MONTE COSTA SERIES #2: Beautiful Burns

Kabanata 4

Kabanata 4

"PATIENT has an alpha1 antitrypsin deficiency. Her boyfriend's smoking habits and her laziness to clean up the mold build-up in their apartment had contributed to the problem." Silver sighed while shaking his head. "This is why choosing your partner is important. They can either give your children a genetic disease, or they can cause someone else's children to spend thousands for a surgery."

Raiah scratched her temple then hugged the other records she was holding. "So really needs to undergo surgery?"

"Yeah."

Humugot ito ng malalim na hininga. "She's a member of Jehovah's Witnesses. Her parents wouldn't let us give her blood during the surgery."

Umismid si Silver. "They should've thought about their religious beliefs before they let their daughter date a chain smoker. Not our problem anymore. If they wouldn't let her have blood transfusion during the surgery then they can settle their bills now and drag their daughter home."

He shut the patient's record then handed it to Raiah. Tahimik naman itong bumuntot sa kanya habang nakasimangot. Siguro ay naiinis na ito sa paraan kung paano niya ito sinasagot kapag umiiral ang empathy nito sa mga pasyente. 

They continued with their rounds. Nang natapos sa huling pasyente ay sinabayan siya nito ng lakad. "But you can do a bloodless surgery, right? I mean, you're an excellent surgeon."

He sighed. "Excellent, not a god, Chavez. Roughly 60% of patients that undergo lung surgery need blood transfusion. Just because she's a member of a church doesn't mean she belongs to the 40% who don't need it."

"But--"

Tumigil siya sa paghakbang saka ito tinaasan ng kilay. "Are you willing to be responsible for that woman's life, hmm? Because I don't."

Bumuntonghininga ito. "Sinusubukan ko lang naman. Baka lang may magawa pa. Sungit mo." Inilabas nito ang maliit nitong rosaryo saka iyon tila itinapat sa kanyang mukha. "Maligo ka ng holy water. Tss."

Inirapan siya nito saka na ito naunang nagmartsa pabalik ng station. Halos pumintig tuloy ang ugat ni Silver sa ulo. Sa lahat ng naging nurse sa department niya ay ito lamang talaga ang nagagawa siyang irapan at kwestyunin nang gano'n!

Napahilamos siya ng palad sa kanyang mukha. "Hey, Chavez! Do that rosary thing on me again and I swear I'd kick you out of Kelton!"

Nakasimangot itong lumingon sa kanya. "Oo na, Doc!" Umirap itong muli saka na nagpatuloy sa paglalakad.

Napailing na lamang siya sa inis. If only she isn't the best nurse he had so far, talagang nasesante na niya ito!

Raiah may have an attitude but it's true. She really is a good nurse. Hindi lamang niya iyon sinasabi sa dalaga dahil wala siyang balak na patagalin ang pananatili nito sa Kelton. 

After all, she was never meant to be part of Kelton for a reason she must never find out . . .

His phone rang right after Raiah made a turn to the next hall. Dinukot niya ang phone sa kanyang bulsa saka niya sinagot ang tawag ni Jael Marasigan, ang presidente ng brotherhood nila sa Monte Costa.

"Please tell me I don't have to fly to Monte Costa again just to save another one of your kids?" biro niya na ang tinutukoy na anak nito ay ang mga kasamahan din nila sa Monte Costa Brotherhood.

Jael scoffed. "Nah. My week is surprisingly calm."

He smirked while walking towards the elevator. "So why'd you call, hmm?"

"Chief wants you to approve the layout Stephan made for the clinic. I already had the digital copy sent to your email address."

Oo nga pala. Nagbabalak silang maglagay na ng fully-operational clinic sa Monte Costa nang hindi niya bitbit lahat ng mga kailangan niya tuwing may emergency. Para rin hindi nila palaging inililipad patungong Kelton Medical Center ang mga pasyenteng mula sa Monte Costa. Napapaaway kasi siya sa ibang doktor kapag sa ospital na nasa probinsya nila itinatakbo ang mga pasyente. 

"I'll take a look at it once I'm back in my office. Thanks."

Their phone call ended before he even got to the elevator. Pagkapasok niya ay pinindot kaagad niya ang top floor kung nasaan ang pinakaimportanteng pasyente ng Kelton Medical Center. 

He visits the top floor once a day. Ngunit gaya ng madalas niyang ginagawa, nanatili lamang siya sa labas at tinanaw ang dalawang taong nasa loob ng silid. 

His chest tightened as he watched his dad kiss his mother's hand. Kumuyom ang kanyang mga kamao at ang kanyang panga ay mahigpit na umigting. 

He fucking hates seeing them that way because he doesn't understand how his Dad could still act such way towards his mother when they knew what she had done. 

Bago pa man siya mapansin ng dalawa ay tumalikod na siya sa silid at muling sumakay ng elevator. Silver rubbed his palm on his face as he tried to calm his raging heart. 

Gusto niyang magwala sa sobrang galit. His anger has been holding him a prisoner for several years, and he doesn't think he would ever manage to free himself from it. Kahit na gaano katayog ang narating niya sa larangan ng medisina, hinding-hindi niya magagamot ang sugat na naidulot ng sarili niyang ina. 

He went out of the elevator only to bump into Raiah in the hallway. Napaangat ito ng tingin nang muntik niyang pagalitan. Her bloodshot eyes met his. Ang manipis nitong mga labi ay halos manginig din nang subukan nitong pigilan ang paghikbi.

"What the fuck happened to you?" he asked.

A lone tear trailed down her cheek. "Si . . . Mr. Lim kasi, Doc."

Lalong nalukot ang noo ni Silver. "What did he do?"

Suminghot ito. "Hinawakan ang puwet ko."

Napapikit si Silver dala ng kunsomisyon. "This is one of the many reasons why I don't want you here. Kahit sino magnanasa sa'yo." He sighed before he walked past her.

"Doc! Sa'n ka pupunta--hoy!"

Halos maglakad-takbo na ito para lamang maabutan siya ngunit hindi nagpapigil si Silver. He stormed towards the room where Mr. Lim was staying. Pabalang niyang binuksan ang pinto saka siya dumiretso sa higaan ng pasyente.

"Which hand did he use to touch your ass?" galit niyang tanong kay Raiah.

Nahihintakutan siyang tinitigan ni Raiah. "D-Doc . . ."

"I said which hand?!" tanong niya. Ngayon ay matalim na ang titig sa dalaga.

Tila maging ito ay natakot kaya lumuluhang yumuko. "K-Kanan," sagot niya sa mahinang tinig.

Silver's jaw clenched. Maya-maya ay ganoon na lamang ang naging palahaw ni Mr. Lim nang pilipitin niya ang kanang braso nito.

Inilapit niya ang kanyang mukha sa mukha ni Mr. Lim. Ang kanyang kulay abong mga mata ay nagbabaga sa galit.

"Try to touch my nurse again and I swear, I'd break every fucking bone in your body. You heard me?"

Pilit itong tumango-tango. He twisted the man's arm even more before finally releasing it. 

Inayos niya ang kanyang coat saka siya bumuntonghininga. Nagkatitigan pa sila ni Raiah bago siya tuluyang natauhan.

What the fuck did he just do for her?

Silver swallowed the pool of saliva in his mouth before he finally stormed out. Sumunod naman sa kanya si Raiah ngunit hindi na niya ito hinayaang makahabol. He walked straight to the elevator, and as the doors slowly shut, he saw Raiah flashed a small smile as if thanking him.

He shut his eyes as he leaned his head against the elevator. 

This is not the version of Silvester Kavinski that he wanted her to know . . .