Doctor Series 1: Soren Tiu

Chapter 13

"I'm coming now." sabi ko kay Benjamin nang bigla itong tumawag tungkol sa pasyenteng nasa ICU.

"Where are you going? Di pa tapos yang IG mo." sabi ni Tobias nang nagmamadali akong ligpitin ang aking pinagkainan.

"Sa ICU." sabi ko, "Daryl, tara." patuloy ko saka naglakad patungo sa counter para isaoli ang mga pinagkainan.

"Are you thirsty?" tanong ko sa pasyente saka nilagay ang stethoscope sa leeg pagkatapos ko itong gamitin.

"Yes, I'm parched." sagot nito habang hinahawakan ko ang kanyang dalawang kamay at paa.

"He's thirsty. His CVP is low and his fluid balance is negative, so don't reduce the input. You can actually increase it. Call me if anything happens." sabi ko kay Benjamin na nakatayo saaking harapan at tumatango.

Paglabas ko sa ICU ay napalingon ako saaking likuran ng may biglang bumati saakin, "Hello, professor Tiu." bati ng medical student na si Vince Ponce.

Tumango ako aalis na sana ng bigla itong nagsalita, "Internal and external VAD are the two types of VAD. On infants and young children, only the external type can be utilized. If the power source and control are withdrawn, they must be shut down outside within 30 minutes, necessitating hospitalization. Adults, on the other hand, can have the implanted type and be discharged while waiting for a transplant." paliwanag nito.

Tumango ito at akmang aalis na sana ako nang nagsalita ito ulit, "Also, they operate differently.." patuloy nito.

"Then what is the most basic factor considered for selecting a compatible donor?" tanong ko.

"This is a basic knowledge." sabi ko nang tumitingin-tingin ulit ito sa kisame na parang naghahanap ng sagot.

"Blood type?" hindi siguradong sagot nito.

"Yes, the blood type must be compatible." sabi ko.

"I can't you had to think that long about this.." patuloy ko at tinignan siya ng seryoso.

"Prof, cut him some slack. He's still a medical student." singit naman ni Daryl na nasa aking tabi ngunit hindi na ako nag-abalang pumatol kaya naglakad na ako paalis at para magtungo saaking opisina.

Naupo ako saaking swivel chair at kinuha ang aking cellphone na nasa bulsa ng suot kong coat dahil may tumatawag.

Wala sa sarili akong napangiti nang nakita ang pangalan ni Syrhane kaya agad ko itong itong sinagot.

"Hmm?" malambing kong bungad at napasandal sa swivel chair.

"May IG kana?" excited na tanong nito.

"Ha? Pano mo nalaman?" agad kong tanong sakanya.

"Nag DM si Prof Alsons, nahihiya ka daw na i-follow ako." natatawang sabi nito kaya napahilot ako saaking sentido at minumura si Tobias saaking isipan.

"I already followed you! Kaya siguraduhin mong i-followback mo'ko!" sabi nito sa kabilang linya kaya natawa ako at napapa-iling.

"Oo, syempre. Dapat talaga kitang i-follow." sabi ko habang natatawa.

"Dr. Tiu.." tawag nito kaya natigil ako saaking mahihinang tawa.

"Hmm?"

"Uh, May surgery ka ba mamayang gabi?" mahinang tanong nito na para bang nahihiya.

"Wala naman. Plano kong umuwi mamaya sa condo ko para makapag-pahinga ng maayos." sagot ko.

"Can I come over?" biglang tanong nito kaya hindi agad ako nakasagot dahil sa gulat at lakas ng tibok ng puso dahil sa hindi ko malamang dahilan, simple lang naman ang kanyang tanong kaya bakit ganito ang epekto?

"Sure, you can.. come over." sabi ko.

Pagkatapos naming mag-usap ay huminga ako ng malalim at pumikit para kumalma. Hindi ko maintindihan aking sarili kung bakit ganito ang epekto sa simpleng tanong niya lang kaya napahilot ulit ako saaking sentido at bumuntong hininga.

"Call me if anything happens." sabi ko kay Daryl at tinapik ang kanyang balikat nang magkita kami sa hallway.

Habang naliligo ako ay biglang tumunog ang door bell ng aking condo kaya dali-dali kong binanlawan ang sarili at naglagay ng towel sa ibabang parte ng katawan.

Pagbukas ko sa pintuan ay bumungad saakin si Syrhane na halatang nagulat dahil saaking ayos kaya nagkamot ako ng ulo at nahiyang ngumiti sakanya.

"You didn't inform that I already have a food.." she naughtily and looks on my body.

I scoffed, "Pasok ka." sabi ko at hinawakan ang kanyang kamay saka dinala siya sa living room ng aking condo.

"Magbibihis muna ako.." sabi ko at tumango naman ito kaya dali-dali akong nagtungo saaking kwarto.

Nag-suot ako ng simpleng itim na jogger at kulay puting hoodie. Hindi na ako nag-abalang patuyuin ang aking buhok at hinayaan ko lang itong medyo makalat.

"It's our first day." agad itong lumapit saakin kaya nagyakapan kaming dalawa.

"Bango nama, amoy mint." sabi nito at sumiksik saaking leeg kaya natawa ako at giniya siya paupo sa sofa.

"You know my favorite flavor?" tanong ko sakanya nang nakita ang Hawaiian pizza na nasa aming harapan.

"Wait, Hawaiian is your favorite too? We're the same!" masayang sabi nito kaya ngumiti ako at tumango sakanya.

Looking at her, I though how can someone be so beautiful..

I think she's most attractive when she's not dressed up. When she wasn't attempting to impress anyone or break through the barrier she had established between herself and the majority of others. We were both seated on the sofa, laughing over the movie we were watching, and her eyes and laugh were pure, which made me fall in love with her more.

Until I met Syrhane, I had no idea what it meant to be flawless. Suddenly, the definition clicked into place, and the breath that I had been holding was snatched away from me throughout this time with her.

When I kissed her, the magic that had been building up steadily all around me burst and rained down in silver fire arcs. I took her delicate hand and kissed it forlornly, first the stiff metacarpus, the long, discerning fingers, diaphanous nails, and then the hieroglyphics of her destiny on her sweating palm, knowing we had rounded the cape of good hope.

"Soren.." she called.

I held her and kissed her on the forehead. I don't hesitate to push things forward. I kissed her passionately and forcefully, like if I'd been underwater for a long time and was just coming to. I gave her a fiery kiss and let her take over my senses. I kissed her furiously, biting her lip, kissing as if my life depended on it.

"I love you.." I whispered.