Walang magawa sina Jenica at Jeremy. Sobrang sanay nila na toxic sa ospital kaya ngayong day off nila, hindi nila alam ang gagawin sa apartment. Pakiramdam nila, may mali.
Kanina pa hindi mapakali si Jenica. Jeremy was just watching her move around the apartment. One moment, she's hovering around the kitchen. The second, he found her vacuuming the floor at the living room. Mukhang si Jeremy pa ang napapagod para sa kanya.
Jeremy walked towards her to stop her from what she was doing. He held her shoulders firmly. "Hey." His soft voice somehow calmed her a little. "Tara, labas tayo."
"But we're supposed to be resting, right?" Jenica whimpered.
He looks unconvinced of her tone. "Do you feel rested?" She immediately shook her head in a strong manner. Even if she doesn't tell him, he knows when she feels restless. And thank God he knows exactly what she needed to feel rested.
Jeremy drove her to the hospital. Nakakunot pa nga ang mukha nito nung makita ang ospital. "Bakit tayo nandito? Day off nga natin, 'di ba?"
"Who says we're going here to work?" He switched the car off and jumped out of the car to open Jenica's door.
Upon locking the door, he held her hand and placed it in his pocket to keep it warm. Sabay silang naglakad papasok sa ospital. Instead of going to the laboratory or the doctor's office, they went straight ahead to the waiting area.
They sat in the room together with worried relatives and hopeful family members. "Anong ginagawa natin dito?" tanong ni Jenica.
Sakto namang may lumabas na doktor mula sa operating room. "Anyone here for Mr. Madrigal?" tanong nito. Mabilis namang tumayo ang isang matandang babae na mukhang asawa ng pasyente. Katabi nito ang isang mas batang babae na mukha anak nila.
"Ano pong balita, Dok?"
"Ikinagagalak ko pong ibalita sa inyo na successful po ang operasyon ng asawa niyo," anunsyo ng doktor sa kanila. Agad na nakahinga nang maluwag ang dalawang babae sa narinig na balita.
Halos mangiyak-ngiyak pa ang matanda kaya hindi niya napigilang yakapin ang doktor. "Maraming salamat sa pagliligtas sa asawa ko, Dok."
Hinagod naman ng doktor ang likod ni Nanay. "Salamat ho sa tiwala ninyo sa amin. Maaari niyo na po siyang bisitahin kapag nailipat na po siya ng kwarto."
"Salamat po ulit, Dok," pahabol ng anak.
Nagkatinginan sina Jenica at Jeremy sa kanilang napanood. She rested her head on his shoulders while holding each other's hand. Iyon lang ang ginawa nila buong araw. Nakipag-usap sa mga kamag-anak ng mga pasyente at nanood kung paano tanggapin ng mga ito ang magagandang balita tungkol sa mga mahal nila sa buhay mula sa mga doktor.
Merry Christmas and happy holidays! Ito na yung promise kong special ficlet sa inyo. Thank you for reading and loving YMMS, especially for being patient in waiting for this ficlet. Enjoy! 🫀
Minsan hindi makapaniwalang boyfriend na ni Jenica ang taong kinamumuhian niya. He also happens to be one of the most attractive doctors in the hospital. It feels like a blessing and a curse.
Jenica and Lorraine are walking to the cafeteria for their lunch. Jenica spots a familiar built at the entrance of the cafeteria. That was her boyfriend talking to a really attractive and sexy female doctor. The woman was chuckling and caressed Jeremy's biceps, which made Jenica's stomach flip. She caught Jeremy smiling at the lady. Now, she wants to throw up so bad.
As much as she wants to grab the lady by her hair, she stopped herself. Hindi siya pwedeng magpaka-squammy dito sa ospital ngayon at baka matanggalan pa siya ng trabaho. But she can't deny that it didn't feel good watching him laugh with someone prettier than her. It made her feel sick.
Nilagpasan na lang nina Jenica at Lorraine ang dalawa. Hindi na lang ito pinansin ni Jenica. Baka pagkain lang ang sagot sa nararamdaman niya. Sana nga, pagkain lang.
Nakakuha na sila ng pagkain at lahat-lahat, hindi pa rin maipinta ang mukha ni Jenica. "Teh, ayos ka lang ba? Ayaw mo ba nung pagkain mo?" tanong ni Lorraine.
Kunot-noong umiling si Jenica. "Wala 'to. H'wag mo na lang pansinin." Kumain na si Jenica kahit na masama pa rin ang loob niya. Kanina pa niya inaabangan si Jeremy na pumasok sa cafeteria.
She thought that when he sees her, he would immediately follow her inside. Boy, she thought wrong. A few minutes later, pumasok na sa cafeteria yung kanina pa niya hinihintay. She looks like a lovesick puppy with what she's doing and she doesn't care anymore. Si Lorraine lang naman ang nakakakita sa kanya.
"Ay, kaya pala parang nagusot 'yang mukha mo, teh!" sabi ng kaibigan niya.
"Kilala mo ba yung kausap niya kanina?"
Napatigil sa pagkain si Lorraine at napaisip. "Isa yata 'yon sa mga bagong intern na doktor. Hindi ko lang alam kung anong specialization no'n."
Tumango-tango si Jenica. Napansin niyang naglalakad papunta sa kanila si Jeremy kaya umiwas na siya ng tingin dito.
"Ay, papunta na rito si Sir Dok! CR lang ako," paalam ni Lorraine. Pipigilan pa sana ni Jenica ang kaibigan pero hindi na siya nakaangal pa.
"O, saan pupunta 'yon?" bungad ni Jeremy sa kanya.
"CR," maikling sagot ni Jenica.
Nilapitan ni Jeremy si Jenica para halikan ang pisngi niya pero umiwas lang siya. Alam na nito agad na may problema. "Ryl, what's wrong?" malambing nitong tanong. Nang hindi niya pansinin ang lalaki ay hinawakan nito ang baba niya saka iniharap sa kanya. "Baby, tell me what's wrong."
"Wala."
Jeremy kissed her hand. "Come on. It's obvious you're angry. Please tell me what I did to upset you," paglalambing niya. He ended it with another kiss on her hand.
Come to think of it, Jenica thought it was ridiculous this time. Mas lalo lang siyang nahiya sa inasta niya dahil lang sa selos. Ang pangit pala sa pakiramdam ang magselos. "Pagtatawanan mo lang ako kapag nalaman mo," nahihiyang sabi ni Jenica.
"What is it then?" He was still holding her hand, never letting it go unless he's sure that she's already pacified.
She let out a thin sigh. "Ang gwapo mo kasi masyado," reklamo ni Jenica. She could see him smirk from her peripheral view.
"And what about it? This handsome face is yours." She rolled her eyes at how good he was with his words.
Pumasok sa cafeteria yung babaeng kausap ni Jeremy kanina sa labas ng cafeteria. Bumalik na naman ang hindi maipintang mukha ni Jenica. That was when Jeremy understood what was happening.
He stole Jenica's attention by holding her chin and making her face him. "You are the most beautiful woman in my eyes, kahit na gusot na gusot na naman 'yang mukha mo. Ikaw ang mahal ko, Airylle Jenica de Leon, soon-to-be Ylagan." He ended his spiel with a kiss on the forehead. "Don't be jealous anymore, hmm?"
Jenica's face softened. It felt like all her jealousy faded away. He sure knows what to say. Hindi nito alam na isang halik lang sa kanya, mawawala na agad yung selos na nararamdaman niya.
Oh, to be loved by Jeremy Ylagan is probably the best feeling in the world.
"Are we okay now?" he asked. Tumango naman si Jenica. "Alright, I have to go now. Liam is probably looking for me."
"Hindi ka ba kakain ng lunch?" Jeremy smiled at how she worried about him. It's the most adorable thing for him in the world.
Umiling ito. "Kumain na ako, Ryl."
"E anong ginagawa mo rito sa cafeteria?"
"I just made sure you'd actually have lunch. I was actually waiting for you earlier then I bumped into one of the interns." Ahhh, maybe that girl from earlier. "Sige, kain ka na. I'll see you later."
"Alright. See you later."
Jenica watched him walk towards the cafeteria door. Halfway from the door, he turns back again and shouts, "I love you, Jenica!" She was so stunned at his loud proclaimation that even the entire cafeteria heard it.
Now, everybody's staring at her. Jeremy just stood there like he was waiting for something. When she didn't say anything, Jeremy repeated, "I love you, Jenica!"
Ramdam na ramdam na ni Jenica ang pagtaas ng dugo niya sa mukha. Sobrang namumula na siguro siya. Paano ba siya hindi mahihiya nito e lahat ng tao sa cafeteria, nakatingin sa kanya?
"Argh! Just say it back already!" Lorraine complained, coming back from the restroom.
Iyon ba yung hinihintay ni Jeremy? "I love you, too," mahinang sabi ni Jenica.
"Hindi kita marinig."
"Sabi ko... I love you, too!" frustrated na sigaw ni Jenica.
"That's more like it," he said like he's so proud of his girl. Nakangiting naglakad palabas si Jeremy. Samantalang naiwang namumula si Jenica.
Setting: Jeremy is already aware of his feelings but they're not together yet.
Happy 6k reads, YMMS. 🫀
Kagagaling lang ni Jenica sa graveyard shift niya. First time niya ulit na maranasan 'tong schedule na 'to sa Terveys Medical Center. Usually kasi, pang-umaga siya. Nakipagpalit lang sa kanya yung katrabaho niya dahil may emergency raw ito kaya pumayag na siya. Pero hindi niya inaasahan yung ganitong pagod.
Naninibago pa rin si Jenica kahit na nasubukan na niya ito noon. Mas lalo siguro siyang napagod dahil kulang ang tulog niya. Emergency kasi kaya hindi niya napaghandaan masyado.
She opened the door to their apartment groggily, her eyes barely even open. She lazily puts the keys on the key holder. Her shoes were quickly removed by just using her feet. Nilagay na rin niya ito sa shoe rack. The last thing she wanted to wake up to was Jeremy getting angry at her for being so messy.
Feeling so exhausted, she didn't even bother to wash up anymore and went straight to the nearest room she could reach just to get some sleep.
* * *
Naalimpungatan si Jeremy nang maramdaman niyang gumalaw ang kama niya. Akala niya lumilindol. Kinusot muna niya ang mga mata niya para malaman kung lindol nga ba 'yon.
But he was wrong. He saw Jenica trying to be comfortable under his blanket with her eyes closed. Their shared calendar confirmed she just came back from her duty. Kaya siguro ito pagod na pagod. Mali tuloy ang kwartong pinasukan niya.
Jeremy was about to wake her up to tell her she came into the wrong room but he doesn't have the heart to. He knew how tired she was and she deserves to rest. Rather than waking her up, he tucked her in his bed instead.
Kumuha na lang siya ng panibagong kumot mula sa cabinet niya. Before leaving his room, he took one last look of Jenica up close. He fixed the hair on her face and tucked it behind her ear. He had a strong urge to not do it but whatever! She's asleep now, anyways. He went ahead and leaned forward to gently plant a kiss on her forehead. "Good night, Ryl," he whispered and got up.
He gently closed the door to his room and lied down on the couch instead.
* * *
Jenica woke up feeling hot. Ramdam niya ang pawis niya sa noo at leeg. Ang hula niya, kusa na sigurong namatay ang aircon niya. She was trying to reach for the electric fan that is usually at her left side of the bed without opening her eyes. Nang hindi niya ito makapa, napilitan siyang buksan ang mga mata niya.
Much to her surprise, the color of the walls was white even if she remembered having teal-colored walls in her room. Her eyes roamed around the room and she found herself unfamiliar of the things around it. White-colored sheets. Several medical books on the side table and a Breaking Bad Funko Pop on top of it. She could smell the strong scent of Jeremy's perfume lingering around the room.
Don't tell me... I'm in Jeremy's room?!
Agad siyang napabangon mula sa kama ni Jeremy saka lumabas para hanapin ito. She found him sleeping at the couch. Halatang hindi siya naging komportable sa pagtulog niya. She gently caressed his cheek to avoid waking him up. Her face softened as she watched him sleep. "Thank you," bulong niya.
