Hospital Series 1: Paraluman

Chapter 17

"Trisha Mae? Sino 'to?"

Tinaas ko ang kamay ko to get recognized. Nandito kami ngayon sa conference room ng Surgery Department. Nagrotations na kasi, tapos na kami sa Ophthalmology Department after ng exam kahapon at ngayon ay dito naman kami sa Surgery Department. Medyo kabado ako kasi major department 'to at dream department ko pa.

"Nako, iha, I'm expecting so much from you. Medyo biased ako sa mga Trisha Mae," he then laughed wholeheartedly. "The last Trisha Mae we had, nasa Singapore na ngayon. You better keep the tradition going." 

I smiled back at him, medyo nahihiya. Department Head ng Surgery si Doc Apejas and he kind of gives off the 'lolo' vibes. With the gray hair, receding hair line and deep wrinkles, alam mong tumanda na siya sa profession. Even his mustache is gray. 

He looked back at the list of our names sa log book at si Cassie naman ang tinawag. He also joked something about Cassie's name. I watched his genuine laughs with adoration. I already like him.

"My rules here are simple, paulit-ulit na nga eh," siya na nakangising nilahad ang palad kila Doc Marasigan at Doc Peralta na magiging resident and consultant coordinator namin. "Follow their orders, respect them and always study the cases of your patients. Especially sa OR. "

We all nod in unison bago kami pinabalik sa assigned posts sa'min. Dahil major department 'to, pinagcombine ang grupo namin sa iba pang grupo kaya mas marami kami. Also, we work in buddy system. Kami ni Cassie ang buddy. 

Kinuha ni Cassie ang doctor's orders sa nurse's station nang naramdaman ko bigla ang vibration ng phone ko sa bulsa. It was Uno.

Chinky Radish:

Don't forget to eat and drink. Goodluck.

I smiled at that. Pinaninindigan niya talaga pagiging daily reminder ko ha. I bit my lip  at sumubok magreply but nothing sounds right. Sinubukan kong magreply ng 'Salamaaat!' but it sounds too excited. But a simple 'Thank you'  sounds too plain either.

Me:

Thank you. Ikaw rin, 'wag papagutom :) 

I looked at it for awhile. Is it too pabebe? Should I remove the smiley? Or too caring? Umiling ako. I'm about to delete it na lang when someone bumped my hip that I accidentally sent it instead. Shit.

"Cassie!" 

Inis akong tumingin sa kaniya bago pinatay ang phone. Mahina naman ang signal dito, kung papatayin ko 'to, hindi na siguro magtutuloy sa pagsend. 

"Ngingiti ngiti ka diyan, eto sa'yo," nang-aasar na inabot ni Cassie 'yung listahan ng mga gagawin namin. 

Nalula ako, ang dami agad. Pre-duty kami at ang trabaho namin ngayong araw ay gawin ang mga naiwang "carry-outs" sa wards katulad ng pagkuha ng dugo, ihi at dumi for labs, pag-insert ng IV, pagkuha ng ECG ng mga pasyente at kung anu-ano pa.