Chapter Text
Steven let out a loud sigh. He glanced up at the clock, carefully stretched his arms, and tilted his head from side to side to ease the stiffness. Halos 8 oras na pala simula ng pumasok siya sa operating room. He’s a heart surgeon, and right now.. he’s trying to extend the life of this 10 year old boy who’s bravely fighting for his life.
As the youngest surgeon in their world-class hospital, Steven is already considered one of the best in his field. The moment he steps into the operating room, he makes sure to give everything he has to keep his patient alive. No second thoughts, no mistakes, no doubts… because he knows this isn’t just a procedure; it’s a life hanging in the balance.
The operation had ended earlier than expected. Labindalawang oras? Sampu lang ang naabot. Nakangiting lumabas ang mga staff mula sa operating room. Kahit mahaba pa rin ang naging laban, panatag sila at hindi gaanong pagod—dahil si Steven ang nanguna rito. Ganoon kalaki ang tiwala ng lahat sa kanya.
Habang unti unting nawawala ang ingay sa loob ng kwarto, na kanina lang ay puno ng tunog ng makina, Steven stayed still. Nanatili sya sa loob habang nakapikit at inaalala lahat ng ginawa nya. Sinisigurado na wala syang mali sa procedure at lahat ng proseso ay tama.
Napabuntong hininga sya. “All good..”
Alam ni Steven na hindi siya Diyos. Alam niya na kahit gaano pa karami ang nailigtas niya, kahit gaano siya kaingat at ka metikuloso sa bawat operasyon, at kahit ibuhos pa niya ang buong galing niya… may mga buhay pa ring hindi niya kayang hawakan.
And that’s what sets him apart from the other top doctors sa mundo nila. Karamihan sa kanila ay nasisilaw sa sariling galing, sa pera, at sa kinang ng makabagong teknolohiya. They forget that they are only instruments meant to help others… to extend lives, if God allows it, and Steven never lets himself forget that.
Steven stepped out of the OR, PPE removed, hands carefully washed. Kukurap-kurap siyang naglakad papunta sa kanyang opisina. Hindi niya alam, may dalawang pares ng matang nakatitig sa kanya mula sa kwartong kanyang pinanggalingan.
“ Hmm, naka titig ka na naman sa alaga mo” Hindi namalayan ni JL ang pagdating ng kanyang kasamahan sa silid. Abala siya sa pag titig sa kakaalis lang na binata.
Napabuntong hininga siya. “Ewan ko ba Ki, parang oras oras na lang kailangan kong bantayan yan.”
Natawa naman ito sa kanya. “ E malamang, guardian angel ka niya diba? Yun ang trabaho mo.”
Masama siyang tumingin dito.. “Alam ko naman yun, pero look at him. Kala mo lagi mamamatay sa pagod. Halos hindi na nakain ng tama at wala ring sapat na tulog. Hindi pa nya oras pero baka mauna pa talaga sya sa mga pasyente nya.” Stress na din talaga sya sa kanyang “alaga’’ kaya hindi na niya napilitan mag rant sa kasama.
“Chill, pag na deads yan ipa void mo nalang kay Big Boss” Pang aasar naman nito sa kanya.
JL just rolled his eyes, wala talagang kwentang kausap ang isang to. Minsan iniisip nya kung anghel ba talaga to si Ki o baka nagkamali lang si Boss sa paggawa sa kanya.
“Sorry po lord” naibulong niya dahil sa naisip na pagdududa sa Amang lumikha.
“May naisip kang kasalanan no? Yan sorry sorry ka ngayon”
Inirapan nya ito “dahil sayo nagkakasala ako, bakit ka ba nandito? Nasan alaga mo at pagala gala ka?”
‘Edi ano pa, nandun sa bar, nambababae.” This time, si Ki naman ang nag pout.
“Ano ba yan? Ang aga naman mag bar nyan? Tagal mo nang alaga yan hindi mo napatino?”
“Aba, ang trabaho lang natin ay mag guide, binigyan sila ng free will na hindi natin pwede pakialaman. In short, most of the time viewer lang tayo at taga lista ng mga kasalanan nila”
JL sighed again… oo nga, unlike what most human think, wala sila talagang control over people. They can read minds, understand and speak different languages, travel faster than thoughts.. pero yun lang yun… hanggang dun lang.
They could never control or take part in any human’s decisions or actions.And all they can do is to watch. Paminsan minsan, pwede sila magparamdam na parang multo o magbigay ng sign sa mga alaga nila when it’s badly needed. And JL know na most of the time… hindi sapat yun.
“Alam mo JL, nahahawa ka na sa alaga mo. Lagi ka na rin bumubuntong hininga at seryoso. C’mon, don’t stress yourself too much. Gawin lang natin ang trabaho natin… no string attach. Chill”. He looked at Ki this time.
“Chill? Paano ako mag chichill kung yung alaga ko halos mahimatay na lagi dahil sa sobrang pagod?”
“ Choice naman nya yun, malaki na yan. You can still watch him from afar naman.”
“Nah Ki… maiiwan ko lang siya kapag nakita ko na hindi na siya ganito. When he learns to value and love himself a little more.”
Ki stared at him… as in yung titig na parang binabasa ang kaloob looban nya.
“What? You know na hindi mo mababasa ang nasa isip ko right?”
“ I know JL.. What I’m trying to read is your heart.”
JL was confused. He was about to ask Ki what he meant when the latter bid him goodbye. Apparently, he sensed that his alaga would bring another woman home, and that he needed to watch over him. But Ki reminded him one last time… or rather, warned him.
“ JL, we’re just here to guide and watch them okay? Nothing more..nothing less.”
Matipid na tumango si JL dito bago nawala na parang hangin. May mali ba? May nakikita ba si Ki na mali sa kanya? May ginagawa ba siya na hindi tama?
*******
JL appeared at Steven’s office. He saw the man silently sleeping on his office chair. It’s 8am at ngayon palang matutulog ang binata. Ni hindi na nito nagawang kumain at umuwi para makapag pahinga.
Dahan-dahan, JL took the blanket from the couch, his hand brushing lightly against the fabric. He draped it over Steven, who didn’t notice that JL’s eyes had lingered on his face a moment too long. There was something about the way Steven moved, the small, unconscious gestures, that made him… human in the purest sense.
He's been alive for as long as he could remember. He had met countless humans, and there was no doubt… Steven was one of the most handsome he had ever seen.
HIs dark soft hair, yung mataas nyang ilong.. his sharp eyes and jaw.. and then, his lips… those red thin lips na parang ang sarap hawakan… na parang masarap tignan at hali–
JL immediately shook his head. Ano ba to.. Anghel sya for God sake! Mariin nyang ipinikit ang mata at tahimik na nagdasal para humingi ng tawad. Ano bang nangyayari sa kanya.
He was about to turn and walk away when Steven held his hand, still resting on the blanket. JL froze, surprised. He looked again at Steven, but his eyes were still closed, chest rising and falling with each steady breath.
“Stay… please” He heard him… JL was in panic. Gising ba ito? Nakikita ba sya ng lalaki? Alam ba nito na nandito sya?
Dahan-dahan, iniangat ni JL ang kamay niya mula sa pagkakahawak ni Steven. Habang unti-unti niyang tinatanggal ang kamay, may kung ano na pakiramdam sa dibdib niya, parang may apoy na hindi niya maintindihan.
Then, as quietly as he had arrived, JL disappeared. No trace remained except for the faintest echo of his presence, like a sigh hanging in the room.
Steven stirred, blinking awake. For a moment, he just lay there, chest rising and falling, and then he noticed it.. a lingering warmth on his hand, soft and impossible to ignore. His mind struggled to name it, but the feeling wouldn’t leave him, like the shadow of something or someone he had just held close.
And for a heartbeat, Steven wondered if maybe… just maybe… it was more than the blanket keeping him warm.