JL is sitting in front of five student interns; he has his arms crossed while playing with his customized sign pen. “I need two interns to assist me with inserting an ear tube on a six - year - old boy. This resulted from clogged fluids abnormally seen in his left ear”. He stood up and placed his hands on the desk.
“Can anyone tell me what is the process of inserting the hollow cylinder tubes inside a patient’s ear?”. One guy raised his hand and answered, “Doc JL, it is called ‘myringotomy’”. JL smirked, “Good you’re in. I want another one; can you please expound on what your co - intern said?” he asked again.
A tall, slim, and has a shapely figure woman stood out. She has a glossy white skin highlighted with her blue intern uniform. She raised her hand; JL pointed at her, “Please tell me what myringotomy is using your own words, Miss…?”. The intern replied, “I am Amber Boromeo, a student from this hospital’s university”. JL just nodded, “Miss Boromeo, answer my question” he commanded.
“Myringotomy is a process where the eardrum will be holed to drain out fluids like water or blood. Considering the child’s case, a tube will then be inserted to help in making the drainage constant” she answered. JL replied, “I am quite impressed; but what we are doing is combined with tympanostomy or the insertion of tube inside the child’s ear. Anyway, you can face the surgery table now”.
Amber wowed; it is her first time witnessing a surgery on a pediatric case. Moreover, she will have the chance to assist the famous handsome doctor in that hospital. JL instructed the two to get scrubbed. “Follow me to the operating room right away” he said. Amber hurriedly followed JL inside the operating room. She walked as if she is on clouds. “Professor Tiueco, are you married?” she asked. JL looked at her; her breasts’ cleavage is almost exposed. JL smiled as he answered, “No. I am not married yet”.
JL and the two interns surrendered their phones before the surgery begins. He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and wrote something in it and showed it to the child lying in the surgery table. He wrote, “You will enjoy your headphones more after the surgery”. The little boy asked, “It won’t be painful, right?”. JL wrote his reply, “I will be very careful”. Just as that, the anesthesia already worked. After the initial preparations, JL proceeded on the incision to the myringotomy and to the tympanostomy.
JL flopped to sit down in his office’s couch. His legs and feet are tired from prolonged standing during the operation. He browsed his phone while having his break. Suddenly, few knocks from his office door were heard. He lazily stood up while scratching his nape. He opened the door and found Amber holding two cups of coffee.
“Doc JL, take this as my appreciation treat” Amber said while handing over one cup. JL received it; “Thanks. Just so you know, you got inside the operating room because of your knowledge. I have nothing to account on that besides you. Very well, I hope to see you in my future surgeries” he answered. She replied, “No worries, Doc JL. I promise not to mess up in other future surgeries”. JL smiled, “I will look forward to that”.
JL’s phone rang with Dior’s name popping in screen. JL glanced back at Amber, “Sorry, I have to take this call” he said and closed the office’s door. Amber waved goodbye but he failed to see it. “What’s up?” JL asked. Dior replied, “Shouldn’t I be the one asking you that?”. JL asked, “What do you mean?”. Dior chuckled from the other line and answered, “Just check our group chat to get into details”.
JL did what Dior said. A link forwarded by Silas was opened by him. It redirected to an international news website. The news headline contained, “The heirs of the top two media company in Asia and in Australia flew back to Philippines for wedding preparations”. His heart suddenly ached; he accidentally got off his hands to the cup of coffee and it spilled to the ground.
His assistant entered the office, “Is everything alright, Doc JL?” she asked. JL slowly nodded and asked back, “How is my schedule for today?”. His assistant browsed to the charts and answered, “Your next surgery will be this midnight”. He removed his white coat and rushed to the parking lot of the hospital.
The plane where Luke and the rest of his companions are riding landed off finally. Naomi got off the plane while pulling her luggage. She inhaled the warm air upon arriving to her home country. Luke is still not dazed by the view as if nothing exciting will happen. “God, I missed this place!” Naomi sad while clinging to Luke’s arm. He pulled down his sunglasses and commented, “It’s so hot in this country”.
Luke and his parents went back to their rest house while Naomi and her parents went back to their old usual house. The housekeepers greeted her with so much preparation. Food is served and decorations in the living room are seen by her. Their house has not changed even for a bit. She hurriedly went upstairs to check her room and everything she has is still there. She jumped to her single bed colored in pink. She enjoyed hugging the cushions like a kid.
She tried to reminisce where she left things. The mirror in her dresser contained photos of her but what took her attention was the film containing hers and JL’s face. They are in their school’s cafeteria; both of them are wearing their school uniforms and their smiles are so priceless. His face is glooming as his dental braces styled with his smile. Her candid face reflects her giggles while holding the camera.
She walked nearer and caressed the film. The quality is not that good compared to the digital technologies they have in the current year. She removed it from the clip hanged on the scrap yarn and kept it inside a box under her bed. The box is dusty but the things inside are well - preserved. Everything that contains their memories are kept inside that box. It doesn’t affect her that much but the nostalgia while browsing each item cannot be removed.
JL started his motorcycle’s engine and rushed back home. He entered the subdivision’s gate; outside Naomi and her family’s house parked a luxurious car. From there he knows that Naomi is really back. She is about to get married and it made him bothered slightly. He went back home and was greeted by Dior. “So, dear cousin, have you read the article?” Dior asked.
“I was doubting yet I found the proof right before my eyes” he answered while fixing his hair. Dior patted his shoulder and asked, “Tell me honestly, do you still love Naomi?”. JL tsked; he removed Dior’s hand from his shoulder and answered, “I don’t feel anything concerning her now. It’s just that… I am quite surprised by her sudden retreat”. Dior chuckled, “If you say so” he replied.
JL shook his head and wore his helmet once again. Dior’s eyebrows furrowed, “Where are you going this time?” he asked. JL pulled up his helmet’s face shield visor and answered, “I have a meeting to attend to”. He started the motorcycle’s engine and left Dior alone in their garage.
While taking the way, he remembered the details. George emailed him the notice for the alumni homecoming they are going to conduct for their tenth - year high school anniversary. As the batch’s student council president, he is the VIP of the meeting.
He entered the school campus. He removed his helmet and dusted off his white uniform. He roamed his eyes around; the mini garden is now transformed into a new building – a secondary high school platform. Halsey tapped his shoulder, “I know you are Prez. Follow me to the student council office” he said with a smile. JL nodded and followed him inside a new tall building.
Halsey opened the new student council office’s door. He was greeted by the officer line up but one is missing after the attendance. “I think we are missing one” JL said; Halsey wowed, “Wow, I missed that line” he commented. JL chuckled; one of the councilors answered, “The vice president is not in. I heard they just got off flight an hour ago”.
JL slowly nodded; the news is indeed right. “Anyway, let’s start the meeting. We can just relay the agenda to Luke after this session” JL instructed. And so, the meeting was put into a discussion. For the final say, JL uttered, “I want the invitations printed and distributed right away to maximize the time for the preparation”. The rest nodded while the others took the chance to have a picture with JL.
“Sh*t JL, you’re getting more and more handsome as time goes by! We all look old here except for you!” the auditor uttered. JL chuckled, “I’ll take that as a compliment” he replied while scratching his neck. Before he could exit, George stopped him. “JL, we all know here that you live near Luke and Naomi. Can you hand over the invitation for us?” George asked.
JL looked at the gold envelope George is holding. He smirked, “Sorry, I have to prepare for a surgery. I’m afraid it’s out of my way” he answered. George held it back, “Alright then. Have a successful performance. We’ll see you on the homecoming party” he replied. JL went outside the office; he sat down in his motorcycle seat and looked around once again. Everything has changed; the locations they once enjoyed, and the places that served as witnesses of their love already vanished through time.
Luke covered Naomi’s eyes from behind. Naomi chuckled as she removes Luke’s hands covering almost half of her face. He carried her to his lap and pecked a kiss on her lips. “Are you excited for tomorrow’s food tasting? I already made an appointment” Naomi said. She leaned to her fiancé’s shoulder while her palm is on his chest. “Nothing more is tastier than your lips” he replied. “That’s so flirty” Naomi uttered while her lips roam on Luke’s nape.
Luke evilly smirked and whispered to Naomi’s ear, “It’s hot in here. Do you want to make things hotter?”. Luke looked over to somewhere near Naomi’s shoulder. His bushy eyebrows waved with his eyes roaming over her hot and sexy curves. He was about to pull down Naomi’s bodycon dress’ zipper when a knock was heard in Naomi’s door.
They both chuckled; they got off each other. She stood up and fixed her hair; she opened the bedroom’s door and was greeted by one of their maids. “Sir Luke, someone wants to talk to you” she said. Naomi looked at him; he exited from Naomi’s bedroom to entertain the person in the living room. “Halsey! Long time no see, how is everything?” Luke initiated.

Halsey smiled and quickly handed over the gold envelope containing the invitation for their alumni homecoming. Luke’s eyebrows furrowed, “Is this a solicitation letter?” he jokingly asked. Halsey chuckled, “No, we have nothing else to pay. Prez JL already paid for every expense the auditor calculated” Halsey answered. Luke’s furrowed eyebrows raised, “You mean, JL Tiueco?” he asked to confirm.
Halsey reiterated, “Yeah, JL Tiueco who’s now Dr. Juan Leon Tiueco; a professor and a general surgeon in the biggest hospital in this city”. Naomi went near; she gasped upon hearing what Halsey said. Luke opened the envelope to see the invitation. Halsey wowed when he saw Naomi and Luke together. “The rumor is right; you two are really together” he commented.
Naomi hugged Luke’s arm and raised her palm to flex her engagement ring. “We are about to get married, actually” Naomi answered. It was a mind - blowing news for Halsey. He whispered, “No wonder JL refused to hand over the invitation himself”. Naomi asked, “What did you say? I didn’t hear it”. Halsey awkwardly chuckled, “Oh, I said be there on that date printed in the invitation”. Luke’s sharp hawked eyes pierced through Halsey’s.
Some thoughts ran through Luke’s mind upon hearing what Halsey said, “JL Tiueco is still here. He is a successful person now but he is still a loser for me”. He caressed his man bun and sighed; he faced Naomi and asked her, “Will you be my date on the alumni homecoming? I’m sure you won’t mind”. Naomi looked away and awkwardly answered, “S-sure”. Luke looked through her eyes, “Don’t tell me you still can’t over JL Tiueco?” he asked that made Naomi feel uncomfortable.
She answered, “Of course I already got over him! It’s been ten years and besides, I have you now”. Luke glanced at her; dating Naomi in the alumni homecoming will surely stomp on JL’s humanity. Them seeing each other in the party will make each of them realize that it is a big mistake to experience loving each other. Luke wants to brag about him and Naomi’s wedding with JL being a victim.
Halsey retreated back to the campus. He announced what he witnessed earlier. “I thought Luke and Naomi are just friends! But when I saw them earlier, I guess Naomi is madly in love of Luke!” Halsey announced. The others gasped; “Maybe that is the reason why JL transferred in a university far away from here” Greg added.
The rest jumped into conclusions also. “I am still into the JL - Naomi couple back in high school” their auditor uttered. Greg and Halsey raised high fives all of a sudden; “We have a plan to make” Halsey said while his eyes are focused on the school’s old school papers chunked in a folder.