Caffeine & Romance

02

"Anong nangyari sa mukha mo?"

I looked up and saw Lim standing in front of me. Nakaupo ako ngayon sa isa sa bench ng school grounds at pakiramdam ko ay malapit na akong umiyak.

Naramdaman kong tumabi si Lim sa'kin kaya inabot ko sa kanya ang result ng quiz namin sa pedia.

"Sa tingin mo, kailangan ko na bang bumalik sa trabaho ko bilang junior researcher?" I asked him.

I feel so down right now. I got a 29/50 na score. I have never gotten this low score on an exam in my entire life. Kahit sa board exam ko sa chem e at sa LET, I still got a high percentage of the score. I am even a top-notcher in both exams.

"Ilan ang high score?" tanong niya.

"35," sagot ko.

"Sino?"

"Si Elian."

"Pasado ka naman ah," sabi niya sabay balik sa akin nung result ng quiz ko.

"Pasang-awa."

I won't settle for less. So no, hindi ko ico-comfort ang sarili dahil lang sa nakapasa naman ako.

"I told you to quit. I don't think becoming a doctor is your dream. You just enrolled in med school because you want to be academically challenged," he said.

That was a slap in my face. Lim and his unfiltered words.

At some point natahimik ako sa sinabi niya kasi half of it was true.

"Amari Mikonah De Silva, hindi pa dito nagsisimula ang challenge ng pagiging doctor. There's much more waiting in the future," he said in his most serious voice. "Dahil pa lang 'to sa quiz pero gusto mo na mag give-up. What's more, if you're already dealing with a patient?"

Here we go again in his lecture. I've been hearing that since day one of our friendship.

"Calimero Jon Buencamino, who told you that I am giving up?" I asked him. "I'm already looking forward to this profession. I am even planning already on what residency will I apply to later on,' I said and level the stare he was giving me.

"You mean that?" he asked.

Tumango ako. To make him at peace. I offended him many times kapag pinapakita kong hindi ako masiyadong interested sa med school.

"I'm just kidding," I reasoned to redeem myself.

"Konah, quiz lang yan. Hindi yan makaka-apekto ng malaki sa grades mo," sabi niya. "Sa mga dating score mo sa exams at grades mo sa previous year, masasabi ko na baka mag-graduate ka pa ng may flying colors."

"Talaga?" I ask for his assurance.

"Oo, kaya galingan mo pa. Two months na lang at magsisimula na yung clinical clerkship mo."

I smiled. This man and his words! Sometimes harsh, sometimes comforting.

"Bakit ka nga pala nandito?" tanong ko. Dahil simula nung internship niya, madalas na lang kami magkita dahil halos sa hospital na siya nakatira.

"Wala... Bibisita lang ako sa club para kumuha ng supporting document para sa research ko ngayon," sagot niya.

Nahalata ko kaagad na may kakaiba kay Lim.

"Ano nga?" pangungulit ko.

Narinig ko ang malalim na buntong-hininga niya. "My patient died."

Natahimik ako. I knew it. Lim tends to visit the club when something's wrong with him. He likes to organize stuff there as if he was organizing his messy mind.