Dosage of Serotonin

Chapter 26

I was about to send another message, but something stopped me.

Naka-block na ako.

"Doc, nandito po si Ms. Aragon," ani Kaycee.

Hindi ako agad nakabawi. Gusto kong matahimik ang lahat para makapag-isip ako. My boyfriend just blocked me... at parang wala akong karapatang masaktan ngayon dahil may trabaho pa ako.

Kahit naninikip ang dibdib ay umayos ako ng upo nang makitang papasok na si Ms. Aragon. She was in her late twenties, and I had been looking after her for a few weeks now. Wala kaming schedule ngayon kaya nagtataka ako kung bakit siya nandito.

I diagnosed her with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and prescribed antidepressants for her.

I observed her. She was dressed in a shirt with bright patterns, and her hair was all messed up. She was restless and looked as if she hadn't bathed in days.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Aragon." I smiled. "What brings you here?"

Tumitig muna siya sa akin bago tumawa. "Ano'ng pangalan mo, Doc?"

I pursed my lips. I thought she knew that.

"You can call me Dr. Desa–"

"No!" she cut me off. "'Yong totoo mong pangalan!"

I nodded. "Yeah. It's Dr. Desame–"

Kumunot ang noo niya. "Wala naman sigurong doctor sa pangalan mo no'ng pinanganak ka, 'di ba?"

My lips parted. "Well, I'm working, so–"

Pinutol niya ako ulit. "Do you know that time is gold? Like it cannot be retrieved!" tawa niya. "Once it's spent, hindi na maibabalik."

"Yeah." Tumango ako. "May I know why–"

Napatigil ako nang bigla siyang tumingin sa paligid.

"May pagkain ba kayo rito, Doc? Gusto ko ng chicken." She raised her hand and called Kaycee. "Waiter, please bring me a plate of roasted chicken!"

Kumuha siya ng isang libro sa ibabaw ng table ko. Napatingin ako kay Kaycee at pasimpleng itinanong kung nasaan ang kasama ng babae, pero umiling lang siya.

"Do you know this thing?" untag sa akin ni Ms. Aragon. She showed me a picture of a brain.

I nodded. "Yeah, that's the brain."

"Hindi!" Muli siyang tumawa. "This is a large bunch of chicken intestines!"

Muli akong tumango. "I guess so... so can you tell me why you're here?"

"Dahil dito ako nagtatrabaho!"

I gasped inwardly. "I thought you were a gym instructor?"

She smiled. "Yeah. That, too!"

She began babbling about odd topics while peering down on the book she was holding. Ni hindi ako makasingit sa pagsasalita niya. Tumango-tango ako mga kwento niya kahit na wala akong maintindihan. She also muttered that God had sent her to punish wicked people. Sinusubukan kong maging maingat sa mga sasabihin ko dahil ayaw kong may masabing mag-ti-trigger sa kanya. I was narrowing down her answers, but she kept on interrupting me.

"Can you shut up?" she said. "I want to talk about the solar system!"

I breathed. "Uhm... okay, how about we talk about it later?"

"Okay lang ako!" sigaw niya. "You have no right to tell me that! I'm the doctor here!"

Umiling ako. "No, Ms. Aragon. I'm your doctor."