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.)
