Habak ni Doctor Quack

Chapter 21

It was another peaceful morning in the barangay, the clinic's wooden door swinging gently in the breeze. Doctor Quack was busy in the back, concocting another batch of his herbal remedies, while Pipoy stood behind the front counter, idly organizing jars of dried leaves and roots.

The clinic hadn't seen much action that day, and Pipoy was starting to feel the creeping boredom settle in. He was just about to grab a snack from the nearby sari-sari store when the clinic door opened, letting in a waft of warm air—and someone Pipoy didn't recognize.

A young woman stepped inside, hesitating just long enough to glance around at the shelves of strange-looking bottles and jars. Pipoy straightened up immediately, feeling an unfamiliar rush of energy. He quickly wiped his hands on his pants, suddenly aware of how untidy he might look.

She was petite, with long, flowing hair that shimmered in the sunlight, and her bright eyes scanned the room curiously. She had a soft, gentle expression, but there was a confidence about the way she carried herself. She wore a simple but elegant dress, and as she walked further into the clinic, Pipoy noticed that she seemed slightly out of place—like she didn't belong in the usual chaos that frequented Doctor Quack's waiting area.

"Uh... hello," Pipoy said, his voice faltering slightly.

The woman smiled at him, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Hi, is this Doctor Quack's clinic?"

Pipoy nodded, feeling the sudden urge to make a better first impression. "Y-yeah, it is. How can we help you today? Are you here to see the doctor?"

She chuckled softly, a sound that made Pipoy's heart skip. "Actually, I'm not here for myself. I'm here for my grandmother, but she's a bit shy about going to the doctor, so I thought I'd check it out first."

Pipoy blinked, momentarily lost in her voice before he cleared his throat and tried to focus. "Oh, I see. What's your grandmother's name? Maybe we know her already—Doctor Quack has treated pretty much everyone in the barangay at one point or another."

The woman smiled again, her eyes lighting up. "Her name's Aling Selya. She's been having some trouble with her joints lately, but she's too stubborn to come in for a checkup."

Pipoy nodded eagerly, trying to keep his cool. "Ah, Aling Selya! Yeah, we know her. She's come in before for some herbal remedies. I think Dok gave her a special balm for her knees a while back."

The woman sighed in relief. "Good, that's what I was hoping for. I've been trying to convince her to come back and see Doctor Quack, but you know how it is with older folks—they're set in their ways."

Pipoy chuckled, feeling a bit more at ease now. "Oh, I know. My lola was the same. Stubborn as a mule when it came to seeing the doctor, but once she did, she was always grateful."

The woman laughed, and Pipoy's chest tightened at the sound. He hadn't realized how much he enjoyed making her laugh. There was something about her presence that made the clinic feel a little brighter.

"I'm Pipoy, by the way," he said, offering his hand. "I work here with Doctor Quack."

"Aera," she replied, shaking his hand gently. "It's nice to meet you, Pipoy."

"Aera," Pipoy repeated, testing her name on his tongue. It felt soft and light, like a breeze. "That's a nice name."

"Thanks," she said, her smile widening.

Before Pipoy could think of anything else to say, Doctor Quack emerged from the back room, wiping his hands on a cloth and humming softly to himself. "Ah, I thought I heard someone out here!"

Aera turned, smiling politely at Doctor Quack. "Hello, Doctor. I'm Aera. I'm here about my grandmother, Aling Selya."

Doctor Quack's face brightened at the mention of Aling Selya. "Of course, of course! She's one of my favorite patients. Strong as an ox, that one. But I know she can be a bit resistant to treatments."