both stood up and walked toward the door to see the deliver man. I signed to claim the bouquet, hindi naman iyon mukhang romantic, it was more like given to me to congratulate.

Nang pumasok kami muli ay nilapag ko ang bouquet sa aking lamesa at hinarap si Trinity.

"Ano 'to? Anong alam mo?" natatawa kong tanong.

"Ganito kasi," panimula niya, "nalaman kong bet ni Mia ang paper folding or origami, anomang tawag do'n."

"Okay, then?"

"I challenged her to do a bouquet of flowers tapos ibigay sa 'yo as a small thank you gift pero siyempre alam kong hindi 'yon papayag kung siya lang. I volunteered to create my own bouquet too para hindi siya mahiya at tumanggi," she explained.

"Hindi naman ako marunong at wala akong time gumawa. I decided to order online an already made origami bouquet of flowers," she added.

"Bakit totoong mga bulaklak ang dumating?" I asked her, "ang ganda pa ng pag-ayos. Magkano 'to?"

"Mura lang naman, na sa eight thousand or up? Pero hindi iyon ang issue. I cancelled that order dahil late kong nalamang real flowers pala! Mukha kasing paper sa picture, the fuck. Na-cancel naman kaya akala ko ay okay na pero nagulat akong totoo ang dumating," she told me.

"Ngayon din ibibigay ni Mia ang gawa niya—"

"What? And you didn't inform me beforehand?" I asked, shocked.

"Para surprise!" she reasoned.

"Well, I'm extremely surprised, thank you," I hissed.

"Shit naman, she might feel bad dahil real roses ang akin. Itago mo na lang 'yan or itapon. Geez, huwag mo lang ipakikita sa kanya," Trinity suggested.

"Yeah, sure," wala sa sarili kong sabi.

"Aalis na rin ako at baka maabutan niya ako rito. Alisin mo na rin 'yan," she informed me.

"Dalhin mo na kaya?" I suggested.

"Paano kung makasalubong ko siya?" she asked me.

"Sabi ko nga, itatago ko na," I said.

"Aalis na ako, bye!" paalam niya at dali-daling lumabas.

Mga ideya talaga ni Trinity, ako ang namomoblema.

I was about to grab the bouquet to hide it far from anyone's sight when a nurse called me for an emergency.

Naalerto ako at agad iyon inasikaso. We almost ran the distance from my office to an individual room of a patient. Nang nakarating kami roon ay wala ng buhay ang bata at tinatanggal na sa kanya ng mga nurse ang mga suporta.

"Sir, ngayon lamang po siya nawalan ng buhay," a doctor reported me.

"What happened? The last time I checked, he was doing good and improving," I asked, concerned.

"Iyan din po ang iniisip ko, sir. When the team came inside, his life support wasn't working—"

"Paanong hindi gumagana? Lahat iyan ay dumaan ng malalalim na testing at evaluation bago ipagamit," I hissed.

"The machine is working fine, sir, but someone pulled it out the plug. Iyon po ang naabutan namin and he was panting, out of breath as we entered. We tried a lot of ways to rescue and return him stable but sadly..." he trailed off.

What the fuck? Who the fuck would unplug a fucking life support?

"Sinong huling bumisita sa kanya bago ang insidente? I'll go check the CCTVs too," I asked.

"Hindi po namin sigurado, sir, there was no one inside or even outside when we came," he answered.

God damn it.

"I'm going to check the cameras, ikaw ang doctor niya, hindi ba? Come with me," I ordered.

Dali-dali naming pinuntahan ang central surveillance room upang i-replay ang mga sandaling nangyari bago ang pagkamatay ng pasyente.

Hindi ako mapakali at alam kong umayos na ang kondisyon nito. Hindi man ako malapit sa batang iyon ay hindi ko matanggap ang kanyang pagkamatay.

I ordered them to show me the replays from each camera. Sa halos limang screens ay pabalik-balik ang aking tingin hanggang sa may napansin akong lalaking nurse, hindi kita ang mukha dulot ng face mask.

"He's suspicious," I pointed the man.

"Continue," I ordered.

From the camera near the kid's room, we saw him enter the room. Halos tumagal din ng ilang minuto ang kanyang pagpasok kaya't tinanong ko ang doctor.

"Was the kid supposed to take medication or you ordered someone to look out from time to time?" I asked.

"We always check him every hour, sir, tulad ng bilin ninyo sa amin. Minsan ay ako ang tumitingin at minsan ay mga nurse," he answered.

But the nurse who came in was suspicious and unfamiliar.

Nang lumabas ito ay wala pang nangyari. Paglipas ng limang minuto, saka lamang dumating ang doctor na aking kasama.

"When you saw him, the plug was already out?" I asked again.

"Yes po," he answered.

Tangina.

"I don't want to blame immediately but that nurse is fishy—"

"But if he is the one who unplugged, ang pangalan po ng hospital ang maaapektuhan," the doctor cut in.

"I know... pero bakit naman niya gagawin iyon? Unless if someone ordered him to do it or he isn't really a nurse of the hospital," I thought.

But my security system wasn't easy to crack or even to slip away. Was someone from inside worked like someone else's spy or what?

"Can you give me a list of nurses you ordered to often visit the kid?" I asked the doctor.

"Sure po, I'll compile and insert pictures too," sagot niya.

"Do it fast once we get out of here. Hindi talaga ako makakampante sa ganito," I said.

Lumabas kami ng surveillance room at tinahak ang magka-ibang daan. Dala ko ang pangamba sa paglakad pabalik ng aking opisina at malalim na pinag-iisipan ang lahat.

What happened was a messy case, we only got the suspicious nurse and the fingerprint investigation was still being conducted.

"Sir," salubong sa akin ng aking secretary.

"Na sa loob po si ma'am Thera Mia Zorron, kanina pa po kasi niya kayo hinihintay kaya pinapasok ko na lang po upang komportableng—"

Natigil siya sa pagsasalita nang lumabas si Mia. Gulat na ako sa sinabi ng aking secretary ngunit mas naaliw ako sa presensya ni Mia.

And the flowers that Trinity gave me, damn! Na sa lamesa pa!

Tangina!

"Mia," I called her when she also got stunned of my presence.

"Uh," she shyly whispered.

I turned to my secretary and ordered him to give us a moment for a while.

I fixed my eyes on her and quickly took a look of Mia. She wore a high waist shorts, a cute t-shirt, a pair of high cut shoes and her make up was lightly applied.

Her eyes were beautiful yet couldn't fall back on me.

"I'm sorry you waited," panimula ko.

She got a bit alerted and didn't know what to do. She slightly combed the tip of her hair as she said, "No, it's okay."

Tangina, ang rupok ko sa 'yo.

"Bakit ka ba naghintay? Is there something you want to tell me?" I asked gently.

I saw her trying hard to hide the bouquet from her left hand behind her back, I just didn't mention it dahil ayaw kong mas kabahan pa siya.

"Nothing," she answered instead.

Why would you like, huh?

"Then what are you holding behind?" I asked.

"No, uh, just something," she answered.

I steadied my eyes on her and said, "Mia, you are not good at lying."

She sighed and tried gazing directly at me but failed.

"Para sa 'yo sana... but I saw Trinity's flowers for you, mas maganda and mukhang mamahalin so... huwag mo na lang 'tong tanggapin," she said, almost a whisper.

God.

She sounded like the old me who had nothing to give but cheap gifts.

"I won't justify Trinity's actions but she's sorry for the mistake. Give me yours, I'll keep it," I told her.

"Ha? No need, Lukan," she said back.

"Why?" I asked, "it's from you. I'll take it because it's from you."

She didn't speak for a couple of seconds and it made me nervous for nothing.

"It's really okay, Lukan. Uh, naiintindihan ko namang girlfriend mo si Trinity kaya mas extra effort siya sa mga bagay at regalo," she said.

What? Biglang sumagi sa aking isip ang sinabi kanina ni Trinity. I couldn't believe Mia really did think that way!

"Girlfriend?" I asked, "to clear things, we aren't together. We're just friends."

"Right friends... but friends don't kiss," she hissed

What the hell?

"We don't kiss," I unconsciously said back.

"She kissed you," she pointed out.

"But I never did," I immediately said.

"Still, you let her kiss you," paninindigan niya.

Why did we even reached this conversation? I only wanted to receive her gift.

"Does it bother you?" atake ko.

"No," she lied.

Why would you lie when you clearly had something to say?

"Why bring it up?" I asked.

"Just came out of nowhere," she reasoned.

Really, Mia?

"Fine, I'll believe you if only you'll give me your gift," I said.

I watched how she tried calm in front of me. Clearly, she hesitated to hand me her cute bouquet yet slowly, she gave it to me.

"Thank you," I said when I grabbed it from her.

"It's nothing... uh, I got to go," she informed me.

I nodded and let her.

"Sundo mo si Eros?" I asked casually.

"Oo," sagot naman niya.

I nodded again and said, "sige, ingat."

She nodded back and slowly turned around away from me.

I was about to enter my office when she called me.

"Bakit?" I asked her.

"In case you are, uh, curious or something..." panimula ni Mia, "we aren't together too," she fucking informed me.

I couldn't help my smile anymore.

"How's your heart?" I asked her.

"It's fine... and improved a lot since I started here," she answered me, now a bit longer.

I nodded and said, "that's good. I want it healed once it starts to beat for me again."

Her lips partly opened, didn't expect what I said.

"Well... it never stopped beating for you anyway," she said back.

Parang ako pa ngayon ang may sakit sa puso dulot ng kanyang sinabi.

"Lukan... do you consider coming back?" she asked directly to me.

I couldn't believe she actually asked me that. I wasn't sure what that meant and what was she trying to tell me.

But I answered, "Why will I comeback? I never left you."

She chuckled with no humor and said, "Right. Ako nga pala ang nang-iwan sa ere."

"That isn't what I mean—"

"You know, I-I'll go now," she uttered.

"Mia," I called but she didn't look back.

I was about to walk after her when someone called me again.

"Sir, excuse me. Our lab workers want your presence," my secretary informed me.