Part X – Facing The Odds (In Filipino "Tagalog" dialect)

Marco Polo Hotel, Davao City

Stephanie was one of the speakers of the seminar conducted by the Department of Health which was attended by doctors from different regions of the Philippines. She was wearing a white sleeveless with collar blouse tucked in a red above the knee skirt paired with black high heels. With her height of 5’6’’, she looked more like a model than a doctor, kaya hindi maiwasang humanga ng bawat lalaking doctor na nakikinig sa kanya. They couldn’t help but admire her intelligence and looks... Beauty and brains ika nga. Her topic was about “Caring for the Caregivers”. She was tasked to tackle on the doctors’ point of view of caring for others without compromising their care for themselves physically and emotionally.

Damon secretly sat on one corner of the ballroom listening to her. Thanks to his connection and killer smile, madali nyang natuntun if nasaan si Stephanie. Sinadya nyang hindi sya makita ni Steph dahil ayaw nyang ma distract ito. Ang talino talaga ng babaing ito...nakakapanliit. When the seminar ended, ay hindi parin nagpakita si Damon. He just looked at her in awe. His mood changed when he noticed that a lot of men gathered around her and offered a hand shake which she accepted with a beautiful smile... Ok that did it... Aktong lalapit na sana sya ng may biglang bumati at yumakap sa kay Stephanie... It was a young doctor, Steph looked so happy to see him. She pulled him to one corner and talked to him without letting go of his hand. Natigilan si Damon. Who is she talking to this time? Her boyfriend again? Akala nya si Miggs ang boyfriend nito whom isn’t a threat to him dahil alam nyang alam ni Miggs ang pinagdaanan nila ni Stephanie. But this guy looks like someone really special to her because she is paying so attentively to what he is saying. She even looks so happy to him. Well, there’s only one way to find out. Lumapit si Damon sa dalawa at gumawa ng ingay by clearing his throat na nagdulot ng paglingon ng dalawa.

“Hi, doktora.”

“Damon? What are you doing here?” She was surprised and hated herself for feeling excited at the same time.

“Can we talk Steph?”

“Ok, you can start talking.” She still did not let go of the guy’s hand.

“I mean, just the two of us.” Sinadya nitong tingnan ang pagkakahawak ni Steph sa kamay ng kausap. It should be his hand she’s holding, not someone else’s.

“Look Damon, Did I tell you not to bother me anymore? I don’t want to do anything with you anymore... Diba ganun ka rin naman from what Miggs said?” You are a liar Stephanie! She talked to herself.

“Steph, I really wanna talk to you in private.”

“Ah, Excuse me, but isn’t it obvious enough that she doesn’t wanna talk to you alone?” biglang singit ng katabi ni Steph.

“Who’s this?” Tinuro ni Damon sa inis ang lalaki.

“And who do you think you are, pointing a finger at me?”

Damon’s patience and control gave way... Nilapitan niya ang lalaki at sinuntok ito sa mukha. Gumanti naman ang lalaki, sapul rin si Damon sa mukha.

“Stop it you two, anu ba! Nakakahiya kayo! Damon, please leave!... leave me alone!... I hate you!” Sambit ni Stephanie na may masakit na tingin kay Damon, saka nito tinitigan at hinawakan ang pasa ng kausap.

“Are you ok, Jamie?” concerned na tanong ni Steph.

“Steph?” apologetic na tono ni Damon.

“Go away, Damon.” Seryosong sagot nito habang hinahaplos ang likod ni Jamie.

“I’m sorry about this Jam, are you sure you’re ok?” Tumango lamang si Jamie kay Steph.

Tumahimik na lamang si Damon, tumalikod at lumabas ng function room. Hindi nya pinansin ang halos lahat ng matang nakatitig sa kanya... He felt numb.

Si Jamie ay matalik na kaibigan ni Stephanie, halos magkapatid rin ang turingan nila sa isa’t isa. Lingid sa kaalaman ng marami, Jamie is a gay, inamin nya ito kay Steph noong sila ay nasa premed pa lamang. Nagkahiwalay lamang sila pagkatapos ng board exams upang magresidency. Jam decided to leave town and applied at Xavier Hospital in Cagayan de Oro City. They were both so excited to see each other when Damon came.

“Come on, let’s put some ice on your cheek, mabuti nalang at masquerade ang theme ng dinner fellowship natin mamaya, ito naman kase, bat ba kinausap mo pa yung tao?.”

“Eh, sino ba yun? Saying napakagwapo ngunit antipatiko naman, in fairness, mabango sya ha, bakit bay yun galit?”

“That’s Damon, remember? Damon from college?”

“No way! Was that him?... Bakit di mo kami pinakilala, eh hindi sana suntok kundi beso-beso ang unang pag meet namin! Anu ba naman Steph.” Disappointed si Jamie.

“Sira, he’s already married Jamie!”

“Really, why is he here, at bakit mukha syang galit sa akin?..hhhmmm baka nagselos..aray! wag mo namang idiin ng ganyan yang pisngi ko!”

“Sorry...jealous kamo, I don’t think so.”

“Do you still love him?”

“I don’t know... He’s already married Jam, come on , what am I supposed to feel.”

“Simple lang yan, be honest to yourself, nung makita mo sya kanina, did you long to hug him?”

Natahimik si Steph...pumikit.

“Yes.” guilty na pag-amin nito.

“Yes?! Bakit tinarayan mo sya? Akala ko tuloy ginugulo ka nya.”

“I’m scared Jam, I’m scared that if I don’t show anger, I might end up loving him again, tapos anu namang labas ko? Kerida?”

“Well, he wanted to talk to you about something, baka naman nais nyang sabihing ikaw ang gusto nya at hiwalay na sila ng kanyang asawa...hahaha!” Nagliwanag ang mukha ni Jamie.

“Not a chance, nakita ko sila sa States...They were so happy together, so that ain’t gonna happen”.

“Steph, my dear, you try so hard. You mask your feelings in vain, you...are very obvious sweetheart, so might as well be honest with yourself nalang... Just listen to what he has to say Steph, para matahimik narin sya.”

“I don’t know Jam, baka makalimutan ko nanaman muli ang lahat at kung anu nanaman ang mangyari”

“Mangyari? What do you mean?”

Guilty ang mukha ni Steph na nagpahiwatig kay Jam.

“Oh my!... Don’t tell me... My God!.. In love ka ngang talaga, doktora!..” Napatabon ng isang kamay ni Jam sa kanyang bunganga habang sinasabi ito.

“What am I going to do, Jam?”

“I am not gonna tell you what to do my dear, you know me, iba ako mag-isip. Do what you think is the right thing to do para wala kang pagsisisihan.”

“Thanks Jam, I missed you so much friend... Mabuti nalang nandito ka, malapit na talaga akong masiraan ng bait.”

Grand Ballroom, Marco Polo Hotel

It was the termination fellowship of the five day seminar conducted by DOH. They had a masquerade ball to make it more memorable. Steph was wearing a cream silk gown with small crystal beads. Her hair was temporarily set in big curls. She looked like a “demigod”. Parang si Athena sa Clash of the Titans. So magical and so feminine.

Should I go to him?... No!... I should go to him. Yan ang naglalaban sa kanyang isipan habang nakaupo sa isang sulok katabi si Jam.

Jam was looking glamorous himself. He was wearing a vampire suit. Parang si Edward Cullen ng “Twilight”.

“Stephanie!?”

“Huh?”

“Kanina pa kita tinatanong!”

“About what?”

“Bakit kanina pang blanko yang mga mata mo? Hhmmm...let me guess, you are thinking about him, aren’t you?”

“”No... of course not”

“Yes you are... I know that look my dear”

“No nga... kulit... I’m just bored, that’s all”

“Ok, I have an idea... why don’t you go talk to him.”

“What?... Why would I?”

“Steph, it’s now or never. If you really don’t want him anymore, go talk to him and put closure to everything that’s happened between the two of you, para dika nagkakaganyan.”

“Like I know where to find him.”

“See... gusto mo nga syang puntahan... o, ayan lakad na dali” sabay abot ni Jam ang isang maliit na papel kung saan may nakasulat na floor and room number.

Tinitigan ito ni Steph.

“You know what, you better hurry, kase papalapit dito si Dr. Suarez, kanina pa tingin ng tingin sa iyo yan... hahaha... ikaw rin... unless type mong mag entertain ng doctor na may malaki ang tyan at halos wala ng buhok... eew”

“What will I tell him, Jam?” Tanong ni Steph na tila natotorpe.

“Andyan na si Mr. Suarez?...” Pakantang sabi ni Jam.

“I love you, Jamie... Will see you later tonight, alright.” Umalis na si Steph.

“Goodluck... mwahmwah.”

Matapos ang ilang hakbang, bumalik si Steph.

“Samahan mo nalang kaya ako.”

“Ahm, I don’t think so, it’s something you have to fix or end on your own. Remember, he wanted to talk to you in private kanina diba?”

Then she sighed... went to the powder room para magre-touch, whispered a short prayer and headed to the 10^th floor to Damon’s suite.

It was almost 12 midnight, nanginginig ang mga tuhod nya at kumakabog ang kanyang dibdib matapos nyang pindutin ang doorbell.

“Nang bumukas ang pinto ay nagulat sya sa kanyang nakita. Damon was only wearing a boxer shorts. He looked so yummy with his lean body. Oh my... Bibigay na talaga ang mga tuhod ko.

She couldn’t speak... She just stared at his eyes. She felt heat flowing from her veins to every part of her body.

Damon was surprised himself. He almost swore when he saw her... His goddess. She was so enchanting, he felt the need to take her there and then... and so he did.

Damon pulled her and touched her face. He pulled her waist to his. Their bodies fit perfectly. Steph just let him touch her face, her back... then he held her hands without taking his eyes off hers. Then he bent to kiss her. He lost control when she opened her mouth to welcome his. Damon carried her to the bedroom and laid her on his bed and slowly removed her gown. He took his time... slowly, gently, lovingly touched her and kissed every inch of her.

The moment she saw him at the door wearing only boxers, she totally lost her reason for being there. She only felt the need to be one with him... For the second time, she let go of her guard and inhibitions and gave herself to Damon. It was a night made in heaven. No pretensions, no arguments, just sweet surrender to each other’s arms. Maybe tomorrow they can talk... Yes, tomorrow can wait. Tonight, she belonged to him.

It was around 9 a.m. in the morning when Stephanie woke up. Her body was sore from last night. He took her and gave herself willingly three times. There were no words mentioned.

Damon was inside the shower room when his cellphone rang. She got curious and checked who it was. On the screen she read “Megan calling”.

When Damon came out, he smiled when he saw her already awake.

“Good morning sweetheart, I ordered breakfast.”

“Your phone rang”

“Who was it?”

“I don’t know, just take a look at it.”

Damon checked his phone. ”Excuse me”. Paalam nito saka lumabas papuntang terrace.

She felt like she was picking the pieces of her heart one by one as she slowly gathered her clothes.

He didn’t fully close the door to the terrace kaya she was able to hear the conversation.

“Megan, you called?... what?... how? Ok, will fly back there tonight... Calm down, everything’s gonna be fine, where’s Abbie?... Abbie sweetie, papa Damon will be there soon.”

Stephanie couldn’t take the hurt anymore. She didn’t want to listen to their conversation further. She was so devastated. She had to leave right away. This time, she had to leave Damon, that’s the right thing to do. She slowly went out and walked straight to the elevator at dumeretso sa isang taxi. Then her Cellphone rang.

“Steph, where are you, what happened to you last night?” Worried na tanong ni Jamie.

“It over Jamie...Where are you?... I need you please.”

“Calm down Steph, where are you? Pupuntahan kita.”

“I’m heading to my condo at Eon Tower, can you follow me there?”

“Of course, Steph... Shall I bring all your things in your room in the hotel?”

“Yes please, Jam... Use my car, Nasa drawer ang susi. Thanks again Jamie, what will I do without you.”

“It’s ok Steph...Calm down. Cool ka lang ok?”

Damon couldn’t believe that Steph left him again. He almost shouted at the waiter who brought the food sa inis nya sa sitwasyon. For the nth time, Stephanie left him again.

He wanted to ran after her but she already left aboard a taxicab according to the guard. He had no choice but to go back because he had to book a flight back to the US. His kuya Alfred met an accident and is in a critical condition. His family needs him right now. He swore to come back and settle things with Dr. Tuason as soon as possible.