Leave Before You Love Me

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Tricia immediately rushed to the ER nang malaman ang nangyari sa kanyang pasyente. Lolo Magno collapsed after an intense fight with his son-in-law, Pocholo.

Kasalukuyang binibigyan ng CPR ni Milo, isa sa mga senior nurses nila, ang matanda.

"Doc, thank God, you are here!" Lynette said. Hawak niya ang syringe na may gamot at ready nang iturok kay Lolo Magno.

Mabilis na kumilos ang mga nurses. At Doc Tricia's command, they managed to stabilize Lolo Magno's condition in no time.

"Please inform the lab to do the requests STAT," Doc Tricia said habang kinukuhanan ng personnel ng blood samples ang matanda.

"Lynette, sino ang nagdala kay Lolo Magno?"

"Yung driver n'ya lang po. Bigla naman daw nawala ang manugang niya nang isusugod na nila si Sir dito."

Theo came panting. Halata sa itsura nito ang worry at pagmamadali. He saw his lolo lying
unconsiously.

"What happened?" Hinarap niya si Doc Tricia.

"Nagcollapse ang lolo mo. I don't have any other details as of the moment. Inaantay ko lang din ang mga laboratory requests na inorder ko."

"W-what? 'Di ba Doktor ka? Dapat alam mo!" He shouted at her.

"Sir, calm down. Walang maitutulong ang paghihisterya mo sa kondisyon ng lolo mo."

"Calm down? Nasa hospital bed ang lolo ko, unconsious, and you are saying that I need to calm down?"

"Okay, sige magwala ka d'yan all you want. Tingnan natin kung bubuti ang lolo mo!" Hindi na nakapagpigil si Tricia. She grabbed her stethoscope and walked away.

"Ano, iiwanan mo na lang ang pasyente mo? How irresponsible of you!" Theo just made a scene nang lalo niyang nilakasan ang boses dahilan para mapunta ang atensyon sa kanya ng mga naroroon.

"What?!" pinanlisikan niya ng mata ang lahat ng nakatingin sa kanya.

"S-sir, huminahon po kayo," lumapit na si Lynette para awatin si Theo.

"At sino ka para pagsabihan ako?"

"I-isa lang naman po ako sa mga tumulong na ma-stabilize ang lolo ninyo. Si Doc Tricia, hindi po niya duty ngayon, pero nung nalaman niya ang nangyari, without second thoughts, pumunta siya dito. Sana matuto naman po kayong i-appreciate ang ginawa namin."

Biglang tumahimik si Theo. He suddenly felt the feeling of guilt. Napahiya siya. He slowly walked away from the Emergency Room.

Palabas siya nang maligunan niya si Tricia na nasa bench ng hospital at nakaupo. Saktong nagsasabit ito ng stethoscope sa leeg niya at akmang aalis na sana.

"Doc Robredo," mahinang tawag ni Theo sa kanya.

Lumingon lang si Tricia sa kanya. She tried to walked away pero tinawag siya nito ulit.

"Doc Tricia," he called her by her first name to catch her attention.

"If you need any updates regarding Mr. Soliven's condition, just ask those who are on duty. Kailangan ko nang umalis."

"I'm sorry for being rude," Theo said which made Tricia stop.

"I'm sorry for my reaction kanina, nataranta lang ako. And thank you, for making effort to save my lolo," dahan dahan siyang lumapit dito.

"No worries, Mr. Soliven. I'm just doing what I ought to do," lumingon si Tricia.

"Can I treat you out to lunch or dinner maybe?"

"Just look after your Lolo. And please, next time, matuto ka munang alamin ang lahat bago ka magsalita," she gave him a sarcastic smile and walked away.

"Myocardial Infarction."

Nang makabalik ng duty si Tricia ay ibinalita iyon ng chief resident nila.

"Kung hindi naging maagap ang driver ni Sir Magno, baka hindi na siya umabot. Based on the recommendation of our cardiologists, mukhang kailangang maoperahan ni Sir Magno."

"Alam na ba 'yan ng apo ni Lolo Magno, Doc?"

"He was here a while ago and I told him every detail of his lolo's condition. He said to do everything para sa ikabubuti ng lagay ng lolo niya."

Tumangu-tango lang si Tricia.

She then went sa private suite ng kanyang pasyente. Nang pumasok siya ay naabutan niyang nakaupo si Theo at hawak ang kamay ng lolo nito.

"Good morning Mr. Soliven, sorry to interrupt you," she said at tiningnan ang chart ni Lolo Magno. Pagkatapos ay sinuri niya ang pasyente.

"How is he, Doc?"

"Better than the last time. I heard na nirekomenda ng cardiologist na mag undergo ng surgery si Sir to put stent sa arteries niya. Will you allow it?"

"Anything for Lolo, Doc Tricia."

"It may be risky, Mr. Soliven. Lolo Magno's age is a factor, but it is the best option that we have for now."

"I'm willing to risk everything, Doc, just for my Lolo to live longer. Hindi ko kakayanin if I lost him. Siya na lang ang meron ako."

"I thought you have your uncle with you?"

"That man who put lolo in his condition right now? Hinding hindi na siya makakabalik sa bahay," nakita ni Tricia na nakuyom ni Theo ang palad nito.

"Make sure na hindi malapit si Sir sa mga pwedeng mag-cause ng stress sa kanya. Another attack and we may lose him. Masasayang ang lahat ng effort natin."

"I'll make sure of it Doc."

The operation pushed through and it was a success. The team of cardiologists who did the operation were a combination of the best doctors in the field, at hindi biro ang naging fees sa kanila, na hindi ininda ni Theo. He made sure his grandfather will get the best services from the best specialists.

Tricia and Theo were now with Lolo Magno sa private suite nito.

"When will he wake up, Doc?"

"Soon. It will take time, Mr. Soliven."

"Ahm, can I ask you a favor, Doc?"

"Hmmm? What favor?"

"Baka pwedeng Theo na lang ang itawag mo sa akin?"

Tinaasan ni Tricia ng kilay ang sinabi niyang
iyon.

"Why the first-name basis?"

"I thought, friends na tayo?"

"Assuming ka naman masyado, Mr. Soliven. Hindi porke't madalas akong nakikipag-usap sa'yo eh, magkaibigan na tayo."

"Tell me, how can I make it up to you?"

"Wala. Why do you need to make it up to me?"

"Honestly, I still feel guilty. Nahihiya ako sa mga nagawa ko sa'yo, simula nung una tayong nagkita."

Tricia just continued to listen.

"Minsan, iniisip ko, siguro what happened to Lolo is my punishment, dahil sa naging attitude ko sa'yo."

Tricia can feel the sincerity sa mga sinabi ni Theo.

"Ok, T-theo it is."

Nang marinig ito ni Theo, his face lit up. He then beamed a smile na nagpangiti rin kay Tricia.

"Can I ask you out, kahit coffee lang, please? I really want na makabawi sa'yo."

"Let's just wait for Lolo Magno to wake up first."

Kinuha ni Tricia ang chart ni Lolo Magno at tiningnan ito. Then she examined his vital signs and checked his IV line.

Maya-maya pa ay napatayo si Theo.

"Doc, si Lolo, look!"

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