Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Dining room discussion (Act 2)
Dr. Aaron Santiago takes a sip from his glass, sets it aside, and looks to the wall, waiting for his friend to finish his business. Meanwhile, Dr. San Miguel uses his phone in a hurry looking for the contact of the aforementioned, until, suddenly, his mood and intensity are suddenly diminished when he opens his messaging application, leaving him thoughtful, something that his colleague not delay to notice:
- Dr. Aaron Santiago: Is something wrong?
- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: Mmm… No. It's nothing.
- Dr. Aaron Santiago (smiling mockingly): Are you sure? You have put on the face of a scolded family man.
- Dr. Ángel San Miguel (looks disapprovingly at his colleague): Funny, Santiago. But not. I have only received an unexpected invitation.
- Dr. Aaron Santiago: Fine then.
Both friends stare at each other without saying anything. In the absence of any particular emotion, until Dr. Aaron Santiago breaks the silence:
- Dr. Aaron Santiago: Are you waiting for me to ask you what it is?
- Dr. Ángel San Miguel (locks the phone and puts it on the table): Not really.
- Dr. Aaron Santiago: Okay.
Both friends stare in silence again for a few seconds, expressionless, until, again, Dr. Aaron Santiago speaks:
- Dr. Aaron Santiago: You can tell me, if you want to do it.
- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: It is not something important.
- Dr. Aaron Santiago (getting ready to leave up the table): Okay, so then (...)
- Dr. Ángel San Miguel (interrupts): But, since you insist so much on knowing (...)
- Dr. Aaron Santiago rejoins his seat, giving his friend full attention: (...)
- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: It happens, I have received this message:
Dr. San Miguel lends his cell phone to his friend so that he can read about the event itself. The letter quotes:
<<< "Dear Dr. Ángel San Miguel:
By this means, the present invitation is reminded of the first alumni meeting "Group A, 20 years later" of our Great Institution: Middle School # 13 of Coral City, which will be held at the facilities of the same tomorrow, at 15:00 P.M.
On the occasion of the same event, and abusing your trust, you would honor us with your attendance, but it would honor us even more if you could dedicate a few words in commemoration of our generation, being you a dear and outstanding man for it.
Counting on your participation, and without further to say by the moment,
Thank you very much" >>>.
Upon finishing a quick read of the invitation, Dr. Aaron Santiago mentions:
- Dr. Aaron Santiago (indifferent, returns the cell phone): Congratulations, I think so.
- Dr. Ángel San Miguel (upset): I appreciate your interest and expressiveness (...) really (...)
- Dr. Aaron Santiago (shrugging): Well, I honestly don't see anything wrong with it.
- Dr. Ángel San Miguel (leans back in his seat): Well, no. Likewise, I am not going to go. I mean, it's a gathering of grown men getting together to talk about their boring personal achievements and how everything was better in their youth. Alumni Meetings… Who Invented Them?
Dr. Aaron Santiago analyzes his friend's comment, raising an eyebrow as a sign of doubt and surprise, for which, finding no reasons, he responds to the question:
- Dr. Aaron Santiago: I don't seem to understand you.
- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: What do you mean?
- Dr. Aaron Santiago: Well, I had you in the same concept of those "adult men" that you say enjoy talking about their beautiful youth.
- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: I don't know whether to feel offended or not.
- Dr. Aaron Santiago (smiling with a slight mocking air): No. I mean, I thought you were proud of the moments lived in your school term at the "Great Institution: Middle School # 13, of Coral City".
- Dr. Ángel San Miguel (turning to look at the ceiling vaguely): Pretending that I did not hear that touch of irony in your words (...) those were really good times.
- Dr. Aaron Santiago (raises his glass in a toast to his friend): Those sure were.
Dr. Aaron Santiago takes the glass to his mouth and consumes what little was left of his drink. When finished, he sets the glass aside on the table, and continues with the conversation:
- Dr. Aaron Santiago: So?
- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: So what?
- Dr. Aaron Santiago: Why don't you go?
- Dr. San Miguel stays for a moment thinking about what to say to his partner, he crosses his arms thoughtfully until he has an answer to offer:
- Dr. Ángel San Miguel (sighs): I'll tell you what happens (…) You have seen the date of the meeting, haven't you?
- Dr. Aaron Santiago (nods his head): Yes. It's tomorrow.
- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: Exactly. It really had passed me to comment to you, but, it happens that for tomorrow I will be out of town, which will not allow me to be here to attend the meeting.
- Dr. Aaron Santiago: I see, a sudden trip (…) And can I know what it is about? I mean, don't take it the wrong way, but you're pretty sullen about that travel stuff.
- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: Yes, don't worry, it's true. I tell you: it turns out that I have asked the hospital for permission to be absent this time for an emergency physicians congress that I must attend without fail. You already know how these upgrade and recertification things are.
- Dr. Aaron Santiago (puts his hand to his chin): Mhm (…) attend without fail (...) emergency physicians congress (…) it sounds like a real emergency.
- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: It is.
- Dr. Aaron Santiago: It seems reasonable to me.
Both partners continue with in silence for a few seconds, until Dr. Aaron Santiago speaks again:
- Dr. Aaron Santiago (thoughtful): It's funny, I thought you said that these conferences are useless meetings for pedantic riches and conceited students.
- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: Good, but this one is very different.
- Dr. Aaron Santiago: Different (…) How?
- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: Let me explain it (...)
Suddenly, at that moment, Dr. San Miguel's cell phone begins to emit its ringtone. When he picks up the phone from the table and looks at the screen, he notices the obvious photograph with the name "Yuli <3" below it, so, as it is a call from his wife, he answers without hesitation:
- Dr. Ángel San Miguel (putting the cell phone to his ear): Hello, my love. How's it going?
- Yulissa De La Parra (answers from the other end of the line): Everything's fine, sweetheart. How are you doing? Did I interrupt something?
- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: No, not at all. I am here in the hospital dining room with Santiago.
- Yulissa De La Parra: The famous Dr. Bob? Ha-ha! Typical.
- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: You know.
- Dr. Aaron Santiago (interrupts when he reaches to hear the conversation slightly): It's Yuls, right? Tell her I said "hi".
- Dr. Ángel San Miguel (says to his wife): Santiago sends you greetings.
- Yulissa De La Parra: Oh! Thanks! Send him my greetings too.
Dr. Ángel San Miguel passes de message to his friend: - "She says she also sends you greetings" -. He then resumes the phone conversation:
- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: Anyway, what's going on, my love?
- Yulissa De La Parra (shouting with happiness): It's really nothing! I just wanted to let you know that I have everything ready with the agency for our trip to "Aloha Beaches" tomorrow! I'm really excited to going with you, sweetheart! Thank you very much for this beautiful anniversary gift!
Dr. Ángel San Miguel remains cold, silent. His eyes show guilt, even when his posture tries to conceal naturalness. That last message was loud enough that anyone nearby could have heard. His wife keeps telling him some more things, but he doesn't pay attention. Dr. Ángel San Miguel, unwilling to do so, turns to face his partner, who looks at him from across the table with a mischievous expression. Dr. Ángel San Miguel knows that he has been entirely exposed.
---> To be continue... (/°u°)/
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
CCTemoc
CCTemoc Thanks a lot for your time and attention!
I hope my "English" has not been so an unbearable experience. ∠(●´u`●)ノ
Thank you for taking the time to read this story!
See you in the next chapter! \(●°u°●)/
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