Chapter 11

Dinner and a Kiss

Maybe he needed the company. That's what Francine thought when he told her that he likes having her around.

And maybe, someone din na wala sa ospital and hindi niya kasama and nakikita sa work? Para hindi siya reminded sa trabaho niya? she thought. But they still talk about what they did all throughout the day and his topic mainly revolves around his patients and colleagues. So, somehow, it doesn't make sense.

Nagkibit na lang ng balikat si Francine saka kinuha ang cellphone niya sa lamesa.

Ms. Marga has been asking her non-stop about her recovery even though she already said she's still recuperating and it may take two to three weeks for her wound to heal.

Okay lang sana if gasgas lang 'tong sugat ko or simpleng mababaw na cut but it's a surgical wound. What do they expect? I'm fully recovered tomorrow para makapag-promote na kami agad? Francine couldn't help but roll her eyes.

Medyo okay naman na siya ngayon at kahit papaano, nakakakilos siya kaunti pero may mga oras pa rin na medyo kumikirot 'yong tahi niya.

And somehow it's slowly occurring to her how she prioritized her work most of the time. That even when she was feeling sick, she'd still go to the location to shoot her scenes or to her interviews and promotions because she doesn't want to compromise their schedule. Lalo pa dahil may iba rin siyang katrabahong may prior commitments at 'yon na 'yong oras na libre sila.

Francine sighed. Kasalanan ko rin ata? isip-isip niya. Maybe I should've set my boundaries more and sana nagsabi rin ako kapag may nararamdaman ako?

Her phone pinged again and her manager asked her when would it be all right for her to promote. She stared at her phone lazily, and it was making her stitches hurt a bit (or perhaps she was only thinking this).

Francine
After two weeks pa po ako puwede. I don't want to push myself too much, Ms. Marga. I was advised din by my doctor to have plenty of rest. For the meantime po, I'll do my part by promoting the movie through my social media channels. I hope you understand, thank you.

Francine didn't want to hold her phone too much after sending her reply. It's only past seven thirty in the evening and she doesn't have anything to do. Malinis naman ang unit ni Nicco. Hindi rin siya nagugutom para kumain ng dinner.

She stood up to stretch when her eyes landed on a picture hanging by the wall. Matagal na niyang napapansin 'yon. But she never really bothered to look at it.

It was a graduation picture of Nicco with some of his classmates from their department. Hale, Idriss, Alex, and Cynthea attended his graduation too. They were there in the picture.

And she wasn't.

They were already broken up by then. But she remembers that day so clearly. Hale called her if she wanted to come with them.

Francine declined because she was in Cavite that day for a shoot. It was an excuse, too. Hindi niya rin kasi alam kung okay lang ba kay Nicco kung pupunta siya. Even if she wanted to go.

In the end, she ended up working so much that day just so she wouldn't remember the occasion.

She had a lot of memories with him and so much happened within the span of seven years where they were mostly together.

She grew up with him and somehow it felt like there wasn't a time where he's not around.

But looking at the picture and summing up the years they haven't seen and talked to each other, it's becoming apparent now.

Nicholas was right about breaking up with her. They needed that. Or at least, she needed it.

Nilihis ni Francine ang tingin niya't napatingin na lang sa may bintana. She never expected this, staying in his unit and spending her free days with him. Nasa tabing dagat dapat siya. Eating all the local cuisines the island has to offer.

But to be honest, it wasn't so bad.

It was actually nice of him to offer to stay in his unit even though it was a bit much. And she hasn't done anything to thank him yet.

Binalikan niya ang cellphone sa couch bago pumunta sa kuwarto para magbihis.

***

She remembered Nicco saying that there's a myth about pasta and pancit being eaten at the hospital. So even though she knows he'd like the carbonara from the menu, she stirred away from it.

She bought steak with marbled potatoes for him instead. Sinamahan niya na rin 'yon ng mango shake at bread pudding para sa dessert. She also bought chicken piccatta for Dr. Ocampo,  cupcakes for the nurses who assisted her, and a cake for the Dr. Bustamante who performed her appendectomy. 

Dumeretso si Francine sa nurse's station para ibigay sa mga nurse ang dala niya. Thankfully, Nurse Haira was there and Dr. Ocampo too. 

"Hello," nakangiting bati ni Francine sa kanila.

"Hala! Hello po, napadaan kayo? May check-up?" tanong ni Nurse Haira.

Umiling naman si Francine. "Hindi. Ibibigay ko lang sana 'to," sabi niya saka inabot ang isang box ng cupcake.

"Para sa amin po?" 

"Yup. Thank you sa pag-assist sa akin last week."

"Wala 'yon. Trabaho naman po namin 'yon."

"I know pero thank you pa rin."

Pasimple namang sumilip si Dr. Ocampo sa box pagkatapos niyang tingnan ang chart ng isang pasiyente. 

"Pahingi ako," sabi niya kay Nurse Haira.

Ngumiti naman si Francine saka niya kinuha inangat ang isang paper bag. "May binili din akong dinner for you, Doc."

"Hala, totoo po?"

Francine nodded. "Yup. Alam mo rin ba kung nasaan si Dr. Bustamante and Dr. de Silva? Ibibigay ko rin sana sa kanila 'tong ibang food."

"Ang alam ko po nasa doctors lounge sila kanina."

"P'wede ba ako pumunta do'n? Saglit lang naman, abot ko lang 'to," she replied.

"Sige. Samahan ko na lang po kayo doon para kung sakaling wala, hanapin natin," Dr. Ocampo suggested. 

"Okay, thank you!"

Hindi naman malayo ang doctor's lounge kahit pa nasa kabilang ward 'yon. Dr. Ocampo was the one who knocked on the door and Francine was able to have a little peek inside. 

Sakto rin na napalingon si Nicco nang bumukas ang pinto. She doesn't know if he saw her and if the smile he has on his face was for her, it's probably for the other doctor he was talking to.

It didn't take long for Dr. Bustamante and Nicco to come out from the lounge. Naunang binigay ni Francine ang dala niyang cake para kay Dr. Bustamante.

"Bigyan ko rin sila sa loob nitong cake, ha? Okay lang ba?" Dr. Bustamante asked.

"Oo naman po. Thank you ulit, Doc."

"Wala 'yon. Salamat din dito sa cake," he said. 

"Sure po. You're welcome." 

"Kasama din ba ako doon sa cake?" tanong ni Nicco pagkabalik ni Dr. Bustamante sa lounge. 

Francine shook her head. "No. May separate ka dito. Kumain ka na ba ng dinner?" 

Umiling din si Nicco. "Hindi pa."

"Good!" she said. Inangat niya ang paper bag na bitbit. "Binilhan kita ng steak and pudding for dessert."

Sinilip naman ni Nicco ang isa pang bag na hawak din ni Francine. "Mango shake ba 'yan?"

"Yup. Sakto kasi nando'n sa menu nila kaya ito binili kong drink," she answered, handing him the bags. "Kain ka na, uuwi na rin ako."

"Sa condo?"

"Yes? Doon din naman ako galing."

"Ah . . . " He nodded. "Akala ko kasi babalik ka na rin sa unit mo."

"You said I can stay longer in your unit and gusto mo rin company ko?"

Nicco smiled. "Oo. Pero uuwi ka na ba talaga? Kumain ka na rin ba ng dinner?"

"Not yet. Hindi pa kasi ako nagugutom kanina."

"Wala kang biniling pagkain para sa 'yo?"

Umiling si Francine. "Wala. Pero may food pa naman sa fridge galing kaninang lunch. Initin ko na lang 'yon." 

"'Wag na. Samahan mo na lang ako kumain. Hati tayo dito."

"Hati? Sakto lang 'yan for you. Kakain na lang ako mamaya pag-uwi. Baka magutom ka agad if naghati tayo d'yan."

Nicco shrugged. "Okay lang. Itabi ko na lang 'tong pudding para kapag nagutom ako mamaya, ito kakainin ko."

"Sure ka ba?" she asked.

"Oo. Samahan mo na ako kumain, please?"

Francine sighed. "Okay, okay."

Napangiti naman si Nicco doon. And for some unknown reasons, he leaned in slightly to plant a soft kiss on her hair. 

"Thank you sa dinner," he said.

But she couldn't find any words to say to him especially when her cheeks suddenly felt warm.