Rain of Nightmares (Medical Series #2)

01

He's LJ. My best friend since high school. He was ahead of me for 2 years and that made him my senior here since he's already a 4th year resident.

"Steph." He called my nickname this time to get my attention.

"Sorry." 'Yun nalang ang nasabi ko at diretsong pumunta sa restroom.

Hinilamos ko ang napakalamig na tubig galing sa gripo matapos ay napatitig sa repleksyon sa salamin.

Pinatay ko ang gripo at tahimik na napatukod ang magkabilaang palad sa dulo ng countertop.

"Fix yourself up, Stephanie." Gising ko sa sarili.

Pinunasan ko muna ang mukha ko bago lumabas ng banyo. Nakailang practice pa ako sa salamin kung paano ulit ako ngingiti na parang walang nangyari.

"Depota." Palihim akong napamura nang bumungad sa harap ko si LJ pagkalabas sa pinto.

Ilang dangkal lang ang layo niya sa akin kaya hindi ko maiwasang ma awkward lalo na't nakakailang talaga ang aura niya.

"H-Hi?" Dahan-dahan kong itinaas ang kanang kamay pero kaagad ding binaba dahil sa hiya.

We're bestfriends, not until that incident happened. Hindi niya naman sinabi na ayaw niya na akong maging kaibigan pero nararamdaman ko ang sakit na kinikimkim niya.

That keeps on hitting my conscience.

"Are you okay?" His voice sounds worried along with his brown eyes.

Bakit ba maraming nagtatanong ngayon kung okay lang ako? As if I would say that I'm not will start ranting at them.

"Yes." I smiled. The atmosphere seems a less awkward now.

He checked his black g-shock watch for a moment before returning his gaze to me, now smiling. "You want to go with me?"

Pumayag ako dahil wala naman nang ginagawa ang mga residents. I am also sure na hindi naman ako hahanapin ni Dr. Celis dahip bad mood siya sa akin.

Ako rin naman bad mood sa kaniya. Kung hindi ko nga lang siya professor, baka matagal ko na siyang tinurukan ng potassium cyanide.

Dumaan muna kami sa isang flower shop para bumili ng chinese peony bouquet. Pagkatapos ay dumiretso na kami sa Forest Lake Memorial Park.

Hindi kami nag commute dahil may black sedan naman si LJ. Liscenced din naman 'to kaya hindi na ako nag abala pa.

23 minutes lang naman sana ang biyahe papunta sa destinasyon namin pero dahil naabutan kami ng traffic, medyo natagalan pa. Kinalikot ko nalang tuloy ang cellphone ko dahil sa inip.

Paulan na naman kasi at kapag umuulan, my fucking mood automatically changes. It sometimes makes me want to kill myself or curse the rain itself.

"Connect mo 'yan." May kinalikot siyang kung ano sa may radio ng sasakyan saka tiningnan ang cellphone ko.

"Di mo trip mga music ko." Mahina akong tunawa. Nakalimutan niya yatang si CJ ang ka music taste niya at hindi ko.

"I still like it. Kesa naman wala?" He jokingly rolled his eyes kaya mas natawa ako.

Ikinonnect ko nalang ang phone ko para magpatugtog ng kpop songs. Madalas 'yong melo lang para 'di naman masakit sa tenga.

Napabuntong hinga ako nang makababa. I've been visiting him often, madalas kapag may problema ako o hindi ko gustong pumasok sa hospital.

But my feeling's still the same. Pain, guilt, regret, and hatred towards my self. I don't know how to end these shits anymore.

Pumasok kami sa loob kung nasaan 'yong mga naka cremate na bangkay. The room's filled with silence--and heartache.

"Laurie." LJ called the girl who's standing in front of CJ's urn.

I immediately looked away when her glaring eyes meets mine. She really can't stand seeing me anymore.

"Oh, you're here?" She scoffed. "How dare you come here?"

"Laurie, stop that." Her brother gave her a warning.

"Why?" I can't help but to look at her when she stole the bouquet away from my hands.

"You're still wearing that?" She sarcastically gasped, looking at my doctor's coat.

Napailing nalang ako at sandaling napapikit. Putragis, nakalimutan ko na namang hubarin 'to.

"I don't have the energy to fight." Matamlay ko siyang tiningnan, halatang napapagod na.

The rain starts to shout louder, may kasama pang kulog. Fuck, December. How can you torture me like this?

"You're acting like a kid, again." LJ sounds mad now, looking at her sister who's shooting her sharp eyes at me.

"She doesn't deserve that." Her eyes roamed my body from head to toe.

My body was frozen when a thunder starts to roar again and Laurie, seemed to be enjoying it. She starts to blame me for everything and I couldn't stop her from doing that.

I deserve everything except for..

"You don't deserve to wear a doctor's gown again."

Being a doctor.

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