Façade By: SushiMariaaa

Prologue

Prologue

As we were walking along the hallway, she's explaining to me everything that I need to know.

"Here's Ward B. Minsan lang may makapasok na nurse dito lalo pa't intern."

She's showing me every room na nadadaanan namin. And as I look in every room, nakikita ko ang iba't ibang klase ng pasyente na makakasalamuha ko dito.

"Every nurse has a particular patient na kailangang alagaan at bantayan. As for you, you're assigned to room B612." she said as we stopped exactly to room B612.

Sumilip ako sa salamin ng pinto. Nakita ko ang isang babae na nakayuko. She's fidgeting her fingers while babbling words.. I think?

"Since you're on morning shift, your duty is to bring her her medicines every 12 o'clock in the afternoon and 6 o'clock in the evening. Bringing her her food is not your duty anymore so don't worry." Seulgi said while smiling at me, "and ah! before I forgot.. you have to bring her to her psychiatrist, Dr. Park every 3 o'clock in the afternoon. I believe you know him?"

I nodded as an answer, "Yes I know Dr. Park."

"Good then. Everything about the patient is listed in your paper. Tignan mo na lang yan, okay? And if there's anything you need to know, just ask me." she said as she gave me the information about my patient. She bid her goodbye afterwards leaving me standing infront of her room.

I scanned the whole paper and saw her name. Irene Bae..

"Nice to see you again.." I whispered to myself as I looked at her staring at me.

***

Morning comes and I have to go to the Seoul Mental Institution. I'm a psychology student and an intern in the said institution. Working as a nurse in a hospital full of crazy people kinda bring happiness to me. I don't know why but there's just something about these people.. and about her of course.

As I arrived to the hospital, dumiretso ako sa Ward B. Nakita ko kaagad si Seulgi na nag-tour and orient sa akin kahapon. She's three years older than me at matagal na rin daw siyang nagtatrabaho dito ayon sa kanya.

I greeted her good morning, "Good morning nurse Seulgi."

She smiled at me and said her greeting too, "Good morning nurse Jazcel. Early for your first day, huh? Impressive."

I chuckled to her answer.

"Well, I'm quite excited working here."

"Good for you." she faintly smiled, "Since you're early, can you please give this food to your patient? I'll give you incentive na lang. At t'saka para mameet at makausap mo na rin siya."

She's hesitating to tell me that, huh? It's okay lang din naman na ako mismo maghatid ng pagkain niya. I badly want to talk to her..

"And don't worry, it's too early for her to be violent." she jokingly said, "Hahaha I'm just kidding. She's way too nice to be in Ward B to be honest."

My forehead suddenly formed a crease, "What do you mean by that Nurse Seulgi?"

I thought she's told me almost everything about this institution. I thought wrong.

"I haven't told you that there's three wards in this institution. First is the Ward A. Ang mga pasyente na naroroon ay yung hindi ganon ka-bayolente. They are tolerable pa."

"Ward C. Ang mga pasyente naman doon, sila yung papagaling na sa sakit nila. Ward C rin ang may pinakamaraming nurse. Hindi kasi nila kinaya ang Ward A, lalo na ang Ward B. That's why we're in need for more nurses na kakayanin ang dalawang ward."

"And lastly, Ward B. Anything that's worst case you can think of, sila yung mga nandito. The most violent patients resides here."

Nagulat ako sa sinabi ni Seulgi. So ganon na siya ka-worst to be put on Ward B. Nalungkot ako sa nalaman ko.

"Pero hindi naman siya ganon ka-violent? 'Di ba?" I asked her.

She faintly smiled to me, "There are times na nagiging bayolente siya. Just don't utter anything na makakapag-paalala sa kanya sa mga nangyari noon before siya malagay dito sa institution." she said.

"About that?"

"Yes. About that." she said, "Now now, ihatid mo na sa kanya 'yang pagkain niya."

I complied to her request, "Okay."

***

Nasa tapat na ako ng kwarto niya. Katulad kahapon, nakayuko na naman siya. She's fidgeting her fingers again. Umangat lang ang ulo niya ng marinig na bumukas ang pinto. Pumasok ako kasama ng dalawa pang lalaking nurse na hahawak sa kanya kung sakaling magwala siya.

Nanatili ang dalawang nurse hanggang pinto at ako naman ay patuloy na naglakad patungo sa kanya. Nanatili rin siyang nakatitig sa akin gamit ang mga malamlam niyang mga mata. Tila ba naging patay na ito sa kahit na anong emosyon.

Inilapag ko ang pagkain niya sa gilid niya. Tinignan ko siya at ngumiti.

"Hello." I said with a low voice and smiled to her.

She stared at me for a long time and suddenly she smirked which gives me goosebumps running down from my spine.

I took a step back when she suddenly chuckles. Nakakatakot ka pala talaga.. Hindi ko alam kung ano na ang hilatsa ng mukha ko ngayon pero alam kong bakas na sa akin ang kaba. Nanatili siyang nakatingin sa akin at nanatili rin ang ngisi sa kanyang labi.

Naguluhan ako sa sunod na ginawa niya. Tumalikod siya sa akin at may binubulong-bulong sa kanyang sarili.

"Uh, kumain ka na Irene."

Nang sa wakas ay mapukaw ko ulit ang kanyang atensyon, bahagya siyang lumingon habang nakatalikod pa rin ang kanyang katawan.

"All is coming.. and it is overwhelming." saad niya at ngumisi ng nakakatakot sa akin na siyang nagpagulo lalo ng isip ko.