Back In Your Arms (GM Series #4)

19

Fortunately, my load was lessened when a new batch of nurses came the next week. From thirteen, my patient load went down to 6. And surprisingly, there's a memo that says that every nurse should only have 6 of maximum patients.

Ayaw ko man isipin pero alam kong malaki ang papel ni Aydan sa biglang pagbabago. Nakikita niya kasi kung paano ang pagod ko araw-araw na halos hindi na ako makasabay sa kanya sa lunch. At pag uwi naman sa bahay, nakakatulog agad ako. Minsan ay hindi ko na nagagawang mag dinner dahil sa pagod.

"They will hate me," I told him. I still can't get over the sudden change that happened.

"Why would they?" He asked. We're in our bed, me, ranting on him, while he's reading something on his iPad.

"Because they will think I am using you to make things easier for me," I answered.

Aydan arched his brow, took off his eyeglasses and put it down on our bedside table along with his iPad. "I don't think they will. Besides, they will also benefit from that."

I rolled my eyes. Gusto ko sanang sabihin kung paano ako tignan ni Emily pagkatapos ng announcement kanina at kung paano magbulungan ang mga kasama kong nurse sa ICU kanina. Kaso, kung sasabihin ko pa pati iyon, alam kong may gagawin na naman si Aydan laban dun.

I sighed. "I don't want them to think that I will get everything easier just because I'm married to you," I said instead.

"I'm your husband, love. You're not just married to me. I am your husband and they are wrong. You don't have to use me to have everything because I will willingly do it for you," he said and I can't help but roll my eyes again.

"That's the point, Aydan Elliot. They will surely hate me because you are willing to use every authority you have just to make things work for me," I said, sighing. "Love, I entered the hospital to provide for Marin in my head. That is still my main goal. I don't want them to think that I was only there because you own a big share in the hospital."

Aydan pulled me closer to him, leaned on my neck and snuggled it. "Alright, love. I will try not to meddle but I can't promise, especially when I see you almost collapsed from exhaustion," he said. "But regarding providing for Mari, you can forget that now. I will provide for you and our daughter. If I can only ask you to stop working, I would but I know you love working so I'm trying to be okay with that."

"I love working, love."

He nodded, still snuggling my neck, planting small kisses in there. "I know. Just please don't overworked yourself."

"Then, promise me you will not meddle with my workload again," I asked.

"I already promised."

"You said you will try but you're not promising to act on it," I said and he shook his head. "Come on, Aydan. I love what I'm doing."

"Alright. I promise," he said but added, "But please, don't exhaust yourself. It hurts me to see our daughter feel sad because she can't play with you when you're so tired."

I sighed. "I'm sorry," I said, feeling sad for my daughter.

The past days that I am so engrossed with my job, Aydan took over almost all of my duties as mother. Noong unang linggo ni Mari sa school ay nagagawa ko pa siyang ipaghanda ng baon ng niyang snacks, pero noong mga sumunod ay si Aydan na ang gumagawa nun dahil hindi ko na kayang gumising ng mas maaga. Even bathing and dressing up our daughter. Gigisingin niya na lang ako pag nakahanda na ang lahat.

Aydan kissed my cheeks. "It's okay. I know you didn't mean it. Let's just be better this time."

That's our agreement, to be better every time we do something we think we need to improve. So, my next days in the hospital, I will make sure I will at least have a short break so I will not be exhausted by the end of my ship.

"Kung ako rin naman yun at pwede kong gawin ang lahat, bakit hindi ko gagamitin, 'di ba?" I heard one of the ICU nurses said.

"Right. Kung ako rin naman yun, baka nasa opisina na lang ako," the other one answered.

Nagtawanan pa sila pero agad din silang tumahimik nung nakitang parating ako.

I sighed.

That was not the first time I heard them talk about that, but I always choose to ignore it. I knew myself better than their judgement. Hindi ako kahit kailan magpapaapekto sa mga sinasabi nila.

"How's the patient," Aydan asked. May rounds siya ngayon at kaming dalawa ni Emily ang kasama niya.

"He's stable now, Doc.," I answered, handing him the patient's chart.

Aydan read it, nodding after. "Observe him for the next twenty-four hours and when he stays stable, we can move him to ward," he said and I noted that.

"Noted, Doc.," I answered.

After that, we moved to the next patient. Emily's patient.

"Have you scheduled her operation?" Aydan asked Emily, she nodded.

"Yes, Doc. Tomorrow night. Operating room number three. Seven in the evening," Emily said.

Aydan nodded and read the patient's chart. Ganun din sa mga sumunod na pasyente. It took us almost an hour to check all his patients in ICU, hindi pa kasama ang nasa ward at mga private rooms. And we finished checking all his patients, I just found out that he was scheduled to have four operations tomorrow, morning until evening, three minors and one major.

"Your schedule is packed," I told him. I have a fifteen minute break so I was able to go to his office.

He nodded. "I'll be home late tomorrow. I'll ask mom to send Kuya Lito to drive you home."

I shook my head. "No need," I said. "I'll drive."

"You'll drive?" He asked, arching his brow.

"Yeah. I'll use my car," I answered, walking near him.

"Your car?"

"Yep. It's in the garage, untouched. And I missed using it," I answered again. We're talking about the car he gave me as a wedding gift six years ago. "I assume you maintain it?"

He nodded. "Yes. But why would you rather drive when we can ask Kuya Lito to pick you up here?"

I shook my head again. "Ayaw kong mang-abala, love. And that's unnegotiable," I said.

He sighed. "Alright. Just drive safe, okay?"

I nodded again and let him pull me to his lap to sit. I wrapped my arms around his shoulder, brushing my fingers to his hair. "You work so hard," I said, eyes on his hair where my fingers were.

Ever since, I knew how workaholic Aydan was and how much he loves his profession, but it still surprises me to see him actually work in front of me.

He snaked his arms around my waist, leaning his head to my shoulder. "I need to earn a lot to provide everything for you and our daughter."

I chuckled. "I don't think you still need to work, though. We will survive for at least fifty years with everything you've worked hard the past years," I said teasingly.

Nailing at natawa rin naman siya pero hindi na sumagot. I rubbed his back. "I love you," I said, making him stunned.

I knew I have not said that to him since we got back together. And I also knew that he's been waiting for it patiently.

Slowly, Aydan looked up to me. His eyes were dazed. "I love you more," he said, giving me a kiss on my cheek.

I reached for his face and caressed. "Thank you for doing all this for our family, love. You're doing a great job," I told him.

"I do?"

"Yes. You do. You're a good dad for our daughter. A good husband to me. A good son to your mom and mamita. And a good doctor to your patients. Baby, you're doing so good and I am so proud of you," I told him, kissing his cheek.

Aydan smiled and I could see how warm his eyes were.