Habak ni Doctor Quack

Chapter 12

It was a hot, sluggish afternoon at Doctor Quack's clinic, and Pipoy was feeling especially worn out. Between the UFO incident, the memory potion fiasco, and the steady stream of eccentric patients, he hadn't had a proper break in what felt like weeks. As he leaned on the counter, staring blankly out the window, an idea began to form in his mind—a little escape plan.

"Dok," Pipoy groaned, clutching his stomach as he slumped dramatically into a chair, "I don't feel so good."

Doctor Quack, who was reading through a thick, dusty medical tome, looked up in concern. "What's wrong, Pipoy?"

Pipoy rubbed his forehead, pulling a face as if he was in deep pain. "I don't know, Dok. I think... I think something's really wrong. My stomach hurts, my head is spinning, and I feel... weak." He moaned for extra effect, leaning back in the chair and throwing his arm over his eyes for dramatic flair.

Doctor Quack stood up immediately, his face full of worry. "This doesn't sound good, Pipoy. When did the symptoms start?"

Pipoy peeked through his arm, feigning exhaustion. "This morning, Dok. It came out of nowhere. Maybe I caught something from one of our patients?"

Doctor Quack frowned, already shifting into full-on doctor mode. "Don't worry, Pipoy. I'll figure out what's going on. We'll get you feeling better in no time."

But inside, Pipoy couldn't help but smirk to himself. His plan was working perfectly—just a couple of days of rest and relaxation, that's all he needed. He'd spend a few days lounging around while Doctor Quack fussed over him, and maybe he'd even get out of dealing with the next bizarre case that walked through the door.

Doctor Quack immediately went to work, gathering various herbs and potions from the shelves. "Let's start with something simple," he said, handing Pipoy a cup of ginger tea infused with calming lavender. "This will help settle your stomach."

Pipoy took a sip, making a face as if it tasted awful, even though it didn't. "Thanks, Dok, but I don't know if tea will be enough. I feel really bad."

Doctor Quack nodded, concern etched across his face. "Alright, let's move to something stronger."

He began preparing a more potent remedy—one made from a mix of golden turmeric and peppermint essence, with a dash of the rare Tears of a Happy Crocodile for good measure. "This should give your body a bit of energy and balance your symptoms."

Pipoy glanced at the bubbling concoction, trying his best not to laugh at how deeply Doctor Quack was falling for his ruse. He took the cup, pretending to wince as he drank it down, then leaned back in his chair dramatically. "Oh, Dok, I don't know. I still feel awful."

Doctor Quack's worry deepened. "None of the usual treatments seem to be working. I've never seen symptoms like this before..."

Now feeling guilty, Pipoy quickly added a few fake coughs and groaned, but Doctor Quack was already in full-on problem-solving mode. He rushed to his shelves, pulling down various vials and jars with increasing urgency. "If the teas and tinctures aren't working, I'll need to try something more advanced. Maybe a poultice or even acupuncture!"

Pipoy, watching Doctor Quack's frantic movements, started to feel a little bad about the whole thing. He hadn't expected Doctor Quack to get this worked up. But just as Pipoy was about to confess, Doctor Quack looked at him with genuine panic in his eyes.

"Pipoy, we need to figure this out quickly. What if it's something serious? What if it's a new illness we've never seen before?"

Pipoy winced internally. He hadn't meant for Doctor Quack to get this worried. But instead of coming clean, he doubled down, groaning louder and holding his head. "Ohhh... Dok... I don't know how much longer I can take this."