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Chapter Six

Dating

Pagkatapos naming manggaling sa National Museum ay dumaan pa muna kami ni Yessa sa isang maganda rin na cafe that she suggested herself to have some coffee and tea, and cakes as our snack. Bago ko siya ihatid pabalik ng bahay nila at saka naman ako uuwi na rin sa amin.

"This is a nice place." tukoy ko sa cafe na pinuntahan namin ngayon.

Tumango naman sa akin si Yessa. "Yes. It's an aesthetic cafe..." She smiled.

Ngumiti rin ako sa kaniya.

"Thank you for today, Leo. It was a fun date." Yessa told me and she smiled, pagkatapos ko na siyang ihatid sa bahay nila.

Ngumiti rin naman ako sa kaniya. "You're welcome. I had fun, too. And thank you as well." I said.

And she smiled at me more.

At ang unang date namin ay nasundan pa ng pangalawa hanggang pangatlo. We didn't always had the time to date because we're busy at the hospital. Pero palagi na rin naman kaming kahit nagsasabay lang din na mag-lunch or snacks sa cafe ng hospital. At may ilan na rin na staff din ng hospital ang nakakapansin sa amin ni Yessa.

"It seemed to us that you're dating one of our currently resident doctor here, Doctor Yessabella Sison, right?" Ngumisi sa akin ang kasama at kasabay ko rin na doctor dito sa Dela Cuesta Medical Hospital.

Ngumiti lang naman ako. Tinatanong na nga rin ako kahit doon sa nurses' station ng mga kakilala ko na ring nurses dito.

"Man, she's a beauty!" Doctor Marquez said. And then he looked at me. "When we thought that you're never gonna date again since you just focused with work, but here you are dating such a beautiful young doctor." Ngumisi siya sa akin.

Ngumiti lang din muli ako sa kaniya at bahagyang napailing.

He's also my classmate in medical school. Kaya sa huli ay niyaya niya na rin ako na makipagkita sa mga dati rin naming classmates. At isama ko na raw si Yessa para maipakilala sa mga kaibigan namin.

"I'll ask her first." I told him.

Tumango naman siya. "All right."

And then during our break I asked Yessa about the meetup with my friends. Nagkita lang muli kami sa cafe ng hospital.

"Are the other doctors and nurses also asking you about us? Tinatanong na rin kasi ako ng mga kasama ko..." Yessa said.

Tumingin naman ako sa kaniya. "Uh, about that..."

"Did you confirmed it that we're dating?" She asked me.

Agad naman ako na umiling sa kaniya. "No, of course not. We're still getting to know each other... are we not?"

And it's exactly what I told everyone who asked. That we're still on the stage of dating and knowing each other. But not really the dating as in dating... Am I wrong?

Tumango naman siya sa akin.

"I'm thinking of giving our relationship a chance, Leo..." She said.

And my lips parted. Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa. "Yessa..."

She nodded at me. And then she smiled. "Wouldn't you ask me?"

"Uh, yeah?" Parang sandali naman akong nag-panic.

And I heard her chuckle. At unti-unti rin akong napangiti nang makita ko ang maganda niyang tawa. Pagkatapos ay napailing din ako para sa sarili ko. And then I pulled out the courage that I have. "Doctor Yessabella Sison..."

"Yes?" Nangingiti naman niyang sagot sa akin.

"Will you be my girlfriend?" I finally asked her.

At nakita ko ang unti-unti niyang pagtango sa akin habang nakangiti.

While I smiled widely. Pero halos mapasapo rin ako sa mukha ko when I realized where we were. We're just in the hospital's cafe. "Uh, I'm sorry about this. Asking you just here in the hospital's cafe."

Umiling naman siya sa akin. "It's all right. I love it here, too. Actually naging tambayan na rin natin ito..." She grinned. "That's why I like this place, too. So don't worry. I'm perfectly fine here, doctor." She genuinely smiled at me.

Kaya napangiti na rin ako. "Thank you..." I said.

Nakatingin sa akin si Yessa at tumango siya. "And about your question... I guess I'll just answer it properly. Yes, Doctor Leonard Madrigal. I will be your girlfriend." She told me, smiling.

I smiled at her.

At sinabi ko na rin sa kaniya iyong tungkol sa pakikipagkita sa mga kaibigan ko.

"Uh, also, are you free this weekend? My classmates from college and medical school are actually asking if we could meet them..." I said.

Nakatingin sa akin si Yessa pagkatapos makinig sa sinabi ko at tumango naman siya. "Oh, sure." Ngumiti siya sa akin.

At napangiti na rin ako. "Thanks."

So on a weekend again we went out to meet with my friends. And they all welcomed my girlfriend warmly. Magpapakasal din ang isa naming kaibigan kaya inimbita na rin kami ni Yessa sa kasal nila. And Yessa also agreed to attend.

"Does Yessabella needs a dress for the wedding, hijo?" Mommy asked me about Yessa.

Umiling naman ako kay Mommy. "No need, Mom. She said that she already found a dress for herself for my friend's wedding." I said.

At nakita ko namang ngumiti sa akin si Mommy. "I'm really happy for you two, hijo." She smiled.

Ngumiti rin naman ako. "Thank you, Mom." I'm also thanking her for introducing Yessabella to me.

"Sana ay kayo naman ang sunod na ikasal." She said.

Napatingin ako kay Mommy pero unti-unti rin akong tumango sa kaniya at ngumiti...

And on the day of the wedding I was at the church already with Yessabella as my date.

I smiled when I saw her looking so beautiful in her dress that matches the entourage.

Nang bumaling siya sa akin ay ngumiti rin siya. "What is it?" She asked me gently.

Bahagya naman akong umiling. "Nothing, uh, you're beautiful. The dress look good on you..." I said, and I was even panicking a little bit. Tsk.

She smiled at me. "Thank you. And you look good yourself, too."

Napangiti na lang ako.

And while we were at the wedding, I was just almost always watching Yessa... She's really beautiful. And I feel so lucky to have her today here as my date and my girlfriend...

And I was even already thinking of marrying her as well... If she'd agree to marry me, too...

"Hmm? What are you thinking?" She asked me beside her when she noticed me watching her.

Bahagya naman akong umiling sa kaniya. At ngumiti na lang din siya sa akin.

We also danced at the wedding's reception after the bride and the groom who's now husband and wife. Yessa and I also congratulated them.

"Congratulations on your wedding." Nakangiting bati sa kanila ni Yessa sa tabi ko.

"Awww. Thank you, Yessa! You are so beautiful today. Bagay na bagay kayo nitong kaibigan namin." Jas said, the bride. Kaklase ko rin dati sa med school. Who's also now a doctor. At doctor din ang napangasawa niya. As she turned to smile at me, too.

Napailing na lang naman ako sa kanila pero nakangiti rin.

And while we're dancing, Yessa rested her head on my shoulder for a bit.

"Are you tired?" I asked her. Because she's also wearing a high heeled shoes. So I was kind of worried for her. At kaninang umaga hanggang ngayong hapon na ay nandito pa rin kami sa celebration.

Umiling naman siya at nag-angat ng tingin sa akin. "No. Are you?"

Umiling din ako sa kaniya. "No."

And later that evening, nang hinatid ko na siya muli sa kanila...

"Thank you ulit sa paghatid sa akin." She said.

And I nodded. "It's nothing. It's only right na ihatid kita pagkatapos din kitang sunduin."

But unlike usual ay hindi pa bumababa si Yessa sa kotse ko.

"What is it?" I asked her.

At nakita ko naman ang bahagyang pamumula ng mukha niya. Pagkatapos ay umiling siya sa akin at nag-iwas din ng tingin.

Bahagya naman kumunot ang noo ko sa kaniya. "Yessa?"

Muli siyang nag-angat ng tingin sa akin. "Yes?"

At nagkatinginan kaming dalawa.

Pagkatapos ay unti-unti kong nilapit ang mukha ko sa kaniya. At nang makita kong pumapayag naman siya na halikan ko siya ngayon... I lowered my head more to her until I reached her sweet lips...

I kissed her inside my car. And she kissed me back...

"I really like you, Yessa..." I said after the kiss. At habang malapit pa rin ang mga mukha namin sa isa't isa. Our nose were still touching each other.

"I like you too, Leo..." She said it as well.

And then we kissed once more. And this time it's deeper...