Stay with me?

Chapter 11:

I was very confused kung ano na bang gagawin 'ko sa buhay 'ko. I received all my credentials in both hospitals that I was a resident in. From Mayo Clinic and from St. Lukes. Dahil kulang pa ako ng isang buwan para matapos 'ko ang pagiging PGI 'ko, I decided to go back to St. Lukes again.

Ellie is doing better. She gets her physical therapy every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. She also gets therapy for her mental health every Thursday. Lahat ng gusto ng kapatid 'ko ay binibigay 'ko. Hindi 'ko ito pinapabayaan.

Bahay at ospital na naman ang naging bisyo 'ko. Pero this time, may kasama na ako. I didn't feel alone nor lonely but I do feel tired most of the time. Nakakapagod pala maging ate at nanay at the same time, kaya napagpasyahan 'ko talagang hindi magkaroon ng anak kahit kailan. Okay nang alagaan 'ko ang mga tao sa paligid 'ko.

"Ate, bakit ba wala kang boyfriend man lang o kaya girlfriend? Napaka lonely mo!" Pang-aasar ng kapatid 'ko. "Tanga ka. Ayoko eh." sagot 'ko.

I never had any partner since birth talaga. May mga nanliligaw, I also go on dates sometimes. May mga nagiging fuck buddy din ako pero hindi naman ito tumatagal. Mainly because I get tired of them immediately o dahil hindi 'ko makita ang sarili 'ko na kasama sila. Mas gugustuhin 'kong maging mag-isa kaysa sa papalit palit ng partner.

My sister's taking law proper in San Beda. She said that she fell in love with the law nung nanuod siya ng Suits sa netflix. Pinabayaan namin ito sa gusto niya at hindi naman ito bumagsak sa kahit na anong subject. Uulit nga lang ito ng 3rd year dahil sa hindi na daw nito kaya munang mag-aral. I made sure that thats what she really wanted. Ayaw 'ko naman ito ipressure but she said that she still wants to pursue law and help those in need like her.

I'm proud of Ellie dahil kahit madaming nangyari sa amin, sa pamilya namin at sakanya, she never forgets how to be selfless.

"Ikaw ate, last month mo na diba tapos mag rreview ka na for Physician's Licensure Exam?" malaking ngiti nito. "Oo. Kabado nga ako eh." pag-iwas 'ko ng tingin. "dangsin-eun jal hal geos-ibnida (You'll do well)" sabi nito sa akin. Ever since Bada wasn't a part of my life, Aiki, Gab and Ellie has been my source of strength. It wasn't what I expected it to be pero sapat na sila sa akin.

I spent the last month of my internship grinding on what I can learn and experience in hospital duties. Some doctors applaud me for my courageousness and for being diligent. Wala akong ibang natatanggap kung hindi puro praise sa mga doctor at nurses na andito.

"You'll do great in this medical field, Doc. Valdez" sabi ng isang doctor na may katandaan na. I smiled and said thank you to all of them at my very last day as a post graduate intern.

I went home, feeling successful. Natapos 'ko din ang pagiging intern kahit na ang dami daming nangyari sa buhay 'ko in the middle of it. Natapos 'ko lahat ng mga kahirapan kahit malapit na akong sumuko. I wanted to celebrate pero wala naman ang mga taong gusto 'ko kasama. Aiki's very busy filming, Gab's preparing for her boards, Ellie's back to school na ulit.

I sighed and decided to sleep instead.

11:39 PM

Ang tagal 'ko na palang tulog. Nagising na lang ako dahil tumutunog ang telepono 'ko. I answered it with my eyes half open.

Me: Hello?
Line 2: Hi. Kumusta ka na?

Napabalikwas ako ng kama dahil alam 'ko kung sino itong tumatawag. Hindi ako sumasagot dahil sa gulat at dahil hindi ako prepared sa moment na ito. Nag contemplate ako sandali kung bakit niya ako natawagan at napagtanto 'kong inunblock 'ko na palang ang number nito.

Lee: Are you there?
Lee: Kahit wag ka na magsalita, I just want you to know that I heard you finished your internship today from Summer. I couldn't help it but tell you how much I'm proud of you. You surpassed every challenges thrown to you. I knew you would make it. Next stop naman ang MD sa dulo ng pangalan mo.