Seulgi

 

" You have no choice. " 

 

 

Seulgi sighs. Alam niyang walang patutunguhan ang pakikipagsagutan sa magulang niya kaya minabuti nalamang niyang tumahimik. 

 

 

" If you don't want to finish your goddamn school then at least make yourself useful. Stop being a disgrace. Don't make me angry. Wala kang makukuha sa musika na yan." Her father lamented. 

 

She leaned back, her lips pursed in a thin line as she tightens her grip on her spoon. Her brows knit in frustration as anger starts to bubble in her head. Her father continued to talk, telling her things about how disappointed he is in her and how useless she has become. She was about to speak up and fend for herself as she harshly sets her utensils down only to be stopped by a soft pat on her leg under the table. 

 

Iginilid niya ang ulo niya at napatingin sa pinangalingan ng kamay na pumigil sa kanya. Joy smiled at her and gave her a " calm down " look. 

 

 

" Don't worry, dad. I'll bring her sa Hospital po ngayon. Maybe this time she'd find something she'd want to do there. " Joy suggested. 

 

 

Seulgi's father just looked at Joy and gave seulgi a disapproving look before shaking her head and sighing audibly.

 

 

" Make sure she does something useful. "

 

 

And that was it. Seulgi could swear she'd flip out if the older man hadn't shut up. She glanced at joy, her stepsister, and gave her a nod which the other women only returned with a smile. God, how she wishes she was her. Perfect and loved. 

 

 

 

 

 

---

 

 

 

" Come on Seul. Try mo lang. I'll give you this day to tour and just.. look at things. Maybe you'll really find something that you might wanna do and would inspire you to continue your studies. " 

 

 

Tiningnan lamang ni Seulgi ang kapatid pagkatapos ay ibinaling ang tingin sa building na kasalukuyang nasa harap nila. Di niya din lubos maisip kung paano siya nahila ng kapatid para mapapunta sa pinaka-ayaw niyang lugar.

 

 

" You want to continue your music right? "

 

Napabalik ang tingin niya sa kapatid.

 

 

" Wag kang mag-alala. Just this once, if wala talaga then di na ako mangungulit. And I'll try talking to dad about your love for music. Just.. don't give up on medicine just yet.. this is their dream for us. Lalo na ni tita. "

 

 

It feels like her heart twinged at the mention of her mother. Her eyes droop as memories of her start to replay in her mind, giving her glimpses of her mom's pretty face. Kahit labag sa loob, tumango ito sa kapatid na siya namang sinuklian ng matamis na tawa at mahigpit na yakap. Seulgi just shrugged, letting the other hug her before stepping out of the car. 

 

 

This is going to be a tough day. She breathed before following her sister inside the gloomy building. 

 

 

-- 

 

 

Matapos ni Joy mag time in ay ibinilin na niya ang kapatid sa isang nurse. Joy is a Pediatrician. She specializes in kids that ages should range from 1-6. She usually stays in Pedia ward or sometimes in her office whenever she's buried with paperwork. Joy gave her a reassuring smile, giving her a quick hug before hurrying to her aisle. 

 

 

She was now left with the nurse. She had a cute smile on her face and she looks younger than her and Joy. The nurse smiled at her. Motioning her to follow as they start to walk towards the section of the ward. And while they were walking, the nurse continued to speak and explain things such as the names of the wards and their functions. 

 

 

30 minutes had passed already. Halos mabingi na si Seulgi sa pinagsasabi at pinagiexplain ng nurse na katabi niya. The nurse seems energetic though. She has this smile in her face always, her voice is very cheerful pero di naman ganon ka nakakarindi. And every time her workmates passed by she never misses to do a bow and greet them, even some patience tends to yell just to greet her whenever they pass by wards or rooms that have patients that is familiar with the nurse. 

 

 

" Kilalang kilala ka pala ng mga tao dito. " Seulgi couldn't help but comment which she immediately regretted due to her embarrassment. 

 

 

" Ay nako, hehe hindi naman po. Dito na floor lang. " The nurse; Yeri, which Seulgi saw in her tag, smiled to herself, her cheeks tinting slightly which also made Seulgi smile. She's cute. 

 

 

" Madalas po kasi akong sumasalo ng shift ng ibang nurses dito kaya yung dapat rotation nila ginagawa ko na din kaya imbes isang beses sa isang araw lang nila ako nakikita, nappadalas po. " 

Seulgi doesn't really understand but she nodded. 

 

 

" Pero ayos lang naman kasi masaya. Natutuwa naman po ako pag napapangiti at natutulungan ko 'yong mga pasyente. Tsaka dagdag na rin para sa bayarin ng ate ko. " Yeri continued. Seulgi glanced at the girl who's now currently in her own trance. She was smiling widely just as she was before but you could see the sadness on her eyes. Seulgi blinked at the shorter, her gaze making the other look at her and smile sheepishly to herself. 

 

 

" Ay sorry po, hehe. Ang dadal ko na po ata masyado. "

 

 

" No, it's okay. "

 

 

" Ah nga po pala, may shift po ulit akong i- ccover ngayong 12. Maiwan ko na po kayo ha? Kung naliligaw po kayo pa page lang po kayo sa mga counter o tanong po kayo sa mga nurses or guard. Kilala naman po si Doc. Joy dito hehe. Mahahatid ka nila sa opisina niya. " 

 

 

Seulgi only gave the latter a smile and a nod. The girl apologized countless of times and bowed repeatedly for suddenly leaving seulgi behind. Seulgi even had to stop her physically, holding her shoulders to stop her from bowing so she could go and do her work already. The girl gave her a smile before rushing off leaving seulgi in the middle of an unfamiliar aisle. 

 

Seeing as that she was now left alone for herself to figure herself out. And that paging was clearly out of the choice because that would make her look like a kid who got lost and separated from her mother nor is the asking since she doesn't really feel like talking to a bunch of strangers, she went on and started walking. 

 

 

She walked further ahead without any direction in mind. Nasa utak lang niya kung paano bibilis yung oras para makawala na siya sa lugar nato. It was just 11:15. 12 din yung out ng kapatid niya para sabayan siya sa pag lunch. Just thinking of having lunch in such a gloomy place makes her stomach churn in disgust. She shook her head to erase the thought as she continue to aimlessly walk only to stop as a fresh and warm breeze caresses her face. 

 

 

She smiled unconsciously and stepped out only to be led into a small garden. 

 

 

The place was covered in bushes that were sprawling out of different kinds of flowers. She wasn't familiar with the flowers but they sure do look pleasing to the eye. She walked towards the bench located in the middle. The bench was surprisingly clean despite the place being empty. She sat there happily and sighed. 

 

 

Salamat naman at nakapagpahinga din itong mga paa ko. 

 

 

She leaned her head back, her gaze meeting the blue sky filled with clouds. It was surprisingly a good day. She couldn't help but let her mind wander as she thinks about her bandmates and the gig they were practicing for right now. Ang saya na siguro nilang tumutugtog ngayon. Imbes mag saya habang gumagawa ng musika kasama ang mga kabanda niya andito siya ngayon, nakakulong at nag sasayang ng oras sa lugar na pinaka-ayaw niya, ang hospital na ito. 

 

 

" Nakakabadtrip. "

 

 

" Ang alin? "

 

Halos mapabalikwas si Seulgi. Her eyes widening as she sits right back up sa tindi ng lapit ng boses sa tenga niya. 

 

Napakunot naman eto ng noo ng makitang pilyang nakangisi pa sa kanya ang pinangalingan ng boses, isang babae. 

 

 

" What the ? " 

 

 

" What the ka din. Minura ba kita? "

 

 

" Didn't your parents teach you decency and basic manners? " 

 

Agad namang napakagat labi si Seulgi ng marealize niya ang insensitibong nasabi niya. Mabilis na nawala ang pilyang ngiti ng dalaga at napalitan ng malungkot na ngiti. 

 

 

" Sorry. Maaga silang nawala eh. " The girl almost whispered as she leaned back, her pale and slightly trembling fingers cradled on her lap. 

 

 

" I-im sorry.. I didn't mean that... " 

 

 

" Okay lang! Ano ka ba, kasalanan ko din naman. I shouldn't have whispered in your ear that close. " The girl let out a hearty chuckle, her eyes wrinkling crescent, her thin lips curling up in a smile making Seulgi's heart skip a beat. 

 

 

Wow, she's pretty. 

 

 

" I'm sorry din ah? Uy, pero, kahit wala akong parents mabuti akong tao ah! My lola raised me good. "

 

 

 

" I-it's okay. " Wait, why are you stuttering Kang Seulgi? Get a grip. 

 

 

Running out of words, Seulgi leaned back again. Nakayuko ito habang pasimpleng nasilip sa katabing babae na ngayon ay nakangiting pinagmamasdan din ang langit. How did she not see this girl kanina when they were walking around the Hospital?

 

 

" Ganda ko ba? " 

 

Seulgi was taken aback, she didn't notice she was already staring as the girl turned her head and giggled at her. 

 

Yeah.

 

" What? " 

 

" Kanina ka pa nakatitig eh. Mabubutas mo na mukha ko niyan. " what? 

 

" I wasn't. " She argued back as she steadied her gaze forward, trying to focus on nothing. 

 

" Mmm, okay. Sabi mo eh. Anyway, pasyente ka ba din dito? Ngayon lang kita nakita eh. Hindi ka naman siguro nurse no, di ka naka uniform eh. Tsaka.. wala sa porma mo. "  

 

" Porma? " 

 

The girl nodded, giving seulgi a small smile before turning her head back into the sky. 

 

" Wala, you don't feel like a nurse. " 

 

Seulgi doesn't know what that means so just chose to shrug it off, leaned back, and mimicked the girl as she turned her head to watch the sky again. And as her thoughts just started relaxing, the girl spoke again.

 

" Sooooo.. di ka nga nurse? " Pangungulit nito which seulgi responded with a 'what do you think look'. The girl only nodded before leaning back again. 

 

" So pasyente ka? " Seulgi swears she felt a nerve twitch in her temples. Annoyance started to creep into her system as thoughts of enjoying the wonderful space for some peace and quiet were gone. She shut her eyes and exhaled loudly as she snapped her head and gave the girl a glare. 

 

" I'm not. " She coldly stated. Napangiwi naman ang babae sa tono ng boses ni seulgi, even made a face in which seulgi raised a brow in but consciously ignored as she sat once again. A minute had passed without the girl talking already. Seulgi thanked all her lucky gods because finally, some peace and quiet.  And as seulgi's shoulders started to relax, her mind mixing into the comfortable silence the girl once again spoke. 

 

God forbid, she's damn noisy. 

 

" Multo ka ba? " 

 

Seulgi choked. How the am I a ghost? She gave the girl a weird and confused look. Making the girl laugh at herself, her eyes wrinkling crescent again. 

 

" Eh kasi lagi akong nandito eh. Kilala ko na ata lahat ng tao dito sa ground floor, mapa-pasyente man or staff.. unless galing ka sa second floor. But they have their own garden and stuff there tsaka madalang sila bumaba.. so  I'm left with no choice to think that maybe you're a ghost. " 

 

Seulgi stared at the girl dumbfounded. Still unable to utter anything, her mind was left in awe at the girl's strangeness. 

 

Ang weird naman ng babaeng 'to. 

 

She was about to speak when her phone rang. 

 

The girl gave her a smile as seulgi hurriedly took her phone out of her pants pocket. She gave the girl a weird look again before answering her phone. 

 

" Yeah, Joy. " 

 

Seulgi stood up and excused herself. She went to the other side of the garden as she took the call, her back completely facing the girl that was left sitting alone on the bench. And when she turned as her phone call with her sister ended the girl wasn't there anymore. The bench was unoccupied like as if no one was there. Inikot niya ang paningin sa paligid pero ni anino ng babaeng kausap niya kanina wala siyang mahagilap. She shrugged, slid her phone into her pocket, and calmly walked his way out of the garden. 

 

Weird.