Second Place

Seven Years

Seven years.

Tiniklop ko ang sulat ni Lisa, nilagay yun sa drawer at saka nilock. I look at myself in the mirror and the saw the familiar sad eyes, naramdaman kong parang may gumalaw sa may binti ko pag tingin ko ay nandun si Kuma at nakatingin sakin. This makes me smile

Agad ko syang binuhat at hinalikan. "Morning baby."

I went outside my room at nandun na si Jisoo Unnie at hinihintay ako. Binigay ko sa kanya si Kuma.

"Thank you Unnie." Sabi ko sa kanya.

"Well, kailan ka naman nakakauwi nyan?" Tanong nya sakin habang hinahalik halikan nya si Kuma.

"I don't know. I have a straight schedule." sabi ko sabay kuha ng maliit kong duffle bag. "I'll go sa bahay nyo pag kukunin ko na sya. Just text me kung aalis kayo at iiwan nyo sya kay Bambam." Sabi ko havang tinitignan yung gamit ko. Making sure na dala ko lahat.

"I'll go na Baby." Sabi ko sabay kiss kay Kuma. "Bye Unnie, thanks." I wave at Unnie at palabas na. "Pasara na lang ng pinto Unnie" pahabol kong bilin sa kanya.

Agad akong sumakay sa kotse ko at nagmamadali ng pumunta ng ospital. The moment I enter the hospital, my hectic day start. I start my shift by going over on my patients.

After that I been in the emergency room for a major surgery. Paglabas ko ng emergency room lumipas na ang halos 8 hrs. At nakaramdam na ako ng gutom. Every nurses or doctor that saw me have been greetings me and I just bow to them.

At the age of 28 I am the youngest Attending Trauma Surgeon of this hospital so a lot of people is either respecting me or criticising me.

Bumili ako sa canteen ng salad at umupo sa nakita kong lamesa. Maya maya lang ay may naglapag ng kape sa harap ko.

"Bakit salad lang ang kinakain mo?" Tanong sakin ng nakangiting si V.

Kasabay ko syang nag intern sa ospital na to pero kakatangap pa lang nyang maging fellow trauma surgeon. I look at his plate and it have almost 2 serving of japchae.

"Ikaw naman parang gutom na gutom." Sabi ko sa kanya.

Natawa lang sya at umupo na sa tabi ko. "How are you?" Tanong nya sakin habang lumalamon ng japchae. Lamon talaga hindi lang kain.

Nagkibit balikat lang ako. "Ganun pa rin."

He then look at me then smile. "I see."

Kumain na ulit sya at pero maya maya lang narinig ko syang nagsalita. "I miss him."

I pat his shoulder and continue eating. He know that I understand, after all were on the same boat.

Maya maya lang nakarinig ako ng beep, tinignan ko ang pager ko, wala akong message. I look at V na tumayo na agad.

"Ipapabalot ko na lang tong natira mong pagkain, pumunta ka sa office ko pagkatapos." Tumango lang sya at nagmamadali ng tumakbo.

This is the normal life of a doctor, hindi mo alam kung kailan may emergency, kaya kailangan kumain ka at matulog ka pag may oras ka.

Pumunta na ako sa opisina ko at umupo sa swivel chair ko I lean on my chair and close my eyes. This is what I hate about working on the hospital, the relax time, the silence yung para bang binibigyan ka ng oras na magkaron ng reality check.

I hate the silence, because when it become silent the voices in my head become louder, the memories that I am keeping away is grabbing me and the emotions that I am hiding is showing itself. As if a ghost is showing to drag me in insanity.

Seven years.

It's been seven years simula ng nawala na lang bigla si Lisa. I remember how Bambam knock at my door, he look so frantic he is screaming and asking if Lisa is with me, it felt like my heart suddenly stop beating when I realized that Lisa left.