I looked outside the window, it's sunny so I took Mishka for a walk at the park. It's been a year since I passed the physician exams, I still have few more years until I can finally call myself a Pediatrician.
"It's nice to be out again huh?" i asked Mishka
She barked and I guess that's a yes from her, I giggled and gave her tummy scratches. I decided to remove her leash and let her run around the park, wala namang gaanong sasakyan.
I sat down beside a tree and drank some water, I might visit Dad later after I checked some of my patients at the hospital. I saw Mishka ran towards me and she sat down infront of me, she started to make me stand up.
"Why? Do you want to go home already?" i asked her
She started to bark and ran away, pinagmasdan ko muna kung saan siya papunta. I saw her ran towards a guy that's wearing a white shirt and grey sweatpants, Mishka sat infront of him and she looked at me. Naglakad ako papalapit kay Mishka, agad kong nilagay ang leash niya.
"I'm sorry about my dog, she's used to entertain strangers-" napatigil ako nung maaninag ko ang mukha ng lalaki na nasa harapan ko
I signaled Mishka to start walking, "Ayela?" i heard him call me
Hindi ako lumingon at nagpatuloy lang sa paglalakad, I didn't know that's he's back from the US. Pagdating sa bahay ay agad kong binigyan si Mishka ng tubig, I quickly went to my room to have a cold shower.
I prepared my scrubsuit and white shoes, I still have plenty of time so I decided to eat lunch even if it's 10am. I'm sure I won't have time later, some of the seniors are really strict. I fixed my bag and gave Mishka a kiss before I went out of the house, agad akong sumakay sa kotche.
Amaiah Calling ...
"Yela, I heard he's back?" bungad ni Aya nang masagot ko ang tawag niya
I sighed, "I don't have time to talk about that Aya, he left me. Hanggang doon nalang 'yun."
"What if he came back para sayo?" tanong niya
"Why the heck would he do that? That's Joaquin Sy, the well known man sa buong mundo." i scoffed
i heard Aya laugh, "come on I know you still love him, wala ka ngang kinausap after he left the country."
"Wala akong kinausap kasi I don't have time, I'll call you back later I have to go to the hospital." agad kong binaba yung tawag
Napasandal ako sa manobela at nagpakawala ng malalim na paghinga, I don't have to feel nervous dahil lang nakabalik na siya ng Pilipinas after 6 years.
Agad akong nagmaneho papunta sa St. Gabriel Hospital, "Goodmorning Doc!" bati sa akin ng ibang bagong interns
I smiled back at them and greeted them a good morning, may nagbigay din sa akin ng coffee. Agad akong pumunta sa Emergency Room and saw some of my colleagues talking, naglakad ako papunta sa kanila.
"Magtatrabaho or magchichikahan?" napalingon silang lahat sa akin nung nagsalita ako
Nagkatinginan din sila sa isa't-isa, "wag niyo sabihin gago." siniko ni Veronica si Paulo
"Wag sabihin ang alin?" nagtatakang tanong ko
Napatawa si Paulo at hinampas sa balikad si Veronica, "ito nga pala yung mga papers na pinapapirmahan sayo ni Dr. Magallanes." inabot agad ito sa akin ni Paulo
"Pinapatawag ako sa ICU, maiwan ko muna kayo dito ah?" nagpaalam na si Veronica at agad lumabas sa Emergency Room
"Wala namang nag code sa kaniya ah?" bulong ko at napailing nalang
Nang makalahati ko ang mga papel na nakatambak sa harapan ko ay agad akong napatingin sa oras, agad akong umakyat sa third floor para icheck ang pasyente ko.
Pumasok ako agad sa kwarto nang matapos akong kumatok, "good afternoon."
The relatives of the patient smiled at me, "kailan po makakalabas yung apo ko?" tanong ng lola ng pasyente
I checked the papers of the patient, "she can be discharged tomorrow, I'll inform Dra. Ferrer about her laboratory results so I can list the medications that she will need for the next three weeks." sagot ko
Nagpasalamat sa akin ang lola ng pasyente, nang matapos ang shift ko sa hospital ay agad akong nagpaalam kela Veronica.
"I'm off tomorrow, kayo?" tanong ko sa kanila
Nag-aayos na ng gamit si Paulo, "tamang-tama naka off tayong tatlo tara sa Jade's."
"Hindi na umiinom si Yela, tarantado." hinampas ni Veronica si Paulo gamit ang hawak niyang envelope
"Sino ba nagsabing iinom siya? Mag soda ka lang Yela." sabi ni Paulo at hinampas ko siya sa braso
"Just message me tomorrow, uuwi na ako naghihintay si Mishka." kinuha ko na yung bag ko at agad na naglakad palabas ng hospital
Hindi naman nagtagal ay agad akong nakarating sa bahay, I parked the car inside the garage and went inside. Nakita kong natutulog si Mishka sa sofa, agad akong pumunta sa kitchen at napaupo sa counter top.
"You're home." a familiar voice came from the entrance of the kitchen
Muntik akong mahulog at agad akong napakapit sa dulo ng counter top, "paano ka nakapasok?" tanong ko
Nakita ko yung hawak niyang susi, he didn't lose it? Napailing ako at umalis sa counter top, naglakad ako patungo sa second floor.
Nasa hagdan pa lang ako ay nagsalita ulit siya, "I already ordered dinner." napatango lang ako at pumunta na sa kwarto ko
Agad akong pumasok sa bathroom at naligo, there's so many questions running through my mind. Bakit parang wala lang sa kaniya yung pag-alis niya? Six years, Joaquin.
Napailing nalang ako, nang matapos akong maligo ay agad akong nagbihis ng silk pajama. Inayos ko na din ang gamit ko sa bag, para hindi ko na kailangan ayusin sa next duty ko. Nag prepare agad ako ng mga scrubsuits, ganun din ang mga dadalhin kong surgical face masks.
"Being a Doctor really suits you, Cy." napalingon ako sa kaniya habang nakatayo siya sa tabi ng pinto ng kwarto ko
I heard him sigh, "hindi mo ba talaga ako kakausapin?"
How can I even look at you? You act like you didn't do anything that damaged me for six years.
You came back, like nothing happened.
