Always And Forever

Sandwich

The morning shift was just settling in. Surprisingly peaceful, no trauma codes, no doctors arguing over charts.

"Trauma dept.?", a delivery guy asked. He was bringing two large boxes of what seemed to be food.

"Opo?", a nurse replied after exchanging confused looks with her colleagues.

The guy placed the boxes on the counter, "Delivery po", just as they thought he was finished "Eto pa ho", he placed a paper bag.

"Kanino po nanggaling?" The chief nurse asked.

The delivery guy tucked his helmet on his arm, "di ko po na tanong eh" he scratched the back of his neck. "Nag mamadali po kase yung staff
n'ya"

The nurses just nodded in response and the rider quietly existed.

"Ay may card". One of the nurses immediately picked it up after opening the box, the rest hovered over her shoulder.

To the nurses,
Thank you, for taking care of me during my stay.
Much appreciated,
W.G

"W.G?"
"WG WG WG WG" one tapped his foot thinking.
"Wigi wigi wigi win-Win Gatchalian!", the other exclaimed as if he guessed the answer on a quiz bee.

Everybody looked at him, there was a brief silence then realization.
"Taray naman!"
"Laysho ha subway!"
"Na para bang buong baranggay ang papakainin dahil sa dami"

They laughed and started picking a sandwich of their own.

"Ako rin magpapadala kapag gumaling"
"Wala kang ngang pang kape"

One of them was halfway opening the second box. When the paper bag caught her attention. "Ay wait ano 'tong paper bag?", she asked making everyone turn to her.

She was picking it up and immediately noticed a sticky note. Then her eyes widened, not the kind that is shocked, the kind that is shocked shocked.

"For Dr. Riza Javier"
She read aloud.

"OoOooOhhHhh"

For a second nobody spoke. It was as if the holy spirit passed by, then...

"AYAN ANG MAS MATARAY!"
"SPECIAL AH!"
"HIWALAY SA BARANGAY PACKAGE"
They all exploded. As nosey as they were, one of them spoke, "Tignan mo laman"

"Hoy!"
"Ano? For research purposes"

They all peeked inside the paper bag, hovering through each other's shoulders. Inside was a single sandwich, neatly wrapped and on the top of it was another note. They didn't picked it up, instead they just simply read without touching it.

"Hope you're eating properly too. I didn't run this week btw."
-Win

The station exploded...again.
"HINDI AKO MAKA HINGA", one held her chest dramatically.

"Sana all ina-update!"
"Nasan ba chief nurse rito? magpapa admit ako!" The joke flew.
"Bakit na cardiac ka?"
"Na cardiac sa inggit"

Laugher filled the station. And just on cue, Leni happened to be passing by, coffee in hand , complete unaware.

"Bakit parang may assembly?" She started.
"Barangay assembly po" a nurse snorted. Earning him a nudge from his colleague.

She just chuckled with the remark and noticed something.Their faces. Eyes wide, lips pressed together to stop a grin, eyebrows shooting up. Then, the chief nurse gestured towards the paper bag. She looked at it, pointed and gave them a "this?" look. They all nodded, slowly and suspiciously like children presenting evidence.

She approached the bag, peeked through its opening. The note greeted her eyes, she read it once, twice. Slowly, a grin appeared on her face, nothing came out of her mouth but her face says it all. She took a sip of her coffee, but her smile betrayed her as it clearly showed. The nurses were already giggling.

"Usto mo yon doc?"
"May pa subway"
"May update"
"May pa hiwalay na bag"
"MAY EFFORT!"

Leni pressed her lips together, trying and failing to look neutral, "Hmmm"

"HMM DAW"
"Ano masasabi mo doc?"

"Ano ba gusto niyong sabihin ko?", She leaned on the counter.
"Na hindi normal yung may pa hiwalay na sandwich?"
She looked at the bag, then at the note, then back to the nurses.

"Mga tsismosa't tsismoso ha" she jested. The unit laughed again whilst enjoying their sandwiches.

"Pero unfairness ha" Leonor added, "Sumunod s'ya sa no running", she took a sip of her coffee once again, "Alam n'yo ba kung gaano ka tigas ulo nun?"

"Iba talaga ang kamandag nang isang Doc Riza"
"Dapat lang baka yakapin n'ya sa leeg kapag di sumunod si senator"
They laughed again, then unexpectedly.

"Good morning?"

Riza stepped into the station, fresh from the OR, chart tucked beneath her arm, still in her scrubs.
Everyone immediately hushed. Few got back to their places, faked a cough, others found the infographics on the wall interesting.

"Bakit?", she asked.

No one dared to answer. But as keen as she was. She noticed her best friend's face. How everyone is seconds away from laughing.
Hands on her waist now, she asked again, "Anong ginawa n'yo?"
"Wala", Leonor answered without looking, "May nagpadala lang nang pagkain".

"Okay?"
"For the whole station" , Leonor emphasized.
"Okay?"

The nurses were already failing to hide their smiles.

"Galing kay Senator Gatchalian"

Riza stopped turning the chart's pages and threw a side eye. She didn't say anything, just nodded and was about to move on when Leni continued to speak.

"May separate ring paper bag"

At this point, the station had lost whatever control they have left.
Riza just narrowed her eyes.

"May pangalan kase"
"Anong pangalan?"

Instead of answering, Leonor simply nudged the paper bag closer. The moment Riza saw the sticky note her eyebrows perked up.
Her gaze went to her best friend, then to the bag. and finally to the nurses around. Wala pa akong tulog ha. She pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Mga wala ba kayong trabaho?" she said after an exhausting sigh.
"MERON PO!" the station erupted.

She smiled shaking her head then turned to the person who was slowly sipping her coffee.
"Kasabwat ka ba rito?"
Leonor annoyingly widened her eyes, "Huh? wala akong ginawa ha"
Riza narrowed her eyes again, studying Leni's expression, "That's not a no"

She then stared at the paper bag once more before finally picking it up. She was about to walk out but the nurses would absolutely not let her leave peacefully.

"Doc reviewhin mo muna" one playfully spoke.
"Chart ba 'to?"
"Hindi"
"Then mamaya na"
"Ay ano ba yannn". The nurse groaned.

And with that, Riza walked away carrying the paper bag. While several pairs of eyes followed her.