Medical Batchelor 2: Man on Fire

2

Jairus

"THIS WAS a really, really stupid idea!" I informed Janna, my twin-sister. "Remind me again. Why did I agree to do this?" napapalatak kong tanong.

"Because it is your big come back on the Medical Field, brother dear! The famous Prodigal Son of NeuroSurgery is back." Janna said making images on her own. Naging matiim ang mukha ko.

"I'm not the same Dr. Saavedra, Jann. He's gone." I said flatly. Nakita ko namang pumormal ang kapatid ko.

"Jai please, it's time to moved on." she said with a voice full of concern. I grimaced. Bakit ba lahat na lang ng tao, iyan ang sinasabi sa akin?

"What I am pointing out was hindi na kailangan ma-involved pa ako diyan sa kalokohan mo. And please, malaki na ako kaya puwede ka ng bumalik sa Australia. I don't need a baby sitter." I snapped at her.

"It was the best idea I could come up with a short notice. And may I remind you, inutos ito sa akin ni mama so better go along with it." naka-nguso nitong sabi sa akin. Inirapan ko na lang siya. I hated being the center of attraction. I'm not the man I used to be.

Since Lexie died. 

"Relax." she soothed me, making a last minute adjustment to my bow tie. "You look fantastic. Alam mo kung hindi mo lang ako kapatid, I'd be tempted to buy a ticket myself." sabay kindat niya sa akin.

"Oh, please!" nandidiri kong sagot sa kanya. Alam ko namang binibilog lang niya ang ulo ko. "It was supposed to be an auction, right?" my eyes narrowed.

"Yes it is. At ang masuwerteng mananalo ay may chance na maka–date ka, brother. Lahat ng malilikom sa auction mapupunta sa funds ng hospital." paliwanag ni Janna sa akin. Tumango na lamang ako. At least it is for a good cause.

"Kung ganoon naman pala, you could've bid for me. I will funded you to do it." pagmamakaawa ko sa kapatid ko. Edi sana masaya akong mag si–celebrate.

"Really? Bibilhin mo ang sarili mo?" exagge niya na tanong sa akin and I groaned. "Oh, come on Jairus. Don't expect me to believe that one. You loved dating women." she paused when she saw me winced.

"Noon iyon, Janna. Things were diff'rent now since I married...Alex-andra." my voice faltered.

"I am very aware of that Jairus. And I'm doing Lexie a favor. Hindi niya gugustuhin buruhin mo ang sarili mo grieving over her death forever. Two years has passed, it's time to face the reality. Na buhay ka pa. Na may buhay pa na nakalaan para sa'yo." her teeth clenched with those words. Parang narinig ko lang si Lexie na nagsasalita sa katauhan ng kapatid ko.

After I'm gone, and you've had time to grieve, I want you to promise me that you'll find someone who makes you happy.

You deserve to be in a committed, long-term relationship where you are loved every day for the rest of your life.

Gusto kong makasiguro, na darating ang panahon na hahayaan mo ang sarili mong magmahal ulit ng iba.

I cleared my lungs by breathing really hard. Ayoko ng maalala pa ang mga bagay na iyon.

I will do the moving on thing on my own way. Hindi dahil sa nangako ako, o sa dikta ng mga nakapaligid sa akin.

"Look, I hope those tickets made it clear it was one single night out. And that there's absolutely no possibility of an ongoing relationship." making the deal clear.

"Jai, you are the prize. Everyone knows the rules." Janna assured me. Napatango ako.

"Mabuti na yung malinaw, I don't like to hurt somebody." reason out ko.

"Tama ka na sa kaartehan mo ha!" napipikon na sabi nito. I grinned.

"Sana lang nakapili ka ng hindi mukhang matrona, yung puwede namang mai-enjoy ko ang libreng meal. At hindi rin yung maarte ha." sabi ko pa sa kapatid ko habang papalapit na kami sa venue ng auction. "At hinding–hindi na ulit ito mauulit." paninigurado ko sa kanya.

"Jairus?!" Janna stopped and looked at me.

"Yes?" I mumbled.

"Tigilan mo na iyang kakaputak mo? Ngumiti ka na lang and go charm some money out of the crowd." saka ito naglakad papunta sa emcee ng program.

Charm. It was what he was once good at. And that was the point of tonight after all: raising money for hospital funds. He took a deep breath, and followed his sister's instructions.

Nasa kalagitnaan na din kami ng programs at nag-eenjoy na din ako. Naging mainit ulit ang pag tanggap ng mga press people, ang mga founders ng hospital at maging ang mga dati kong kasamahan sa pag-babalik ko. I persuaded everyone to up their bids just that little bit more.

Nagkita-kita din kami nila Dan at Marco. I even add them to the auction lists. I auctioned Dan to wear a silly tie for a week, while Marco as a household maid for a day, and a charge nurse to do six home-cooked dinners. Everyone cooperated very well. And the money was just pouring in for the hospital, and the room was humming with expectation and laugher.

It is a great feeling.

Ngayon ko lang nalaman na may ganito din pala akong talent. Things run very smoothly. Maliban sa isa. Natapat ako sa one day exposure sa pedia ward. Okay na sana ang lahat ng makita ko ang kapatid kong si Janna kasama ang representative ng Nursing Department—Trisha De Leon.

"This is the moment you've all been waiting for." Janna stopped para mas lalong kapanabikan ng lahat ang kaganapan, "Our tonight's raffle. Who will receive a night out with our very own, Dr. Jairus Von Saavedra." she finished.

Nagkakagulo na ang mga tao, may nagtitilian, mostly woman. I felt my face heat habang inaasam kong lamunin na ako ng lupa ngayon din. Nilingon ko sila Dan at Marco na parang nakakalokong sumasabay sa pag chi-cheer.

Oh man!

"And the winning ticket is..."

Halos hindi ako makahinga, wishing for a miracle. Trisha dugged her hand on the drum full of raffle tickets. Iwinagayway pa nito ang nakuhang ticket sa madla.

Couldn't they just get this over with?

Trisha unfolded the ticket at ako naman dito, nag no-novena na sa kinauupuan ko.

"Ticket Number 381!" sigaw nito. Parang mga bubuyog na busyng-busy ang mga tao sa pagtingin ng kani-kanilang mga ticket. Some were murmuring of disappointment.

Please, please, let it be someone who'd take the whole thing at face value and wouldn't expect his undying love.

"Freya Marie Hizon!" Trisha shouted the name of the winning ticket.

Freya Marie Hizon? Is she new?

"Unfortunately, Freya's not able to be here tonight." pag a-announced ni Trisha.

What? She wasn't here? Baka naka-duty? Night shift siguro.

"So I'll tell her the good news in the morning." Trisha added.

"Daya!" I heard someone called. Daya? What did they mean by that?

"She can't possibly win Dr. Jairus for a night." sabi ng isang babae na mukhang papatay. Kinilabutan ako at the same time thankful, dahil hindi siya ang nabunot para maka-date ko.

"That's the luck of the draw." Trisha simply smiled to him. Ngumiti ako, pretended to be delighted, and finished auctioning the last few promises.

Pero malaking katanungan na gumugulo sa akin ay kung sino itong si Freya Marie Hizon.

At ano siya dito sa hospital.