Ivana
We tested negative after that incident at the ER.
But few months have passed, still the virus had been spreading all over the country like pit fire.
Nagkakaubusan na ng ICU beds at regular beds sa wards. Pati hallways na hindi namin nagagamit noon ay pinapagamit na ng ospital ngayon. The work force is also decreasing little by little. Nababawasan ang mga nurses dahil kailangan nilang magquarantine. Iyung ibang matatandang nurses ay nagresign na. Even some doctors resigned due to the virus. It was tiring everytime we go on duty.
Every minute counts for us in the medical field. Because we are so busy, paminsan minsan na lang din kami nagkikita ni Luigi. Kapag off niya, duty naman ako. And I don't complain of that. Paminsan minsan din ay naguiguilty ako dahil hindi ko na nasasagot ang mga tawag niya. Parang wala akong boyfriend kung tutuusin. But we both have to understand that situations like this needs deeper sense of patience and understanding. Still, he was the one who always finds time for us.
Nasa neuro ward kase ako. Si Luigi naman ay nasaCovid ward. May mga protocols silang kailangang sundin. They also need to sleep and almost live at the covid building. Bawal silang maexpose sa ward kaya hindi sila puwedeng magrounds sa wards.
Si Mike, ICU nurse ang palagi kong kasama tuwing duty. Buti nalang at may kasama akong lalaki dahil may mga pasyenteng kailangan mo talagang tulungang buhatin.
" Lunch break na muna tayo Avi. Hindi rin naman nauubos ang mga pasyente natin." Aya niya sa akin. He prepared our food on the nurses' dining table.
" Sige sunod ako, tapusin ko lang 'tong feeding ko" I have five patients on NGT ( Nasogastric Tube) feeding. Pang lima ko na 'tong feeding. Pagod na din ako pero kalahating oras palang ang nauubos ko sa buong shift ko. We also have two patients in critical condition. Nakaintubate na at ready for CPR in case magarrest.
Halos tatlong buwan na kaming hindi masyadong nagkikita ni Luigi. Ngayon ko lang narealize na may epekto din pala sa isang relasyon kung hindi masyadong nagkikita at nag-uusap.
After ko magfeed ay naghugas na muna ako ng kamay bago sinamahan si Mike na kumain. We started eating when my phone vibrated. It was Luigi calling. Inangat ko agad iyung tawag niya sa pangalawang ring.
" Hello" I said
" Having lunch with a guy huh. Kailan pa Ivana?" He asked. I roamed my eyes around to look for him. He is definitely here.
" San ka? I thought you're at the Covid ward" I told him.
" May maskailangan akong bantayan dito bukod sa mga pasyente ko don" Ang lamig ng boses niya. I sighed.
" Asaan ka?" Tanong ko sa kaniya
Infront of the nurses' station, I saw Luigi standing. Kitang kita kase dito sa may inupuan ko na room para sa dining area ng mga nurses. Bawal ang ginagawa niya ngayon. At alam niya iyon.
" Lumalabag ka sa protocol ng ospital Luigi." I told him. Binaba ko na iyung tawag at nagpaalam muna saglit kay Mike upang lapitan si Luigi.
He looks tired. Naawa na tuloy ako sa kaniya dalawa lang silang doktor sa covid ward.
" Have you eaten?" Tanong ko. Umiling siya.
" Why are you here?"
" Miss na miss na kita Babe" He whispered. Nagulat ako ng biglaan niya akong yakapin.
" Don't worry, naligo ako bago pumunta dito." He whispered.
Ramdam ko ang pagod sa boses niya. We both are tired.
" I miss you too. Sobra. Hanggang kailan pala matatapos ang rotation mo sa Covid ward?" Tanong ko
" It's my last day. Hindi na ako magpapaassign dun. Ayokong hindi kita nakakasama dahil ganito ang nadadatnan ko." Pang-aakusa niya.
" Katrabaho ko, Luigi. Pati ba naman siya" I told him.
" Magpapaassign nalang ako dito sa ward para nababantayan kita" Wika niya pa.
" Sayong sayo lang ako okay. Kaya huwag kang assuming diyan. Mamaya pa ang out ko. Mauna ka nalang muna na umuwi. Matagal pa matatapos iyung shift ko" Nakayakap parin siya sa akin na para bang ayaw akong pakawalan.
He even kissed my temple.
" Fuck I missed you so much, Babe. Ang hirap ng ganito" He whispered. I sighed.
" Kailangan ko ng bumalik dun" Pagpapaalam ko ngunit ayaw pa niya akong pakawalan.
" Luigi" Bigkas ko sa pangalan niya ngunit maslalo lang niyang hinigpitan ang pagkakayakap niya sa akin.
" One minute, Babe" He whispered. Hinayaan ko na lang siya.
I can feel his heart beating. Ang lakas ng tibok ng puso niya.
Parang ang bigat pa ng damdamin niyang umalis. He doesn't want to leave but I insisted. Hindi puwedeng maiwan siya dito dahil wala siyang gagawin.
I worked for hours. Hanggang sa hindi ko namamalayang tapos na pala ang shift ko. I did my endorsements afterwards. Nagcode kami kanina at namatayan ako ng pasyente sa ICU. It was hearbreaking. Lalo pa't ang bata pa nung pasyente. He died of Cerebrovascular hemorrage and other underlying complications such as cardiac congestions. Brain and heart, it's too much for the patient but we have to let him go.
Sinundo ako ni Luigi. I didn't know he would fetch me. Nakita ko na lamang siya sa labas ng ospital na naghihintay sa akin.
I am exhausted from work but his smiles took away all the tiredness I am feeling. Parang nawala ito na parang bula.
" Hi Love" He smiled. Hinapit niya ako sa bewang at hinalikan.
" Luigi, PDA tayo. Nakatingin mga guards" I warned him
" I don't care. I miss you" He whispered. After the kiss, he opened his car's door for me.
Ang akala ko ay uuwi ma kami ngunit dinala niya ako sa isang lugar kung saan ko siya sinagot.
Lights and a table was prepared. Sa park ko lang naman kase siya sinagot. Hindi ko na pinatagal eh, sinagot ko agad 'tong jowaers ko ngayon. Buti nalnag wala masyadong tao dahil bawal.
" Don't tell me you prepared all of these?" I asked him in awe. He just answered me with a smile.
Nauna na siyang lumabas ng kotse niya bago niya ako pinagbuksan.
" Para sa babaeng pinakamamahal ko" He whispered.
" So it's a date doctor" I told him.
Talagang pinaghandaan niya. The view is extraordinary. Ang ganda.
" Sinong nagluto?" Kantiyaw ko. Alam ko namang pareho kaming walang alam
" Iyung pagmamahal ko. Para sa 'yo" Napangiti ako.
" Bolero" He hugged me tight from behind as he kissed me on my neck.
" I love you" Bulong niya.
" I love you" Sagot ko. He pulled a chair for me.
May pacandles pa siya eh. Tapos iyung mga pagkain, talagang pangfine dining.
Siya pa ang nagbukas ng shrimps para sa akin. Talagang kinamay niya.
" What's the occassion?" Natural lang naman na magtatanong ako diba. We used to go out on dates. Palagi naman, but it seems like there's something different now.
Now, I can see him nervous. It's very unusual to him being nervous like this.
" Bakit? You seem nervous" I told him as a matter of fact.
" This is the hardest surgical case I will ever do in my life, Babe" He whispered. Nalito naman ako sa sinabi niya.
" What surgery. We're not in the OR, Luigi" I answered. Nagulat na lamang ako ng biglaan siyang tumayo at naglakad palapit sa akin bago siya lumuhod sa harapan ko. He took a small box in his pocket and showed me a glowing metal. It's a ring. A square cut diamond ring.
" Ivana, I have never expected you in my life. But I met you and you turned my life upside down. You made me realize that I am capable of loving this much. I know that my pace is fast but I just wanna make you mine officially Babe. I want to make you my wife. You are the love of my life and will forever be. Ikaw lang ang babaeng mamahalin ko. I love you Ivana, and I need a forever with you. Be my wife. Be my Mrs. Luigi Clyde Montenegro. Will you marry me?" Napalaki ng literal ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niya. He seems to be so serious. Kita ko din na kinakabahan siya sa magiging sagot ko. Napangiti ako.
" Yes. Yes Doctor. I will marry you" I muttered in reply
He fisted a victorious act.
" Fuck yes. Thank you Babe." He wore the diamond ring on my finger and stood up. Hinalikan niya ako ng marubdob.
" I love you, my Mrs. Montenegro" Ngiting wika niya sa akin.
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