Hues of an Abstract Mind (Arte del Amor #4)

Chapter 5

His 'please' was totally not worth this! Hindi ko alam bakit ako nagpadala doon sa simpleng salita na 'yon. It wouldn't magically remove my dislike for hospitals!

"Ambrose, can't I just go home?" tanong ko.

Hindi ako komportableng nakaupo sa harap ng nurse, kinukuhanan niya ako ng blood pressure at nagtatanong ng kung anu-ano tungkol sa health history ko.

Hindi ko na nasagot nang maayos ang mga iyon at ang dami kong hindi nasabi dahil mas nangingibabaw ang kagustuhan kong makalabas dito.

"You can go home after we tend to you," sagot ng nurse dahil hindi ako pinansin ni Ambrose. Nakatayo lang siya sa gilid ko.

Pinapunta ako ng nurse sa isa sa mga kwarto doon at pagpasok ko, opisina pala iyon ng doctor nila rito. I gave him the piece of paper that the nurse gave me a while ago.

"Ilang araw na 'to, hija?"

"This is just the second day."

Tumayo siya at tinapatan ng stethoscope ang dibdib at likod ko. Ang lalamunan ko na iniinda ko rin ay tiningnan niya.

I must say, I do not like that popsicle stick thingy that they use against my tongue to check my mouth. Doesn't taste good nor feel good. Just yikes.

"It's the flu. If it doesn't go away within the next few days, you can come back to me or go to your doctor. Have yourself checked."

"Okay,"

"For now, you can occupy one of the beds and rest. Ask them to call for your guardian so you may go home. On your record, it says that you aren't a student in here, so I guess we need no permission from a teacher."

As soon as I opened the door on my way outside, I almost jumped when Ambrose was right there in front of me.

"What did the doctor say?"

Nilagpasan ko siya para hindi niya mahalata na may mali sa sasabihin ko, "He says I'll be fine and I can go home."

Wala naman siyang sinabi, narinig ko lang ang pagsunod ng mga yapak niya sa likuran ko.

Nang akala ko'y makalalabas na ako, hinarangan ako ng nurse. "Hindi ka pa pwedeng lumabas, hintayin natin ang sundo mo, ha? Sa ngayon, doon ka muna sa ward."

I groaned in protest but what else can a sick girl do? Run?

Before I could even go in, I felt scared.

Being in places like this, even though I often find myself being in them more often than not, still spooks me to a level I cannot explain.

"I'll go in with you," sabi ni Ambrose. Tumingin siya sa nurse, "Would that be fine, Ma'am?"

"Wala namang ibang pasyente sa ngayon, oh sige."

I heaved a sigh of relief when my back finally felt the comfortable, soft mattress here in the clinic. Nilalamig ako dahil sa aircon kaya binalot ko rin ang sarili ko sa kumot.

Laying down on my side, I watched Ambrose as he took one chair and placed it by my bedside.

"Ambrose," tawag ko ulit sa kaniya. Tumingin siya sa akin.

"I really do not like the smell. Gusto ko na lumabas."

Pinagtaasan ko siya nang kilay nang inilahad niya sa akin ang panyo na galing sa bulsa niya. "I bring one for the sake of knowing I have one."

"Which means?"

"I haven't used it yet."

Tinanggap ko iyon at agad kong naramdaman ang lambot nito. I brought it nearer to my nose, and its gentle, delicate smell immediately reached my senses.