Stitches and Scars

Chapter 2

"It all comes down to lines. The finish line at the end of residency. Waiting in line for a turn at the operating table. And then there's the most important line —a line separating you from the people you work with. My mother said that it's not a good idea to become too familiar or to make friends. You need boundaries between you and the rest of the world because other people are far too messy. So, it all comes down to lines. And now, I'm drawing a line in the sand and hoping like hell no one crosses them."

As expected, Karylle arrived late at the hospital. Pero buti na lang din at walang nakapansin sa kaniya dahil halos abala naman ang lahat sa pakikipag-usap at pagpapasada ng kanilang mga mata sa kabuuan ng malaking operating room.

"Good morning, interns," Karylle quickly turned her gaze towards a middle-aged man who was standing by the threshold. Agad namang natahimik ang lahat na para bang alam na nila kung sino ang taong kakapasok lang. Karylle sensed that a man who could impose that kind of authority with only three words doesn't need any introduction.

"That's Dr. Albert Martinez. Chief of Surgery," another intern whispered, making Karylle turn to her. She was standing beside Karylle with a pretty big smile. At halata sa mukha nito na excited siya sa mga mangyayari ngayong araw.

Napatango lang naman si Karylle at napangiti ng konti. Akmang ibabalik na sana niya ang kaniyang atensyon sa mga sinasabi ni Dr. Martinez nang magsalita ulit ang kaniyang katabi.

"I'm Anne, by the way," she said and moved a bit closer to Karylle para mas magkarinigan sila.

"Karylle," tipid na sagot ng huli at ngumiti na lang ulit para hindi naman siya magmukhang masungit. She has no plans of making friends but she also doesn't want to make enemies on her first day.

"Months ago, you were in medical school being taught by doctors. But today, you are the doctors. Each of you came here hopeful, and badly wanting in on the game. But the time you will spend here as interns and surgical residents will be the best and worst ones of your life. Hindi biro ang lahat ng ito. You will be pushed to the breaking point," Dr. Martinez continued at tinignan ng mabuti ang mga kaharap niya. Everyone was all ears.

"Look around you, and say hello to your competition. During this internship, eight of you will switch to an easier specialty. Two will be asked to leave, while five of you will crack under the pressure. This is the game, people. This is your starting line. Your arena. And how well you play is entirely up to you. The future of your career in this hospital is in your own hands. So, don't mess it up."

•~•~•~•

"Ako lang ba or do you also think that that whole speech was beyond intense?" paglapit ni Anne kay Karylle habang naglalakad sila papunta sa kanilang locker room. "I was the only one from our batch na nakapasok dito. So, it's a good thing na nakilala kita because I was quite worried that I'll end up being the lone intern who eats lunch by herself."

Ngumiti lang naman si Karylle at binuksan na ang kaniyang sariling locker. Anne got the space na malapit sa kaniya kaya nagpatuloy lang ito sa pagkukuwento. "What about you, K? Do you know anyone? May kilala ka bang ibang interns dito?"

Natigilan naman si Karylle nang marinig ang tanong sa kaniya ng katabi. She didn't expect that Anne would come up with a nickname already.

But sensing that she was just an innately friendly person, Karylle decided not to make a big deal out of it. "I studied overseas, so just like you, I'm not familiar with any other interns here neither."

"Wait. So you're saying na sa ibang bansa ka nag-aral pero dito ka mag-iinternship sa Pinas? Well, that's pretty patriotic," Anne commented as they put on their blue hospital scrubs.