ROMANCE INTERRUPTED

 

1983

I was just 23 years old, still wet behind my years, new to the US, and simply put, innocent to the ways of the world.

Dr. L was a blue-eyed blond doctor who moon-lighted every other weekend in my hospital. With his Nordic good looks, he probably had a girlfriend in every hospital he worked at, but he was the first ever non-Filipino male who caught my attention. My other friends said that he was a snob with a God complex, but for some reason, he was always nice to me.

One day, I was waiting for my turn at the cafeteria and pointed out the french fries to the cafeteria worker. From behind me, Dr. L chuckled and said, “I like french fries, too”. Who’d think that such a simple sentence would make me stammer and render me blubbering like a fool?

My heart fluttered. I was not good at small talk. I did not know how to flirt. My friends later told me that my face was flushed. I did not know at that time that some of my friends witnessed the tableau from their table.

Then, as bad timing as it can get, Dr. L’s pager beeped. A code arrest in one of the skilled nursing units. Romance (and lunch) interrupted. He looked at the soda can that I was holding, and with a sheepish smile of apology took it from me, sipped from it, returned the soda can, and said, “Thank you.”

Woah! What else can I do but give the soda can back to him and say “Take it”. He winked at me as he ran towards the code.

I don’t know how I should have handled it like a more sophisticated woman would do, but his gesture was a sensual and intimate action that I was too naive and uncomfortable to respond to. I thought, “Dalagang pilipina ako!”, a typical conservative Filipina.

Truth be told, a tiny wild part of me swooned.  But, in all my innocence and probably due to my unfamiliarity with modern courtship, I convinced myself the blatant flirting was disrespectful.

I gave him the cold shoulder the next time we met in the ICU where I worked. In my mind, he was a gigolo. When he invited me to dinner, I told him a lie, “I have a boyfriend back home. I'm engaged.”

 

2010

In my interview for a nursing director position in a New York hospital, the Chief Nursing Officer wanted me to do a Meet-and-Greet with the Chief Medical Officer, but he was out at an educational conference at that time. I was surprised to hear that the CMO was "my" Dr. L.

The internet search yielded a recent picture of Dr. L. He still sports the same round-rimmed glasses, older but still has a boyish charm that had captivated me all those years ago. I was sure that he now had a family of HIS own. I was now happily divorced myself.

On my first day at my new job, I was sitting by myself in the cafeteria, when somebody joined me at my table. There he was, Dr. L, with his soda can, "We meet again."

Surprised, I stammered, "You remember me after all these years?"

He grinned at me. “Of course, you broke my heart."

My eyebrow raised. This time, I am now mature and sophisticated, no longer that innocent girl who blubbered like a fool.

He said, "I read your resume and knew it was you. I see that you still like French fries.” His ringless hand gestured at my plate. 

Dr. L sat down and smiled his most engaging smile, and I was lost. 

THE END

Nina- If I Should Love Again

Clay Walker - I'd Love To Be Your Last

(Author's note: Year 1983 happened. Year 2010 is just a dream.)