DOCTOR
It's 12:43 in the afternoon, we're about to take a lunch break. I only had five or maybe six patients earlier and yet I feel like it's been twelve hours. I'm kinda drained but if I rest myself for awhile, mas lalo lang akong nababaliw at napapagod. Mas lalo lang akong lumulungkot.
"Doc?" Sophie appeared on my sight with a coffee in her hands. I look at her and asked why. "Si Captain po nandito. Hinahanap kayo." she said. I breathed, rolling my eyes as I stood up to see him.
Buti naisipan niya akong bisitahin
There I saw him. His tie is a bit loose but his hair is perfectly combed. I went near him and said hi. He just kissed my temple and handed me a tupperware. "What's this?" I asked.
"Lunch," he answered. "Baka kasi hindi ka pa kumakain so I thought of bringing you some. I'm on my way to work. Tsaka sa sunday may lipad din ako, in case hindi ko pa nasasabi sa'yo."
I stared at him from head to toe, "Hindi mo pa nga nasasabi sa akin. And sunday? I thought that's a day off. You should be at home resting."
"Nagka-emergency yung partner ni Aries. Ako yung sub." sagot niya sa akin. Pinunasan niya ang pawis niyang mukha gamit ang panyo. "O paano? I gotta go. Text mo nalang ako kapag nakauwi ka na."
"Sige." I was about to quickly turn around for me to go back but he grabbed my wrist. Tiningnan ko siya, umiling siya bago ako halikan ulit. I pushed him lightly. "Sige na, umalis ka na."
Right after, Joaquin left without even saying a word. Sophie started singing, "Malamig ang simoy ng hangin...kay saya ng bawat damdamin. Ang tibok ng puso sa dibdib....para bang—"
"Shut up!" I told her, and sat down on my chair. "Just shut up, Sophie. Your voice, it's giving me headache."
"Doc! Bakit ang cold?! Ano toooo?! Malamig pa ata sa kaning bahaw na baon ko 'yung nakita kong eksena kanina. Anyare?"
I just shrugged my shoulders. Hindi ko rin alam. Wala akong alam sa nangyayari. It's been months since we started treating each other like almost strangers. Am I the problem? Hindi ko na alam. Seryoso.
"Doc a. Hindi ako sanay na walang lambingan bago mag-paalam sa isa't-isa. Nachichikahan na namin yan ni Doc. Lovelle kung minsan." dagdag pa niya.
"Mga chismosa," I chuckled. "Pero honestly Sophie? Ilang buwan na rin kami—ako ganito. Wala namang mali sa kaniya, sa akin siguro meron? Naguguluhan ako. Pakiramdam ko hindi na ako ito."
Sophie's mouth formed an O, "Scary ka naman Dok. So sino ka po kung hindi ikaw 'yan?"
"Halika dito dali. Paisa lang at bibigwasan kita." sabi ko sa kaniya pero nag-sorry siya tapos ay sinabihan akong ipagpatuloy lang ang kwento ko habang hindi pa tapos ang lunch break.
"E ano nga po ba kasi nangyari?"
I sighed, "I don't know. I suddenly feel like my whole world shattered when I lost my child. Our child. I feel so helpless and I can't tell him because I know he's also suffering. Hindi ko masabi. Hindi ko maikwento."
Sophie made a face, " 'Di ba dapat sinasabi mo 'yan sa kaniya Dok? I mean kasi bonded kayo together. Asawa mo siya. Kaya dapat open kayo sa isa't-isa...opinion ko lang naman po."