Naputol lang ang titigan namin nang may marinig akong paparating. I walked past him. He tried holding me but I avoided him.
It was the for the best.
It was for his best.
"We need to talk." He whispered and held my wrist tight. Hindi ko siya nilingon.
"We have nothing to talk about." Bulong ko pabalik saka buong lakas na hinigit ang kamay ko nang hindi man lang siya tinatapunan ng tingin.
The next days, I was just focused with the reason why I am here. Dahil general surgeon ako, they entrusted me with the overall check up. Kapag cardio related case, ipinapasa ko kay Adi. Kapag kailangan ng further check ups, I am referring them to a hospital with the sponsorship from our foundation. Halos hindi na ako umalis sa tent namin.
"Doc Ganda!" Biboy called from the side. Ngumiti ako. For days that I was here, he was always on that area, watching me.
I stood up from my seat and came near him. I knelt down and held both of his hands. They were rough because of work but it was a proof of his hardwork..
"Kapag lumaki ako, gusto ko pong maging katulad niyo!" He excitedly uttered.
I pressed his hand. "Mag-aral nang mabuti, okay?" Saad ko saka siya tinitigan. Tumango siya sa akin. Schooling here is hard. You need to walk for hours just to attend your school. When you came home, you still have to work because you have no choice. It was harder for kids... but I believe, as long as you are persistent to get there, you'll reach your dreams.
"Doc Ganda!" Hinihingal na saad ng isang sundalo mula sa pinto ng tent. Kaagad akong napatayo. It seemed urgent. "May-"
I didn't wait for him to finish his sentence. Tumakbo na ako kaagad sa lugar kung saan nanggagaling ang mga sigawan ng tao. Wala pang kahit na sinong doktor nang dumating ako kaya kaagad nila ako binigyan ng daan. Sa gitna, nandoon ang isang bata, nahihirapang huminga. Beside her was her mom, crying hard as she's holding her daughter's shoulders.
"JYMC!" Tawag ko sa mga nurse ng hospital. Kaagad nag-show up ang lalaking nurse na kasama ko. "May asthma mo ang bata?" Tanong ko sa ina. The moment she answered, I commanded the nurse to get the emergency bag that we brought.
Inihiga ko nang tuwid ang bata saka itiningala ang ulo. Pagkarating na pagkarating ng nurse, kaagad kong isinaksak ang maliit na tube sa lalamunan niya. Good thing, marunong makiramdam ang nurses namin sa sitwasyon. He opened the syringe and handed it to me. I immediately applied it inside the tube. My heart was thumping hard as I remove the tube and waited for the result.
Nakahinga lang ako ng maluwag nang nagpalakpakan ang mga tao. The kid started coughing with her eyes closed. "She has- I mean..." Naputol lang ang sasabihin ko nang lumapit si Adi saka itinap ang balikat ko.
"May asthma po ang bata. Nang makalunok po siya ng allergen..." He continued the explanation for me.
I sat on the side... I was very very exhausted because of non-stop checking up for days. But actually, emergency patients is the reason why I am keep on going. The rush makes me feel alive. It was fulfilling...
"Are you okay?" A voice asked and handed me a bottle of water. It was Pau... again.
"Thank you." Sagot ko saka sinubukang buksan ang bote ng tubig pero masyadong mahigpit ang kapit noon. Pau snatched the bottle again and opened it himself.
