Mabilis akong kumalas sa pagkakayakap kay Cede nang makitang papalapit na ang mga kasama naming nurses. Agad akong napatingin kay Nerizza na ngayon ay nakangisi dahil sa ginawa ko. Pakiramdam ko umakyat lahat ng dugo ko sa mukha dahil doon. Maggy hindi naman halatang sabik ka no?
"Nerizza-"
"I will keep it a secret" she smirked at me. Tinignan ko ulit si Cede bago umalis muna sa nurse station. Nakakahiya! Mukhang may mang-aasar sa akin mamaya pagbalik ko sa nurse station! Sana lang hindi sila agad matapos ni Cede. Magpalipat na kaya ako ng shift? Bakit ka naman iiwas Maggy? Kasi awkward?
Pumasok na ako sa room ng isang pasyente para sabihin na pwede na siyang lumabas ngayon. Sinabi ko rin ang mga bilin ng kanyang doctor.
"Please take care of your health Ma'am." sabi ko sa kanya. She smiled at me.
"I will.." sagot naman niya. When I went back to the nurse station, wala si Cede at Nerizza. Kaagad ko namang linapit si Zian.
"Have you seen Nerizza?" I asked him.
"She's with the new nurse.."
"Thanks" inabala ko nalang ang sarili ko sa charting. Mamaya ay matambakan na naman ako kapag dumami na naman ang mga pasyente. Huwag naman sana. Kakain na sana ako ng lunch ng biglang dumating ang head nurse para sabihan kami na mayroong emergency patients na paparating. May banggaan sa may highway kaya kaagad na akong tumayo at nag-abang sa labas ng emergency room. Nang dumating ang mga pasyente ay kaagad nagsidaluhan ang mga kasama ko.
"A thirteen year old boy. He has fractures and broken bones" sabi sa akin. I examined the patient first. He lost consciousness. There were cuts on some parts of his body. I called the orthopedic department to inform them about the case.
"Hello, we are in need of an orthopedic doctor in the Emergency Room" sabi ko.
"Okay" sagot naman nito. After five minutes, dumating ang isang doctor.
"A thirteen year old boy who has fractures and broken bones" sabi ko pagdating niya. Kaagad niyang tinanong ang vital signs ng bata. Sinabi ko ang mga ito.
"Send him to the Radiology Department. I need his x-ray. Call me when it is already done"
"Yes Doc" kaagad siyang dinala sa radiology department para sa kanyang x-ray. While waiting for him I attended some patients to check on them. I had to do some stitches to some who had cuts on their skin. When I'm done, the boy already had his x-ray I already informed the doctor.
"We need to talk to her guardian" kaagad na sabi sa akin ng doctor.
"His guardian is unconscious" the doctor sighed. Nang tawagan ako ng head nurse ay iniwan ko ang doctor pansamantala. Mayroon namang pumalit sa akin kaya ayos lang.
"You will assist a surgery. Get ready in 15 minutes and go to the OR 2" sabi niya sa akin. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko dahil sa aking narinig. This will be my first time! Kaagad akong pumunta sa locker room para kumuha ng scrub suit. Dumiretso ako sa banyo para magpalit. I smiled upon looking at myself in the mirror. I took a picture of mine to commemorate a first.
Nang matapos ay kaagad akong dumiretso sa OR 2. I had to clean my hands first before going inside. Pumasok na ako sa loob at sinuutan ako ng gloves.
"You must be Maeve?" tanong sa akin ng isang babae.
"Yes.."
"I'm Nicole..." she told me about the surgery that will take place. Kaagad naman itong nag-umpisa. I was tensed at first but the doctor told me to stay calm. Kaya I got used to it. It was already 10pm when the surgery was done.
"You did well" sabi sa akin ng doctor na nakasama sa surgery.
"Thank you Doc!" sagot ko naman sa kanya. He smiled at me.
Pagod akong nagpalit ng damit bago lumabas sa locker room. Overtime na naman. Pero ayos lang din dahil may first experience na ako sa pag-assist sa OR! I grabbed my things and left the hospital. Finally! It's the weekend! I was surprised to see Cede at the entrance of the hospital. I approached him.
"Hi!" I chirped.
"Maggy..." tawag niya sa akin. I smiled at him.
"How are you?" tanong ko sa kanya.
"I am good. How about you?"
"Doing great!"
"Are you going home?"
"Yes"
"Ikaw ba? Uuwi ka na din?
"Hindi pa"
"You must be tired. Do you have a car with you? It's already late."
"I have one. I already know how to drive!" I said to him. Napangiti siya dahil sa sinabi ko. Dati hindi naman niya ako gustong turuan dahil siya nalang daw ang magiging driver ko habang buhay. Kaso nga lang things happened.
"Can I ask you out? Let's catch up" heto na naman tayo sa catching up.
"Sure!"
"Can I get your number too? So I can message you.." ang bilis naman ng isang 'to! Kinuha niya ang kanyang cellphone at tinype ko ang number ko. Sinave naman niya iyon. "Thank you. Drive safely!" I nodded before going to the parking lot. What was that?
Dumaan muna ako sa subway para kumain. Gutom na gutom na talaga ako! Minessage ko si Mama tungkol sa unang experience ko sa operating room. I even sent her the picture. Baka mamaya pa niya makita iyon dahil panigurado abalang-abala siya. Dahil nagugutom pa din ako pagkatapos kumain sa subway ay dumaan pa ako ng KFC para mag-take out ng fried chicken at mashed potato.
Unknown Number:
Are you home? This is Cede.
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko dahil sa na-receive na text. Sinave ko ang number niya. Kaagad ko naman siyang rineplayan.
Ako:
Almost
Cede:
Where are you? You should go home. It's already late.
Kanina pa siya sa go home na 'to. Mamaya ikaw ang iuwi ko eh!
Ako:
I'm eating. I don't have any food at home.
Hindi ko na siya rineplayan pa kahit na tunog ng tunog ang cellphone ko. Ang mashed potato lang ang kinain ko. Agahan ko nalang ang fried chicken. Pagdating sa bahay I did my routine before going to bed. Dahil hindi pa ako dinadalaw ng antok, I searched some places where I can go tomorrow on my day off. Hindi rin kasi ako masyadong nakakapaglibot noon kahit na nandito sila Tito Mau. Masyado akong busy sa pag-aaral at part time job. Wala din naman akong mga kaibigan na makakasama sa paglilibot. Nang makakita ng particular spots, kaagad ko itong sinave. I'll check them out tomorrow.
Bigla kong naisip si Cede. Should I ask him to go with me tomorrow? Pero paano kung may duty siya? I have so many questions in my mind. I want to make kwento with him about how the years went without him. After all, I am already healed. I have long accepted what happened before. There's no use if I will continue to be mad at him for doing that. He had his reasons and that's more than enough.
Cede:
You should eat a lot. You look skinny.
Cede:
Are you home?
Cede:
Text me when you are home.
I read his messages. I was shocked that he sent me those.
Ako:
I'm already home. Are you on duty tomorrow?
I waited for a few minutes before I got his reply.
Cede:
Yes. Why?
Ako:
In the morning?
Cede:
No. In the evening.
Ako:
Can we meet?
Cede:
Just text me the place. You should sleep now. I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight Maggy.
I smiled after reading his text. I think I'm gonna have a good sleep tonight.