The Ace of Hearts

Chapter 7: Identity Shift

Slowly, I opened my eyes. Is this heaven? Una akong sinalubong ng isang maliwanag na bagay. After a couple of times blinking, napagtanto ko na ilaw pala ito ng isang puting kisame. I looked around until I finally realized my current surrounding. May puting tela sa magkabilang-gilid ko. Nagawa itong mahawi ng kakaunting hangin at napansin na may mga nakahiga sa tabi ko. They seem to be patients. Sa bandang paanan ko, walang humpay sa pagdaan ang mga doktor at nurse.

There is this one patient na nakahiga sa hospital bed at mabilis nilang itinutulak as if that person is in emergency. Because of what's happening around, I slowly realized where I am. This is a hospital but wait, how did I even get here? Did I get into an accident?

"Hi, miss. You're finally awake," isang babaeng doktor ang lumapit sa akin. Her hands are on her pockets at nakangiti. Mukha ngang bata pa siya, maybe on her 30's?

"Doc, ano pong nangyari sa akin? Naaksidente po ba ako?" I asked remaining on my bed. Because as far as I know, wala akong natatandaan na na-aksidente ako.

"No," pag-iling niya, "You collapsed due to starvation. Were you too focused on work or studies kaya hindi ka nakakakain?" her eyes also seem worried.

"Po?" I asked in disbelief. Out of nowhere, napaisip ako. It's actually true. It's almost two days at wala pang laman ang tyan ko. How did I even forget to eat? No, I have no money kaya hindi ko maisipang kumain given that I still have no job. It's not that I've forgotten to eat, wala lang talaga akong pera.

"Buti na lang at may nagdala sa'yo rito. You were drenched under the rain last night," niyapos ni Doc ang noo ko as if she's a mother checking her sick child. Never even once did I experience this from my own mother though, "Mabuti at nadala ka agad ng boyfriend mo rito."

"Po?" for the second time, I asked in disbelief. Boyfriend? How come? Single ako as of the moment.

"The man last night. Hindi mo ba siya boyfriend?"

Napatingin ako sa kung saan, "Wala po akong boyfriend, doc. Baka nag-iilusyon ka lang," or maybe ibang pasyente 'yon at napagkamalan niyang ako.

"Hmm, really? He seemed worried," katulad ko ay napaisip rin siya. Sino ba ang tinutukoy niya?

"Anyway," ibinalik niya sa akin ang tingin, "May masakit pa ba sayo?"

"Wala naman po, doc."

"The side effects of starvation could be severe, ha? You may most likely to experience weakness, fatigue, dizziness, fainting, low blood pressure and organ failure including mental changes. Kapag gutom ka mas mabilis kang mairita, prone ka rin sa depression and anxiety. So please, take care of yourself. Huwag kang magpapagutom kahit pa gaano ka ka-busy."

Napangiti ako at yumuko. If I could just tell her kung bakit hindi ako nakakakain, "I understand po, doc," tiningala ko siya.

"This is a lesson for you."

"Yes po, doc. Pero pwede na po ba akong lumabas?" I don't wanna be here for a day dahil kailangan kong kumayod. I can't be on a hospital bed doing nothing. Wala akong mapapala. I have to earn money.

"Since you are doing well, I think pwede ka ng lumabas. Do not get starved again, delikado 'yan. Kumain ka muna paglabas mo ha? Even though you are busy, huwag mong kalimutan ang sarili mo, alright? Pupuntahan ko muna ang ibang pasyente."