CHAPTER 3

HAPPY POUTED as she waited outside the operating room. It was 7 PM and it was dinner time but unfortunately, Blaze was busy. Pero hindi naman siya makaalis kasi umoo siya rito. Hihintayin niya itong lumabas kasi sabi naman ng nurse na napagtanungan niya ay madali lang ang case na hawak ni Blaze. Hindi pa naman siya nagugutom.

So, she waited.

Happy blew a loud breath before looking at her watch.

8 PM.

Bumuga uli siya ng marahas na hininga bago nagdesisyong maghintay pa nang kaunti. Nang tumingin siya sa relo niya, 8:40 PM na.

Yes, I have to be nice to Blaze but is waiting part of it? She pouted.

Happy was dragged out from her reverie when she heard Blaze's voice.

"Happy!"

Agad siyang tumingin sa pinanggalingan ng boses. Napatayo siya nang makita si Blaze na naglalakad palapit sa kanya, naka-scrub suit pa ito at surgical gloves.

"Hey..." sabi niya nang makalapit ito sa kanya.

"I'm sorry." He looked like he felt bad over something. "The dinner... alam kong ako ang nag-aya pero hindi ako puwede ngayon. I have another emergency surgery coming. This is gonna be a long night. I'm so sorry."

Napalabi siya. "You're not hungry?"

Napalingon ito sa pinto ng OR bago ibinalik ang tingin sa kanya. "Don't have time to be. Lumabas lang ako talaga para kausapin ka, ayokong paghintayin ka rito sa labas."

"It's okay," she said with a shrug and a small smile. "But you should eat. I'm not a doctor but fatigue and no food is bad for the health, Doc."

Tumaas ang sulok ng mga labi nito. "Yes, Ma'am. Maybe later, after work."

"And when is that?"

"Ahm..." Napangiwi ito. "Tomorrow? Breakfast, maybe?"

Napailing siya sa sinabi nito. "I'm being nice to you so I'm telling you, you should eat. Even if it's late dinner, okay?"

Napatitig sa kanya si Blaze bago nakangiting tumango. "Yes, Ma'am."

"Okay." Ngumiti si Happy. "Go and be a badass surgeon." Then she joked. "Chicks digs that."

Mahinang natawa ang lalaki. "Then I shall go back to my table now. I'm really sorry," sabi nito habang umaatras. "Hope you'll still be nice to me tomorrow? I hope so. I like the nice Happy. Have a good night."

Ikinaway niya ang kamay kay Blaze para magpaalam. Bagsak ang mga balikat na naglakad siya paalis sa OR nang makapasok sa loob ang lalaki.

Well, at least I won't have to play nice.

Happy took a deep breath before walking towards the hospital's exit.

Nang makasakay sa kotseng inupahan niya, agad niyang sinabi sa driver na ihatid siya sa hotel na tinutuluyan.

Nang makarating sa hotel, agad siyang dumeretso sa inuupahang hotel room kung saan kasama niya ang kanyang ama. May dalawang kuwarto ang hotel room kaya ayos lang na doon muna ang kanyang ama.

"Hey, princess," bati sa kanya ng ama, saka hinalikan siya sa noo. "I thought you'll have dinner outside."

"Cancelled," she answered with a shrug.

"How's the preparation for your sister's wedding?"

Agad na nagliwanag ang mukha niya. "Tiring but exciting!"

Napatitig sa kanya ang ama, lalo na sa ngiti niya. "You really like Lucky."

"I do." Hindi mawala ang ngiti sa mga labi ni Happy. "I always wanted to have a sister and here she is. I want to be a good sister to her, Dad. I want her to feel that I love her. That we love her and that she's important to us. We owe it to her and she's a family and Lucky is just so adorable."

Her dad chuckled before nodding. "Indeed, Lucky is adorable. She is also nice and sweet."

Tumango siya bilang pagsang-ayon. "She is. By the way, have you eaten?"

"I was waiting for you actually. You know that I hate take out," sagot nito habang naglalakad patungo sa sofa na nagsisilbing sala ng hotel room.

Happy rolled her eyes. "You hate take out but you don't know how to cook." She shook her head in disbelief as she walked towards the hotel's kitchenette. "This is why I can't leave the house and be independent. I'm worried about you, Dad."

Tumawa lang ang kanyang ama. "We have maids in the house, princess. And no, I told you, didn't I? You will not leave the house unless you have a man to introduce to me. You're not getting any younger! Look at your little sister, she's getting married. While you don't even have a boyfriend."

Happy grunted. "Sometimes I really hate you, Dad."

"I bought some groceries," sa halip ay sagot sa kanya ng ama. "Go check if you can cook something delicious out of it. I'm hungry."

Napailing siya. "Fine. I'll cook." Sanay na siya sa ama kapag ganoong naglalambing ito dahil nagugutom. "Give me an hour."

Good thing the hotel room she rented had kitchenette.

"Okay, princess. I'll just watch some TV. I think my fave show is on."

Nanatiling tahimik si Happy habang isa-isa niyang tinitingnan ang pinamili ng kanyang ama. Oddly, her father bought everything she needed to cook one dish. But she opted to prepare his favorite chicken sandwich.

She sighed and started cooking the chicken breast while her mind wandered.

While staying here for a week now in the Philippines, she learned that sandwiches—like the one she was making—was considered a snack. They have a different kind of dinner dishes in this country and she wanted to try cooking the famous Filipino dish—adobong manok.

"Dad!" malakas ang boses na tawag niya sa ama. "Dinner is ready!"

Agad itong nagtungo sa hapagkainan. Napailing na lang siya habang naghahain.

"Here you go." Inilapag niya ang chicken sandwich sa harap ng ama. "Eat well."

Instead of immediately digging in, her father looked up at her. "You?"

"Ahm..." She didn't feel like eating. Wala siyang gana. "I'm okay."

"You sure?"

"Yes," giit niya. "Eat up, Dad."

When her father dug in, she went to pack the two remaining chicken sandwich and put it in a paper bag.

Seconds later, Happy found herself biting her lower lip. Why am I even doing this?

Bumuntong-hininga siya bago humarap sa ama. "I have to buy something. I'll be back in a jiffy."

Her father nodded while busy munching the chicken sandwich.

Agad na lumabas si Happy ng hotel room, saka bumaba sa lobby. At dahil wala na ang nerentahan niyang sasakyan at driver, pumara siya ng taxi. Thankfully, the cab driver was a good man. Agad siya nitong dinala sa pinakamalapit na bukas na grocery store.

Happy immediately went in after paying the cab. Binili niya lahat ng kakailanganin niyang ingredients para sa adobong manok at adobong baboy—dalawa sa pinakapamosong Filipino dish.

Nang makabalik siya sa hotel, nanonood na ng TV ang ama niya.

"Princess, can you massage my back?" tanong ng ama nang makapasok siya sa hotel room nila.

"I'm kind of busy," sagot niya habang inihahanda na mga ingredients ng lulutuin.

Happy didn't speak, she focused all her attention on the dish she was trying to cook perfectly. She read articles and watched videos on how to cook the dish.

Pagkatapos magluto, naglagay si Happy ng adobong manok at adobong baboy sa Tupperware at inilagay iyon sa paper bag kasama ng chicken sandwich.

"Dad," sabi niya habang naglalakad patungo sa pinto at dala-dala ang paper bag. "Lucky called. She wants me in the hospital." I'm sorry for lying, Daddy.

"Okay. Take care. Say hi to your sister for me."

Nakagat niya ang pang-ibabang labi. "Will do, Dad."

Happy hurriedly stepped outside the room and walked towards the elevator feeling bad for lying.

Why am I lying anyway? Why can't I tell Dad that I'm going back to the hospital not for Lucky?

Bumuga siya ng marahas na hininga. "Shit!"

Nang makababa si Happy, pumara siya ng taxi at nagpahatid sa ospital. Nang makarating siya roon, lampas hatinggabi na.

Bumuntong-hininga siya bago pumasok sa ospital. Agad niyang tinungo ang OR at sumilip sa loob. Nang makakita ng nurse, kinuha niya ang atensiyon nito at nagtanong.

"Hi." She smiled sweetly at the nurse. "Is Doc Blaze still inside?"

Agad namang ngumiti pabalik ang nurse. "No, Ma'am. Kalalabas lang ho ni Doc, kani-kanina lang."

"Oh. Thank you." Umatras siya, saka naglakad paalis ng OR.

Happy roamed around the hospital, asking the nurses if they saw Dr. Blaze Vitale. And thankfully after more than fifteen minutes of asking around, a nurse pointed her towards the cafeteria.

Nang makarating siya sa cafeteria, walang tao sa labas at bilang lang ang nasa loob. Siguro dahil lagpas hatinggabi na.

Agad siyang napangiti nang makita si Lucky na kasama si Blaze. Agad na kumaway sa kanya ang kapatid nang makita rin siya.

"Ate!"

Nilapitan niya ang dalawa. "Hey..."

Masaya ang ngiti ni Lucky para sa kanya. "Akala ko umuwi ka na."

Happy tried to reply in Tagalog. "Ahm... bumalik—me... I came balik dito."

Natatawang tumayo si Lucky habang dala ang bottled water, saka nagpaalam. "Sige, balik na ako kay Blakey-baby ko." Bumaling ito kay Blaze na tahimik lang na sumisimsim ng kape habang nakatitig sa kanya. "Alagaan mo ang ate ko." Nang tumango si Blaze, bumaling uli sa kanya si Lucky. "Ate, punta ka na lang sa kuwarto ni Blake kung gusto mo akong makausap."

Nang makaalis ang kapatid, siya ang pumalit sa kinauupuan ni Lucky na kaharap ni Blaze. Inilapag niya ang paper bag sa ibabaw ng mesang pumapagitna sa kanila ng lalaki.

"Hey," sabi niya kay Blaze.

He just stared at her while sipping his coffee.

Happy took a deep breath before pushing the paper bag towards him. "Para... sa iyo."

He blinked at her, the emotion in his eyes slowly returned. "Mine?"

She nodded with a small smile. "I figured, you haven't kain yet? Alam kong you're busy? So I cooked something for... ahm, late dinner?"

Titig na titig sa kanya si Blaze, kapagkuwan ay tumaas ang sulok ng mga labi. "Ang conyo mo."

Kumunot ang noo niya. "What's that?"

Nginitian siya nito. "It means, you made my night."

Nakakunot pa rin ang noo niya. "Sigurado ka? You look like you're nagbibiro."

Nauwi sa tawa ang ngiti nito. "Yeah, you really made my night. Salamat. Medyo nawala na ang pagod ko."

Ngumiti siya. "You're welcome."

Tumango-tango ito habang mahina pa ring tumatawa, kapagkuwan ay inilabas ang laman ng paper bag na dala niya. "What did you cook?"

Itinuro niya ang dalawang Tupperware. "I tried cooking adobong manok and adobong baboy. I don't know if it tastes good though." Pagkatapos ay itinuro niya ang dalawa pang natitirang plastic na lalagyan. "And that's chicken sandwich. Dad's dinner. May tira pa so I brought it sa iyo."

Mahinang natawa na naman si Blaze.

Tiningnan niya ito nang masama. "Is there something funny?"

Agad itong umiling. "Nothing." Bumaba ang tingin nito sa niluto niya. "You really cooked these?"

Happy nodded. "Yeah." Binuksan niya ang cover ng Tupperware. "I was worried that you might not eat so I cooked something for you."

"You're worried? About me?"

Nagtaas si Happy ng tingin kay Blaze at natigilan nang makitang titig na titig ito sa kanya. There was softness in his eyes.

"What?" naguguluhan niyang tanong.

Umiling ito. "Nothing."

Inilapit niya ang mga Tupperware dito. "Eat up."

Using the spoon from his coffee, he tasted her adobong manok.

"Masarap ba?" tanong niya habang hinihintay ang komento nito.

Nag-thumbs-up si Blaze habang ngumunguya. "It's good." Halata ang gulat sa mukha nito pagkatapos matikman ang luto niya. "So, you're like the opposite of Lucky, you can actually cook."

Happy shrugged. "I guess..."

Blaze looked proud... of her, maybe? "Thank God you can cook. Your sister Lucky cooked something and I rinsed my mouth after I tasted it," kuwento nito habang hindi maipinta ang mukha na para bang naalala pa nito ang lasa.

She grimaced. "That bad?"

"Yes. Very bad." Blaze shivered in disgust. "It was... fuck!"

Natawa siya sa mukha nito. "You're right, you're a drama king."

"I can be more dramatic than this." He chuckled. "But we're still in getting-to-know-each-other stage. I don't want to chase you away."

She grimaced again. "You're that bad of a drama king?"

"Oh, baby, you have no idea."

Natigilan siya sa endearment na ginamit ni Blaze pero hinayaan niya iyon at hindi ginawang big deal. "Why didn't you become an artista then?"

"Too handsome."

Nalukot ang mukha niya. "You're so... ahm, what's the word? Hambog? Yes! You're so hambog."

Napalabi sa kanya si Blaze. "Ang sama mo, isusumbong kita kay Mommy. Don't you know that I got my looks from her? How dare you! Bawiin mo ang sinabi mo. I'm not hambog, I'm handsome!"

Natawa siya sa sinabi nito. "Yes. Indeed. You're a drama king."

Masama ang tingin sa kanya ni Blaze pero natatawa siya sa hitsura nito.

"You know what, you're really funny." She laughed. "You're not just a handsome, hot and dirty doctor in my eyes anymore, you are now a funny, handsome, hot and dirty doctor."

Biglang ngumisi si Blaze. "I heard handsome. That's me, yes? I'm handsome."

Umiiling siya habang mahinang tumatawa pa rin. "No, you're dirty."

"Handsome, dirty and hot doctor?" He wiggled his eyebrows at her. "Tama ako."

Umiling siya. "Nope."

Sumuntok ito sa hangin. "Yes! That's me! But I'm not dirty."

Itinuro niya ang leeg nito. "Hindi 'yan dirty? Your tattoos?"

Napahawak ito sa sariling leeg. "This? Oh, it's art. Though there is one thing I like dirty."

Tumaas ang kilay niya. "And that is?"

Tumiim ang titig nito sa kanya. "Sex."

Napatango-tango si Happy. "I look dirty when I'm cooking, so... yeah."

Pinakatitigan siya ni Blaze. "You didn't even blink when I said the word sex."

Nagkibit lang siya ng balikat. "I have no say in the matter. Dirty sex is your preference, so be dirty... I supposed?"

"And you?" Matiim pa rin ang titig nito sa kanya. "What's your preference in that matter?"

Nagkibit-balikat siya. "I'm inexperience so I don't have any idea."

"Let me give you two." Blaze rested his elbows on the edge of the table before leaning forward. "One, dirty sex and two, not so dirty sex."

Napakagat-labi siya. "Can we not talk about sex?" Napangiwi siya. "I'm a virgin, Blaze. I'm so shock right now. Can't you see it in my face?"

Ang matiim na titig sa kanya ni Blaze ay nauwi sa mahinang tawa. "Nagutom ako bigla," sabi nito na tumatawa pa rin.

Napasunod na lang ang tingin ni Happy kay Blaze nang tumayo ito at bumili ng kanin, saka bumalik sa mesa nila. Pagkatapos ay magana itong kumain na ikinangiti niya. Mukhang nasarapan ito sa luto niya.

And for some reason, she felt relieved that he liked it.

That made her frown. Why am I trying to please this man? This is not part of being nice.

Blaze let out a loud breath after he finished eating. Talagang naubos nito ang adobong manok at adobong baboy na niluto niya, ni walang natira kahit isang piraso sa Tupperware.

"God, I'm full." Bumaba ang tingin nito sa chicken sandwich na hindi pa nito nagagalaw. "That looks tasty. I love good food."

Kinuha niya ang dalawang sandwich at ibinigay rito ang isa. "Here. Tig-isa tayo."

He frowned. "Hindi para sa akin ang dalawang 'yan?" tanong nito na parang nagtatampo.

Umiling siya. "I haven't had dinner yet, so this is mine."

Agad na sumama ang tingin sa kanya ni Blaze. "Hindi ka pa kumakain, 'tapos pinakain mo ako? Happy, naman. Anong oras na ba?" Halata ang iritasyon sa mukha ng lalaki bago tumayo at bumili ng kape para sa kanya. "Here. Drink this." Itinuro nito sunod ang sandwich na hawak niya. "And eat that. Fuck. Or maybe we should dine in a restaurant or something? Wala naman na akong pasyente. We'll be quick so you can eat and—"

"I'm fine," putol niya sa pagsasalita nito, saka kumagat ng sandwich. "This will do."

"No. That's a sandwich. It's a snack."

"Not to me. It's my dinner."

Napatitig ito sa kanya. "Bakit ba kasi inuna mo pa akong pakainin? Akala ko kumain ka na kaya hindi na kita inaya." Iritado na naman ito. "Ikaw 'tong nagsabi sa akin na masama ang hindi kumakain, 'tapos ikaw pala itong hindi kumakain nang tama! Fuck it, Happy, it's already passed midnight!"

Natigilan at napakurap-kurap si Happy kay Blaze dahil sa galit na nakikita niya sa mga mata nito. "Are you... mad?"

"Hell, yes!"

Napaigtad siya. "Sorry?"

Blaze blew a loud breath. "Fuck it. Eat." Itinulak nito ang chicken sandwich palapit sa kanya. "Pati 'to kainin mo. Magpakabusog ka. Akala mo nakakatuwang pinag-aalala mo ako? Eh, hindi ko nga alam kung bakit nag-aalala ako sa iyo! Hindi por que ipinagluto mo ako ay patatawarin kita agad. Hindi nakakatuwa na hindi ka kumain sa tamang oras. Dapat kumain ka. Alam kong hindi mo naiintindihan masyado ang Tagalog ko kaya malakas ang loob kong magsalita rito nang magsalita, pero ang gusto kong iparating talaga ay huwag mo akong pag-alalahanin. Alam kong hindi mo ako naiintindihan—"

"I do—"

"Kaya naman..." Natigilan ito at malalaki ang mga matang napatitig sa kanya. "What? Naiintindihan mo ako?"

Nangingiting tumango siya. "You're worried of me because I didn't eat at the right time. Tama ba ako?"

He tsked. "I told you to lose the accent."

Inirapan niya ito. "And I told you I'll get there."

"Yeah, yeah..." Itinuro nito ang pangalawang sandwich na hindi pa niya nagagalaw. "Eat up. Stop making me worry."

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya. "Why are you worried?" Naguguluhan talaga siya. "Is it because I remind you of her, the woman who broke your heart? Maybe you're really worried of her and not me..."

Nakita niyang natigilan ito at napatitig sa kanya.

"Are you..." Sinalubong niya ang tingin ng lalaki. "Really... worried of me? Or her because I remind you of her?"

Napakurap-kurap si Blaze, saka bigla na lang tumayo at iniwan siya sa cafeteria.

Napatingin naman siya sa papalayo nitong likod. "I think I hit a nerve..."

Napabuntong-hininga si Happy, saka ipinagpatuloy ang pagkain nang mag-isa. Nang matapos, lumabas siya ng cafeteria pero agad na natigilan nang makita si Blaze na nakasandal sa pader na malapit sa pasukan at nakatitig sa kanya.

Balak niyang lampasan lang ang lalaki pero umalis ito sa pagkakasandal sa pader at hinarang siya.

"What?" she asked.

Tumiim ang titig nito sa kanya. "I wanna know something."

Happy yawned. "Make it fast. I'm sleepy."

"I wanna see if it feels the same."

Kumunot ang noo niya. "You're confusing me. Ano ba ang need mo?"

"I'm sorry in advance."

She frowned at Blaze. "For what?"

"For this." Pagkasabi niyon ay bigla na lang siya nitong hinapit sa baywang palapit dito, sinapo ang leeg niya at inilapat ang mga labi sa mga labi niya.

And that... was her first kiss.

CECELIB | C.C.