Chapter 60

Carla just finished treating a patient, so she went to the ER pantry to have some time off. She sat on the chair by the dining table, and that's the time she was able to check on her phone that has been vibrating on her pocket. Her suspicion was confirmed when she saw the missed calls from Joshua. Only now does she appreciate the customed vibrations you can assign on your contacts. She was just returning her phone to her pocket when Dr. Oliveros came in. She is their training officer, the head resident in TGH ER Department. "Hello!" said the senior doctor. Carla smiled. "Hi, Doc." Dr. Oliveros got some water from the refrigerator. "How are you?" she asked Carla. "I'm fine, Doctor," Carla answered. "Have a lot of patients?" Carla just smiled. "May I just ask; do you have spare time?" Carla frowned. "You see–" Dr. Oliveros put the glass of water she's holding on the table, then sat down opposite Carla. "–I need to go to this social gathering slash work on weekend. But I can't because the event is overnight. You know, motherhood." Carla smiled. Dr. Oliveros has two children, aside from the daughter of her husband with his first wife. "So, I was looking for someone who can come on my behalf. I'm wondering if you'll like to go." "What is that event?" Carla asked. She's suddenly curious about the job. Anyway, she needs more diversion as well as an excuse to be unavailable. "Here's the thing. My godfather, Dr. De Villa, I actually inherited this job from him. He used to be the family doctor of a wealthy family. And whenever this family throw a party or any social event, they always invite the doctor just to make sure that there is a medical personnel on standby." Carla was amused about what Dr. Oliveros said. Rich people and their whims. "You know, so that someone would know what to do just in case someone had an allergic attack on food, or a sudden cardiac arrest, or heart or asthma or even anxiety attack," Dr. Oliveros said. "But this one, it's not really a formal event. One of the grandchildren of the family arrived from her travels abroad. She wanted to host a mini get-together with her high school friends. But since it's like a tradition to have a medical person nearby, they are inviting me." "Are there no nurses or doctors among the granddaughter's friends?" Carla asked. "There is, but they are quite confident she won't come." Carla frowned. "You know those high school love affair stories? Something like that." Carla totally became curious about the event. "So, are you free? It's an overnight event, Saturday then Sunday. Someone will pick you up and take you to the manor where the reunion will take place." "A manor?" Now, that is really very interesting. "Yes, they have a manor," Dr. Oliveros answered. "So, could you come for me?" Carla smiled. "Of course." She really feels very excited to see that manor and learn the story behind the granddaughter and her friends. **************************************************************************** Carla could not take her eyes off the expansive front yard of the manor. She estimated that the area is one hundred meters long from the front door of the manor to the gate where they just entered. The 1975 Mercedes-Benz car that she is in drove straight into the driveway covered with green lawn grass. There is also a round fountain by the middle of the entire driveway. She feels like she's in a fairy tale as she got out of the vintage car that picked her up from TGH. It took a while before she stopped gazing at the luxurious façade of the manor and decided to go inside. She was quite surprised when the 10-foot main door of the manor suddenly opened. The pure narra double doors squeaked because of their weight. A man on his mid-fifties went out to greet Carla. "Dr. Carla Labao?" asked the man. "That's me," Carla answered. "Come in, Doctor. Miss Dianne has been waiting for you." Carla entered inside the manor. She was greeted by a very spacious foyer. On either side is the twin butterfly staircase and in the center of the ceiling is a gigantic castle chandelier. The wall is white and it looks like it has just been retouched with paint, and the floor is still pure narra like the doors and windows. "Dr. Carla!" Carla looked at the woman who suddenly appeared from the right side of the foyer. She was surprised to see who it was. "How are you, Doc? It's been so long since I last saw you." The woman went to her and kissed her on the cheeks. "Dianne," she said, feeling a little doubtful at her former classmate's emergence. "I thought you have forgotten," Dianne said. "You're the one who asked me to come today?" "It should have been Dr. Oliveros, actually," Dianne answered. "But she said she can't come, so instead, she sent someone on her behalf." Carla suddenly felt nervous. "But actually, it's much better that you're the one who came today," Dianne said to her. "At least you won't feel out of place because you already know the people who will come today. They are our classmates." And there it goes. Dianne became Carla's classmate since elementary, though she's much closer to Ria because their families are friends. They belong to the same social class, those considered as Tarlac's elites. They were classmates until high school. And based on what Dr. Oliveros told her, Dianne will be meeting her high school friends today. If Carla remembers it right, most of Dianne's high school friends are those belonging to Tarlac elites, and she's quite sure the person she doesn't want to see does not belong in the group. But then, this time he managed to be relevant enough for someone like Dianne Guevarra-Agdeppa to notice and befriend. "Uhm... I don't think you'll need me here," Carla said. She should leave now than regret everything later. "What do you mean?" asked Dianne. "I'm going." She held on to the strap of her shoulder bag tightly. She suddenly remembered that her other stuff is still in Dianne's vintage Mercedes. As if on cue, Dianne's driver entered inside the manor with Carla's things. Carla immediately took it from the driver and then turned back to Dianne to say her goodbyes. "I'll go ahead," Carla said. "Wait! Uhm... you can't go... Uhm..." Dianne seems to struggle in finding what to say. "Should I take her home, Ma'am?" the driver asked Dianne. "Yes!" "No–" Carla and Dianne spoke at the same time. The driver shifted his gaze between the two out of confusion. "I'll just walk to the bus stop," Carla said as she turned her back on the two. "It would take you hours before you can reach the bus stop!" Carla stopped. She looked at the driver to confirm what Dianne just said. "She's right, Doctor," the driver said. "Public transport rarely passes by this location." Carla recalled that the location of this manor was a bit secluded. She actually realized not seeing any public transportation when they went here. A shout startled the three. It came from the door on the right side of the foyer where Dianne had come out earlier. Carla looked at that direction, and she inadvertently felt worried as she recognized that voice.