Finding Peace In The Missing Piece

Chapter 23 - Rehearsal

CHAPTER 23 - Rehearsal

Kakatapos lang ng klase ko at napag-usapan namin ni Harvey na magkita sa garden, date daw kami.

A lush university garden with blooming flowers and neatly trimmed hedges. There are benches and a fountain in the center at doon ako umupo sa ilalim ng malaking luno habang naghihintay kay Harvey.

Habang wala pa siya ay nagbasa pa muna ako. Maganda pa lang tambayan ito at tahimik rito kesa sa library na laging puno ng mga med studentz

"Hi?" Harvey seated on a bench kung saan ako nakaupo. I have a stack of law textbooks beside me, while Harvey has a medical journal open on his lap. And we are in the freaking middle of a debate.

"Harvey, patients have the right to make their own medical decisions, even if doctors disagree. It’s their body, their choice." Sabi ko, it's the truth their body rules naman eh.

"I get that, Xena, but sometimes patients don’t have all the information. What if their choice could lead to serious harm or death?" Harvey is really concerned when he says that.

"Even then, we have to respect their wishes. Take someone who refuses a blood transfusion for religious reasons. It's their right to say no." I firmly said.

He sighed. "But what if saying no means they’ll die? Don’t doctors have a duty to save lives?" Harvey pointed out.

Oo nga at responsibilidad nila ang sumagip ng buhay pero ang desisyon ay nasa pasyente pa rin nila.

I shaked my head. "It’s about respecting their beliefs and choices. The law supports this, even if it’s hard for doctors." I said.

"What about when patients can’t decide for themselves? Shouldn’t doctors step in then?" He asked.

I nodded. "Yes, in those cases, we follow advance directives or decisions made by legal guardians to respect the patient’s wishes as much as possible."

Harvey leaning back. "So patient choice is always the most important thing?" Parang bata niyang tanong, ba't ba ang gwapo niya?

I smiled. "Exactly. The law is there to protect their rights, even if it’s tough for doctors to accept."

He smiled too. "It’s hard sometimes, but these talks help. They make me a better future doctor and a better partner."

I smiled warmly. "And they make me a better future lawyer and a better partner too."

"Ganda mo." Banat niya kaya hinampas ko siya sa braso. "Ouch! Pabigat ng pabigat yang kamay mo Xena, dati ka bang amazona?" Natatawang aniya kaya muli ko siyang hinampas, pero kamay ko talaga ang talo sa huli eh.

"Libre mo 'ko lunch." Sabi ko.

"Tara na po my highness." Natatawa kong inabot ang nakalahad niyang kamay at naka bow pa. "Anong schedule mo kamahalan?" Tanong niya habang kinukuha ang mga libro naming dala.

"May rehearsal kami mamaya, gusto mo sumama? It's either sasama ka o basted ka." Pabiro kong sabi.

"Sasama po ako kamahalan." Napangiti ako. "Para makita ko kung paano ka kapalpak maglakad." Nawala ang ngiti ko at hinampas siya.

"Loko ka, pero okay naman ba kayo ni Kuya?" Napa-tanong ako bigla dahil nag-usap sila kagabi na hindi ako kasama.

"Yup, he has tons of condition–"

"What conditions?" Kuryoso kong tanong.

"That's a man talk, Xena." He shrugged at nauna ng maglakad kaya sinundan ko.

"Tsk. Ano nga kasi yon?"

"What do you want to eat?" Tanong niya ng nakaupo na kami sa cafeteria.

"Ikaw." Sagot ko at ngumisi.