The Wicked Doctor

28: Hippocampus (Revised)

The Hippocampus is a brain structure embedded deep in the temporal lobe of each cerebral cortex. It is an important part of the limbic system, a cortical region that regulates motivation, emotion, learning and memory. The hippocampus is an S-shaped aspect of the temporal lobe that can be identified as a layer of densely packed neurons. The hippocampus is also where short-term memories are turned into long-term memories. These are then stored elsewhere in the brain. Research has shown that nerve cells continue to develop throughout adulthood. The hippocampus is one of the few places in the brain new nerve cells are generated.

_______________________________________

2014 4th  Year MBBS                                                                                                                                                        Oslo, Norway

"Should I say happy anniversary?", he laughed. Niyakap niya ako mula sa likuran ko at hinalikan ang gilid ng ulo ko. We were lounging on the floor and leaning on the sofa while watching the movies I downloaded the previous night.

"Happy anniversary then, Baby. Can't believe I actually fell for your trap you asshole", biro ko sa kanya sabay kurot sa hita niya. Totoo naman kasi, I never thought na magkakaroon kami ng label at magiging totoong boyfriend ko siya. Ang gusto ko lang noon ay isang no strings attached relationship para pwedeng kumalas pag nagkandaloko-loko na. I never really believed in commitments. Mag-asawa nga naghihiwalay pa, mag-boyfriend girlfriend lang kaya? Sa lalim ng trauma ko sa nangyari sa pamilya ko, naging goal ko na sa buhay ang magandang career at anak. The word marriage doesn't exist in my vocabulary. Relationships for me were just part of the search for the perfect sperm donor.

Pero ayun, tanga eh. Magaling si kupido. Asintado ang gago.

He wasn't raised the asian way but I was. Natuto siyang manligaw at sinuyo niya ako nang paulit ulit kahit ilang beses ko rin siyang nireject. I already told him how I find this courting thing ridiculous since in the first place, wala akong pakialam sa customs and traditions ng bansang kinalakihan ko. I received everything from flowers to teddy bears and even jewelry pero lahat ay ibinalik ko lamang sa kanya giving him all of the ridiculous reasons I could ever give.

I was never the conservative type. I was simply an introvert but once you get to know me, I am a potty-mouthed bitch.

If I want something, I will get it, even if it's by force. Kung ayaw ko rin, kahit pa i-torture mo ako hinding hindi mo ako mapapapayag. He knew that.

Kahit pa ilang beses ko rin siyang nireject sa pagiging "boyfriend" ko, we remained close. Ilang beses ko nang klinaro sa kanya na ang ayaw ko lang ay ang label pero gusto kong i-maintain kung ano man ang meron kami. He wanted that title, that exclusivity that it provided, the sense of security that it can give him knowing that once we go public, nobody can touch me as I will practically be his possession.

Terrence was possessive as hell. One time, a junior asked me for tips on Microbiology. He went ballistic after I agreed on a one on one study session with my junior. And that junior was the dorky nerd type who actually looks like my pet turtle way back in second grade. Bakit ba pati taong wala namang maipagmamalaking mukha pinagseselosan niya? Hindi na lang naawa, ni wala ngang panama sa kinis ng mukha niya yung tao.

It was supposed to be just a one night stand. It turned into a full blown relationship that now turned into an "almost" domestic partnership. Natutulog ako sa bahay niya sa mga araw na alam kong wala akong pasok sa susunod na araw. I was his wife in every sense of the word.

"Can't believe that we've been together for 3 years now, An?", nilayo niya ang mukha niya sa akin at tila nang-aasar na ngumiti.

"Nakuha mo ako sa biglaang tanong mo sa harap ng mommy mo. Ayoko lang kasing mapahiya ka eh", I laughingly told him and flicked his forehead.