Let's Play Pretend

Hopeful

It was almost noon when the doctor finally came in to check on Vice and she wasn't surprised to see Pauleen and Jet acting like a bunch of zombies as they perform their everyday routines.

Christian and Ziel wanted to switch shifts for a day so they could rest, pero sadyang matigas ang ulo ng magkaibigan at piniling ituloy ang Day shift nila. Karylle on the other hand was sleeping soundly next to Vice. Nakayakap muli ang dalaga sa binata, habang nakapatong ang kanyang hita sa katawan ng binata. It portrays such sweetness, a vision that many would've liked to see.

"Tough night, huh?" Doc. Bastillas commented shortly with a sympathetic smile on her lips. She was holding a pad containing information about Vice's vital signs. Everything was actually stable and he was healthy... But what she didn't understand is his unstable and unpredictable seizures and whatever triggers it. "Jet, can you please get his activity log for this month?"

Jet nodded and instantly followed the doctor's instructions. Si Pauleen naman eh patuloy ang pagchecheck ng medicine log kung saan naka record ang everyday list of medicines na kailangan ipainum o i-induce sa binata.

"Okay, so what happened before he started acting up again?" Tanong ni Doc sa nagbibisi-bisihang dalaga, her eyes still focused on her patient's record. "May nangyari bang masama, or masyado ba syang napagod?"

"Po?" Sagot ng bangag na Nurse, at sigurado na konting ihip nalang ng hangin at hampas nito sa harap nya eh babagsak na ito.

"I said, how was he doing before the seizure acted up again?"

"Ah." Napakamot sa ulo si Pauleen at pilit na inalala ang nangyari. "The usual routine lang naman po. Feeding, therapy before lunch and speech training before dinner. Pinakain po sya ni Ms. Karylle ng hapunan and then pinainom po namin sya ng sleeping pills na niriseta nyo."

Napataas ang kilay ng doktara kaya halos dumulas na ang suot na salamin pababa ng ilong nya. "That's it? Nothing happened that would've made him tired, stressed... nothing?"

Umiling si Pauleen. "Wala po naman Doc."

"Okay, let's just wait for Jet then. And please pakigising kay Mrs. Yuzon for me. We have something to discuss."

"Ah... Ok po." Tinalikuran ni Pauleen ang doktora at nagsimulang naglakad papunta sa kama nina Vice at Karylle. "Mrs. Yuzon ka jan, break na sila. Wala silang Forever!" Mala ampalayang bulong ni Pauleen sa sarili.

*****

Pagkagising ni Karylle she didn't even had the chance to wash her face or brush her teeth. Pagkatayo nya mula sa kama Doctor Bastillas immediately grabbed her wrist and dragged the bewildered lady outside of the room hanggang makarating sila sa salas ni Vice. The doctor strictly ordered for the nurses not to follow them, that it's important to keep their conversation private.

When they reached the living room, Doc Bastillas gestured for Karylle to take a seat first, then she sat next to her.

"Kumusta po sya, Doc?" Mailap na tanong ng dalaga. Mejo wala parin sya sa wisho sa sobrang antok but nevertheless she tried her best to remain focused. "Any anomalies?"

"He's doing fine, don't worry too much about it. The drug helped him relax and he'll be sleeping for almost half the day." Doc Bastillas announced with much interest as she usually does. "And, as usual... His general health is not my top concern, but his epileptic shocks might be. It's not that life threatening naman, but if it happens too often, he needs to be hospitalized again."

Biglang nakaramdam ng lungkot si Karylle. Bakit to nangyari? Wala naman syang sinabi o masamang ginawa. Wala naman silang pinag-awayan, diba? "Doc... Please, there must be another way. Bakit po ito nangyayari sa kanya." Nanginginig na sinabi nito, na syang nakapagpa-halata na sobra ang pag-aalala ng dalaga.