Hospital Series 1: Paraluman

Prologue

A/N: ^ Photo representing the anatomy of a clerk/junior intern/4th year medical student. 

(c) Artwork by Maartist.MD 

Hi! Before you start reading, gusto ko muna magpasalamat. Thank you for being here. Ito ang unang beses na magsusulat ako ng series in a Philippine medical setting. Naalala ko kasi before med school, I'm really curious about the field pero mostly foreign ang setting ng mga available stuff. So, my goal is to write this as accurate as possible (technical wise) but still relatable. The story line and characters remains fictional, though — a product of my imagination.

So here it is, the first novel of the Hospital Series: Paraluman. Please vote and comment! I'm new to all of these so your comments will really help me improve. Plus, nakagagana magsulat kapag may comments lol. Kidding aside, I hope y'all enjoy this! Xoxo.

Edit: The setting is not based on my institution's set-up. 

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Prologue (1 year ago)

"Kuya Marcus!"

"Trish?"

I immediately hugged him, thankful na may nakitang kakilala dito sa university hospital namin. Ahead sa akin ng isang taon si Kuya Marcus at clerk na ngayon. I looked at him at medyo naawa. He looked tired. May bitbit siyang patient chart, stethoscope sa leeg, penlight at mukhang neurohammer sa chest pocket. May black belt bag siya sa bewang at may nakalawit pang pulse oximeter sa bulsa.

"Di kita nakita kanina ah, ang saya nila Lexine eh." He smiled at me. "Ikaw, kamusta grade mo?"

Medyo lumayo ako ng konti. I'm all sweaty dahil tumakbo ako papunta dito. Sale kasi sa Nature Republic kaya sumaglit ako sa Robinson's since mahaba ang break namin today. I'm not informed na ngayon ipapakita yung first shifting grade namin for Opthalmology Class, edi sana after class na lang ako bumili ng moisturizer!

Lumipat ang tingin niya sa hawak kong paper bag at ngumisi. "Ah—let me guess, hindi mo nakita grade mo?" I shook my head. "Yari ka. Kanina pa sila tapos, umalis na si Doc Hidalgo."

"Wala kasing pasabi eh, sana kasi nag-aannounce sila diba?" I pouted. Tumawa si Kuya Marcus at umiling. Right, hindi na ako nasanay. "Na kay Dr. De Silva na raw yung file eh, try ko raw pakiusapan kung pwede ko pa makita. Kilala mo ba yun?"

"Ha? Dr. De Silva?!" he exclaimed. I frowned and looked at my phone to verify. Tama naman. "Ay ah! Sino ba, si Daddy De Silva or Baby De Silva?"

I just looked at him with knitted brows. May ganun? Hindi ko alam kasi hindi ako familiar sa resident doctors. 'Di pa kasi kami naghahospital work for Ophtha, next year pa. I looked at my phone.

"Uhm, yung Antonius De Silva I, kuya?" Nag-aalangan akong ngumiti. 

His lips formed an 'O', finally understanding. He lazily pointed at the department's entrance behind him. "Aah, nasa loob. Nasa conference room kanina nakita ko. Yung may glass door, right side."

Tumango ako at pumasok na sa loob. Madaling makita yung tinutukoy ni kuya Marcus. Nag-iisa lang naman ang may glass door doon. Isang malaking kwarto yun na may dalawang pinto at mahabang glass window sa pagitan. Frosted ang buong window nito habang kalahati lang naman ang sa pinto.