Manila
**Reece's POV
Napabuntong hinga ako dahil nagtagal ng ilang oras ang operasyon and I thought I wouldn't be able to revive my patient pero mabuti na lang at pinipili pa rin niyang lumaban para mabuhay. Hinubad ko ang gloves na nakasuot sa aking mga kamay at naghugas.
Lumabas na ako ng Operating room at hinanap ang pamilya ng pasyenteng inatake kanina..
I saw a woman sitting on the bench hugging herself. I can hear her crying to herself.
"Mrs. Montenegro?" Inangat niya ang kanyang ulo at agad na tumayo. The woman is in her late fifties although she is in no doubt still beautiful.
"How is he, Doctor Gray?" She asked immediately and wiped her tears. I can see how hopeful she looks right now.
"I did everything I could--"
"Please.. Please tell me he is okay." Pagmamakaawa nito sa akin. Okay, I shouldn't have started my words that way.
"He's doing fine now. Although, I don't want to procastinate things but I have to be blunt. I don't think I will be able to bring him back if this happens again. His heart is too weak. We need an urgent transplant, Mrs. Montenegro." I explained slowly to her. Ramdam ko kung gaano kabigat ito para sa kanya pero wala na akong maisip na iba pang paraan.
Tumango ito at unti unti nanamang tumulo ang kanyang mga luha. "I don't think I'll be able to live again if he leaves me.."
I'm curious to what she just said but kept my mouth shut instead. I don't want to meddle personal issues.
"Please Mrs. Montenegro don't think such. Nandirito pa rin siya sa atin and I don't think Mr. Montenegro would want you thinking that way. You have to be strong for him." Hinawakan ko ang kanyang mga kamay at pinisil ng marahan.
"Thank you, Dr. Gray."
"I'm pleased to help Ma'am. Mr. Montenegro is in the Recovery Room, you can see him after they settle him in a while." Nagpaalam na ako sa kanya. Before going further, I peered back at her. She looks broken. Well, everyone would be. And she gives me a sort of vibe that there's something more to this woman.
Sinilip ko sa aking relo kung anong oras na, mag-aalasonse na pala. Another day soon to end. Hindi pa ako kumakain pero wala akong nararamdamang pagkagutom. This is why Doctors are prone to contracting Ulcers.
But this is the life that we chose.
As a Doctor, I accepted the fact na hindi kami ang may hawak ng oras namin. Sa tuwing mahimbing ang pagtulog mo sa kahit anong oras ay makaka-tanggap ka na lang ng emergency call. Even if you don't want to, you have to be professional and get along with it. Sinasanay ko na ang sarili ko sa new adjustment of my life, na sa amin na nakasalalay ang buhay ng isang tao. And neglecting sometimes ourselves.
I'm a Cardiologist, fresh in the field. Kahit bagong salta lang ako ay kinuha na ako ng Hospital because of my Family's connections. Not that I'm a loser during my Medicine Years, it just made things easier. Our family, in every generation they have a Doctor in it and it's already an obligation per family to produce one. Tipong mga pinapalaro na sa aming mag-pipinsan ay plastic na puso, atay, buto, mata at anu-ano pa. Our parents are cynical.
With our family name alongside our title, we are now considered as an asset of the Hospital that we are working.
There goes my introductory part.
Pumasok na ako sa opisina ko para magpahinga saglit. I couldn't wait to go home and meet my bed.
••••••••••••••••
Naisipan kong mag-jogging ng madaling araw around subdivision going to plaza. Ang sarap lang sa pakiramdam ang malamig na simoy ng hangin. Tahimik pa ang lugar kaya nakakagaan ng ulo.
Yung ibang may edad na ay nakikita ko sa may town court at nag-aaerobics.
May mga naaningan din akong mga tao na nag-jojog. Kinawayan ako ng isa sa mga matalik kong kaibigan noong highschool at kapitbahay na si Luca. She's a girl with a guy's name.
"How's life been treating you so far, Doc?" tanong ni Luca habang sinasabayan ako, hawak nito ang husky niya.
"Nothing exciting. You?" Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero natawa siya sa sagot ko.
"You're still boring I see." Napataas kilay naman ako sa sinabi niya. "Mine is great!"
Di ko na inabala ang sarili kong itanong kung bakit.
"I forgot you are Reece. I was just messing with you." She lightly nudged me and stared at me for a second. "Okay mine is not great. My boyfriend for years just broke up with me without telling me any reason. I got fired and now my friend slash neighbor since birth is mad at me." I stopped from walking.
That's a piled up pain. "I'm sorry to hear that." Akalain mo iyon? Hindi man lang halata sa kanya na may ganyang problema siya.
"You are too formal, Reece. Ako lang 'to si Luca." She laughed heartily.
"I was supposed to say that's fucked up but I felt the need to say those first."
"I'd rather hear fucked up than sorry. Because it is really fucked up and I don't want to feel sorry for myself."
"I guess, that's life. It would be boring without those fucked up things, right?" I am not really used to this kind of conversation much more on Mornings...
"That's the beauty of life right? When you thought you have everything then all of a sudden you lose them at once. You have to help yourself get on track again and the cyle continues." I sighed and agreed to her.
I wonder how will I deal with it when it happens to me?
"It's still so early to get so emotional, Luca." Ang tanging nasabi ko.
"You know one of these days you'll be looking at yourself in the same situation." She tells me.
"I doubt that." I huffed at her. I slightly felt fear.
"Maybe not exactly MY situation. Basta! Mararanasan mo din ito, ang unfair naman ni Lord 'pag hindi!" Siraulo talaga itong babaeng ito.
"Whatever you say, Luca." Nabalot na kami ng katahimikan. And this is what I need, silence.
"Do you mind if I ask for Yassy's number?"
Napatigil naman ako sa pag-jog at tinaasan siya ulit ng kilay. That was so out-of-nowhere.
"Why?"
"You know we're friends, I just wanted to catch up and stuff." She smiled at me shyly.
"Bumabaliktad ka na din ba?" Pabiro kong tanong.
It is not a secret that my Bestfriend, Yassy, is bisexual. Ikaw ba naman ang i-announce live sa isang mall show nito, with flock of people, na nagmamahal ka sa kapwa mo babae. She's a big star in the Entertainment Industry, but outing herself didn't affect her on the contrary of what we've expected.
"Sira! 'Wag na nga. Dadaan na lang ako sa bahay nila later." Inirapan ako saka padabog na nag-jog palayo.
Silence greeted me and that made me smile.
After magpapawis ng kaunti ay naisipan ko nang umuwi. Gising na ang Mommy ko sa ganitong oras maging si Dad. As usual, siguro nagluluto si Mommy ng breakfast kahit may katulong naman at si Dad ay nagbabasa ng newspaper habang nagkakape.
Dumaan ako sa likod ng bahay dahil nandoon madalas nagseserve si Mommy ng breakfast sa may gazebo. Nakita ko si Dad akap-akap si Mommy sa likod, kinukulit nanaman niya ito habang inaayos ni Mommy ang table.
Pinagmasdan ko muna sila at 'di mapigilang mamangha kung gaano katibay ang pagmamahalan nila sa isa't isa mula noong highschool sila hanggang ngayon. Yung tipong sabik na sabik sila sa isa't isa kahit na lagi naman silang magkasama?
Well ngayon dahil dati ay laging busy si Dad sa work gawa nang high profile ang mga handle niya na cases sa Hospital. And I think that he is making it up to my Mom. You are never late to try di'ba?
Makakahanap din kaya ako ng pagmamahal kagaya ng sa mga magulang ko?
In High school, I didn't thought of Love at all. I wasn't even worried for myself when my friends were dating. Young love, puppy love.
In College, I half thought of Love. I was half worried that I didn't feel any emotional attachment with any guy that I date. And it half bothered me.
In MedSchool, I completely lost interest in Love. I don't have time for it, never had. And maybe that's why my classmates are dating each other because they are the only ones who are accessible.
And now that I am working, I still don't have time for it. That's why my colleagues are dating each other because then again, it's more convenient as you are almost living in the hospital.
I wonder why a hopeless romantic like me doesn't still feel it? Am I the only exception, Mr. Cupid?
My Mom always glows whenever she's with Dad. Pero si Dad pag wala si Mommy nakakatakot dahil lalabas ang pagka-strikto niya unlike my Mom na always cool and laid back.
"Patrice! Andian ka na pala anak." Tawag ni Dad at sumenyas na pumunta na sa kanila.
"Good morning to my amazing parents!" Bati ko sabay subo ng grapes. Papaluin sana ni Mommy yung kamay ko pero di niya nahabol. I laughed at her.
"Good morning to my beautiful daughter." Sagot ni Mom at binigyan ako ng hand towel para pamunas.
"I wouldn't be without you, Mom." Mom laughed at my Dad's reaction.
"What about me?" Turo ni Dad sa sarili niya.
"It's all up here." I playfully pointed at my head and he smiled seemingly proud of himself.
"Good one. Now go take a quick shower, Patrice. Maya't maya ay andito na rin si Reed para sabay sabay tayo." Utos ni Dad. If I know, he just wanted a little more alone time with Mom. I shake my head and smile. So much for love.
Mabalis na akong umakyat sa kwarto ko para makapag-ayos na rin. I have no work for today, so I need to make the most out of it.