"Gising na ba si Doc?" One of the nurses outside the tent asked. The sun was already shining brightly but I was still on the sleeping bag with my eyes closed, pretending to be asleep.
After Pau said those words last night, I unconsciously run away and headed in our tent. To avoid being forced to go out, inayos ko lang lahat ng natitira kong gamit saka tuluyang natulog. But my problem right now is, how can I face him?
"Lagot ka, kung ano-anong pinagsasabi mo kagabi!" Anang isang boses mula sa labas. If my guess is right, they are the nurses from St. Lukes.
"Tan-in-, wala akong maalala..." Napabangon ako kaagad nang may mag-pop up na idea sa utak ko matapos marinig ang sinabi ng babae. Right, Pau is drunk last night. Maybe he just thought of me as someone else!
Or if I am lucky enough, he won't have any recollection about all those things he has said.
Mabilis kong inayos ang natitirang gamit ko saka lumabas ng tent para mag-ayos ng sarili. Kaagad akong binati ng mga nakasalubong ko sa daan. It was just 7 in the morning but almost all of them are already awake... despite being wasted last night.
"Good morning Doc Ganda!" Bati ng social worker sa akin. I smiled and greeted back as I was busy asssessing the whole dining area. Inihahanda na ang almusal. "May hinahanap po kayo?" Tanong ng lalaki sa akin nang mapansin ang pag-ikot ko ng tingin. Sudden realization hit me. Mahahalata ako sa ginagawa ko!
Ngumiti ako at saka umiling.
"Maaga silang umalis, may schedule daw yata ngayon. Dapat nga kahapon pa sila aalis, kaya lang, mapilit 'yung mga alaga ni manager." My sense of hearing suddenly became alive.
"Excuse me!" Tawag ko sa mga babaeng nag-uusap sa hindi kalayuan.
"Sinong umalis na?" Takang tanong ko although I already had the hunch. Tama nga ako nang isagot nila na grupo nina Pau 'yun.
"Madilim pa po noong umalis sila." Saad ng babae. Nagpasalamat ako bago umupo para kumain ng agahan. So... they left early. Nakahinga ako nang maluwag. At least, there is no chance that I will see him. Saka kahit naman magkita kami ngayon, wala akong dapat ikatakot. He was just drunk last night. There's no way he would say those words. Atleast that was the belief that I stamped in my mind the whole time we are travelling going back to Manila.
It was already night when my team and I arrived in Manila. Naghiwa-hiwalay kami kaagad sa aiport. I headed on my new condo unit, wash up and directly dived into the bed. The next morning, continous call from my phone woke me up.
"Yes?" Nakapikit na sagot ko. I was still sleepy but I had left no choice but to answer this call.
"Ma'am, sorry po sa abala. Alam ko pong hindi na po kayo ang dapat tinatawagan, kaso may emergency lang pong paparating. Wala pong doctor dahil lahat po—"
I did not wait for the nurse to finish the sentence. Nagmadali akong tumayo at naghilamos bago tumakbo palabas. I was only wearing shorts and a bralette but I had no time to change. After all, magsusuot din naman ako ng scrub suit sa OR.
I drove as fast as I can opening the headlights and horn on. People were considerate enough to make way for me. In no time, I reached the hospital. Naabutan ko sa ER ang isang bata na malakas na umiiyak. A metal bar was stuck on his right shoulder.
"Move him to OR. I'll just get ready!" Saad ko matapos isa-isahin ng nurse ang vital signs. He was fine... at least right now. But we couldn't let the kid on that phase.
