Chapter 4. Dining room discussion (Act 3)

- Yulissa De La Parra: Love? You still there?

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: (...)

- Yulissa De La Parra: Sweetheart?

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel (still incredulous about what happened): Eh…? Yes, of course.

Dr. Ángel San Miguel knows that his little lie had been discovered by his friend Dr. Santiago, which kept him nervous, knowing him. After emerging from this trance, his wife's questions bring him back to reality:

- Yulissa De La Parra: Are you sure you are not busy? I can call later if you prefer.

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: I'm not. It happens that I was told that something serious had just entered the emergency department (...) a 35-years-old male patient, who was accidentally stabbed by his wife (...)

Dr. Ángel San Miguel sees Dr. Aaron Santiago out of the corner of his eye, who continues to smile from ear to ear, and who makes a sign with his hand indicating him to continue with his conversation on the phone.

- Yulissa De La Parra: How is that possible?

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: You know (...) Those things happen (...)

- Yulissa De La Parra: Okay, sweetheart. Go and attend to your affairs. See you at home later.

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: Okay, my love.

- Yulissa De La Parra: Kisses. I love you.

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: I love you too.

The call ends between the couple. Both doctors maintain a long and dense silence, mostly for Dr. Ángel San Miguel. It is firstly Dr. Aaron Santiago who initiates his attack:

- Dr. Aaron Santiago: So… a real emergency for emergency physicians, huh?

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel (contains his frustration, turns the idea over and over again): Well, I suppose you expected it.

- Dr. Aaron Santiago (shrugs): Not exactly, but it suits me more. You have never liked congresses.

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: Truly. Like you said, those kinds of events seem more like a near-forced sale of a vacation resort.

- Dr. Aaron Santiago (laughs quietly): Mostly. Although, not very different from your trip to Aloha Beaches.

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: Of course not! This is a promise I made to Yuli for a long time! So (...)!

- Dr. Aaron Santiago (interrupts): Take it easy, you don't have to explain anything to me. I understand. Actually, what I don't quite understand is why you go to so much trouble to tell me the truth about your trip. There is nothing wrong with a man indulging his wife's wishes.

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: Really? (...) To start with, how many comments about if i am a "scolded famiy man" are you containing in your mind at this moment?

- Dr. Aaron Santiago: About six or seven, why do you ask?.

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: Precisely.

- Dr. Aaron Santiago (adding a tone of parodic seriousness): You know me perfectly, Dr. Bob!

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel (responding in a similar way): Oh! Of course, Dr. Bob! But not as much as (…) her!

- Dr. Aaron Santiago: Ooh! I can't believe you said it, Dr. Bob!

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: Dr. Bob!

While both doctors continue their act, at that moment some nurses pass by one side of the table where they are, looking with sorrow at that "rare" performance. The nurses murmur unintelligible but presumed comments. Both doctors just look at each other and laugh:

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel (smiles): I can't believe we've done this since our beginnings as students.

- Dr. Aaron Santiago: I suppose there are bad habits that are not left. There are those who carry a heavy smoking index (…) we have this.

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: It is not the analogy I was looking for, but I agree.

The spirits of both subside between the two doctors. Dr. Ángel San Miguel, takes a relaxed position on his seat, letting out a sigh, only to later release a wish into the air:

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: You know, actually, I would have liked to attend the meeting.

- Dr. Aaron Santiago: Then go. Can't you postpone your trip for a few days? Yuls sure will understand.

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel (shakes his head): Not at all. I couldn't do that to my wife; You heard her, she is very excited about it. In addition, I made the purchase under promotion and presale… it would be impossible for me to change dates and reservations.

Dr. Aaron Santiago meditates a bit, but finding no solution, agrees with his partner:

- Dr. Aaron Santiago: It seems that there are not many alternatives available, my friend.

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: It seems that way. I think the most convenient thing now would be to call the assembly convener of the alumni meeting and notify them of my absence, I mean, so that they can get a second who can take over the generation speech.

- Dr. Aaron Santiago: Completely true.

Dr. Ángel San Miguel whispers in a low voice the last words said to his colleague ("... a second that can take charge of the speech ..."). Suddenly, like a spark of light, Dr. Ángel San Miguel's eyes fall maliciously on his companion, outlining a somewhat malicious smile. Dr. Aaron Santiago, uncomfortable with this attitude, asks:

- Dr. Aaron Santiago: Is something wrong with you? You have put someone's expression under the influence of tetanus.

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: No, I'm fine. It's just that, it occurred to me, that maybe a certain colleague of mine could attend a certain meeting that I won't be able to attend (...)

- Dr. Aaron Santiago (seriously): No.

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: Let's go! Help me with this!

- Dr. Aaron Santiago: No. I have neither voice nor vote in that place. In addition, I do not have to go to such an overwhelming crowd.

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel (pointing at his friend with his finger): Not necessarily. In fact, it is quite simple. I just have to write the correct words for the speech, and you just have to show up to read them. Simple!

- Dr. Aaron Santiago (a bit irritated by the comment): Are you questioning my discursive ability?

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: Don't try to change the topic of conversation for me! I'm just saying that a little favor like this shouldn't present any difficulty to a man of your height.

- Dr. Aaron Santiago: What is special about "1.83" meters?

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel (upset): Bob, I'm serious!

- Dr. Aaron Santiago (regaining his composure): Okay, okay. I have no conflict in supporting you, Angel, it is just that I do not know anyone in your group, so I do not see any bond of affinity stable enough for such action. Surely someone else can give that speech.

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel (shaking his head): You're wrong, Santiago. Being my best friend, there is no way that someone else can interpret my words with more certainty than you. He cannot be other than you.

Santiago meditates for a moment, in silence, until he finally says:

- Dr. Aaron Santiago: How about Bernardo Pino? He is your friend too, right?

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel (he gets annoyed just hearing the name): Bernardo Pino is an idiot! That homeopathic beard brings me more critically ill diabetics than there should be!

- Dr. Aaron Santiago (making "time out" signs: Okay! I was just asking.

Dr. Ángel San Miguel wants to finish lashing out at his homeopathic analog, however, he saves the rest of his energy to refrain from doing so. Dr. Aaron Santiago, after a short sigh, answers the proposal (still a bit reluctant):

- Dr. Aaron Santiago: Okay, I'll help you ...

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel (smiles): Excellent.

- Dr. Aaron Santiago: But I will be explicit with my actions. I'm just going to make your speech, and I'll go.

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: Hmm… I think you shouldn't be so apathetic with people.

- Dr. Aaron Santiago (observing Dr. San Miguel with obviousness): Angel, we work with the people all day (…) E-V-E-R-Y-D-A-Y!.

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel (observes Dr. Aaron Santiago with irony): I don't mean that. It's more like… see it as an opportunity to find new friends.

- Dr. Aaron Santiago: I have quite a few friends.

Dr. San Miguel observes his colleague, in silence, saving his most sincere comments, to translate them into a sentence:

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: Let's be honest, Santiago. Apart from me, at least in the hospital, who else is your friend?

Dr. Aaron Santiago quickly reviews his mental record, and answers the question:

- Dr. Aaron Santiago: Karla, Ana, Héctor, to name a few.

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel (interrupts his classmate): Wait, wait (…) Are you talking about your students?

- Dr. Aaron Santiago: Eh (…) yeah.

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: Two of them are a couple of louts who always seek to enter surgery with you; the other hints at you with macabre intentions.

- Dr. Aaron Santiago (he is seriously considering the idea): Do you think?

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: It seems to me that your moral criteria is somewhat optimistic (...)

Dr. Santiago cannot find words to respond to such an argument, so he limits himself to not answering, returning to the main topic:

- Dr. Aaron Santiago: Whatever. I have given you my terms.

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel (suggests enthusiastically): Man, I know you are not interested in this whole matter, but you should give the boys a chance. They are mostly cool.

- Dr. Aaron Santiago (clarifies himself severely): Angel, I will not repeat my conditions to you. Take it or leave.

Dr. San Miguel, makes a face of dissatisfaction, more, being his only resource, accepts:

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel (extends his hand to his colleague): I don't entirely agree with your terms, Dr. Bob, however… We have a deal!

- Dr. Aaron Santiago: Sounds excellent, then.

Both doctors shake hands, and continue their conversation:

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: You are truly a tough nut to crack, Dr. Bob.

- Dr. Aaron Santiago: I know, Dr. Bob. I know.

The talk concludes with breakfast, and, before getting up and returning to their respective hospital departments, Dr. Aaron Santiago addresses his friend:

- Dr. Aaron Santiago: By the way, do you already have someone to take you and your wife to the airport tomorrow?

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: Don't worry. We'll take a taxi or something.

- Dr. Aaron Santiago: I can take you there, if it's okay with you.

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: It is very kind of you, Santiago, but with what you are doing for me with the alumni meeting, it is more than enough.

- Dr. Aaron Santiago: I insist. It would be a pleasure for me. Also, you know that the taxi to the airport is quite expensive from the area where you live.

Dr. San Miguel thinks about it carefully, and, when he finishes analyzing his finances with suspicion, he answers the offer of his friend:

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: Okay, Dr. Bob. I will accept your generous offer.

- Dr. Aaron Santiago: Wonderful.

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: Let me invite you something one of these days, in gratitude.

- Dr. Aaron Santiago: You know it is not necessary.

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel (increases the intensity of his speech): No! This is a matter of honor that you must respect.

- Dr. Aaron Santiago (smiles): Okay. I guess I have to respect it.

- Dr. Ángel San Miguel: Excellent, Dr. Bob.

- Dr. Aaron Santiago: What are friends for.

---> To be continue... (/°u°)/