Chapter 3 - the doctor's daughter

One of Katerina's favorite thing to do in the morning was to go to the beach and watch the sun rises in the east and in the evening, before dinner, she loves to come back at the same place to see how the sun sets magnificently as it gives way to the moon that shines so brightly at night.. When she was a little child, she used to go with her father and gazed at how beautiful the sun was as it goes up to the sky and spread it's rays to the people around while in the evening, she marvels at the wonderful moon that attracts people because of it's different phases and at different times. When she was seven years old, she told her father that one day, she wanted to know why the sun that shines brightly the whole day could not even enjoy seeing the magnificent moon that rises up when the sun sets down. "I wonder, father...hmm...why the sun and moon could not be together. I think that if I could see them both, I would be happier!" she told her father, who was carrying her as they walked at the beach, barefooted.

The young Katerina smiled at her father and she wanted an answer from him. Just like most of the kids her age, she was curious to know what's going on in her surroundings especially those that could not be explained fully by children like her. The doctor, at that time could not help but be amazed at his daughter's inquisitiveness. He knows that his daughter loves to read and loves enjoying the beauty of nature and as her only parent, he had to teach her about a lot of things. "You see, dear, when the sun sets and it started to get dark, the moon had to do its part. God does not want people to live in darkness, so He summoned the moon to give its lights to the people and let them see through the darkness."

"But father, I think it is better that the sun continues to shine even at night so there'll be no darkness, right, father?" the little girl looked tenderly at her father's eyes. His father only smiled at her, then kissed her on her cheeks and forehead.

Katerina studied elementary and high school at the nearby island which was bigger and more populous than where they lived. He had to bring his child to the school riding a boat that takes them thirty minutes until they reached the school. She was a popular student because of her diligence, beauty and intelligence. Once, when she was in grade six, one of her classmates, the son of the town mayor gave her a rose. She did not accept it because she does not want to receive anything from anyone especially flowers, unless it was given to her by her father. Since then, the young boy distanced himself from her and only watches her from afar.

In high school, she had attracted lots of male suitors because of her beauty and kindness but none of them got any of her attention. For her, only the doctor could occupy her heart and no one would even get close. Even her childhood friends knew that the young woman will never give her heart to anyone, unless that person would have the good qualities of her father. After high school, her father told her to to the city and take up any courses that she wanted but she refused, reasoning out that she wanted to remain where her father was and to help her run the small clinic that they managed in helping the residents of the island. "Father, you need my help. I don't want to leave you! I will stay here with you as long as I could..." she always tell her father whenever the latter was begging her to continue her studies at the university of her choice.

Her father's family owned a private hospital in Manila as well as a private school. Both were managed by her uncle, the younger brother of her father when their parents died in a tragic accident a few years back. Jack Morales, who was newlywed back then, refused to manage the hospital at first, but his brother told him to do so, because he had no plan of returning to the city but he wanted to live on the island with her daughter. As a result, his father and his uncle communicated a lot whenever the latter needed some important decision regarding the hospital, as well as the school that their family owned. It was suggested before that whenever Katerina decided to study in college, she would stay with her uncle and live at his mansion. Although, her uncle has been married for a long time, he never had a child, the reason why he adored his niece so much - treating her as his own daughter.

Since the doctor could not force his only child to continue her studies, he lets her read some of his medical books that he brought with him to the island as well as those being sent to him by his brother. Slowly, the young woman had learned much about her father's work and she also had been a big help to the doctor. But sometimes, her father still encourages her to study because he wanted her to be also a successful person on her own.

At nineteen, more and more men who had come to visit the island have been attracted to her beauty. Her bestfriend, Linda, always told her that she should marry someone that would take her away from the island live comfortable somewhere else. "Life here is boring, my dear friend! Just look at you! A pretty face like you must be entertaining men who grew up in the city and not those who were farming the lands or fishing the seas! Not that I have something against those men but you deserved someone better, you know!"

Katerina only laughed at her friend's suggestion. The only thing she knows is that her father is the most important person in her life and to be with him makes her very happy. Day and night she only had one prayer - to be with her father as long as she could. Even the life in the city does not excite her. A simple life with her only parent is the one thing that she wants until the day she met the stranger. The world seemed to change when she first saw him. Her heart beats faster for the first time. She got excited to see him waking up. When he was still lying on the bed, she had observed him from head to foot, noticing how tall he was, how perfect his skin was, and his nose was perfect too! She could not see what the young man was lacking. For her, he is the perfect man that any woman could want.

When the young man woke up that night and flirted with her using his pretty eyes, she felt very nervous but she tried to hide it. She does not want to look like a cheap woman who could easily be swept on her feet by a handsome man, especially a stranger. The following morning before the sun rises, she got up from her bed and was surprised to see the young man in the kitchen, holding a glass of water and drinking. The left side of his waist was wrapped with bandages and he could hardly move but over all he looked fine. The doctor gave him medicine for his wounds aside from the painkiller that he took after dinner.

"Good morning, Kate! Are you going somewhere?" he asked the young woman.

"Good morning too, Alex! Well, I'm going to the beach to see the sun rising then afterwards, I will come back again to cook breakfast for all of us...."

"Can I come with you, Kate, if you don't mind? Walking at the beach is fine with an injured man like me, I think..." the young man winked at her, and waited for her answer.

Katerina smiled at him and said yes. The two people did not wake up the doctor and hurried on their way to the beach. They have come on the right time, just as the sun was starting to rise from its sleep and showing up to people its magnificent rays that touched everyone on the ground, "It's so beautiful, Alex! The sun had already took its place on the skies and now its bright all over the island! Don't you know that I love living on this island because of the beautiful scenery around here?" she muses. The young woman was still in awe of her surroundings, that she did not notice that the stranger was already behind her back and hugging her.

"You are more beautiful than the sun and all the sceneries that you see...Kate! I don't care about anything else but you..." the young man whispered to her ears. Katerina felt his arms around her waist but she had no power to take them away. She wanted him - her heart is telling her. Alex pressed her hands then turned around to face the young woman. The rays of the sun touched both of their faces as they looked at each other. The young man gazed at her big dark brown eyes and kissed her forehead. He was about to kiss her on the lips when he heard a familiar voice calling him and Katerina.

"Alex! Kate! Alex! Kate!" yelled the doctor who was looking for the young people.

Katerina immediately freed herself from the young man's embrace and answered her father's call. She waved at the figure of her father who was coming towards them. The doctor was panting while she approached his daughter. Katerina kissed her father on the cheeks and greeted him warmly. Alex, on the other hand, bowed his head to the perplexed doctor. "Why are you both here? I got nervous when I did not see any of you!" the doctor said, his eyes were darted on the young man who was fidgeting while he scratches his head.

"Father, I went to see the sun rises and Alex told that he wanted to come...so here we are! Adoring the first rays of the sun that brighten up the days of the people on the island!" his daughter smiled at him. Something was strange, though, he had never seen his only daughter this happy and he had a bad feeling regarding this. He looked at the young man, but the latter only bowed his head and did not open his mouth.

"If that is the case, dear, let us all go home. I'm starving and I want to eat breakfast. Alex, what do you think of the scenery here, do you like it? Some people regard this place as a paradise, do you have the same opinion?" the doctor faced the young man as he talked to him. Alex lifted his head and replied, "Yes, doctor! This is a paradise and I'm glad I have found a place like this! Let us all go home now...I'm starving too!"

The three people agreed to walk home together. While they wander on their way home, they met some fishermen who just came from fishing the whole night. One of them was Luis, who greeted them and asked about the condition of the stranger. The doctor introduced him to the young man who had shown gratitude towards the fisherman who had saved him from dying. "Thank you sir for your help. If not for your kindness, I could have been dead by now!" he grasped his hands and shook them. The fisherman gladly accepted his thanks and told him sincerely, "Sir, I'm glad that you are getting better. It is my duty as a human being to save those people who are in need, no matter who they are!" Luis then smiled at him and also to the doctor and his daughter before leaving them because he had to go the supermarket to sell the fishes that he caught. But just a few more steps before they reached the house, Luis called the doctor and gave him three pieces of fish that the doctor joyfully accepted. He always share some of his haul to the doctor every time he had some. On the other hand, whenever he gets sick, the doctor gives him free consultation and medicine.

After placing the fish on the bowl, Katerina started to prepare the breakfast. Alex was watching her, making her nervous. Whenever their eyes meet, the world seemed to stop - feeling the connection between them and how they wanted to be alone together without anyone restricting them on what they wanted to do. The young man came closer to her, pressed her hand and whispered to her ears, "I want you to be mine..."

When Katerina turned around, he saw the young man's smile and his pretty gray-green eyes. He wanted to embrace her again just like what he did at the beach, but he remembered that they are not alone - the doctor is still inside the house, waiting at the living room for his daughter to call him for breakfast. Alex let go of Katerina's hand then sat on the chair, still gazing at her. He could not take his eyes off her while the one he was looking at could not help but get anxious. Her heart is pounding hard and she could not stop it.

After the breakfast, the doctor left them but he reminded his daughter to come to the clinic once she finished her household chores. His daughter said the she will come as long as she was done. When Katerina went to the kitchen, she saw Alex waiting for her. The young man hurriedly wrapped her arms around her and kissed her on the cheeks but the young woman pushed him away gently. "Don't you like me? If not, then I'll stay away from you! I won't even talk to you..." Alex muttered at Katerina who is not even looking at him. Tired for her answer, he left her alone and went quietly to the bedroom and lay down.

Katerina on the other hand, continue to wash dishes and then the kitchen. After cleaning the other parts of the house, she went to Alex's room and told him that she would go to the clinic to help her father with attending to the patients. The young man did not reply, instead, he frowned at her and then knitted his brows. He felt that he was rejected for the very first time by a woman who lives on an island with his eccentric father. He - Ivan Alexis Kraishek Jr., a handsome son of a billionaire, an engineer and a CEO! His pride was hurt and he was humiliated. When the young woman left, he decided not to pursue her anymore, instead, he wanted to call his father so he could get out of the place immediately.