Busy being Yours

41. Plans and Looking Forward

"Nice work today, Doc June. Thanks for covering up for Dr. San Miguel today."

I looked at Dr. Sta. Ana for a while pero ang atensiyon ko ay nasa sanggol paring kasalukuyang umiiyak habang nakahiga sa dibdib ng nanay nito. Actually the both of them are crying. We just finished congratulating Mrs. Cruz for the safe delivery of her baby girl, maya-maya ay siguradong eepekto na ang anesthesia nito.

"Walang anuman, Doc. I'm happy to help." I smiled at the OB-Gyne although she couldn't see it since I'm still wearing my mask.

She nodded in thanks before patting my shoulder. Muli nitong binalingan ang mga nurse para bigyan ng iilang instructions. I also did the same to another who was near me, I told him that I would check on the patient in the recovery room once the anesthesia wears out.

"Simula college palang ay nakaka-witness na ako ng panganganak pero hanggang ngayon ay kinakabahan parin ako," paninimula ni Eve habang naghuhubad kami ng gown. Nauna akong lumabas ng DR na siyang agad din naman niyang sinundan.

"Every child birth that I witnessed feels like the first time," she continued as I removed my gloves and started washing my hands. "I mean, it's amazing, right? Papasok ang pasyente sa loob ng DR mag-isa pero lalabas na may kasama nang sanggol minsan more than one pa? That's just crazy."

Hindi ko na talaga mapigilang matawa habang pinakikinggan ang monologue ng intern ko. Technically, she's Dr. San Miguel's for the week but since our fellow is on-leave ay sa 'kin ito sumasama ngayon.

"Alam ko... 'Yung kanina, that was a close one..." Mahina kong tugon, "I can just tell na sobrang nahirapan si Mrs. Cruz..."

Takot na takot naman nito akong tiningnan bago tumango. I rarely work with her, madalas kasi ay si Nika ang napupunta sa mga cases ko but whenever na nagkakatagpo kami sa lounge ay hindi ko mapigilang kausapin din ito na parang kaibigan lang. Sa lahat kasi ng mga interns namin ay si Eve ang pinakamalapit sa edad ko, we get along pretty well compared to our younger colleagues.

"I know," mapait nitong tugon bago niya hinubad ang mask at head cap nito. We both walked out of the wash room. "I heard na malaking tao kasi 'yung asawa niya, kaya medyo may kalakihan din 'yung baby niya..." She then gave me a warning look, "Kaya ikaw 'wag ka talagang mag-aasawa ng lalaking doble sa size mo, jusko ang liit-liit mo pa naman-"

"Wow, at sa pinaka-single na taong kakilala mo pa talaga binibigay ang advice na iyan ha!"

Hindi ko alam kung ma-o-offend ba ako o matatawa nalang dito. Kung makasabi ng ang liit-liit ko parang dwende naman ako... Ai is even smaller than me but she was able to deliver Johann through normal delivery like the queen that she is. Why am I even justifying this? I'm not even sexually active at the moment!

"Speak for yourself," inirapan ko ito. "Wala pa kayong planong magka-baby ng asawa mo?"

Eve slid her hands in her pockets, she looked at me with a small smile on her face. "Nah," she shook her head. "Napaguusapan na naman namin but we decided na kapag nakapasa na ako ng boards at naging resident na. Hindi ko ata kayang pagsabayin ang pagre-review at ang pag-aalaga ng baby."

Hmm, that's fair.

May point din naman siya since first hand ko din namang na-witness 'yung intense na time-management na ginagawa ni Ai at the moment with my brother and their son. Kagaya kasi nito ay nagpakasal din si Eve sa long-time boyfriend nito right after med school. He's in the marketing industry, ayon sa mga kwento nito. Minsan ay naitanong ko na rin sakanya kung minsan ba ay nagsisisi ito sa desisyon niyang maagang magpakasal since madalas din naman itong magkwento na hirap-hirap nga itong pagsabayin ang pagiging PGI at ang buhay may asawa. I remember her being late before kasi natagalan ito sa pagluluto ng breakfast and that their car broke down on their way to the hospital.