Chapter Text
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The airport buzzed with activity, passengers weaving in and out of the crowd as Jhoanna stepped off the plane.
Her sharp suit—a black blazer paired with tailored trousers—matched the stormy expression on her face.
She adjusted the strap of her leather bag, her movements precise and efficient, much like the world-class surgeon she was known to be.
But the poise in her steps couldn't hide the hollow look in her eyes or the weight she carried in her chest.
Manila welcomed her with its humid air, but instead of nostalgia, all she felt was a deep sense of loss.
Thailand, the country that was supposed to be the backdrop for the happiest day of her life, had turned into a haunting reminder of betrayal.
Her bride—her love, her supposed forever—had run away before their vows.
Jhoanna clenched her jaw as she walked past the sea of waiting faces, all strangers. She didn't want any welcoming committee or family members who witnessed everything of her pain.
The last thing she needed was pity disguised as concern. She was here to bury herself in work, to stitch up other people's lives while ignoring the shreds of her own.
As she exited the airport, her phone buzzed in her pocket. Jhoanna sighed as she answered.
"Hello?"
"Jhoanna, anak, we're already here outside" Her mother's voice came through the phone, warm but laced with her usual impatience.
Jhoanna sighed deeply, hesitating for a moment before replying.“Mom, I can handle my own, I am old enough, you don't need to pick me up" She mumbled, grumpily yet with soft voice
"We know honey, but we insist— huwag ka nang makulit, anak. Nandito na kami ng Dad mo. Dalawa lang kami, promise. Walang ibang tao" Her mother assured, the underlying guilt in her tone was evident.
Resigned, Jhoanna ended the call with a curt, “Sige, palabas na po ako.”
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The ride home was suffocatingly quiet. Her mother and father exchanged worried glances, but Jhoanna remained focused on the passing scenery outside the window.
Memories of their pleading faces at the altar in Thailand flashed through her mind. They had begged her to stay strong, but she had been too shattered to care.
Her mother finally broke the silence. "Anak, kumusta? I know it's hard but—"
Jhoanna didn't even turn her head as she cut her mother, too sensitive "Okay lang ako, Ma.”
Her father sighed, his hands gripping the steering wheel tighter.“Alam naming masakit. Pero hindi pwedeng habambuhay kang ganyan, Jhoanna. Hindi ka makaka-move on kung palagi kang malamig at tahimik, you can vent all your pain to us anak, we're here to listen"
"I don't want to talk about it, Pa" Jhoanna said sharply, her voice cracking slightly. “Hindi niyo naiintindihan. I trusted her. I gave her everything. Tapos but I was left, pitong taon, pitong taon po. Paano niyo ako aasahang maging okay agad?”
The car fell silent again, her parents realizing they'd pressed her too far didn't say anything anymore as they respect their daughter, even though they're also hurting for her.
When they arrived at her condo, Jhoanna immediately retreated to her room. The minimalist space, filled with sleek furniture and muted colors, had always been her sanctuary— their sanctuary.
But now, it felt like a prison. She threw her bag onto the couch and collapsed onto the bed, staring at the ceiling, deep in her thoughts.
She pulled out her phone, scrolling through messages she hadn't opened for months. Most were from friends and colleagues asking how she was, but one name stood out— her bride.
The last message was sent two days after the wedding, after she runaway.
“I'm sorry. I just couldn't do it. I hope you find someone who deserves you.”
Jhoanna's grip on the phone tightened. Her chest heaved as she fought back tears, but it was no use. Hot, angry drops rolled down her cheeks, and she hated herself for it.
“Tangina kaya ka iniwan eh, ang hina mo Jho" She whispered to herself, wiping her face roughly.
“Hindi ka na dapat umiiyak. Tapos na 'yon" She continued to pet herself to somehow feel better yet only ended with her curled on her bed, sobbing until she fell asleep for the next few hours.
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The next morning, Jhoanna arrived at St. Luke's Medical Center, where she was greeted with a mixture of awe and hesitation by the staff.
Jhoanna was absent for almost two months.
Her reputation as one of the best surgeons in the country preceded her, but so did the rumors of her heartbreak.
“Dr. Jhoanna, welcome back!” One nurse said cheerfully.
Jhoanna nodded curtly. “Salamat. Anong schedule ko ngayon?"
The nurse handed her a clipboard, and Jhoanna immediately buried herself in the details of her surgeries for the day.
She spent the next 12 hours in the operating room, her hands steady and her mind focused.
It was the only place where she felt in control, where the chaos of her emotions couldn't reach her.
Where her mind wasn't on —hers
After her last surgery, Jhoanna sat in the hospital's quiet rooftop, nursing a cup of coffee. She stared at the steam rising from the cup, her mind wandering despite her efforts to stay composed.
“Nakita rin kita, finally” A familiar voice broke through her thoughts.
Jhoanna looked up to see Sheena, one of her closest friends, standing by the door with a sympathetic smile.
"What are you doing here?" Jhoanna asked, her tone guarded.
"Namiss din kita" Sheena sarcastically said as she sat beside her.
"I didn't say I miss you, you've seen me two months ago, pathetic and begging" Jhoanna dismissed her, Sheena scrunched her face.
"Sungit mo naman"
"Cut the crap, Shee. What do you need?"
"Hindi kita kayang pabayaan, Jhoanna." Sheena said
"Kaya mo rin" The surgeon flatly said, lost in the warmth of the area after the long silence.
"Alam kong gusto mo lang magtago, pero kaibigan mo ako. Halos magkabuhol na ang mga bituka natin dahil sa pagkakilala ko sayo, kaya hindi mo ako maloloko na "okay" ka lang na salita mo" Sheena said as she grabbed the coffee from Jhoanna's hand to take a sip.
Jhoanna remained silent, her defenses still up, she let Sheena finish her cup and furrowed her brows while looking away from the certain topic they're about to tackle.
“Alam kong masakit” Sheena continued, her voice soft. “Pero hindi mo kailangang harapin ‘to ng mag-isa. Nandito kami. Ako, si Gwen, si Colet—lahat kami.”
"I know, but it's hard S-shee, she broke me, she broke our promises, she broke 'us'— ginawa niya akong tanga" For the first time in weeks, Jhoanna felt a crack in her armor. She blinked rapidly, fighting the tears threatening to spill.
"J-jho..."
“Sheena—paano ba ako babangon? Paano ko kakalimutan?" Her voice broke, revealing the vulnerability she had tried so hard to hide.
Sheena placed a reassuring hand on Jhoanna's shoulder. “Hindi mo kailangan kalimutan agad. Pero kailangan mong ipaalala sa sarili mo kung sino ka. You're Jhoanna, one of the best surgeons in the country, a strong and amazing woman. At kahit iniwan ka niya, hindi ibig sabihin 'non ay wala kang halaga.”
"I just don't understand, ganoon kadali sa kanyang bitawan lahat— ganoon ako kadaling bitawan Shee."
"I know she has her reason, kaibigan ko rin siya. Just heal yourself Jho, it may take long but please brace yourself" Sheena hummed as she wiles her friend's tears away.
Jhoanna nodded slowly, taking a deep breath. She wasn't okay yet, but maybe, just maybe, she could start to find her way back.
Kahit mahirap.
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