Dominguez Series 1st Gen Book 3 | Suddenly It's Love

Chapter 05

HINDI MAWALA sa isipan ni Niko ang sinabi Jillian sa kanya. The fact that she used to live in an orphanage managed by a church strengthen his hunch they’re one person. He must to know it. Pero nahihiya siya na tanungin si Jillian tungkol sa personal na buhay nito. Sinipat niya ito na kasalukuyang naka-upo sa shotgun seat at may sinusulat sa notepad. Tapos na silang mag-ikot sa Dangwa. Nakausap na nila ang supplier ng bulaklak at gowns para sa mga bridesmaids. Papunta na sila ngayon sa taga-gawa ng tux at gowns ng pamilya nila.

“Nagugutom ka na ba? We can eat first before going to our designer.” aniya sa dalaga.

“No. Mag late lunch na lang ako after ng lahat ng trabaho.” Tugon nito sa kanya. He turned right after the stop light and turned left and parked his car in front of a restaurant. “Bakit tayo nandito?”

“Work can wait and I’m hungry.” Pagdadahilan niya saka inalis ang suot na seatbelt at bumaba sa sasakyan. He opened the door where Jillian was seating. Bumaba din ito at magkasabay silang pumasok sa restaurant. He’s regular there that’s why staff already know where his reserved seats. Madalas niya kasama ang mama niya doon o di kaya lola naman niya. Wala talagang ibang babae na makikitang kasama niya liban kay Arisa at ngayon si Jillian.

Naalala niyang kinabukasan noong gabing magkasama sila ni Arisa, may mga lumabas nang artikulo tungkol sa kanilang dalawa. Nagpa-interview pa si Arisa at sinabing nagdate nga sila. Hindi naman siya nagpa-unlak ng payanam sa kahit sinong reporter. Nag-heads up na din siya sa pamunuan ng ospital na walang reporter na hahayaang makapasok sa palibot niyon unless they’re patients.

“Palagi ka dito? Kilala ka ng mga staffs dito.” Tumango siya. “With your girlfriend?”

“I don’t have girlfriend.” Tugon niya.

Hindi na muli nagtanong si Jillian. Dumating ang waiter at inabutan sila ng menu. He choose angus beef steak while Jillian choose caesar wrapped. Nakita niyang kinuha nito mula sa bag ang tablet notebook at binukas iyon. She can’t really loosen up for a bit. Limang buwan naman ang binigay dito nina Joaq at Paola para sa prepations. Somehow he liked her professionalism and can-do attitude. Ano pa ba aasahan niya sa isang babaeng pinanganak at lumaki sa banyagang bansa? Most of womens there were independent.

“You’re free the whole day, right?” tanong nito sa kanya.

“Yes. Why?”

“Just asking baka kasi may appointment or date ka,” she said to him. Tiningnan siya nito diretso sa mga mata. “You’re a busy person.”

“I don’t work on weekends and doctors have life too.”

“Yeah, right.”

Ngumiti ito saka muling binaling sa tablet laptop ang atensyon. He noticed that’s she rarely do eye to eye contact to him. Napansin din niya ang palagiang pamunula ng pisngi nito sa tuwing dadaiti ang balat niya sa balat nito. Maybe it's because of her light skin tone. Dumating ang order nilang dalawa kaya itinabi muna ni Jillian ang tablet laptop.

“Can I ask personal questions?”

“Shoot.”

“Sina tita Lorie at tita Tine, magkapatid pa sila?” Umiling ito.

“Colleagues. Ex-nun.” Maikli nitong tugon sa kanya. “They’re my adoptive parents. I was only two years old when the Atlanta governement brought in the orphanage where they serving as a parish nuns.” Dagdag na sabi nito sa kanya. “My biological parents is one of the victims of 1992 Atlanta Amusement Park Mass Shooting.”

Nabagsak niya ang hawak na kubyertos. His speculations was now confirmed. They’re one person. Napatingin ito sa kanya ngunit saglit lang. Nag-iwas ito at bumaling sa pintuan ng restaurant na kinaroroonan nila. Napalunok siya. Muli niyang dinampot ang kubyertos at pinagpatuloy ang pagkain.

Nang matapos sila, agad silang nagbayad ng kanilang kinain. Jillian refused to let him pay for her food. Hindi na siya nakipagtalo pa dito. Umalis sila doon at bumiyahe na papunta sa boutique ng family designer na pupuntahan nila. Doon naghihintay sina Paola at Joaq kasama ang dalawa pa niyang kapatid na lalaki. Sinabi din ni Joaq na on the way na ang mga kambal nilang pinsan na si Macoy at Cali. Dahil customized lahat ng isusuot nila sa kasal, kailangan ngayon palang ay sukatan na sila. Mahaba habang preparasyon din iyon para sa designer nilang gagawa ng halos lahat ng susuotin ng buong pamilya nila.

“Are you okay?” Tumingin sa kanya si Jillian.

“Yes. What made you think I’m not okay?” Nakangiting tanong nito.

“I saw it in your eyes.” Tugon niya. “I’m a psychologist and I can easily read you.”

“Articles about you being a great doctor were true. I did some research about you.” Nakangiting sabi nito sa kanya.

He chuckled. “May nahanap ka ba na relevant?”

“Meron naman. I became your instant fan after watching your Youtube videos of random medical topics.”

“Matagal ko na hindi nagagawa ‘yan at dahil pinaalala mo baka mag-record ako next week.”

Nakita niya ang excitement sa mukha ng dalaga. The last video he recorded was months ago. Masyado siyang naging abala sa pagiging doctor dahil nagkaroon ng dengue epidemic. It caused panic to the community and no one trust the shots that was given by the hospital due to the dengvaxia scare.

“Paano mo nalamang doctor ang gusto mo’ng propesyon?” tanong sa kanya ni Jillian.

Hindi niya inalis sa daan ang atensyon.

“I was seven years old when I got curious how people got sick. Nag escalate ang curiosity na iyon nang maka-encounter kami ng uncle ko ng aksidente sa kalye. I helped him to stopped the patients bleeding on the spot. Sabi ni uncle meron akong magic hand at iyon ang sumalba sa pasyenteng iyon na nasa binggit na ng kamatayan.”

“Wala akong ganyang kalawak na curiosity ng mag medical school ako. Nasayang nga yung scholarship ko noon at tingin ko disappointed ang sponsor ko dahil doon.” Sinipat niya ito. “Eighteen ako nang magdecide ako na babalik ako Pilipinas at dito na titira. Pero dahil wala ako immediate family, hindi pumayag ang orphanage kahit nasa legal age na ako. They tried to transfer me in other institution but mama Lorie and mama Tine didn’t allow it. Inako nila ang responsibility sa akin at tinalikuran ang bokasyon nila. Bumalik kaming tatlo dito at nanirahan kung saan saang apartment.”

“You feel guilty because of there decision to go with you?”

“Oo. I think I go against God’s will for them.”

“I’m not as religious as your parents but I think they really want to choose you not because they pitied you but because they really cared for you.”

He saw her smiled. “Thank you for saying that again.” Sambit nito sa kanya.

Awkward air filled the whole car. No one dared to talk until they reached the boutique. Kumpleto na lahat nang dumating sila doon. Pinuntahan agad ni Jillian si Paola na nakikipag-usap sa gumagawa ng wedding gown sketch nito. At siya naiwan kasama ang mga kapatid at pinsan.

“Correct me if I’m only mistaken of sensing romantic tension between you and the event coordinator, my dear cousin.” Puna ni Cali sa kanya. “She shares the same name with your first love, too. Was that a coincidence?” dagdag pa nitong sabi.

“Iisa lang sila. I confirmed it awhile ago.” Sagot niya.

“Good luck to us Iñigo. We’re mom’s blind date spree next victim.” Palatak ni Migs. Iñigo shooked his head.

He saw Joaq and Macoy looking at him. Nilapitan niya ang mga ito. Dalawang taon lamang ang tanda niya sa dalawa. Somehow he knew that they understands him more than Cali, Migs and Iñigo. A day with Jillian was a well spent one. They talked about the wedding and personal lives.

Mabuti at nagawa niya pigilan pa ang sarili niya na bigla na lang itong yakapin nang mabanggit nito ang tungkol sa insidenteng umagaw sa buhay ng mga magulang nito sa murang edad niya. Hearing her being thankful of what he said in the car awhile ago made him travelled down to memory lane. Something holds him back to introduce himself as her life savior. Something holds him back to admit to her that she was his first love.That she didn’t date anyone because of her. Because of waiting that one day she’ll come to him and heaven made it come true.

She’s finally near him now. But he’s afraid to go after her for an unknown reason. All he need to do was to be with her all the time she needs a companion. That’s all for now. While doing it, he’ll plan for his next moved. He’s not late and he believed that.