25 April 2012
Why is first love always so unmistakably painful and too heartbreaking?
It had almost been nine years since Shia entered college, and now, with graduation already over, the pain seemed to haunt her all over again.
It was her practice that kept her from falling to pieces, and very much preoccupied. Her patients, even though it had only been seven months since she'd gotten into Whitestone memorial, were very fond of her upto the point that they even asked her for home visits. She had been very careful with handling patient relationships, and personal ones eversince the day she got her heart trampled. But it was this one day, when a dashing young man entered her clinic to ask for her hand. She had been seeing Harris Hemming, a fine and fresh graduate of Lourdes College of Medicine, who was her partner while she was having her clerkship. They were both from different schools, but their interests kept them both bound in love.
It was Tuesday. Shia's favorite day. She decided to wear a black pointe peplum dress which she bought from a huge sale. Her thrift attitude, an addition to the growing list of Harris' top twenty things to love about her was always masked by her own body. No one has ever guessed that she bought things for less. She had always looked incredibly smart in her choice of clothing, and her svelte body makes everything remarkably stunning on her. After having some cappuccíno she insisted on making herself, she went directly to her working table and signed a couple of documents for her residency.
"Dr. Mendrez, do you have a minute?" Sylvia, her secretary spoke slowly on the intercom.
"Yes, Sylvia my dear. What is it?"
"There's someone here. I think he's complaining about an upset stomach so I listed him and gave him directions to Dr. Andrews' clinic at the second floor, but he declined and requested for you."
"Hmm. I don't have any patients for today, so it's okay. But if he's having stomach problems, I also think a gastroenterologist is what he needs."
"I told him about that but he said he prefers you instead. Maybe he's one of your 'fan-patients'."
She let out a laugh. "Yeah. Maybe that's it. Let him in. Thanks Sylvia."
Shia returned to her working table, cleared her desk of any documents, and took her mug of cappuccíno to the sink of her personal bathroom.
Then, she heard some knocking, outside treading and decided to handle the matter soon. She walked back to her working table, sat on the cushioned seat behind her desk, and told the man to come in.
As the oakwood doors opened, a sense of fear overcame her. Just a few feet from her stood the man she knew like the back of her hand, whom she dreadfully had to forget in order to live. He was standing there, almost smiling, like the first time they met.
"Good morning, doctor."
Shia motioned him to seat and lowered her shaking right hand.
"What can I help you with?" Shia said.
"I have something going on with my stomach. Right about here."
"Can I have your patient record please?" Shia said, looking down at her table.
The man handed her a piece of paper, with his name and patient complaint-- Luke Hale, 27, Male. Complains about frequent stomach upsets and pains on the upper part of his abdomen.
"Can you please lie down on the examination table?"
The man stood up, and laid down plainly. Shia hesitantly moved to the exam table and pulled the man's shirt just enough so she could do her routine. Then, she ran a couple of diagnostics using her hands and felt some hard regions on the part of his upper abdomen. She asked for a few questions, and decidedly concluded Epigastric Abdominal Pain with gastroesophageal reflux disease. She lowered the man's shirt and told him to go to the reception area to sign some forms. Just as Shia bid Luke farewell, Luke interrupted and said, "how have you been?"
"Sorry. I'm not allowed to answer questions irrelevant to my practice during work hours." she answered.
"I don't know how upset you are with me, but I hope you can still forgive me. We can start all over again. You know that."
Shia tried to fight herself from crying just as the Luke's words kept coming when her handphone rang.
"Excuse me." she told the man who looked at her like it was only yesterday.
"Good Morning. Dr. Mendrez here." she stuttered.
"Shia, are you crying?" Harris asked.
"No. I'm just thinking about us. How tomorrow will be. I'm nervous."
Harris laughed. "Don't be. You know I won't let anything ruin tomorrow. I want it to be perfect. Just like our love."
"Me too. I'm getting the wedding gown later. Mom will drop me off at Rizza's and you can fetch me there after your clinic."
"Okay. That'll do. I miss you. See you later then. I love you."
"I love you too." Shia said, almost not minding the man across her. The call ended. She placed her phone inside her bag and started folding her coat.
The man looked at her, this time with sorrow and curiosity.
"Shia? Tomorrow, you're.."
"Getting married. I need to get my wedding gown now, so if you don't have any more concerns, I need to get going."
Luke sat there, unmoving.
"Luke, I'm going." she managed to say.
Shia took her bag, her doctor's coat and turned to leave. When she was near her oakwood door, the man pulled her hand and in a swift motion, held her body tight with his'. He embraced her, showing his regret, and said, "You know I loved you, Shia. I really do. Why didn't you wait for me? I don't know how I can make up for things, but if it will cost me to let go of the woman I love, I think I will try to live every day of my life with regret for you."
"You don't have to do that. I loved you too. But that was before-- no one can wait for long, especially when no one is coming for them. Did you know that I had to end it and make myself realize that you're happy? Now, you have to do the same thing for me. You have to live for me, and be happy because I am too. Can you do that? For me?"
A single, but sincere tear flowed to Luke's cheek. "Yes. Yes, my love. Anything for you."
Shia let go of the grip from her hand bag, and embraced the man, with a sorrowful one.
With Love, Shia. • Opuss № I