“Left… left… left, right, left!” JL guided as the five marched in their place. It is a training day for them and as a team representative, it is JL’s task to train his younger cousins. If they lose this year, it will be over and they will already give up. After a lot of complaining, the team still decided to make this marching training. JL whistled, “Sit for a bit. I have something to do” he announced.
He answered the call from the hospital’s emergency room. “Nurse Juan Tiueco speaking” he initiated. The relieving crew replied, “We have a patient here who got shot in the abdomen. It is a homicide case from downtown. The bullet is quite deep and Surgeon Bernardino wants you to assist him in removing this bullet. We are on the way to the hospital. Less than one kilometer left”.
Ambulance sirens are heard from the other line. “I am just around the area. I’ll be there in ten minutes” he answered and left the battle camp. Dior saw him going away; he scratched his nape and clapped to call the other members’ attention. “Listen up! As usual, I bet JL has an emergency surgery. So, let me manage our team first as an ATTR” (Alternative to the Representative) he said and made everyone stand up from resting in the grass field.
JL bucked up his seatbelt and started the engine. He rushed back to the hospital even if it is still not the time for him to do his shift. He drove past the ambulance; as he arrived earlier, he still managed to change his training clothes to his intern uniform. Feeling drowsy, he scrubbed his hands and placed on his surgical gloves to get readied before the surgeon call up his presence to summon him inside the operating room.
He's standing outside when his phone rang again. This time, it is the surgeon’s secretary. “Intern Juan Tiueco, you can proceed now inside the operating room” she said. Without hesitations, he kicked the button below to open the operating room’s door. It is not his first time to assist a surgery but it is his first time witnessing a bullet extraction from a body. Now he is standing in front of a surgery table. Same old tools are beside it and his job for today is to assist the lead surgeon while answering its questions.
The lead surgeon tested him while making him hand over the forceps, “Intern Juan Tiueco, aside from the wound and the interior damages in the muscles, bones, and organs, what should still be observed?” he asked. JL thought; he hasn’t read of cases like this but he knows how it works. “What’s more to be observed is the fluid execration. Tan, discolored, and foul smells results to something worse internally” he answered.
The lead surgeon nodded; for him, JL’s performance is outstanding. He is attentive and fast to respond whenever he is asked to do or to speak up for something. The bullet extraction took about three to four hours including the observations leaving him restless after. He leaned on a cold stainless chair inside the interns’ office and sighed. He still imagines the bullet being removed with the forceps. His appetite is low upon seeing blood in the operation.
Dior sent a message to him. It included a group photo and a line, “Bon Appetit, JL!”. He tapped on the photo and zoomed into his younger cousins’ smiles. It kept him motivated for a while. He felt so relieved after seeing them managing their own selves even without him. Emergency surgeries like this are a big nah to him. He is used to taking his time but now, the hospital manipulates it. It’s his passion and he love what he is doing. He is also busy that he totally forgot about the past he once shared with his other half.
Naomi poured red wine in her glass champagne flute. Her beige silk bathrobe is covering her naked body. The fireplace inside their bedroom brings them small warmth contrasting with the snowy winds. The cold noon made them do the heat. She glanced from the terrace to see Luke’s naked body covered with a fur blanket. She drank the wine to the bottom and went back to their bed. She untied the knot of the robe and comfortably laid on Luke’s top. Their warm bodies greeted each other.
Luke gently opened his eyes the moment he felt Naomi’s weight on top of him. He evilly smirked, “You’re taking advantage of me, huh?” he asked. Naomi playfully caressed Luke’s cheek with her index finger. Four pairs of eyes sparkled and eventually landed on each owner’s lips. They leaned closer and closer until they reached each other’s lips. They kissed passionately with Luke’s hand roaming around Naomi’s body.
He whispered to her ear, “You woke me up. This calls for a round two”. Naomi chuckled as Luke changed their positions. They moved as if the coldness were not throbbing their skins. They kissed as if they hold forever in their hands. They made love as if they are contended with each other’s presence now. Out of the blue, Luke’s phone rang. He annoyingly grabbed his phone from the head board and declined the call. It is from the unknown number again.
Naomi asked him, “Are you sure that is out of the business?”. Luke answered, “My business today is you and your damn sexy body”. Their eyes met again and no one dared to break it off. He kissed her once again until they get tired.
The next day came; Luke woke up with a breakfast’s aroma coming from their house’s kitchen. He saw Naomi dancing with her apron on while cooking charred asparagus with goat cheese. “That smells so nice” he commended. Naomi turned around to see Luke’s heavily built muscular body. He smiled widely when she saw Naomi’s morning look with hair tied in a bun and with a silk wine - red pair of pajamas. “Good morning!” Naomi greeted.
He went near her and carried her; Naomi’s legs are wrapped to Luke’s waist. Her hand is holding a spatula and her lips are sealed to Luke’s. Morning kisses are kick starting her day. The morning motivation she has starts with Luke. They share breakfasts that feels like a lowkey date, they go to shower together and match each other’s work clothes before going to the company, and they go separate cars to go to work. Their couple goals are incomparable that almost everyone in the city envies them.
Their company is doing well and as days go by, their lives are getting more and more romantic than ever. They walked together to their offices with holding hands. They are productive from the moment their secretaries handed them piles of paperwork to consider.
They shared meals with them feeding each other. Everything seemed to be so magical until the holiday came. Not like the usual holidays, Luke went out of town. Naomi’s phone beeped and it showed Luke’s phone number. She still hasn’t greeted upon picking up the call when Luke abruptly uttered, “Send me one million dollars in cash now. Open the money vault and send it to the address I will provide”. Naomi’s eyebrows raised, “Where will you use it?” she asked calmly.
Luke tsked from the other line and answered, “Just do what I say!”. The line dropped and so Naomi did what Luke asked her to do. Maybe the company has an emergency expense to do but she still trusts her fiancé. She held her car keys and opened her white Lamborghini parked on their gallery - typed garage. She glanced at the address Luke texted. She reached the destination and from the structure of the building, she knows that it is business related.
She was not able to enter when Luke stopped her from the entrance. He pulled the black bag containing the huge sum of money and said, “Return back home now. I don’t want you to get stressed on a holiday”. Naomi just nodded and replied, “Get back home early. I’ll cook for dinner, mom and dad together with your parents will visit us”. Luke turned around and left her alone in the building’s entrance.
She returned home with thoughts running in her mind. Their money vault is almost empty and they have no more cash on hands. She made herself busy in the kitchen with the assistance of few housekeepers. Hers and Luke’s parents came with bags of wine in their hands. She removed her apron to reveal her khaki trench coat dress.
She glanced at her gold wristwatch; it is almost dinnertime but Luke is not back yet. They started dinner with five cuisines in the dining table. Naomi took a bite of Barramundi; their parents are throwing questions and she alone is obliged to answer it. Luke’s dad asked, “Where’s Luke? It is queer; he is out on a holiday”. Naomi thought of storying but she kept her mouth shut as she doesn’t know what really happened earlier. “He just attended something business - related that doesn’t concern me” she answered.
“By the way, before we could conduct the wedding, we want us six to fly back to the Philippines. I want to hire a cooking crew that can serve Filipino cuisines in the occasion” Naomi’s mother said. Luke’s mother agreed, “I am not against that. Besides, I miss having Filipino foods already! Those foods are seldomly served here”. Naomi’s dad added, “How’s that? I’ll call the caretakers to notify them about cleaning the house for us to stay in”. Luke’s dad uttered, “I’ll make a call too to fix our rest house”.
Suddenly, Luke appeared. He sat down in the chair beside Naomi with his polo crumpled. He loosened the knot of his neck tie as he tiredly leaned on the cushioned dining chair. “Where have you been, son?” his mother asked. “Just went out to pay credits. Recently, I topped up a lot to cover the company’s expense” he answered.
JL is busy preparing his script in assisting a surgical conference. Caleigh hugged her older brother in his back like a koala. She sipped a boxed strawberry yogurt juice in her hand and asked, “Can I open that cat woman memorabilia collection in your room?”. JL answered; eyes still focusing on his laptop’s screen, “No, you are not getting any of my collections”. Caleigh still asked, “Why is that?”. JL sighed, “Those are my treasures so just ask me to buy you one that is new if you badly wanted one” he answered again.
“Really? Those are only your treasures? Don’t you have a girlfriend?” she asked. JL pulled her and made her face him. She looks cute with a black dress and with her wispy bangs. “Why do you keep bugging me?” he asked annoyingly. She sipped her boxed strawberry yogurt juice and answered, “Brother Silas said that you will already give me a nephew or a niece”. His eyes widened; Caleigh jumped off from her brother’s lap. JL pointed out his index finger, “Don’t let me reach you, Jean Caleigh!” he warned.
Caleigh replied, “I almost told mom about it! I badly wanted to have a nephew or a niece. Give me one now please!”. JL caressed his nape; he stood up and chased his little sister. His steps are bigger than his sister’s small leaps. He caught her giggling. He tickled her and warned once again, “I can’t give you what you want today so please don’t tell mom about it. Besides, it is not easy to conceive a child! You enough is already a head cracker. Do you understand?”. Caleigh just nodded with small giggles.
Naomi carefully placed her bags on the plane’s compartment. She is excited to go back to her country while Luke just leaned back on the plane’s seat while pinching his nose’s bridge. “Aren’t you excited?” Naomi asked with eyes sparkling with joy. He breathed heavily, “Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I still have a damn hangover from an acquaintance party” he complained. She leaned on her fiancé’s shoulder and pouted, “Spare me this one. Sorry, I forgot to inform you earlier” she answered.
Luke just shrugged and did not mind her. Naomi glanced at the plane’s window with a big smile. She is excited to go back and refresh her memories from where she was a high schooler. The memory of JL sparked to her mind but she managed to get unaffected. She is looking forward to her marriage and her lifetime Aussie plans with her one and only love – Luke. She caressed the engagement ring in her ring finger. She is now ready to attach Luke’s surname to her name. One month from now, their wedding will be held in Australia.
Dior gaspingly went in their living room where most of their family members are staying. He glanced at JL with eyes widening in surprise. He tapped JL’s shoulder and screamed the good news. “Holy crap JL! You are a surgeon now!” he said. He startled everyone in the area but most especially, JL was the one who froze at the moment. From the list of the exam passers, JL is on the top five. He wowed in joy; the ten years of waiting is all worth it.
His mom hugged him, “I am so proud of you, JL. The medical course you took that is good for thirteen years was finished in just about nine to ten years? Who can do that in such a cool way?” she commended. The few months of him studying extra made him accelerate in pursuing his dream degree. He smiled widely and all he had to do was to believe in himself that he can conduct a surgery alone.