"Hindi naman halatang gutom tayong lahat no?" sabi ni Haji lalo't ang tanging ingay lamang sa kusina ay tunog ng mga kubyertos at pinggan naming kumakalansing. Hirap pa kaming magkasya sa dami namin kaya halos magkasikuhan na kami.

"Paabot ng gravy." Tres looked at me and smiled sheepishly. Lecheng ngiti.

Kukunin ko na sana ang gravy pero bigla akong inunahan ni Reika at inabot ito kay Tres. 

"Salamat." Tres just chuckled, ako naman ay nagpatuloy lang na sa pagkain.

"Rei, paabot din ng hot sauce," Jethro said with his usual cold tone.

Bigla akong siniko ni Reika. "Hoy, iabot mo na ang hot sauce."

"Ikaw inutusan." I reminded her.

"Ako na." Sawyer chuckled and handed it over to Jethro dahil malapit din ito sa kanya.

"Paabot din ng toyo," Haji announced with a confident smile pero wala sa amin ang pumansin sa kanya at nagpatuloy lang kaming lahat sa pagkain.

"Guys paabot ng toyo," pag-uulit niya, parang nagmamakaawa na.

"May toyo ka na, okay na 'yan," Magno said making Reika, Sawyer, and Tres burst into a fit of laughter. Even Haji couldn't stop himself from laughing kahit pa mukhang pinipilit nitong magmukhang naiinis. Si Magno naman tawang-tawa rin sa sinabi niya.

Akala ko ako lang ang hindi natawa pero si Jethro rin pala. Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa. He shrugged as if he doesn't understand what's going on kaya tumango lang ako at nagpatuloy nang kumain.

Jethro is scary alright but at least he's sane. He's still scary though.

Nang tumahimik na, saktong may bigla akong naalala.

"I need your help. All of you," I announced.

The entire room suddenly fell silent and I could tell that everyone's eyes were on me. 

Without looking at anyone in particular, I continued, "My professor told us that as early as now we should be practicing on our needle pricking skills. I could use some arms."

The sound of chairs being dragged blared across the room with Haji, Magno, and Reika moving as far away from me as possible. Kung hindi siguro injured si Jethro, malamang umatras na rin ito.

"Cowards," I commented under my breath and looked at Tres' direction who just continued eating like it didn't bother him. As expected, susuportahan ako ng future doctor.

"Masyado pang maaga." He grinned. Just when I thought he'd be supportive. Coward!

"Oo nga! Baka pwede ka pang mag-shift?" Reika said with an awkward smile.

"I told you, I'm going to be a nurse if it's the last thing I'd do." I glared at her.

"'Wag na, matatakot lang mga pasyente mo!" Sawyer grinned and raised a peace sign the moment I threw him a death glare.

"Sil, suporta kami sa'yo pero 'wag lang talaga 'yung injection," Magno said with crossed arms like he was protecting them from me. 

"Sino ako? Nasaan ako?" bulalas naman ni Haji na akala mo wala na sa mundong ibabaw.

I heard Tres laugh kaya napatingin ako ulit sa kanya. He then said, "In class, you will be doing it in pairs. It would be unfair kung nakapag-practice ka na tapos ang partner mo ay hindi pa. Think of it this way, siya ang maayos mong nakuhanan ng dugo tapos ikaw naubusan na pero hindi niya pa rin natatama."

"That's right!" Reika clapped, akala mo hindi nananakit ang katawan. "Unfair nga naman 'yon sa'yo, Elemento!"

"Listen to him. He's a doctor, he knows," Magno said.

"Hindi pa 'yan doktor!" Haji argued. Someone sounds bitter.

"Let her learn. At least she can teach her partner in class," Jethro said out of the blue kaya natahimik silang lahat. 

"Oh Sil, mukhang may nag volunteer na! 'Wag na kami ha!" Haji announced.

I looked at Jethro but he just shrugged and continued eating.

Kung si Jethro, 'wag na lang. Mamaya sapakin pa ako kapag nagkamali ako o baka ipa-salvage pa ako kapag nasaktan siya. Pretty sure he'll also scold me kaya 'wag na lang talaga. 

Si Reika na nga lang kapag tulog.

****

Ang mga walang hiya, pagkatapos kumain ay tumambay agad sa sala at iniwan lang ang mga pinagkainan nila. Pinakamalala si Sawyer na hinatid pa si Jethro pauwi para lang talaga makatakas silang dalawa. May pa curfew-curfew pang nalalaman eh ang tanda-tanda na.

Habang naghuhugas ng pinggan, biglang bumalik si Tres sa kusina. Akala ko magpapaalam na siya na aalis na kaya naman nagulat ako nang tinabihan niya ako at tumulong sa paghuhugas gamit ang pangalawang faucet.

"Bakit?" He chuckled. 

Hindi ko napansin na parang tanga na akong nakatitig sa kanya kaya umiwas agad ako ng tingin at nagpatuloy. 

"Your expected response would be 'Wag na, ako na dito, doon ka na sa sala," he said trying to imitate a girly voice. Wrong. Hindi ganoon ang boses ko.

"I need every help I could get," sabi ko na lang dahilan para matawa siya.

"You really are something, Silverianne," he mused.

"That better be something good." I rolled my eyes jokingly.

"I like you," he said.

Mabilis akong napalingon sa kanya. Nakatingin na pala siya sa akin habang may ngiti samukha. Parang gusto ko tuloy magwala. 

"T-thanks?" I asked, not really sure of what to say. Fucking social cues.

He laughed while shaking his head. "Knowing you, I won't take that as an offense."

Buti naman naiintindihan niya ako. Really lucky with this one.

He then sighed as he looked ahead, his hands continuing to wash the dishes. He looked like he was bothered with something.

"Problem?" I couldn't help but ask.

"I'm going to be transferred to another hospital... Manila to be exact," he said like he was so burdened. Kawawang ulol.

"That's a good learning experience," I said, trying to make him feel better. "Gusto ko ngang ma-transfer sa province kapag nagdu-duty na para mas marami akong matutunan."

"You really have your heart set on this huh?" he mused.

I nodded. "It's everything I want."

He looked at me once again with a smile. "I want to have that dinner with you."

I was taken aback by his words. I like him too but everything feels so fast that it's just too overwhelming. Jesus Christ, sa crush-crush lang ako sanay. Am I even ready for the real thing? 

I was tongue-tied. All I could do was look at him with eyes open-wide. 

"How about next year? Kapag nakabalik na ako?" he asked, the smile in his face unwavering. It was as if he understood that I'm just not ready for it yet.

That's what I like about him, he always understood me, or at least, tries to understand me. 

How could someone even stand my short replies and weird demeanor without thinking like I'm pushing them away? He's the first who stayed. 

I swallowed hard and tried to think about it. Maybe I just need time to wrap my head on the idea of something more than just friends. Maybe this could work if I let it work. 

"Okay, next year." I nodded.

"Talaga? Wala nang bawian?" he beamed.

Tumango naman ako. "You have my word."

|End of 15 - Thank you!|

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:

Hello! Sorry guys but wala munang daily updates. I won't be able to write for an entire week at baka sa wednesday (11-13-19) pa ako makauwi at makapagsulat ulit. Thank you so much! <3