Chapter 2

Encounter

I decide to talk to Dr. Galves to know more about Mrs. Ricaford’s condition.

“Dr. Galves!”. I greeted him as I enter his office.

“Hey! Dr. Verde, come, set down.” He said as he immediately gets some files in his drawer.

“I’m glad you came, actually pupuntahan na sana kita”. Aniya. “Here take-a-look”.

“Congestive heart failure?”.

“Yes… and her kidney is also now affected. I trust you Dr. Verde, that’s why I hand her case to you before I go. It’s only a month. Ayaw niya kasi sa iba, but I assured her that you are excellent”.

Nahiya naman ako sa papuri ng matandang doctor. He is one of my seniors that I am looking up to.

“I’ll do my best Dr. Galves. Thank you and have a safe trip”. Nakangiti kung saad at tumayo na.

“I’ll be sending some readings to you later for your papers, it may help you”.

“Wow! Thanks again!”. I said genuinely grateful.

As I headed to my office, I heard a loud cry. Napabaling ako dito.

Nagulat ako because it was Namo and Jano with their daughter. I saw Namo worried face and his husband is nearly crying.

Agad akong dumalo sa kanila.

“What happened?”. Tanong ko agad dito.

“Doc, she’s having a fever”. Sagot naman ng nurse.

Tumango ako and told them to get a room for them immediately.

“Doc, wala po si Dr. Alvares. He is in the operating room together with Dr. Shin”. Nag aalalang sabi ng nurse.

“Silly! Then, what I am?” Sagot ko dito para di na mag alala. I asked immediately for a private room and a nurse to assists.

The child is still crying while Jano is carrying her inside the room.

“Ayaw mag pa baba”. Saad naman ni Namo na nasa likod ng asawa.

“Okay lang”. Maikli kung saad. Maya-maya pa ay humahangos na dumating si Chimuel.

“What happened?”. Nag aalala nitong tanong na agad bumaling sakin.

“She’s fine...for now, hopefully mild fever lang”. Sagot ko naman dito. Sumunod namang dumating si Yuhan. Tumalikod na ako at hinarap ang anak nina Jano.

“How’s princess?”. Mabilis din nitong tanong.

“She’s fine”. Si Namo na ang sumagot.

Habang inaayus ko ang injection shot at dextrose na ikakabit, lalo pang lumakas ang iyak nito.

“Come on, sweetie”. Banayad kung saad. Umiling naman ito puno parin ng luha ang mga mata.

“Dada, No!”. Sigaw nito at mahigpit na humawak kay Jano.

“Shhh”. Mangiyak-ngiyak nitong bulong sa anak.

“This won’t hurt you… I promise”. I calmly said.

Bahagya itong tumigil sa paghikbi at tumingin sakin.

“Sure?”. She said cutely.

“Yeah!”. Nakangiti kung sabi. Kinuha ko siya sa kandungan ni Jano agad naman itong sumama sa akin at pinaupo ko ito sa kama at sa harapan niya ako naupo, habang hinihilot ang kamay nito looking for a vein.

“Don’t cry na… pretty girls like us don’t cry!”. Biro kung saad nito. Tumikhim naman si Chim kaya bahagyang napangiti si Jano, Namo at Yuhan.

Nakita kung nag punas ng luha si Jano. Agad naming dumalo ang asawa nito. This is why I admire them.

“Yes, You’re right! You’re so beautiful doctor, you look like an angel”. The child giggles.

“Wow! A brilliant kid, indeed!”. Saad ko habang nakatingin kay Chimuel, umirap lang ito. I heard Jano chuckle too.

“But you’re much beautiful… kaya don’t cry na… promise you won’t get hurt…okay?”

Tumango naman ito at ngumiti.

“My head’s hurt”. She said casually habang sumisinghot pa.

“Yes! That is why I’m giving you a shot”. Nakangiti kung saad habang pinupunasan ang pisnge nito.

“Do you want to hear a story?” Tanong ko dito na agad naman itong tumango.

“I love stories! Dada always read stories to be before bedtime and Papa too”. I smile with her response. I think she’s now more relax and calm.

“That’s good but this story is a fairytale. Do you like fairytale?” Tanong ko dito habang inaayus na ang pagtuturukan sa kamay nito.

“The love story of Dino and Pika”.

“It’s love story! I like that!”. Saad nito, now she’s actively responding.

Bahagya kung pinitik ang kamay nito upang makita ang ugat.

“Dino is a great warrior and Pika is a charming boy. They feel in love with each other despite their differences. But Dino has a torn in his hands and every time he tried to hold Pika he is hurting him–

“But how can he hug Pika, when you love each other, you should hug too?”. Inosente nitong tanong. I chuckle. I need to think fast as I move my hand. In my peripheral vision I saw that the four of them are also attentive.

“They need to get the torn in Dino’s hand so they can hug each other…but in that time doctor are not yet known so they need to cut it using Dino’s sword”.

“That’s hurt!”.

“Yeah! But Dino is willing to be hurt because after that he can hold Pika his lover, then, they can both feel the love for each other”. I told her as I loosen the rubber band in this hand.

“Done!”. I told her nang maikabit ko na ng maayos ang dextrose nito.

“But I didn’t feel anything”. Manghang sabi nito at tumingin sa kanyang mga magulang. Nakangiti naman sina Jano at Namo.

“That’s what Dino said after the torn was removed from his hands”. I said while injecting his shot through the dextrose hose.

“This would hurt a little but after that you will be okay. Understand?”. Saad ko habang unti-unting tinuturok ang gamut.

“Come…lay down in your bed… I wanna hear your breathing”. 

Tumango naman agad ito.

“Pretty doc?”.

“Hmmm”. I hum and comb her hair softly.

“What happened to Dino and Pika? Do they live happily ever after?”.

Napatingin ako kay Chim ng tumawa ito. Alam na alam talaga nitong wala namang ganoong kwento.

“Well… yes. Pain is nothing when you are surrounded with love”.

“Wow! I love that, doc! Like dada is Pika and papa is Dino”. Sabay-sabay kaming tumawa sa tinuran nito at humikab. I cares her face and smile when she close her eyes. Such a beautiful kid. She got Jano’s lips and cheeks but clearly got her hair and eyes from Namo.

“Thank you, Doc”. Baling naman ni Jano ng tumayo ako. Tumango lang ako dito. I gesture the nurse that we are going out.

“She’ll fall sleep in a minute now because of the medicine I give. Dr. Alvares will be here for further test, she might have an infection kaya siya nilagnat but don’t worry let’s pray that it is just a mild fever.” I said to them while taking notes and almost lost my control ng mahagip ko sa gilid si Elijah. He is quietly seating with Yuhan and Chimuel na kaya pala nawala sa tabi ko dahil lumapit sa kanyang nobyo. Si Elijah naman ay nakayuko lang na tila ba mag malalim na iniisip. Chim noticed my sudden reaction kaya tumayo ito at lumapit sakin.

“Sweet talk, doc. Why don’t you take pediatrics instead of a heart surgeon?” He said sarcastically. Tumawa lang ako bilang sagot dito.

“It’s almost time, can we eat dinner outside?”. Tanong nito ng makalapit. I simply nod.

“By the way, this is Dr. Levy Andrew Verde, my best friend”. Pag papakilala ni Chim.

“Oh! We’ve met right? In their engagement party? This is why you look familiar”. Saad naman ni Jano. “Nice to meet you again”. 

“Nice to meet you too, please kung naikwekwento man ako ni Chim wag kayong maniwala agad”. Pag bibiro ko.

“Hi! Cheesecake!”. Bati naman ni Yuhan. Natawa ako sa tinawag nito sa akin.

“Hi Chim’s babe!”. Balik kung bati.

Lumapit naman si Namo sa asawa nito at agad na humawak sa beywang ni Jano.

“I’m Namo”. Saad nito at inabot ang kamay para makamayan. “Thank you for giving the first aid, di din kami nakatawag agad kay Dr. Alvares dahil nag papanic na ang asawa ko”. Natatawa nitong saad.

“I understand!”. Tugon ko naman.

“Si love nga kahit nasa meeting ako minadali niya ako pumunta dito sa subra niyang pag-aalala, pati tuloy si Elijah nadala ko”. Natatawa nitong saad.

Tinawanan naming ang biro ni Yuhan. Umirap naman si Chimuel.

“Sos! As if, nag alala ka din sa inaanak mo”. Sagot naman nito sa kanyang nobyo. Yuhan now back-hugging him.

“Love di ka naman mabiro”.

“Eli, bro!”. Baling naman ni Namo dito. Tumayo naman ito. Bumaling naman ako sa nurse at ibiniling ipaalam kaagad kay Dr. Alvares ang nangyari.

“If you’ll excuse me, babalik na ako sa duty”. Pag papaalam ko.

“Hey! Cheesecake”. Napabaling ako kay Yuhan ng tawagin niya ako. Nasa likod nito si Elijah na matiim na nakatitig sakin.

“This is Elijah Ricaford, remember?”. Umpisa nito. “This is Chimuel’s best-friend Dr. Levy Verde”. Pagpapakilala nito.

Tipid akong ngumiti dito at bahagyang nagulat when he extends his hand to me. Agad ko naman itong tinanggap. He has strong grip with his smooth hands. It’s warm. So warm that it goes into my heart.

“You often see each other in every event we attended, hanggang ngayon pa rin ba di pa kayo magka kilala?”. Irap na saad ni Chimuel.

Yuhan chuckle.

“Kung ano-anu kasi ang ginagawa ni Elijah tuwing mag kakasama tayo kaya di pa sila formal na magkakilala”. Saad naman nito na malawak pa din ang ngiti.

Indeed! It is because Elijah often busy with is date, he never once spare me any glance. I rolled my eyes.

“Let’s have dinner”. Ani Chim ng papaalis na ako at bumaling ito sa akin na medyo nanalaki ang mga mata. He saw that?

“I’m sorry we cannot join you today, but please sa susunod na pagkakataon sana and thank you!”. Saad naman Jano. Tumango ako dito bilang sagot.

Pinagpawisan atah ako ng malamig sa maikling interaksiyon naming ni Elijah. Malala na atah ang pagkakagusto ko sa kanya? No!!! hindi pwede! Para akong baliw kakaisip. 

Ginulo ko ang buhok ko. Ugh!