Mistakes We Can't Laugh About (Loser #2)

Chapter 43

Chapter 43

Matinding pag-aaral at pagbabasa ang ginawa ko. I looked into new drug developments and wrote down any research that might be of interest to Percy.

Pinigilan kong pagnilayan ang nangyayari sa loob ng laboratory . . . sa uppermost floor ng Mendoza Research Institute. I couldn't believe that behind its good reputation were rotten methods of how experiments were done.

"These are the records of the new patients." Inilapag ni Psyche sa harap ko ang may kakapalang folder. "I can't understand how serious their cases are, but I think it's those with schizophrenia again."

I breathed deeply as I flipped through the pages of the psychological reports. Sinabihan ko siyang kunin ang mga iyon sa cabinet ni Percy, at mabilis naman siyang nakakilos. Wala rin naman kasing kaalam-alam ang lalaki na may duplicate keys si Psyche.

"Gustong-gusto ni Percy maka-develop ng bagong antipsychotic drug na makakatalo sa Clozapine," maya-maya'y saad ko.

"Clozapine?"

Tumango ako. "It's an antipsychotic drug for those who have schizophrenia na hindi nagre-respond sa ibang treatments. Highest-rated 'yon kahit na hindi maganda ang history, at first year college palang kami, narinig ko na kay Ms. Lubrica na sinusubukang talunin 'yon ni Percy. It's been a decade, and it looks like he doesn't have any improvements yet."

Pinagpatuloy ko ang pagbabasa. Psyche was just beside me, highlighting all the "drops" in the documents.

"Si Mr. Bargola . . . he has a severe case. Look at this."

Iniabot ko sa kanya ang report ng pasyente na nakausap ko ang anak.

"Auditory, visual, and tactile hallucinations. Ibig sabihin, may mga naririnig, nakikita, at nararamdaman siya na hindi nag-e-exist para sa 'tin. Persecutory delusions. Nasa isip niya, may mananakit sa kanya. Grandiose delusions. Pakiramdam niya, superior siya sa lahat."

"Abnormal psychomotor behavior?" basa ni Psyche sa papel.

Muli akong tumango. "Nothing was specified, but people with psychomotor problems can be messy. May mga strange habits sila at kadalasan sa behavior nila, repetitive. Their actions deviate from others. Tapos 'yang disorganized speech, incoherence, ibig sabihin, walang pagkakatugma o koneksyon manlang 'yong sinasabi nila. In other words, they don't make sense."

Bahagyang natahimik si Psyche bago siya nagpakawala ng buntong-hininga.

"Naging . . . drop siya?"

I pursed my lips, slowly feeling the heaviness in my chest.

"Oo . . . at kadalasan sa mga pasyente ay kagaya niya. Those were symptoms of schizophrenia. Kaya kung sakali mang ginagamit sila sa experiment, puwedeng hindi nila ma-distinguish agad 'yon. Their psychotic symptoms made them lose touch with reality. Perfect subjects . . . kasi hindi makakapagreklamo."

"Oh my god . . ." Her voice trembled.

"We need to save these patients, Psyche," I told her. "Pagkatapos no'n, kakailanganin nilang dumaan sa trauma counseling o mas focused na treatment. The experiment will be conducted after the 35th anniversary of the firm, right?"

She nodded, her face tense.

"We need to be done with everything by then."

I reached for her hand and gently squeezed it, hoping she'd calm down a little.

"You're scared?"

Her lips quivered. "Y-Yeah . . ."

Umiling ako. "Think about how those asshats do things without fear. You can't face them trembling. Remember . . . wala kang alam."