yuanfen (completed)

tour

Dei sat back down on her seat and opened the manual she was given. It was about the facility – its history, vision, patient and family testimonies and house rules. She looked around her and noticed a wall full of photos. Dei stood up and went to the wall of photos. There were photos of the staff; there were also a bunch of photos of patients and their aides. In one corner was a picture of a young man in regular clothes with a very sullen and distant expression. He was alone in the photo. He was fair and handsome and seemed tall.

"Oh, that's Richard....he's a resident here..."

Dei turned to the voice who spoke. It was from a guy who was currently pouring himself a cup of coffee. "Hi! I'm Pauline...Paolo sa umaga......" She chuckled as she extended her hand for a handshake. "Hello....I'm Deiondrea....."

"Ay! Bongga!"

"Dei nalang...." Dei giggled.

"Dei...." Pauline acknowledged and took a seat at the dining table and watched as Dei looked at the other photos.

"Pau..line....this Richard guy only has one picture...."

"He hates the camera...ang sungit sa picture....candid pa nga ata yang shot na yan e....binigay lang yung picture to post dyan...."

"Ahh..."

"....mabait naman yan....tulog lagi..." Pauline continued, chuckling.

"....." Dei nodded.

"...ahh so you've met Pau..." Christine re-entered the pantry, panting slightly.

"Hello Ms. Tin! Opo...si Dei" Pauline and Dei were now seated at the dining table, chatting.

"I-tour mo naman si Dei, please....pinagod ako ni Archie...." Christine says while getting some water from the water dispenser.

"....hinila na naman yung tubes nya?"

"...ano pa?!" Christine says, shaking her head while holding her glass to her mouth.

"...weekly habit nya ata yan e...." Pau chuckled. "......Halika Dei...pakilala kita sa iba...." Pauline stood up, prompting Dei to stand up as well.

"Iwan mo na muna yung gamit mo sa lockers....Pau, lockers muna kayo tapos tour..."

"Ah yes po..."

"Kay Tisoy sya assigned....assist sya kay Tristan...."

"Opo...."

"Thank you po...."

"Just let Pau or me know if you need anything...." Christina said as Pauline and Dei left the pantry.

"Opo....thank you po...."

After showing Dei the lockers, Pauline and Dei passed through the corridor of open doors, some of them occupied with patients either on their beds or sitting on a chair doing therapy or an activity. They entered the sun room where other patients were. A small group of patients were engaged in music therapy. "Si Nathan ang music therapist natin....he comes here twice a week...."

"Yan sina Cherry, TinTin, Samuel, Diane at Mary Ann..." Pauline pointed to the nurses and therapists who were around the room. They smiled and nodded at Pau and Dei when they heard their names.

"....uhmm Pau....pwede magtanong?"

"Oo naman..."

"Meron bang difficult patient?"

"Hmm....uhmm....si Monch....ayun o, alaga ni Mary Ann....minsan, nagwawala at sigaw ng sigaw....."

"Trigger?"

"Ammonia sa utak...."

"Ah okay...."

"Pero lately, tahimik naman....mukhang na-control na ng gamot....tara...dun tayo sa labas...."

They walk out of the sun room into a big, well-maintained garden lined with big trees and bushes. There were park benches that lined the path. Some patients were on wheelchairs while others were doing therapy on the grass.

"Wow! Ang laki pala nito...."

"Oo....2 hectares of manicured gardens....meron pang part dun na di pa ginagalaw...." Pau pointed far. ".....parang isang malaking bahay yung facilty....20 single rooms and 2 wards.....may gym and indoor pool....may playground.....may dining hall and kitchen..... ang mga Faulkner ang may ari nitong buong property sa kanila yung facility...."

"Faulkner?.....yung sa manual....."

"Yup! Yun nga.....the same one who figured in a boating accident a month ago....yung nag-iisa dun sa picture sa wall....si Richard yung nag-iisang apo nila....si Tisoy....."