Kiss the Wind

Chapter 28

Chapter 28: Crying Shoulder

"Mrs. Tan, I really do advise that you avoid stress as much as possible."

Pinag-salikop ni Doc May ang kaniyang mga kamay at saka muling tiningnan ang papel ko.

After my therapy, I had to get my weekly scan para makita kung gaano na kalaki ang tumor na nasa utak ko. By her reaction, I'm guessing that I've made it even worse.

Napakagat ako sa labi ko at yumuko na lamang. Rome, on the other hand, sighed because of this at nakita kong napailing pa siya.

It has been a week since my argument with Duke. We haven't seen each other since then, dahil naka-duty na ako ng isang buong linggo sa hospital.

And I really can't see him right now. There's still a part of me that is aching whenever I remember his harsh words and cold treatment to me.

Isang linggo ko na ring iniiwasan si Clad to avoid more misconceptions and issues na maaring isipan na naman ni Duke ng malisya.

I feel bad for being distant to Clad all of a sudden, lalo na't naging kaibigan ko siya, but I have no choice. Once makita ni Duke na mag-kasama na naman kaming dalawa, who knows what might happen.

"Are you still a resident?"

"Yes. But it's already my last year."

Tumango-tango naman si Doc May at saka inayos ang salamin niya.

"Why don't we request to the higher ups to just shorten your shift? Mahirap na kasi ang condition mo ngayon. You've become unstable. Dati naman ay hindi lumalala 'to."

"I can just relieve my stress Doc. I'm good at separating my personal problems from work."

"Look, Arianna, that's not our case."

Binasa ko ang labi ko at napakagat ako rito nang marinig ko ang seryosong boses ni Doc May. Umiwas na lamang ako ng tingin sa kaniya.

"I know having this kind of illness is a big drift of stress to you. Kahit sino ay magugulantang kapag nalaman nilang may gan'to sila. But you need to understand that if you don't help yourself, no one can."

"I understand, Doc," sagot ko na lang kay Doc May. I saw her sigh at my reaction and looked through my papers.

"Your tumor has gotten bigger than the last time. As expected, some of your memories are now fading from your mind, dahil nape-pressure ng tumor ang part ng utak na nag-hahandle ng alaala mo."

"So does that mean she can get amnesia if this goes on?"

Mas napadiin ang kagat ko sa akin labi nang marinig ko ang sinabi ni Rome. Knowing that the tumor is really pressing on that part, hindi ko alam kung paano ko 'to tatanggapin.

"I can't say it's impossible. By the development and growth of the tumor, she can have selective amnesia, or worse, the whole thing."

"That doesn't sound good," kapag-kuwan ay sagot ni Rome. Alam kong natatanga na rin siya sa sitwasyon ko. Lalo na't hindi naman ito ang inaasahan naming mangyayari.

"Because it really isn't. I told you, Arianna, didn't I? This tumor can turn malignant anytime. And by the looks of it, it has become one. But we can't say for sure unless we run some tests. So, please, help yourself."