Beauty As The Beast

O N E (1/2)

“Doc, dalawa na lang tayong toxicologist dito? Parang masyado tayong in demand lately, e.”

I just laugh as I hear another sarcastic remark from Bree while she hands two vials of blood sample to our GP.

“Walang tray?” the GP asks.

Bree shakes her head, making the GP nod in return.

“Five minutes, Doc,” GP tells her.

Tumango lang si Bree sa kaniya.

“Just leave it there. Si Patrick na ang bahala,” I say.

She rolls her eyes at me. “Kaya ayoko talaga ng residency, e. Gagawin kang alipin ng mga mas matataas sa ‘yo samantalang pare-parehas lang naman kayo ng pinag-aralan. Nakakaasar!”

I smirk at her. “Can’t say I don’t like it when you’re being useful. Come on, let’s grab something to eat.”

Hindi na siya nagreklamo. She follows suit as we walk out of the hospital two hours before our shift ends. I know, I always push her to the edge of her patience by being an annoying superior, but I always make it up for by being particularly nice.

Bree is one of the smartest and nicest people I’ve ever met. Despite her snobbish responses to almost everyone, makikita mo pa rin talaga ‘yung tago niyang bait if you get to know her better. I know that because I’ve been a witness to it. From all the favors she had to do for her sisters without complaining and all, I have been there to see how eager she is to be of help. Even to me, she’s been very helpful.

Madalas kong hingin ang oras ni Bree when I’m bored and being with her kills the time I usually spend alone. We go to Sports Shops together, play Tennis when Angel isn’t available, watch tournaments, and I’d say we share the same interests in life which are mostly focused on things that only serious people would pay attention to. Although I needed to be in a lot of headaches because of her other sisters and the person she said she had an eye for, it’s not really an issue for me because she knows how to ask for something in a nice way.

“Ramen House?” I ask.

“Doc, okay lang ba kung to-go na lang? Nakakahiya kay Patrick, e.”

You see, this is what’s even funnier about her. She would say a lot of things and feel guilty about it afterwards na kahit nasasamantala na siya minsan, hindi siya nakakahalata. Just like what her sisters are doing to her.

“Nope,” I say. “We’ll dine in.”

And because she knows how much I love to use my power over her, hindi na naman siya nakapagreklamo. We walk into the closest Ramen House and we are greeted by a waitress wearing a ridiculously colored floral Kimono.

“Maalala ko nga pala, Cash was looking for you this morning.”

I turn to face her as we sit across from each other after the waitress leaves. “What about?”

“The... uhm... thing—”

“If it’s about the OSB again, just tell him ‘no’ every time he asks. I’m sorry if he keeps bothering you. It’s seriously getting on my nerves now, too.”

“Ah, Doc, ano ba kasing meron diyan?”

“Bree, how many times do I have to tell you? It’s a confidential matter and I can’t tell you about it.”

“Then you have to ask chief not to ask me to convince you.”

I glare at her the moment I realize what she’s trying to say. “What?!”

She sighs. “Yes, Doc. Cash already told me what the project is all about. At ang sabi niya, I have to convince you.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “What makes him think you can convince me?”

Bree looks away. “I don’t know. They all think we’re close. Too close, actually.”

“Babe, dito na lang tayo,” a voice of a whiny girl says close to my right.

Napalingon kaming parehas ni Bree. Sa lakas ba naman ng boses no’ng babae, halos lahat ata ng nandito, narinig na sila. I just squint my eyes at the couple who just walked into the diner while holding hands.

“Ugh,” I grunt in disgust.

And as if the news about Cash asking Bree to convince me is not enough to ruin my peaceful day, umupo pa sa table malapit sa ‘min ‘yung dalawang naglalandiang couple na naka-couple shirt pa.

Narinig kong natawa si Bree so I look at her. “What’s so funny?” I ask.

“Why are you hating on lovers? You’re always like that when you see sweet couples.”

“Babe, tabi na lang tayo. Ang layo mo, e,” the boy half of the couple says, pulling the girl next to his seat.

I shake my head. “Because it’s inappropriate? I mean, come on. It’s not ‘sweet’, for your information. It’s...” I stare at the couple again and see them silencing each other with kisses and I almost p**e. “Ugh. It’s a disgusting form of a PDA.”

“Nananghalian ka siguro ng ampalaya, Doc.”

I roll my eyes. “Palit nga tayo ng upuan. Baka mawalan ako ng ganang kumain kung makikita ko lang ‘yang mga ‘yan.”

She’s still laughing as we both stand to exchange seats. Kahit gutom ako, binilisan ko lang ‘yung kain ko kasi hindi rin naman malakas kumain si Bree at talagang nagmamadali akong makalayas dahil asar na asar talaga ako sa mga naghaharutan in public. Pares pa ‘yung suot nila. Like what the hell, mukha silang dalawang paa na may suot na magkapares na sapatos.

“Doc, wala kang pasok sa Friday, ‘no?”

I glance at Bree as we walk out of the diner. “Wala. Bakit?”

“Wala na naman akong makakausap.”

“Come on. You’re the famous Spring Breeze Larqueza. Everyone wants to get closer to you if they’re not intimidated.”

“That’s the point. I don’t want everyone to be interested in me because of my name. Sometimes, I’d like to live a normal life.”

I throw an arm over her shoulder. “You’re pretty normal to me.”

She glances up at me. “I’m not sure if that should make me sad or happy.”

Natawa lang ako. We walk back to the hospital to finish everything else that we need to finish so we can go home.

Pagbalik ko sa office ko, wala naman na akong masyadong ginawa. Despite being a Physician who specializes in Toxicology in a central hospital known for it’s focus in toxicology researches, a Psychiatris, and Neurologist, I’d say that my life is rather dull. But I wouldn’t want it any other way. During free time, I read books. When I’m not reading, I’m working out or playing Tennis with Angel or Bree. Basta in a week, nakakatapos ako ng limang novel at nakakapag-laro ako at least once because that’s something I don’t want to take away from myself. And of course, the habit I recently developed with Bree—studying Biology.

“Doc, may pasok ka ba sa Saturday?” Patrick, the assigned GP, asks.

I’m almost tempted to shake my head and roll my eyes. “Wala,” I answer, deadpan, gathering my things from my desk.

“Ako rin, Doc.”

I finally look up at him. “And?”

“Maybe you’d finally like to go out on a date with me?”

I frown. “No. I’m not interested, for the millionth time, Doc.” I walk past him outside the door of my office to pause for some seconds. “And next time you open this damned door without knocking, I’ll put your head in between the hinges and close the door simultaneously. Just to demonstrate how I hate my privacy and security being compromised. Okay?”

I turn away before he can say anything. Ewan ko kung matatawa ako o ewan. Patrick seems nice but I’m just not into anything like that. Para naman siyang high school. And besides, he’s shorter than I am. Ang awkward naman na ako ‘yung babae tapos ako pa ‘yung mas matangkad sa kaniya, baka ma-intimidate lang siya sa ‘kin. I have a feeling that I’d be a pretty submissive partner when it comes to relationship. I’d rather submit to someone I can look up to.

“You wouldn’t even give him a chance, would you?”

I let out a sigh of relief as I hear that voice from behind me. “Bree, that’s what you call ‘not leading anyone on when you’re not interested’. Mahirap na, baka matawag pang paasa. I’m too busy being awesome to worry about those things.”

“Sus.” She pokes my cheek. “Baka naman may natitipuhan ka na talaga kaya ganiyan ka ka-stiff?”

I gape at her. “You think I’m a stiff?”

She nods. “And stoic, too.”

“Ugh!” I open the door for us. “You may be right. Or maybe I’m just not interested in anyone, generally.”

“Baka naman babae ang gusto mo?”

Saktong nasa tapat na ng exit si kuya Ted kaya hindi ko na sinagot 'yung huling sinabi niya. “Goodbye, Bree. Take care. See you on Monday.”

“Monday?!”

Napatigil ako before opening the backseat door. “Why?”

“Ba’t ang tagal mo?!”

“What? No. May pasok ako bukas pero ikaw, wala. It’s mandatory. Kailangan may pa-isa-isang araw na magkahiwalay tayo ng shift. Akala mo lang, matagal.”

She pouts. “Ang tagal pa rin. Wednesday pa lang ngayon.”

“Bakit, may separation anxiety ka na naman?” I joke. “‘Wag ka ngang clingy. Sige na. Ingat ka, ha?”

Bree chuckles softly. “Fine. Sana pag-uwi mo, kilala mo pa rin ako. Parang lagi mo ‘kong nakakalimutan kapag hindi tayo nagkikita, e.”

I open the car door and smile to myself. “Goodbye, Bree,” I say again without glancing this time.

As I sit, I immediately fish out my phone to see her reflection on my screen as we drive away. Sinusundan niya ng tingin ‘yung sasakyan and I don’t understand why I’m smiling even more.

The next day has to drag by so slow as I’m already used to doing tasks with Bree’s help. Ito ‘yung first time na may pasok ako tapos wala siyang pasok simula naging resident toxicologist siya rito and tomorrow will be the first time for her na may pasok siya at ako naman ang wala.

Long day, like always. Nagbasa ako sa biyahe pauwi and start with my take home tasks once I’m done with my just-got-home-routine. I check my phone to see if I have any messages. Since wala naman, nag-compose na lang ako.

Isabelle: Hey. Are you free this Saturday?

Spring Breeze: Pambihira ka talaga. Nagpaparamdam ka lang kapag wala kang makausap.

I unconsciously smile to myself as I type another reply...

Isabelle: Saturday. Yes or no?

Spring Breeze: Fine. See you, doc.

“Hey. How are you?”

I look up at Angel who’s standing in my room’s doorway. I put the phone beside my laptop because I’m already distracted. Hindi man lang kumatok. “Yes?” I ask.

“Patulog dito, ah?”

Binalik ko na lang ang atensyon ko sa paperwoks na tinatapos ko. “It’s your house, too.”

After that, she walks away. I don’t have to ask, it’s obvious naman na nag-away na naman sila ni Tracy so she’s staying here. Ginagawa niya ‘tong bahay ng mga magulang namin na lugar para tumakas when she was actually trying to escape from this place when they were still alive.

Well, that’s my sister. Slightly arrogant, too charming—says other people—for her own good, and stubborn to the bones. Probably a little too rebellious in nature, too.

As I finish the last document from the take home administrative tasks I need to review, the phone vibrates next to the piles of paper on my desk. Distracted, I check to see who that is.

Spring Breeze: See? Wala na namang reply. Good night, Doc. Text ka na lang kung bored ka na at gusto mo na akong makausap kasi wala kang choice dahil ayaw mo namang makipag-usap sa iba.

And instead of proving her wrong, I just set my phone on my side table, briefly check on my emails, and brush my teeth before going to sleep. Of course, I wouldn’t let her feel that I can be a twenty-four-seven available acquaintance. I don’t want anyone to rely on me that much.