"The grand ball was moved next week due to the CEO's sickness," sabi ni Joey sa akin.

"Mabuti naman kung ganun," I sighed.

It's been three days since Crescent left for Brazil, ni hindi siya tumatawag. I mean, I know he shouldn't since he's my killer but I'm still hoping that he cares.

Bumalik kami sa shift and I did two rounds in the hospital. I checked every vitals of my patient na halos hindi na humihinga. They'd better be alive or in coma. Mas mabuti na iyon kesa mamatay sila.

"Mr. De Guzman is the last patient kaso nasa room 760 siya, top floor. You still want to check?" Joe asked while looking at her clipboard.

"Definitely. How old is he again?"

"He's 97 yrs old. Don't you remember how he tried to hit on you?" natawa siya at pinindot ang elevator.

I gently massaged my temple nang maalala ang nangyari noon. Now I understand why Joey asked me if I want to check Mr. De Guzman again. That old man tried doing the pick up line. Sinasabayan ko lang naman siya dahil alam kong hindi siya magtatagal sa mundo.

"He's still my patient, Joe."

"I know. Nakakatawa kasi ang reaksyon mo everytime he does the corny pick up lines. Para kang constipated," she laughed.

Itinirik ko ang aking mata sa ere at ngumisi. No matter how corny he is, I still love the fact that Mr. De Guzman is doing well in his age.

Pumasok kami ng room 760 at nadatnan ang pasyente na nanonood ng tv kasama ang kanyang mga apo.

"Good evening po, dok," bati nila sa akin.

"Good evening."

Binati ko sila at ningitian pabalik. I checked his vitals and eyes. Kinakausap ko lang siya habang ginagawa iyon habang inililista ni Joey ang mga sinasabi ko.

"Are you eating well, Mr. De Guzman?" I asked and checked his eyes.

"Tapos na. Kumain ka na ba?"

"Tapos na rin po," ngiti ko. "He's fine."

Nilista iyon ni Joey. Babanat pa sana siya ng isang pick up line kaso lumabasa na kaagad kami ni Joey. Mabuti na lang talaga at mabilis lang ako dun.

Bumalik si Joe sa kanyang shift habang naiwan ako sa office ko, nanonood ng palabas sa laptop. Hinubad ko ang suot kong labcoat. Nakalong sleeve blouse kasi ako kaya mainit sa katawan. Makapal din ang labcoat, e.

I heard a knock from the door and expects Cole but I was wrong.

"Dr. Sicillian, can I have a moment?"

I paused the video and looked at him. I think he's the CEO's assistant.

"Yeah sure. What's wrong?"

Ni-lock niya ang pinto bago ako kausapin.

"The CEO wants to see you in his office immediately."

"Bakit daw? Did I do something to upset him?" kumunot ang noo ko.

"I don't know, Dr. Sicillian. Iyan lang ang sinabi niya sa akin. Pinapatawag po kayo ng CEO sa kanyang opisina, ngayon na," he bowed before leaving my office.

Sinara ko ang laptop at nagsuot ng labcoat. Baka akala niya nagpapahinga ako. Ginagawa ko rin ang trabaho ko, no.

I ride the elevator with two other girls that I don't even know. I was about to press 50 pero napindot na pala ito. Mukhan doon din papunta ang dalawang ito.

"Look who's here. It's Dr. Georgia Sicillian, the famous general surgeon in the Philippines," aniya sa isang sarkastikong boses.

Nagsasalita pala ito.

"Stop it, Traxia," sita ng isa.

"How did you know my name?"

Naiirita kong tinignan ang elevator button. Bakit ba kasi siya nagsalita? Hindi niya ba talaga kayang pigilan ang kanyang bibig sa tuwing magkikita kami?

And who's this girl beside her? She's overly dressed for the occasion. She even has a tiara on her head.

"And look who's here, my evil spoiled brat cousin!" matigas kong ingles na naging dahilan ng kanyang pagkainis. "Don't do that, cous. You'll get wrinkles."

"Georgia, you bitch," she gritted her teeth.

Napangisi ako dahil sa inis niyang itsura. Hindi niya ako masasaktan kasi may iba kaming kasama. The elevator door opened and the three of us walked out the elevator at pumasok sa kaparehong office.

Don't tell me... the three of us were summoned by the CEO?

Pinagbuksan kami ng bodyguard ng pinto at bumungad sa amin ang CEO na nakatingin sa labas ng mataas na building.

"We're here, what do you want?" the lady in tiara asked.

"Uh, my favorite trio has arrived," the CEO welcomes us with an open arms. "Come, come. Maupo kayong tatlo."

Nagkanya-kanya kami ng upo sa magkahiwalay na sofa but I took the biggest one. Traxia sat with her arms and legs crossed. Meanwhile, the tiara girl sat down elagantly like a princess.

"Bakit ka ba kasi naka-gown?" irap ni Traxia na halatang nagpaparinig sa isa.

"Traxia, your mouth," sita ko. "Anyway, bakit mo kami pinatawag?"

"I would like to give these gifts to you. Galing akong Hawaii and I think those dresses suits you very well for the upcoming grand ball this Saturday night."

"Are you okay? I heard you're sick," Traxia said and took the white paperbag.

"Traxia, it's not for you," he sighed. "And yes, I'm much better now kaya matutuloy ang grand ball sa Sabado. Give that to Samarah."

"Samarah? Who's Samarah?" Traxia's brows arched.

"That's Princess Samarah for you, young lady," kinuha nang naka-tiara ang paperbag mula sa kamay ng pinsan ko.

"Princess? Are you a real princess?" I asked.

Hindi niya ako sinagot saka siya bumalik sa pagkakaupo.

"This is Princess Samarah, a real royalty from England. This is Traxia, the heiress of Pareidolia Real Estate and chains of restaurants. And this is Georgia, daughter of the biggest and dangerous mafia organization in Russia," pakilala niya sa amin isa-isa.

"I know them, tito," Samarah said. "But why did you call us here?"

"I would like to formally invite you to the grand ball 'cause if you don't do what I say, I will cut your credit card in pieces and asked your parents to stop contacting you if it's about money."

"Akin ba ito?" kinuha ko ang itim na paperbag. "And you know that I do earn my own money, CEO. You don't need to threaten me with that."

"Well, your case is different, Georgia. I bet Joey already told you about it," he drinks from his glass.

Oo nga pala. P1.2 million is a big amount of money. Ayokong kaltasan niya ang pinaghirapan kong pera.

"Fine, I'll go."

"Hindi ko rin sinabi na hindi ako pupunta, but this dress doesn't suit me. Bakit napaka-conservative ng damit na ito?" reklamo ni Traxia habang sinusukat ang gown.

"Let's exchange, spoiled brat," si Samarah. "Mom will kill me if she sees me wearing this."

"Good idea. Sayo na ito."

Nagpalit silang dalawa ng damit. I sighed and took the paperbag with me. Napakamot ng ulo si CEO.

"Not all things will work according to your plan," I smirked. "Anyway, I'm taking this."

"We're going home, tito," Samarah stands up.

"See you at the ball, Mr. CEO," kumaway si Traxia.

I pressed 10, Samarah pressed LG, and Traxia pressed 1. Tahimik lang kami habang pababa ng elevator. I want to go home pero hindi pa tapos ang shift ni Joey. Ayoko kasing magtaxi kapag ganitong oras.

Ting!

"See you at the ball, cous," she smirked.

"Shut up."

Naglakad ako palayo. Itinapon ko sa sofa ang itim na paperbag. Ni hindi ko pa tinitignan ang laman nito kasi wala naman akong balak pumunta. But the kaltas is so huge! That's worth five sessions of surgery.

Nang umuwi ako ng bahay, naalala ko na hindi pa pala napapalitan iyong Jimmy Choo shoes ko kaya wala akong masusuot sa party. Maybe I should ask Joey to let me borrow her designer's shoes.

"No."

"Pleaseee!"

Well, I was expecting her to say no, I mean... it's her designer's shoes. I can't blame her 'cause I'd do the same.

"No. Georgia, I love you, you're my friend, but it still a NO."

Kahit anong pilit ko ay hindi siya natitinag kaya sa huli nanalo siya. Bibili na lang ako. I should ask dad to get me one from Paris.

Ibinaba ko ang tawag dahil malapit nang matapos ang break ni Joey. I messaged dad and told him I'm going to need it by Friday. Isinukat ko muna ang dress na ipapasuot ni CEO sa akin. I can't believe he went to Hawaii just to buy us dresses. And the fact that he was sick at that time? Napakatigas ng ulo.

Now he gets to choose what we should wear.

"Blue suits you."

Naalala ko bigla ang sinabi Crescent nang isukat ko ang damit sa harap ng salamin. I hate blue. I love red because it's the color of blood.

I hang the dress in the closet and fell asleep. Maaga pa ako bukas sa trabaho.

****

"Dr. Sicillian, your father sent you this," pagkatok ni Joey sa pinto ko at may dala-dala siyang Gucci na paperbag.

"Oh my god! It's my shoes!" masaya ko iyong kinuha mula sa kanyang kamay. "Thanks, Joe. You can go back to work."

"Later."

I messaged dad and informed him that I already received the shoes. Nagreply naman siya ng smiley. Isang araw na lang at Sabado na. It's the Grand Doctors Ball.

"Pupunta ka bukas?"

Napatingin ako sa nagsalita. Si Cole lang pala, nakatayo sa may pinto ko.

"Day off mo, ha. Bakit ka andito?"

"Just passing by," natingin siya sa paperbag na may lamang kahon ng sapatos. "So you're really going tomorrow."

"He asks for it."

Ayoko ring makaltasan ng isang milyon ang sahod ko.

"We all need to go," he laughed. "I can't afford to lose P1.2 million dahil lang sa hindi ako sumipot sa isang ball."

"I know right?"

"Anyway, dumaan lang ako upang itanong yun. I gotta go and see my stylist," he glanced at his watch.

"Stylist? Why not just buy a tuxedo?"

"No way. Baka may makapareha ako bukas. I can't afford to go home in shame," he smirked.

Well, he has a point. "You're right, Cole."

"See you tomorrow, George," he waves and left my office.

Tomorrow is Saturday.

****

Today is Saturday.

Gabi gaganapin ang ball gaya nang nasa invitation na ipinadala ni CEO sa amin. The ball will start at 9PM but we all need to get ready by 7PM. Everyone should be at the ball by 7PM or else hindi pasok sa attendance.

I glanced at the wall clock and it's already 5PM. I asked Joe to do my makeup dahil hindi ako sanay mag-makeup sa sarili kong mukha. Good thing Joe took the day off to take care of everything for me.

"You're such an angel, Joe," sambit ko habang mini-makeupan niya ako.

"May bayad ito, Georgia. Walang kaibi-kaibigan dito."

"I knew you'd say that so I already have the money in my wallet," ngiti ko.

"You don't have a wallet."

"Exactly," tumawa ako kaya tinampal niya ako sa braso.

"Pay me in real money," she demands.

"Oo na oo na. I'll send you the money later."

"Good."

Ipinagpatuloy niya ang pagma-makeup sa akin. Umabot kami ng dalawang oras dahil napakalikot ko raw. Saka niya ako tinulungang magbihis ng damit. I don't even know how to wear this dress. It seems impossible.

It's a black long slit dress with a mesh sleeves covering my arms, but it didn't covered my shoulders. I paired it with the Gucci black open-toe shoes na binili ni dad para sa akin.

"Wow, George, you look absolutely stunning!" Joey smiles. "Ikot ka nga."

Umikot naman ako.

"What do you think?"

"I think it suits you. The CEO has a great taste in dresses, don't you think?" komento niya.

I know right! Hindi rin ako makapaniwala na ang ganda-ganda ko pala sa black dress. I've never worn one because all of my dresses are red.

"Ihahatid mo ba ako?" I asked at nagpuppy eyes.

"Of course, George. Hindi ka marunong magdrive," irap niya.

I smiled and took my purse with me. I followed Joe in the parking lot. Malapit na mag 7PM kaya mabilis niyang pinaharurot ang sasakyan.

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