Villanueva Series #2: Love's Fatal Twist

CHAPTER 23

"What does the gallbladder do?" She asked. Napangiti naman ako sa tanong niya.

"The gallbladder is a small organ located behind the liver that stores digestive fluids," I explained. "When it becomes inflamed and infected with stones, it can cause severe abdominal pain and nausea. The laparoscopic technique allows for a smaller, less invasive incision, which leads to a shorter recovery time."

"That sounds serious," She said, with a concerned expression on her face.

"It is, but fortunately we caught it in time. With proper treatment." I responded, reassuring her once again.

"Thanks for taking care of me, doc." She said with a smile.

Nang makalabas ako ay sinalubong agad ako ni Mae. As usual may tsismiss itong babaitang to.

"Hoy dzai, one week nalang birthday muna ah? shot naman tayo"

"Uuwi na kasi ako."

"What? omy god, bakit girl? ikaw ang pinaka magaling na doctor dito sa Estados Unidos tapos iiwan mo 'yung carrier mo?" Saad nito may pa acting effect pa.

"Uuwi na ako nang apartment" Sabi ko nang tumatawa.

"Akala ko naman, pero seryoso. Kailan ka uuwi? Hindi ko tina-tanong to kasi gusto na kitang umalis, curious lang ako!?"

"Maybe..Next year?"

"Oy ikaw ah, may iniiwasan ka siguro o baka may five-six kang utang gaga ka" Sambit nito sabay hampas sa balikat ko. Wala kasi akong pinag sasabihin mistulang si Mae hindi alam na galing ako sa mayamang pamilya. Ayoko ko kasi na iba ang i-trato niya sakin, lalo na't OFW si Mae, hindi ko alam pero tingin ko ako lang ang nag i-isip non.

Ilang oras pa ako nag tagal at nag trabaho sa ospital. Pero masaya at the same time nakaka-miss, lalo na't iiwan ko rin sa kung ano ang meron ako ngayon may responsibility ako na kailangan tanggapin at kailangang ayusin.

After a long day at work, I finally got home. It was getting late and I was exhausted from the long hours and the intense surgery I had performed.

When I walked into my apartment, I noticed it was dark and silent. A strange feeling of unease came over me, but I tried to shake it off and tell myself I was just being overly cautious.

"Mukang tulog na si Gana. Kaya hindi ko na ito ginising, hindi na rin ako kumain, para sana makapag pahinga. Nag overtime pa naman ako, imbes na fifteen hours lang ang shift ko. Pero okay lang naman

The next months, it was Saturday. I had worked all week plus the 15-hour shift I had pulled the previous day, so I was ready for a much deserved break.

I slept in a little bit and then made myself a big breakfast. I was just sitting down to enjoy my meal when my phone started to vibrate with a notification.

Ajreya:
Uwi kana bebi koooo, gagóng Yael na ‘yon, sino siya sa akala niya. Bakit kailangan niya i-pamuka sakin, I'm tired talaga

Nanlumo ang mga mata ko sa mesage ni Jia, lasing ba 'to? ang lala, actually gusto ko rin na makauwi na para naman masapok ko na 'yung lalaking ginagagó siya. Gusto ko siyang puntahan pero malayo ako

Hindi ko nalang pinansin ang message niya at mas piniling mag pahinga. Kung i-memesage ko si Jia, i-ingay lalo siya

I closed my phone and set it aside, taking a few deep breaths to calm myself down. I didn't want to get too excited or ahead of myself, but it was hard to resist the excitement of receiving a message from Calistaazalea.

I tried to focus on enjoying my breakfast, but it wasn't easy with me, lalo na at nag a-alala ako kay Jia.

In the next few months, it would be a year since I had moved to the U.S. I hadn't celebrated my birthday here, as I had been traumatized by what had happened to me noong araw nang kaawaran ko dati.

I couldn't bring myself to celebrate something so personal after all I had been through. Instead, I focused on working hard and building a new life for myself. My life might have been painful at times, but it was still better than where I had come from.

The days turned into weeks, and the weeks turned into months. A year's had passed, almost without me realizing it. I had come a long way since my life back home, but I still couldn't shake the feeling of loneliness.

Nagtayo ako ng sarili kong buhay dito sa Estados Unidos, ngunit may bahagi pa rin sa akin na pakiramdam na hindi buo. Malayo na ang aking narating, at marami na akong naabot sa aking sarili, ngunit may kulang pa rin.

Matiyaga akong nagtrabaho, ngunit hindi ko pinahintulutan ang sarili kong maglaan ng oras upang maunawaan ang mga trauma na aking naranasan at tunay na gumaling. Sa halip, ibinabaon ko ang sarili ko sa trabaho at binaliwala ang lahat nang hindi namamalayan na tatlong taon na.

I also had decided to resign from my job at the hospital as dra. Harrison. It had been a challenging decision for me. I had been working at the hospital for 2 years and half months.

And now I need to start my journey to becoming an... Attorney. Calista Azalea Harrison.