CHAPTER 1
"I solemnly pledge myself before god and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drugs."
"I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession, and will hold in confidence all personal matters commited to my keeping and family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavor to aid the physician, in his work, and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care."
I sigh deeply and smile nang matapos ang aming pang-umpisang panunumpa. General Theoden Ramos started his speech.
Tahimik lang kaming nakikinig sa nagsasalita sa una. I looked around and saw the face of my co-army nurses. Makikita sa mga mukha nila ang dignidad na pinapangarap nila, na ngayon ay abot kamay na namin.
We stand once again for our last pledge. Iniangat namin ang aming kanang kamay before starting our pledge as an army nurse.
"As an army nurse, I accept the responsibilities of an officer in the army nurse corps. I shall give faithful care to the men who fight for freedom of this country and to those women who stand behind them. I shall approach him cheerfully at all times under any condition I find. I shall appear fearless in the presence of danger and quiet the fears of others to the best of my ability. My only criticism shall be constructive. The reputation and good name of the nursing profession shall be uppermost in my thoughts, second only to the care of my patients. I shall endeavor to be a credit to the country and to the uniform I wear." I stand straight once again before continuing. "I, Astrielle Joy Ocampo, pledging as an army nurse."
Sabay-sabay kaming sumaludo sa mga nakakataas na opisyal na nasa harap namin nang matapos ang panunumpa.
"This is it, dauntless bravery women" nakangising saad ng nasa tabi kong si Zindaya.
"Tss." I just smirked at her. Naglakad na akong papalayo at tuluyan na sanang lalabas nang may narinig na tumawag sakin.
I saw Sergeant Major Allen Santos while walking towards me. Nang makalapit siya ay agad akong umayos ng tindig at matikas na sumaludo sa kanya. He take my hands and shake them as a gesture of greeting.
"Congratulations, Nurse Astrielle Joy Ocampo. Our new army nurse. Welcome to LOFREHO Task Force Army." he smiled at me.
"Thank you, Sgt. Santos." I salute him once with full of respect.
Sa totoo lang, ayoko na may bumabati sakin. I just do what I wanted to do. Hindi ko ginusto ang propesyon na ito para hangaan ng iba. Ito ang gusto ko, dahil ito ang kailangan ng bansa ngayon.
Soldiers helding their guns to fight for freedom and rights. They're taking their lives at risk just to fight for our freedom. Imagine, kung hahayaan lang natin silang lumaban at mamatay sa natamo nilang sugat at tama ng bala, sino pang lalaban para sa kapayapaan?
Thats the reason why I wanted to be in this profession. Kung misyon ng mga sundalo na lumaban para sa kapayapaan, misyon namin bilang army nurse ang samahan sila sa laban at gamitin sa kanila ang aming kakayahan at abilidad na pinaghirapan naming pag-aralan.
I'm an army nurse, not just to wear this uniform I already wearing right now, not just to be called as a fearless woman who's not afraid of bloods and danger, but because I wanted to be one of those heroic persons who's fighting for freedom. Not for honors and fame, but for our country.
"Hey lil'sis" Pagkarating ko sa bahay ay nadatnan ko ang pamilya ko na nasa dining area. "Aren't you going to join us on dinner?" Blaire asked.
Nagtungo ako sa dining area at naupo sa tabi ni Galiver. He smiled at me. But I just looked back at him, emotionless.
"Hows the pledge as an army nurse, sis?" Blaire asked once again.
"None of your business."
Matunog siyang suminghal. "Why so selfish, half sister? I'm just asking. Bawal na ba talaga akong magtanong sayo?"
She's really getting into my nerves. May diin pa talaga ang pagkakasabi niya ng half sister. Yes, she's just my half sister. Kapatid ko lang sila ni Galiver sa ama. Our Dad pass away a years ago. He's one of the soldiers who died on the war against terrorist years ago. Siya na nga lang ang kakampi ko dito, iniwan niya pa ako. Kaya ito ngayon, I'm with my half brother and sister who's just there to annoy and tease me. And with our mom (my stepmother) who's always there, not to annoy and tease me, she's always there but she doesn't care of me.
"Hey, Astrielle. Are you with us? You're spacing out. Seriously? Nag-army nurse ka niyan?" natatawang sabi niya. "I'm thinking, you will be with the soldiers at the time of war. Baka nasa gitna na kayo ng giyera ay ang nasa isip mo parin ay kung sino ang biological mother mo.....How pathetic."
"Blaire!"
"Why, kuya Gali? I'm just thinking. C'mon. Come to think of it, kuya. She's just nothing but a little poor pathetic girl, baka sa halip na makatulong ay makasagabal lang siya. Nasa gitna na sila ng laban pero ang nasa isip parin niya ay kung sino ang tunay niyang ina. How pitiful. Paano kung sa oras na kailangan siya ng mga sundalo ay lalo siyang umatras sa propesyon niya..."
Pabagsak kong binitawan ang kutsara na hawak ko. "Are you done?" malamig ang tono ng boses na sabi ko. Tumayo na ako sa kinauupuan at matalim siyang pinakatitigan. "Don't ever underestimate me. Because you knows nothing on my abilities, you knows nothing on me. And yeah, I'm always thinking about my biological mother, I'm always thinking what she looks like, but I can take it aside. I won't let my family problems affect my profession." I looked at my stepmother. Nakatingin lang siya samin na parang walang pakialam. Well wala naman talaga. Binalik ko ang tingin kay Blaire.
"Ikaw? Ano bang maiipagmalaki mo para insultuhin at maliitin ako? Oh yes! You're a fashionista model! Dress up like a princess, walking on the hall of fame. At bukod doon, ano pang maipagmamalaki mo? Wala na. Wala kanang kaya pang gawin. So better stop yourself on insulting and underestimating my abilities, may you find yourself having nothing, can do nothing, but to walked walked walked walked."
Tumayo na siya sa kinauupuan at hinarap ako nang may naniningkit na mga mata. "Where did you get the guts to answer me back like that in front of my brother and mom? Sampid ka lang dito pero kung makapagsalita ka akala mo kung sino ka."
My blood is already boiling, kunti na lang at baka mamula na ang buong katawan ko sa inis sa babaeng ito. But I just smiled at her and say. "Thank you for this argument once again, it raised and help me to become more courageous and strong...it help me, a lot."
I walked upstairs after saying that. Napabuntong hininga na lang ako pagkapasok sa sariling kwarto.
Here's this feeling again. Damn! I miss you, Dad. Why do you need to leave without even telling me who's my biological mom. Baka sakaling mahanap ko pa siya. Sana....baka sakaling maramdaman ko naman na may kakampi ako.
I'm tired of being alone. Palagi na lang akong nag-iisa. Pagod na akong makaramdam ng sakit at pangungulila.
Muling bumalik sa pandinig ko ang mga salitang binitawan ni Blaire. Wala akong pakialam sa mga sinasabi niya but no matter how hard I tried to just ignore her. Her words still hitting my feelings.
Naramdaman ko ang pangingilid ng mga luha ko sa aking mga mata. Stop it, Elle! Don't give them the satisfaction seeing you weak. I'm tired of being weak. I'm done of being weak. If they were thinking na mahina ako, na hindi ko kakayaning gampanan ang tungkuling pinasok ko. Then I will let them be. I will let them sit back, relax, and watch me as a girl they say weak turns into emotionless woman, helping soldiers not just with my abilities but with my heart, I will help them to fight for freedom and rights.
"Thats right, Astrielle. Your tears are worth of billion dollars. Don't let them fall just for those people who says nothing, but nonsense words."
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✍︎cessias