It’s been three hours since I reached the hospital.
To be honest, nanginginig na ako noong mga oras na iyon. Di ko alam kung dahil ba sa galit at inis ko kay Gabriel, sa lamig ng pesteng air con ng ospital, or pagaalala ko kay Lean. Or the sum of all three. Ah, basta, nanginginig na ako during that time.
Kanina pa ako nakaharap sa screen ng computer ng hospital. I’ve been reading on his charts. His records. Tangina, pati ang mga gamot na itinurok sa kanya, kabisado ko na. I asked the attending kung nasaan si Leandro Augusto Barcelona. He said he was having a CT scan daw, sabi niya. Which worries me more.
A few moments later, I saw Liam talkíng with another physician. As always, di ko pa rin mabasa ang situation ng kaibigan niya with his actions. Kung may isang magkaibigan yata na palaging calm and collected, stoic even, silang dalawa talaga yata ang founder noon.
“Why are you here?” tanong sa akin ni Dr. Andalusia habang lumalapit sa akin. Nagpaalam at nagpasalamat pa ito sa doctora na kausap niya, then proceeded to sit right beside me.
“Kumusta si Lean?” sagot ko sa kanya. He just issued a slight chuckle.
“Humihinga pa din siya. At tumitbok pa rin ang puso” sagot naman ni Liam sa akin. Marunong din pala mag-joke ang serious na doctor na ito. Nakakaasar lang. Sa dinami-dami nang araw na puwede siyang mag-joke, bakit ngayon pa.
“How is he? Ano ang prediagnosis mo sa kanya? Why does he need to have a CT scan? Ano ang”
“Doctora Gil, calm down, will you?” he said, smiling whilst shaking his head. Nabigla yata siya sa barrage of questions ko sa kanya. It made me look silly in his eyes.
“He’s alright, okay? Malakas pa sa kalabaw si Lean. And he’s a prickly weed, that stupid fucker. Mahirap mamatay ang masamang damo” he assured me. And judging by experience alone, mas lamang sa akin itong tao na ito. He was and still is one of the top neurosurgeons dito sa bansa.
“Now, I highly suggest that you go home and have some rest muna. I believe may duty ka pa bukas” pagpapatuloy nito. I just shook my head as a reply.
“I need to see him first, Doc. Nasaan ba siya ngayon?”
“Nasa CCU siya at the moment. I’ve asked them to sedate the hell out of that stupid sob. Parang kulang lang sa tulog ang gago.”
“Can I please see him before I go?” I begged him. Itinayo lang ako ni Liam then itinulak palabas ng ospital.
“He’s not critically ill, Doctora. Praning lang ako kaya I recommended na sa ICU siya muna ilagay. Maraming mga nurses saka health care staff dito to monitor him. Plus nandito pa ako para bantayan siya. So don’t worry too much about him, okay?”
The look he gave me as guaranteed his safety kept me at ease. An experienced doctor na ang nag-assure sa akin na okay lang si Lean. Who am I to question his judgement?
Saka ayaw ko na din kulitin ito. Baka maging incredible hulk na naman si Dr. Banner.
“Okay, Doc. You know my number. Please give me a ring anytime kapag may update ka na ah?”
He laughed out loud sa statement ko na iyon, then continued pushing me away from the hospital. Hinatid pa ako ng doctor sa sasakyan ko na parang tanga lang. Sabi niya I can see him tomorrow daw pagkapasok para sa duty ko. Kaya I hurriedly got home na lang ang tried to sleep.
Kailangan ko pumasok ng maaga bukas.
***
Peste.
I woke up early today. Naligo at nagayos pa ako. I even rehearsed what I’ll do and say kapag nagkita na kami. Hell, pati mga prutas, dumaan pa ako sa palengke. But guess what?
BINABASA MO ANG
Hello : Goodbye : Hello
RomansaKirstin Gil, a doctor, met Lean Barcelona at the hospital. It was a meeting of two souls. Now, the question is, will love blossom upon the walls of that hospital?
