Sundered by Time (Manila Series #1)

Chapter 40

"Linggo ngayon, hindi po kayo ma'am magsisimba?"

Anong oras na ba?

"Lura!"

"Ano?"

Niyakap ako ni Mae at inaya na magsimba sa church namin. But then, we decided to watch the service live stream here in the house. Mae made avocado shake for us and the helpers. She even made pancakes as our snacks. We even watched the news together.

Natutulog pa ang isa sa kuwarto ko while Levi is in Italy right now, on his way back home. May inayos lang siya saglit nitong sabado.

We swum in the pool with my son, Liev, soon after the service ended. Mae and I are wearing our bikini as we put the 3 months old little one in his floatie as he splashed the waters and giggled.

Night ended when she went home. Kinabukasan, maaga akong pumasok at hinatid ni Levi. Hindi ako madalas mag seat belt but I'm trying to use it more often. Pumasok ako sa office ng chief of emergency department para kausapin siya tungkol sa concerns ko sa department. Nadagdagan naman na din 'yung EM physician namin pero kulang pa rin talaga sa nurse.

Umupo ako sa may nurse station at may nakitang patient pa na tinatanong nila. In-examine ko ito at sinabihan na magpa ultrasound. I asked them to give her an ice pack and elevation. She looks like she strained her muscles straight from the gym. Exercise is good for the body but not when you overdo it.

Nginitian ko ang doctor na kasama ko lagi dahil sabay kami ng duty pero sa ibang department siya. Akmang bibigyan niya ako ng kape pero agad siyang natauhan. He gave me a glass of water instead.

"Dra., tawag ka po ni Dra. de Castro."

I told her na sa kaniya na ako magpapa check up pero hindi ngayon! Ano problema no'n? Sumakay ako sa elevator at laking gulat nang isa nalang ang pasyente niya. Pinapasok ako agad kasabay ng isa na nagaantay kanina sa labas.

"Tapos ka na?"

Umiling siya at kinausap ang patient. The woman is 7 months preggy, blooming I can say. Parang ako lang dati. The patient asked questions related to her pregnancy before exiting the room. Umupo siya sa swivel niya at hinubad na ang white coat.

"May mga intern kanina, ang bibilis kumilos! Grabe 'yung velocity!"

Natawa kami ng mga intern na kasama niya sa loob. Interns these days are better than we were and it's a relief to see them helping us as their practice. A requirement, yes, but most of them are really passionate. One thing I don't tolerate in duty is laziness and being absent-minded, they improved, I can say.

Pagkatapos ng patient, ako naman ang kinausap niya nang matino. "Ano misis, may nararamdaman ka ba?"

"Oo, nasusuka ako sa ginagawa mo." straight forward kong sagot.

"Hala buntis ka ulit?"

Tumawa lang kami sa sinabi at hinayaan na magpahinga 'yung intern na kasama niya. Tapos naman na ang clinic hours pero may naglalabor ata na patient niya that's why she'll sleep in the staff room.

"Normal lang 'yan, Mommy. Kay Daddy, naii-stress ka ba?" Inirapan ko siya at naalala 'ang nangyari kagabi.

Bumuntong hininga habang nakangiti ako bago harapin ang OB-GYN ko. "Napaka walang kuwenta ng tanong mong gaga ka."

Tumayo na ako at binuksan ang pinto. I have so many patients lining up, I don't have time to chit-chat with my fellow physician.

"Bababa ako mamaya sa ER, kausapin kita." she looks disappointed upon hearing those but I immediately went out of her office.

"Good afternoon Doc!"

"Good afternoon!" sabay kaming nagsalita ng boses sa likod.

"Good mood ah? Successful operation?" Nginisian ako ni Russel. Nagtataka ko lang siyang tinignan.