Chapter One
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Tatlong araw na ang lumipas simula nang makabalik ako sa bansa, at dalawang araw na rin simula nang magsimula akong magtrabaho sa ospital. Hindi na ako nagreklamo nang malaman ko'ng lilipat rin ako sa susunod na lingo sa isang apartment malapit lang rito. I'd have to use public transportation while waiting for my driver's licence to be transferred para magamit ko ito. Lola offered her service to drive me for the meantime but I politely refused. Ayoko nang makaabala pa. Besides, I can handle myself.
"Doc, oras na po para sa inyong daily rounds." napatingin ako kay Ruea at binigyan ito ng ngiti. She's my assigned nurse here. Tumango ako at nagsimula ng maglakad pagkatapos niya'ng maiabot sa 'kin ang chart ng pasyente.
Rinig ko ang iyak ng isang batang lalaki pagpasok ko sa isang pribadong kwarto ng ospital. "Ako na po ang magsasara ng pinto," pabulong na saad ni Ruea.
"Mommy, I want to go home now." A cute little boy cried as he pleaded with his Mom. His right arm wrapped in a white cast full of doodles and messages, probably from people who deeply cared for him. "Ayoko na po dito!"
"Good evening Doc," his Mom greeted as soon as she saw me.
I smiled. "Kumusta po siya?"
Si Kaiden ang pinaka-una ko'ng naging pasyente dito sa ospital. On leave ang doktor na dapat magmo-monitor sa kanya kaya ako na muna ang ipinalit habang wala siya. Kai broke his arm while playing basketball with his friends.
"Okay naman po," sagot ng kanyang Ina. "Iyakin nga lang." Natatawang dag-dag nito. I walked toward the little boy and bent down to meet his eyes. Bakas sa mga mata nito ang takot.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtMUwrtUic
"Don't worry," Paninimula ko, Ruea standing behind me. "No injections, promise." I added with a genuine smile on my face.
I'm glad to be working with kids. Somehow, they lift the heaviness I carry.
"Pinky promise?" he asked innocently, extending out his left hand.
"Pinky promise." I answered as I intertwined my pinky with his.
"Kaiden is recovering well." I said after doing minor examinations. Ruea and I stepped out of the room after thoroughly explaining the child's situation to his Mom. May dalawang pasyente pa kaming kailangan i-check bago ang lunch break.
As soon as I opened the door, chaos filled the hallway. Nurses running along with monitors and a hospital bed, some of the other Doctors are following behind.
"Was there an emergency announcement?" I asked, letting them pass before making my way to my next patient.
"May aksidente raw po na nangyari malapit lang dito." Sagot ni Ruea.
"Why wasn't I alerted?"
"Hindi po kasali sa announcement ang mga Doctor na busy sa pa sa pasyente."
Nonsense.
"Let's finish the rounds so we can help the others." I irritatedly said, walking faster as I put my hair up in a bun. Hindi ko alam kung ilan ang biktima ng aksidente pero kung ibabase ko ang nakita ko kanina — ang mga natataranta at nag-aalalang mukha ng mga katrabaho ko — mukang matindi at malala ang aksidenteng nangyari.
The alarms triggered something sharp inside my chest, that familiar urge to rush in and save whoever was fighting for their life. As much as I want to help right now as the emergency seemed really urgent, I can't just neglect my other patients.
Paliko ako sa hallway ng may mabangga akong isang matangkad na lalaki. His white polo covered with blood, his arms full of scratches. May mga maliliit na butas ang kanyang pantalon, halatang gasgas mula sa aksidente. Ika-ika rin siyang maglakad.
"I'm sorry," sabi ko bago siya alalayan. I turned my gaze back to Ruea. "Please assist him, ako nalang bahala sa rounds." saad ko.
She immediately stepped in and took him from my grasp.
Tumulong ako agad-agad matapos ko gawin ang aking rounds. Based on some Nurses, may banggaan daw na nangyari sa edsa. Explains why a lot of patients were rushed here dahilan ng ito ang ospital na pinakamalapit sa area.
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Today was already exhausting pero hindi pa tapos ang araw. It's only been a few hours since lunch break and I didn't even get the chance to touch the food Lola had prepared for me since I was busy doing work. Ngayon namang kalmado na ang paligid, tyan ko ang hindi.
"Doc, go take a break." Dr. Reyes muttered.
I smiled softly. "May mga pasyente pa ako Doc."
He chuckled. "Hindi ka nag-break during lunch hours, ako na muna bahala magsabi sa kanila na busy ka sa ngayon. Kahit twenty minutes lang."
I nodded in response and smiled before walking away. Just when I turned my back at him, I caught a glimpse of someone familiar. Kakaliko lang nito sa hallway kaya hindi ko na siya naabutan. I shrugged off the feeling, oras na para kumain.
Gardens always lift my mood. Sa isang hardin, makikita mo ang iba't ibang klase ng ganda. Just like in our world, I like to think that everyone is their own kind of flower—blooming in their own time. Malalanta man ang mga bulaklak pero hindi ibig sabihin na wala ng saysay ang saya at panahon na naibigay nila sa 'tin.
For the past two days, I've always eaten my food here at the hospital garden. May isang maliit na gazebo sa corner at dito ako palaging namamaligi, lalo kung kailangan ko'ng magpahangin. This gazebo became a safe place for me, somehow. I can observe people around me, maybe even more than that.
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"How's PH so far?" Tanong ni Kuya sa kabilang linya. It's been two weeks since I came back and so far, life has been neutral.
"Well for starters, I already moved out of Lola's house." Sagot ko habang nag-aayos ng gamit. I just moved into the apartment Papa bought for me last week but I haven't had the time to properly fix my things and make the space home-y.
"Yaman mo naman." I rolled my eyes at him kahit alam ko'ng hindi niya kita.
"Eh kung bumisita ka kaya dito para tulungan ako mag-ayos? Make yourself useful."
"Kaya mo na 'yan, malaki kana."
"How's Dad and Mama?"
"Okay naman sila," he chuckled. "They said we're having a sister." He said in a serious tone.
I paused. "WHAT?"
Renege ko ang malakas na tawa niya. "I was just kidding, you're already a handful. I don't think kakayanin ko kung may isa pang kagaya mo."
"Sama mo!"
We ended the call a few minutes after and I'm glad Kuya called. I looked around the place, makalat at magulo parin hanggang ngayon pero wala parin ako'ng sapat na oras para mag-ayos.
Napabuntong hininga nalang ako ng malalim at lumabas sa veranda upang magpahangin. Alas-diyes na ng gabi at gising na gising parin ang syudad. As if the city never sleeps — vehicles angrily honking because of the traffic, street lights flickering, chaotic as always.
Papasok na sana ako sa kwarto ng may masilayan ako'ng pamilyar na tao habang pababa ito ng sasakyan. A tall silhouette of a man stepped inside the building, hindi siya naman gaano kahirap makita dahil nasa ikatlong palapag ako nananatili.
I might be imagining things dahil sa pagod.
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"Doc, a new patient arrived today," bungad sa 'kin ni Ruea ng makita niya ako. "He's waiting for you po." dag-dag niya.
"Great, do you have his chart?"
"Kakarating lang po niya this morning kaya wala pa po'ng laman ang chart niya."
Ruea and I headed to the designated room where the new patient is confined. He was rushed to the hospital due to passing out. Based on his hospital records, he has a history of a weak heart.
I was busy scanning the patients' record that I didn't even notice we'd arrived. Tsaka ko lang rin napagtanto na pamilyar ang impormasiyon na nakalagay sa document na hawak ko. And when I met my patient, our eyes locked.
A man, helplessly laying on a hospital bed, has hazel brown eyes just like someone I know. I scanned his face unconsciously, thick and slightly arched brows, tall and pointed nose, pink and plum lips, medium wavy, thick hair. His now messy bangs covered his forehead. And lastly, a mole on his cheek bone, just under his left eye.
My body went cold, my hands gripping the chart tighter than usual.
I could tell that he was surprised like I was.
Umiwas ako ng tingin. "I'll b-be your Doctor." My breath became heavy.
"Doc, okay ka lang?" mabilis ako'ng napatingin kay Ruea matapos niya ako'ng tawagan.
I nodded and smiled.
The man right in front of me is the man I never expected to see.
A man whom I know well enough to be just a stranger.
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Patient Medical Record
Name: Theorin Cael Vergara84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYq5zuLTal
Birth Date: 09-20-1996
Chief Complaint: Multiple episodes of fainting
Medical History: Congenital heart condition
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