2 The Name's Blythe

*Blythe's POV*

Hi, I'm Blythe.

Blythe Santiago.

A doctor. I got my license at the age of 22.

The youngest heart surgeon here in the Philippines.

Lahat na yata ng blessings nasa akin.

Beauty? Brains? I have both.

Money? We're rich.

Supportive parents? Kinda.

Papa is only one I have left and he always overstep his boundaries.

I know he wanted what's best for me pero gusto ko ring mabuhay ng nagdedesisyon para sa sarili ko.

I'm a very hard working person. I can't deny that I excel in everything that I do at dahil dun, nakukuha ko lahat ng gusto ko.

Except one thing.

Love.

"Clyde hijo, kailan mo ba balak pakasalan ang anak ko?"

Tumawa lamang siya at tumingin sa'kin. I just stood beside him while they were talking.

OO, tama.

Wala akong hawak sa kung sino ang pakakasalan ko.

It's the 20th century.

Who would've thought that an arranged marriage is still a thing?

"About the wedding.." Clyde said while driving.

"Don't worry about it, I'm not in a hurry." Sagot ko. "It's not like you promised me something."

Hindi na siya nagsalita.

Clyde Soriano.

The son of the hospital's CEO and the person that my father wanted me to marry.

He's my first boyfriend. Naaalala ko pa kung paano ako pag tulakan sa kanya ni Papa noon.

Sa totoo lang, napamahal narin sa'kin si Clyde.

Sinubukan ko siyang mahalin sa dalawang taon na relasyon namin.

But the question is..

Is the feeling that I have for him enough para pakasalanan siya at habang buhay kaming magsama?

Marriage is a lifetime commitment.

Ayaw kong madaliin ang bagay na posible ko ring pagsisihan habang buhay.

Can you even call this love?

I have no other experience to compare what was happening between us kaya hindi ko alam.

What does love even mean??

You can't define love in books.

Ikaw mismo ang dapat makaranas nun.

I was still preoccupied nung bigla siyang magsalita.

"Blythe."

Napatingin ako sa kanya.

"Okay ka lang ba?" Tanong niya. "Kanina pa kita kinakausap."

Hindi ko namalayan na nakapasok na kami sa Ospital habang hawak hawak niya yung kamay ko.

Am I okay?

Hindi ko rin alam yung isasagot sa kanya.

"Doc Clyde, your father is looking for you." I heard the woman who passed by us said.

Vanessa.

His Dad's woman and secretary.

"Thank you." He replied to her and looked at me."I have to go. I'll see you later."

Hinalikan nya muna ako sa pisngi bago umalis.

Dumiretso naman ako sa nakakapagod at walang kwentang VIP section.

"Doctor Santiago." Tawag sa'kin ng pinaka maarte naming pasyente sa VIP.

"Good Morning, Madam." I turned and tried my best to smile at her. Sabay abot sa kanya nung mga papeles na hawak ko."Here's the DNA test results of your grandchildren."

"3 out of 5 are a 98.7% matched."

Hinintay kong magsalita siya but she remained silent.

Mrs. Madrigal reached inside her bag and handed me two vials with hair strands inside.

Napabuntong hininga na lang ako at tahimik na umalis. Pero sa isip isip ko..

These VIPs are spoiled brats!

Ilang apo pa ba yung meron siya???

They always ask me to do something that is not even related to my profession. Hindi ko na mabilang kung ilang request na yung nagawa ko.

Like what I said, magaling ako sa propesyong pinili ko. I received countless awards and recognitions for being one of their best doctors.

Nagulat nalang ako isang araw, Clyde's dad made me the face of this hospital.

VIP patients came looking for me and kept pushing na ma-assign ako sa ward nila.

Gusto ko man mabalik ulit OR o sa kahit saang lugar na walang maaarteng VIP, ayaw rin ni Clyde dahil baka mapagod lang daw ako.

The thing is, I love my job.

No matter how tiring it is, my patients and their family smiling at me after a successful operation always made my day.

Pinili ko 'to dahil gusto kong nakakapagpagaling ng mga tao. And to also repay for one person that I regret not being able to save.

Si Mama.

"Ano na, Bly!" Saway sa'kin ni Aya after I ranted at her. She's my best friend. "Hanggang kailan mo ba susundin si Tito?"

"Doctor Ayasha Gueverra, lower your voice!" Sabi ko sa kanya habang sinasara yung pinto ng office ko. "Baka marinig ka ng mga tismosa dito."

"The hell I care." Sabi niya pagkaupo ko. "May ipon ka naman. Why don't you go far away and build your own clinic?? That's a piece of cake for you, Bly."

"Hindi naman ganun kadali yun."

Napatitig siya sa'kin."Blythe Santiago, don't tell me natatakot ka?"

"Shut up, Aya."

Hindi ko makaila na totoo yung sinabi niya.

Yes, I'm scared.

Pero saan?

Na madisappoint si Papa sa'kin?

O Na baka magkamali ako ng desisyon kung sakaling hindi ko sundin yung gusto niya?

"Anyway, inom nalang tayo." Yaya niya sa'kin. "Tutal off ko na naman."

"I still have to do my rounds."

"Rounds??" Nilakihan niya ko ng mata. "You can't use that excuse on me, Bly. We both know na kahit palagyan kita ng red carpet dito, di mo gugustuhin rumampa."

Hindi ko napigilang matawa.

She's too serious.

"See??"

"You know that I don't drink, Aya."

There. I finally said the real reason kung bakit ayaw ko sumama.

Napa-face palm nalang siya sabay tayo.

She took all the papers from my hand and removed my robe. Kinuha niya yung bag ko tsaka ako tinulak palabas ng pintuan.

"I swear to God, I hate you."

"I know you don't." Ngiting ngiti niyang sagot. "Let's go!"

Wala na tuloy akong nagawa at napasama nalang sa kanya.

~in her condo.

"Bly, inom ka na dali!!!"

"I already told you, Aya." Sabay lapag ng alcohol in can na inilagay nya sa kamay ko. "I don't drink."

"Please beshie!!! Kahit isa lang!!"

I continued ignoring her.

"Dali na! Isa lang tapos di na kita pipilitin." Hirit niya.

With her puppy eyes and sad face, I surrendered.

Yes, I drank with her.

All night~

Crrriiinnnggggg~ cccrrriiiiingggg~

Nagising ako, hindi dahil sa tunog ng mobile phone ko pero kundi sa pagbato ng unan sa mukha ko.

"Natutulog pa ko, Blythe Santiago! Sagutin mo yan!!!" Sigaw ni Aya.

Struggling to look for my phone, naramdaman kong sumasakit na yung ulo ko.

"Hmmmm..?"

"Blythe! Nasaan ka ba??! Pinag-aantay mo si Clyde!"

Si Papa.

Napatayo ako bigla kaya lalong sumakit ang ulo ko.

"Pa, a-ano kasi, may p-problema si Aya."  Pagsisinungaling ko. "Hindi ko siya maiwan kagabi."

He knows how close I am to Aya.

Para ko na siyang tunay na kapatid.

"Dumiretso ka sa ospital." His voice softened after hearing the reason. "Doon na kita kakausapin."

Before I can even ask him why, naputol na yung tawag.

I run towards the bathroom and showered. Kumuha lang ako ng damit na nakita ko sa cabinet ni Aya tsaka nagmadali bumaba para kumuha ng taxi.

But I couldn't resist the pain of my head anymore.

Ayaw ko namang tiisin 'to hanggang sa ospital.

Pharmacy!

I hurried and went inside.

"Meron po ba kayong pang hang over?"

"Meron hija, sandali lang ha."

Kumuha sya ng maliit na bote at binuksan ito tsaka inabot sa'kin. I took a sip while waiting for the other medicine.

"Nay, meron rin po ba kayong panali sa buhok?"

There was a mirror on the table.

Ngayon ko lang napansin kung gaano kagulo yung buhok ko.

A man suddenly appeared and handed me a rubber band.

"Thank you."

He smiled.

Mukhang dito siya nagtatrabaho.

"Ito hija, inumin mo na dito para tumalab agad." I drank it all and when I was about to pay, my eyes automatically widened.

O.M.G.

WALA DITO YUNG WALLET KO.

O______O

I tried to look for the second time. Nilabas ko na lahat ng laman ng bag ko pero wala talaga.

I took my phone and dialed Aya's number pero hindi siya sumasagot.

"Sumagot ka Aya! Please."

WTH.

If I knew mamayang hapon pa ang gising ng babaeng yun.

Nakakahiya naman kung aalis ako dito ng hindi nagbabayad!

Ugh. Worst day ever!

Bakit ba ni barya, walang naiwan sa bulsa ng bag ko??

Lumapit ulit sa'kin yung lalaking nagbigay ng rubber band kanina. He took out his wallet and pulled out some bills.

"Ako na, Ma." Sabi niya dun sa Pharmacist.

Ma?

As in Mama??

"S-salamat."

The guy just smiled at me again.

I was debating whether to leave or not.

Pero in the end, hindi ko rin napigilan yung sarili ko.

"Excuse me.." Tumingin siya sa'kin at ngumiti.

I don't understand but there was something about his smile.

"Yes?"

"I'm thankful that you paid for me." Sabi ko. "I know it's a small amount of money, pero hindi kasi ako sanay na merong utang na loob sa iba.."

"That's fine."

"Maybe I can get your account number so I can transfer it?"

"I really don't mind."

"But, I do." Sagot ko. "Wala na bang paraan para makabawi manlang ako?"

"Hmmm.." He held his chin while thinking. "How about this? Think of it as a goodwill gesture?"

I wanted to say yes, but why does my mind kept telling me "no"??

Na parang kailangan ko talagang ibalik yung ginawa niya para sa'kin.

"Can I get your number instead?" Bigla kong sabi.

ABA.

TANGA!

Dapat sa utak mo lang yun.

But I already said it.

I kept my eyes away from him just in case he refused to give it.

Sino ba naman kasing matinong tao ang magbibigay ng number sa isang stranger na kakakilala niya lang?

But then he took me by surprise nung kinuha niya yung phone sa kamay ko and dialed his number.

"Thank you."

"Wait."

I was about to go but he stopped me. Kinuha niya muli yung wallet nya at inabutan ako ng pera.

I stared at him questioningly.

Anong akala niya sa'kin pulubi?

I felt judged.

"You don't have your wallet with you." He explained. Napansin niya siguro yung reaksyon ko. "Pamasahe mo pauwi. Isama mo na lang sa babayaran mo."

"T-thank you.."

Ugh, Blythe!

Pinairal mo na naman yang katarayan mo!

Nakakahiya! Iniisip ka lang naman nung tao!

Lumabas na ko agad.

I needed air.

I can feel my cheeks getting hotter.

"By the way, I'm Lucas." When I turned around, he had one hand extended to me while smiling. "Lucas Hernandez."

Sinundan niya pala ako.

I didn't understand what was happening pero agad kong nilapit yung kamay ko and shook his with mine.

"The name's Blythe." Sabi ko. "Blythe Santiago."

***