David and Steffi (Part 5)

Part V

(See Part I, Part II, Part III, and Part IV)

Steffi

I went home that night in a daze. I was glad that David was awake and was going to be ok.

I smiled as I remembered the first time we met.

* * * * * *

"Hold the elevator please!" I squealed at the suit going in before me. I rushed the last few steps and skidded into the elevator. The lady at the reception had taken forever giving me a pass and I was feeling the weight of the stuffed horse I was lugging around. I glanced over at the suit beside me, "Huh, kinda cute," I thought to myself. I looked over at the panel and saw that my floor was already lighted. I glanced over at him again and smiled a bit. He looked a bit aloof and met my eye when I smiled but he didn't smile back. He was holding a sheaf of papers and I figured he was probably one of the lawyers there because Tanya looks positively scary when she's in lawyer mode.

I leaned up close to the mirrored elevator door and looked at my mascara. I shifted the horse to my other arm and fiddled with my new bangs. I dared a glance at Mr. Lawyer Guy again. He was absorbed in his papers. I tossed my head and gave myself a wink. The elevator dinged.

I walked sedately out the elevator and turned left because that's what Tanya said and I didn't want to embarrass her. Counted the doors until I got to the third and peeked in. Tanya was on the phone but saw me at her door. She got a huge smile on her face and immediately motioned me in. I started bouncing on the balls of my feet and dancing with the horse. Phone call over, Tanya held a finger to her lips and went to the door and silently closed it, then turning around she screamed and gave me a huge hug, horse and all. I started laughing too.

"What did you do to your hair?", she said.

I fluffed my hair and tilted my head, "They're called bangs, my dear friend. See how they're flirty and playful?" I batted my eyelashes and Tanya doubled over with laughter. 

"Dump all your stuff there and tell me all about it. Leave nothing out." Tanya ordered. I hesitated, "Uhm, excuse me, it was a date from hell, do you really want me to relive it?" I held up the horse and made a sad face.

Tanya wasn't buying it and instead laughed out loud, "C'mon...tell me all about it. Did he really get up on stage and sing 'My Way'?" I hit Tanya with the horse to shut her up which only made her laugh louder.

There was a knock on her door and Mr. Lawyer Guy from the elevator came in without waiting for permission.

"David! Come on in and meet my friend, Stef. Stef, David. David, Stef." Tanya made the rapid-fire introductions.

"Hi! Nice to meet you." David said with a smile, holding out his hand. I stared at him. He had a really nice smile which crinkled up his eyes. I shook his hand, and maybe I might have held on a little bit longer if Tanya hadn't asked him what he came for. Okay, maybe I might have drooled a little because Tanya was giving me a weird look. No, I exaggerate.

"I just wanted to give you this draft. I've looked it over, but I thought you might have more comments before we send it. Anyway, this isn't due until Friday so I'll leave you women to it. Sounded like a party before I came in." David said with an even wider grin, his eyes going back to mine. "Nice to meet you, Stef, and I hope to see you around."

"U-huh." I said gamely, while my girly parts went to attention. I could hear the start of the hallelujah chorus in the background. Mr. Lawyer Guy, who'd looked so aloof in the elevator was turning out to be my kind of guy.

To be continued.

 

David and Steffi (Part 4)

Part IV

(See Part I, Part II, Part III)

Steffi

I blew on my coffee as Tanya and I walked to the table near the window. I felt tiny beside Tanya but we've been friends forever. Me, petite and slightly round. I've always been described as a cute pixie. pfft. Tanya, always svelte and tall.

"Sure you're all right?" Tanya asked me.

I shrugged. "You know how I feel."

I hated hospitals. I'm in remission now. But there was a time when all I knew was painful chemotherapy and radiation treatment. I was 12 when I was first diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia. Basically, it meant that I had overproduction of white blood cells which were also defective which led to low red blood cell count, anemia and a host of other symptoms. I was a sick kid who knew hospitals better than the playground. It didn't help that I got sick when I already had school and friends to miss.

Tanya was my friend since kindergarten. My best-est friend. We stayed friends throughout the times when I had no hair, and when I didn't recognize her through my pain medication. She lost a brother when she was 9, to the same type of leukemia as mine. I am forever thankful to my parents and Tanya's parents for letting us continue to be friends throughout my treatment. Tanya was even allowed to accompany me during some of my chemotherapy.

I was declared in remission when I was 14. I still go to the hospital for checkups to make sure I stay in remission.  I've continued with my life but I hate hospitals.

Tanya and I remained friends. She took business, I took art. She went to law school, I went to more art and design. We were completely different but we understood each other very well.

"Yeah I know how you feel. Considering my history, I hate hospitals too. Do you suppose Mike will hold it against me if we skipped out now?" Tanya asked with a wry grin.

I snorted. "Mike will forgive you anything. Has he proposed yet?"

"No, but I will soon."

We laughed out loud. Kind of inappropriate given the situation we were in and we both realized it, falling silent at the same time.

"Have you told David how you feel about him?"

"No," I replied. "Besides, I'm not sure how I feel about him. I like being with him. But when he's not with me, I don't miss him either." I shrugged again as I sipped my coffee.

"And he hasn't exactly done anything to make me think that a declaration of love or intent would be welcome. He treats me like a buddy. Nope, the fire and heat is completely on my part."


Tanya's phone beeped. "Hey, Mike says David is awake. Wanna go and see him through the glass?"

I gulped my coffee and stood up. I was feeling a little nervous. I suddenly realized that I had no right to be there acting like some worried girlfriend.

When we got to the ICU, the doctors were with David. Mike was standing outside and waving. We stood beside him and waved too. David saw us and raised his hand in a slow wave. I teared up. Crazy me.

I dragged Tanya away from the window. "I think I'll just wait for the doctors to speak to Mike, then I'll go."

"Ok, that would be fine." Tanya looked at me worriedly. "You are looking a bit pale. and your hands are clammy."


To be continued here.

David and Steffi (Part 3)

Part III

(Read Part I here, and Part II here)

Steffi

I rushed to the hospital. All the while I was thinking that David was all right. Trying to reconcile what happened last night and what I knew now. Maybe they had the time of the accident wrong. But then again, David wouldn't have left in the middle of the night. When he stayed over, he usually stayed until breakfast.

It couldn't have been a dream because it had felt so real.  I was sure David had been with me last night. I remember the feel of his arms around me. I remembered my bed's neatness where David should have slept. I felt a chill run through me. I was sure, but I was scared. If it had been a dream, what did it mean? That wasn't a ghost or a spirit was it? If it was, why visit me? Why me? No, David was fine. Last night wasn't some spooky supernatural thing. David went to my apartment, we talked, we slept. He left. He left? But why would he leave in the middle of the night?

I was turning into the hospital's parking lot when my phone signaled an incoming SMS. It was Tanya telling me they were at the ICU and asking me if I was sure about going to the hospital. Crap, ICU meant it was serious, didn't it?

I  entered the hospital lobby and asked directions at the concierge. It wasn't until I got to the hospital proper when I realized I hated hospitals. The muted lights of the lobby gave way to the harsh white lights common to hospitals. I felt my body grow cold and my palms were damp. I really hated hospitals after having spent the worst two years of my life in one.


I walked through the seemingly endless corridors to the ICU. I saw Tanya and Mike standing outside the ICU. Tanya saw me coming and rushed to meet me.

"Are you okay?", Tanya immediately asked me. She grabbed my hand and shook her head. "Your hands are cold. C'mon, you don't have to be here."

Tanya knows how I feel about hospitals. I said, "No, I'm fine. I mean it's David. He was with me last night. I don't know what time he left my apartment but --"

"No, that's impossible, Stef. David came from the office last night. He texted Mike that he was just leaving sometime past one."

Mike came over to us. I gave him a hug, "How is he?" How are your parents?"

"He hasn't woken up yet, Stef. A cracked skull, broken arm, broken ribs. Doctor said it was lucky no organs were damaged."

"Look, I don't know. I think I might be going crazy, but he went to my apartment last night. He wanted to sleep over but I guess he left."

"No, Stef, that can't be. He texted me when he was about to leave the office. That was already past one in the morning." Mike searched in his phone inbox and showed me the text from David.

I shivered. Tanya and Mike looked at each other. I was pretty sure some wordless communication occurred at that moment because Tanya put her arm around me, "C'mon Stef, we can't do anything here right now. Let's get some coffee."

"Wait, I haven't seen David yet." I pulled away and went to the ICU windows. David was unrecognizable for all the bandages.  But I would know his face anywhere. He was that dear to me. I felt tears sting my eyes. I was confused. Last night felt real to me. But everything that Tanya and Mike told me proves that last night was impossible.

I turned to Mike and asked, "What's going to happen next?"

"Well, we wait. The Doctor said that he'll wake up on his own in a few hours. Mom and Dad were here a while ago but they went home to prepare some stuff. They'll come back later. You go with Tanya and get coffee."

To be continued here.

David and Steffi (Part 2)

Part II

(Read Part I here)

Steffi

7:30am

I woke up to the sound of my alarm blaring Joan Jett's "I love rock and roll!".  I was alone. Not even a crease on my pillow or the sheets where David slept.


Smiling, I got up from bed and decided to tease David via SMS:  "That was quite a getaway. You didn't even wake me up. :)"


I got ready for the errands and the meetings I had for the day. After my shower, I expected David to have responded to my SMS already. But no reply. No biggie, David was notorious for not responding to SMS that aren't work-related.


9am


My first meeting of the day involved a socialite who wanted to dress up her gazebo and pool area for her luau. Still no response from David.


I sent him another SMS: "Hey stranger. You left without my good morning kiss. Wasn't it good for you? Hahaha!"


11am

Brunch with a couple of blockmates inviting me to join their design firm. Still no response from David.
Another SMS: "Hey Davs, this isn't much fun if you don't join in. :D"  I thought about giving him a call, decided against it, but ringed him anyway.  His phone was turned off. I knew how busy he could get, at least he'll get a laugh when he sees my messages.


2:30pm


On my way to Manila to canvas materials, I got a phone call from Tanya. Tanya is a lawyer like David. She's dating David's brother, Mike.

"Stef! Where are you? I got bad news."

"What?! What?!" 

"It's David. He's been in an accident. We're on our way to St. Luke's right now."

"Ohmygod! What happened? Wait, I'll go there too."

"We don't know what happened. MIke said it was hit and run, around 2am this morning. A truck judging from the damage to David's car. Look, I'll text you more news when we get there."

"Ok. Ohmygod. I'll be there in half an hour. I'm on EDSA right now."

It wasn't until later that it dawned on me that Tanya said the accident happened last night. When David was sleeping in my bed.

To be continued here.

David and Steffi (Part 1)

Part I 

Steffi

I woke up from a rather restless sleep to find a man on my bed.

Hi! My name is Steffi, well, Majesty Faye, but Steffi has a nicer ring to it. I'm 31. Single. Free-lance lights designer. Normal.

I live alone and finding a man on my bed is a very rare occurrence, especially when I don't know how he got there.

The man isn't exactly strange. In fact, he frequently crashes at my place after a late night. Purely platonic, for sure, and much to my disgust (the platonic part). He's David. My secret crush for the past two years except that I think he thinks I'm a convenient friend.

No, nothing's ever happened between us, it's just that we connected as easily as magnets with opposite charges. So I guess my reaction in finding a man on my bed may not have been the most normal, but since it's David, well, maybe there was a little wishful thinking involved.


"What are you doing here?" I said sleepily. David was sprawled on the other side of my queen sized bed. I'm tiny, but since I grew up with a queen sized bed, I never got used to sleeping on a small bed.

"I'm not sure. I feel so tired." David replied. His voice was husky.

"You're not coming down with something are you? I hope you didn't park in Mr. Lim's spot again." I turned over on my side to look at him.  David's eyes were closed and his eyelashes fanned against his cheeks. Longer than mine. Geez.

David opened his eyes and said "I don't remember parking. I think I left my car at the office." He threw his arm around me and said, "Let me sleep here, ok." He gave me a squeeze. How could I resist, right? But I have an imp in me, so I pinched his arm. Hard.

"Ow! What was that for?" He drew back and frowned at me, looking all offended.  I shrugged, "Maybe you're dreaming. I was just checking."

"Dreaming? Haha. If anybody's dreaming here, it would be you. Now let me sleep, will you?" He said, his words ending on a yawn. He flung his arm over my middle and flopped on his stomach. Squirming down the bed so that we were face-to-face, he gave me a sleepy smile and said, "I'm really tired tonight. When you wake up tomorrow, you have my permission to rag me about this."

I snorted. David's eyes remained closed. And just so he wouldn't get any ideas, I whispered, "Davs, when you sleep here, you stay on the couch."

He didn't bother to open his eyes when he said, "Stef, you're couch is tiny. In normal people's houses, it's called a loveseat."

I grinned but didn't say anything else. I watched David and knew the instant when he fell asleep. I reached over to turn off my night light and noted the time: 2am.

I snuggled deeper in his arms. I wanted to stay awake to savor having David's arms around me.  I mean, who knows when I'll get the chance again. But sleep called me and I slid into oblivion.

To be continued here