Ocean Eyes

4- Attachmennt

It has been 3 days—3 long days. I already talked to my dad about the medical mission. It was meant for a joint outreach program para libre check-up, circumcision, and other matters sa mga rural areas na mahirap i-reach at malaki ang tally sa poor healthcare surveys. While I'm gone for the day, someone will have to cover up my shift. Pull out nang pull out, pwede naman kasing iba naman ang bigyan ng opportunity. Of course, I told my dad about it but he said he cannot afford to risk, not at least now. But I can't be always free forever; I can't work here forever, right?

Our master call system is a digital IP and it is built into the nurse station. Pwede kaming tawagan ng mga pasyente dito to let us know if something is going wrong and vice versa. So when it rang, mind you in the middle of the night, I immediately checked which room number was on the line.

I paused for a second before I picked up.

"Hello?" I uttered. Expecting to hear his loud voice echoing through the phone, demanding, asking, complaining but there wasn't any. Instead, I heard a soft voice, almost endearing (Hi, Nurse Raoisie) then there was silence between us.

Why did he call in the middle of the night?

"You should be sleeping." I glanced at Aia who was taking a nap beside me. There was a pause for a second before he spoke again, (You've been busy lately) his voice consistently sounded sweet. I am guilty though, I haven't been the one checking up on him lately because I kept myself busy running his schedules for post-surgery monitoring. I purposely avoided him because I knew I was in danger, I didn't want to get too attached.

Hindi ko tuloy alam ang sasabihin "Mmm, Yeah. How's your leg?"

(Doing fine.)

"You called the station."

(I... I just wanted to talk to you.) he said, almost in a whisper "Bakit?" I wish he didn't notice the way my voice was shaking. Ano na naman to, Zarces? (Aalis ka daw.) he sounded skeptical of what he said. I stared at the blank page of a sticky note in front of me "Kanino mo nalaman?"

(Dra. Feleen... Escobarte.)

"I know" I countered, with slight exasperation as what I saw 3 or 4 days have passed flashed at the back of my mind "We know each other."

(Saan ka pupunta? Matagal ka doon?)

"Aia will be here for you as you go through post-surgery monitoring tests. You will be fine." I assured him without answering his questions to divert the conversation (I won't be seeing you again. I hate to think about it as much as I hate to ask but I can't help myself, are you avoiding me?)

Paano niya nabasa kaagad ang kilos ko sa ilang araw niyang pamamalagi sa hospital na 'to?

"No, I'm just busy. Tanong ka nang tanong no? Matulog ka na."

(Nurse Raoisie...)

"Yes?"

(I have a low tolerance in pain. I know that I have to do this but the doctors have said that this is not a pain-free journey. I am scared, now that I'm thinking that I will go through multiple tests and you won't be there) then he sighed (Goodnight.) his voice resonated in my mind, crystal clear.

Maaga ang alis namin ni Doc Evon at ng ilan pang kasama kong nurses and Looch was one of them. Bale, isang team kami na may 3 doctors at 3 nurses na magpaparticipate sa outreach program, government organization ata to eh. We were incharged of the circumsition section wherein boys lined up and patiently waited for their turn. Yung iba dala-dala ang mga magulang para hindi matakot habang ang iba naman ay halos wala nang dugo sa sobrang putla.