Red Ribbon

I didn't believe in the supernatural. I always thought that Science has an answer for everything unexplainable. Bilang isang alagad ng Siyensya, I was always logical and rational. Pero that was before. Hindi na ngayon.

I was working overtime sa hospital where I work. It was already 3 am and I decided to go home para makapagpahinga na. I had a rough day. Sunod sunod and mga isinugod sa hospital at sunod sunod rin ang mga namatay dahil sa dengue outbreak. Nagkakaubusan na nga sa supply dahil madami talaga ang nagkasakit.

Pagkabukas ng elevator ay bumungad sakin ang isang lalaki and babae, both in their early 20's. They smiled at me and I smiled back tapos sumakay na ako. Pagdating sa 16th floor, the elevator stopped and the door opened pero wala namang tao. A few seconds later ay may batang babaeng tumatakbo papunta samin.

"Saglit lang po!" and she waved her hand. And on her right hand was a red ribbon! Natulala ako when I recognized na that girl was one of my patients!

I rushed and closed the elevator door. Hiningal ako sa mga pangyayari. I was pretty sure of what I saw. That girl! That girl was my patient!

"Doctora, bakit di nyo po pinasakay ang bata?" tanong ng babae.

The elevator suddenly got hot and parang may kakaibang amoy na nanggagaling sa dalawang nasa likod ko. Hindi ko na sila nilingon at sumagot ako.

"That girl! She was my patient! Patay na ang batang iyon! Sigurado ako!"

It was the guy's turn to talk, "Patay? Eh kitang kita nga nating tatlo diba na nag wave pa nga siya?"

"Di niyo ba nakita sa kamay niya ang pulang ribbon? Nilalagay ng mga nurse iyon sa kamay ng mga pasyente na hindi na naisalba at patay na. That red ribbon indicates who are dead and who are not."

Lalong uminit ang room at narinig ko na parang umiiyak ang babae. Curiosity got me so nilingon ko ang dalawa. We were at the 6th floor at that time at nahimatay na ako sa nakita ko.

Sunog silang dalawa. And I could smell their flesh rotting and burning. It was such a horrible sight to see! They raised their right hands and showed me the red ribbons na nasa wrists nila.

"So patay na pala kami Doktora?" and they moved closer to me.

Di na ako nakasagot at nawalan na ako ng ulirat.