How Do We Live?

Chapter 7: Passive Transport

Nakakastress lang ang mga core units ko sa bio. Feeling ko ang goal nila ay i-drain lagi ang utak ko. I feel like college will be hard pero second year ko pa lamang pero eto na agad ako at nahihirapan. Buti na lang andyan si Arya para saluhin lahat ng mga bagay na nahihirapan akong gawin.

I'm never great at things that I do. I can do it but not to the extent of being excellent. Minsan ay naiingit ako kayna Arya and Annica.

Arya is the mother of science, lahat ng related doon ay alam niya. She's very quiet at most times pero nagsasabi naman iyon at nakakausap namin. She's a chemistry major pero lahat yata ng braches ng science ay kabisado niya. She's the one responsible for my aces in biochem and she's good at drawing too. She's also beautiful. Napaka-favorite ni Lord.

Annica? She's a mad woman when it comes to math now. I couldn't even comprehend how she chose her course, BS Mathematics. Hindi ko alam paano niya kinakaya lahat ng equations na meron doon. All of those combined numbers and letters. Thankful na lamang ako na andyan siya para tulugan ako with every math related things that I have to deal... physics lang yata ang hindi niya gusto but others? She got it and knows it like the back of her hand.

Ako? Mabait ako.

That's the only thing that I know with me. I'm good because I don't want people to get hurt because of me.

And I think that's my best traits. My mediocrity is something that I have accepted a long time ago. I still strive and put extra efforts on the things that I do in order to be in lined with the people that I'm with.

You just have to do more, in order to be better over time.

Kasi if I don't I'll be left behind and I don't want that.

Napabaling ako sa phone kong nasa dashboard ng tumunog iyon. I saw Arya as the caller kaya naman agad ko iyong sinagot at inilagay sa loud speaker iyon.

I'm almost near home. Gusto ko na ring naman matulog.

"Hello, Arya? Why?"

"Girl, hiram ako ng camera mo. Kung okay lang naman? I need it sa isang special project ko, e."

"Sure sure. Abot ko the next morning? Maaga, a. Hanapin ko pa later" I said and laugh. I can almost see her purse her lips dahil hindi naman siya early person. Madalas siyang late lagi.

"Thank you! The best ka talaga!" She said and bid her good byes after. Hindi ko na 'rin natanong kung para saan niya gagamitin. Siguro bukas na lang.

Paliko na ako ng Vito Cruz, I can almost see my campus kaya naman napailing na lamang ako.

I remember that I almost screw up my entrance exams. Bumagsak ako sa iba't-ibang state university and this one is the only campus na halos sumabit lamang ang scores ko para makapasa sa quota ng course ko ngayon.

I drive silently and all eyes on the road, bigla ko na lamang natapakan ang preno ng makita ko iyong lalaki sa harapan. The cars in both of the intersections stop pero halos manlamig na lamang ako ng isang lalaki ang tumilapon matapos siyang mabangga. I can hear myself scream because of the sight. Napatigil ako sa pagmamaneho at halos sumubsob sa steering wheel ko as I watch some stand by who just took out their phone to shot pictures and videos!

Oh my god! This people and their stupid inclination to social media!

Bloods rush in me when I saw the man lying on the cold ground. Para akong ibinato pabalik sa panahong nasa tabi ko si Dom... walang malay at puro dugo.

I immediately grab my wallet at dali-daling bumababa sa sasakyan ko.

I run back to the compartment of my car at kinuha ang first aid kit ko doon. Hindi na ako nag-sayang pa ng oras at agad tinakbo ang distasya sa komosyon sa harap.

People are beginning to panic habang ako ay parang aatakihin sa puso dahil sa kaba. They are just in hysteria pero hindi naman nila tinutulungan iyong lalaki.

I try to run through them kahit pa pinapalibutan na nila iyong lalaki. I look at them and I can feel my eyes rolling because of how ironic this people are here. Ni wala akong narinig na tumawag ng ambulansya.

"Excuse me! Excuse me!" I shouted as I try to penetrated the circle of people na nakikitingin lang naman.

When I finally saw the whole event on in front of me ay parang nabuhay ang takot sa akin. I took a training on this. I know this. Focus, Monique!

The driver of the car seems hysterical as he multiple cussed in front of us. Napailing na lamang ako as I grab my wallet from my pocket and retrieve there my certification ID as a first aider.

"I'm a certified first aid provider. I would like to help the patient." Nakita ko ang alinlangan sa mukha noong nakabangga pero hindi ko na siya pinansin pa.

I can smell the hemoglobin and iron from his blood. He's covered with it from his face. He's still conscious in the subtlest way his eyes are still trying to see through its vison.

I lower my first aid near us. Ang dugo niya ay kumalat na sa sahig at sa iba pang parte ng kanyang katawan. His white dress shirt is now covered with blood. I immediately put my disposable surgical gloves on both hands at huminga ng malalim bago tumingin sa kanya.

"Hey, I'm Monqiue Roque. I'm a trained CPR and first aid provider can I help?" I ask because it is a golden rule to ask the victim's consent lalo pa't if something happens to them it is our direct responsibility.