A Taxonomist's Guide to Pag-ibig

13 - Rural Health Unit

It was the day after our meeting with Tatay Carding. Nasa isang rural health unit ako, wrapping up with the last batch of interviewees for the day. Dahil past 7 PM na, Gab and Aggie already went ahead to the house we were staying habang pinauna ko na rin yung barangay health worker na naka-assign sa aming RHU. I told them I'd wait for Bodj, who went with Tatay Carding to gather some more specimens for his identification so that they could be included in our study. Mukhang ginabi sila, pero ayaw ko namang umalis nang di kasama si Bodj. Anyway, Josh and Renz offered to pick us up before dinner. Josh went with Tin and her brothers earlier this afternoon to gather more leaves for his experiments, and then he volunteered to pick up Renz from the nearby barangay, then Bodj and I after. They seemed to get along, Renz and Josh. I just hope Dexter wouldn't get jealous. When I thought about it, natawa ako.

"Heto ang sabon, Johnny," I said to the last Aeta child for the day, na nakakandong sa kanyang nanay sa harapan ko, habang inabot ko ang pinamimigay naming hand soap. "Tandaan, ha? Maghugas ng kamay bago at pagkatapos kumain." I smiled at the child and patted his soft kinky hair. Pagkatapos ay hinarap ko ang nanay. "Misis, hinay-hinay lang po sa mga maaalat, ha? Hypertensive na po kayo. Bibigyan po kayo ng reseta ni Dr. Gian, kaya dumaan po kayo bukas dito sa RHU."

"Sige po, Doc Lisa," sagot ng nanay. "Maraming salamat po!"

Tumayo ang dalawa at nagpaalam na. As soon as they went out the door, I noticed Bodj standing by the entrance, with his old reliable brown Jansport knapsack at his back, staring at me. Nakangiti siya. "Ay, how long have you been waiting? Kanina ka pa ba?" I montioned him to come in.

"Hindi naman, kaaalis lang ng traysikel na naghatid sa akin," sabi niya habang pumasok at umupo sa harapan ko at ibinaba ang knapsack sa sahig. Napansin ko ring may bitbit siyang plastic bag. "They keep calling you Doc Lisa."

"Oo nga. I tried explaining to them na di pa kami duktor, pero hindi sila mapagsabihan. I suppose it's what we do to them that makes them think we're doctors."

He smiled at me, his dimples showing. Gahd, matutunaw na ako. "I think you'll make a great doctor," sabi niya.

"You think so?" I tried to suppress my cheeks from reddening. Sana di mahalata. "Ikaw, what can I do for you? Anything ailing you?"

He opened his mouth and was about to say something, pero natigilan siya. Then parang nagbago ang isip niya. "Actually, I'm more concerned about you. Iika-ika ka buong araw kahapon at ngayon. Sabi mo sumemplang ka sa bisikleta?"

I suddenly remembered that I haven't told him what happened to me last Friday. "Matulin kasi ang aking takbo, tapos napatingin ako sa isang malaking campaign poster ni Duterte sa daan kaya di ko na-anticipate yung hump sa harapan ko. Hayun, tumilapon ako!" I pulled up the left leg of my pants to show the bruises on the side of my calf.

"Hala!" sigaw ni Bodj nang makita niya ang sugat ko. I could have sworn I saw some bit of his eyes as he instinctively went for the shocked look. Inangat niya ang aking binti at ipinatong sa kanyang kanang tuhod. "May mga pantal ka pa!" He then gently caressed my calf, at halos makuryente naman ako sa kanyang ginawa. "Masakit pa ba?"

"Mas okay na ngayon. Nung Sabado, kulay blue yan! May mga galos din ako sa siko." And to prove my point, I raised my left elbow towards him.

He reluctantly let go of my leg as he reached out for my elbow. "Ba't ang tulin mo kasi magpatakbo?"

"It's a long story."

Napabaling si Bodj sa pintuan at dumungaw sa labas. "Mukhang wala pa sina Josh at Renz. I think we have time. Anong nangyari?"

I sighed. "May itinakbo kasi sa aming isang babae. Nasusuka at nahihilo, tapos di makahinga. Sumasakit din ang tiyan. We suspected diabetic ketoacidosis. When we checked her blood glucose level, yun nga, umabot ng lampas 500 milligrams per deciliter. Hyperglycemic na siya. We needed to bring her to the hospital immediately. Kaso, walang signal dito, tapos walang dumaraang traysikel that time. So we decided that Aggie would stay with the patient, tapos ako naman ay magbisikleta sa pinakamalapit na terminal ng traysikel. So there, sa kamamadali ko, ako ang naaksidente."