Pieces of Pastiche

Kabanata 3

Sa mga sumunod na araw, naging masyadong busy kami sa Emergency and Trauma department. Ewan ko ba, a lot of people is being in an accident nowadays.

Kakagaling ko lang sa 18 hours straight operation. Iyon ang pinaka ayokong ginagawa. Ang mga exploratory laparotomy. It's just too long. Hindi naman talaga dapat ako naroon but then, Dr. Salome wants me there. I'm a nuerosurgeon and a trauma-ortho surgeon and not a gastro-intestinal one.

Sinalampak ko ang katawan ko sa quarters namin. I had to elevate my legs because it's really hurting right now.

"Pagod na pagod ah?" Napadilat ako ng mata at nilingon ang nagsalita. Then I saw Sandro and Lorenz laughing their asses out while holding a frap and some potatoes.

I rolled my eyes at them at bumangon. Hinablot ko ayung kinakain nilang mojos.

"Shut up. Talagang pagod ako." Pangbabara ko kay Sandro. Tumawa siya habang hinahampas pa si Lorenz.

"Kakagaling lang namin sa quarters ni Dr. Salome. He praises you a lot." Napaismid naman ako sa ibinalita ni Lorenz.

"Gusto ko na lang talagang magpahinga. I'm so exhausted. Ngayon na lang ulit ako ng operate ng hindi trauma case. This is a freaking peritonitis and I have to stand up for 18 hours!" Reklamo ko. Tinawanan naman ako ng dalawa.

"Dr. Salome thought you're an all around surgeon. Dapat kumuha na siya ng General Surgery sa department natin." Kumento ni Lorenz.

"Oo nga! Naalala ko nung nag bypass surgery ka? Grabe tawang tawa ako non." Pagthrothrow back ni Sandro. I shrugged my head and laugh at that too. Tumawa rin si Lorenz sa naalala.

"That's my main surgery but since Dr. Salome is a part of it, dinamay ka. That's where you-" bago pa man matapos si Lorenz sa sasabihin ininterrupt ko na.

"Oo na, dun na ko nakatulog. Biglaan ba naman kasi akong isabak doon eh kakatapos ko lang ng crainiotomy!" Pagdedepensa ko sa sarili ko na tinawanan nila.

Lorenz is a Cardiosurgeon that's why he is the main surgeon that time. Salingkit lamang ako ni Dr. Salome noon.

I took my rest for the night. Sila naman, nasa kanya kanyang operasyon. Pagkagising ko, I fixed myself for a conference. Magcacase analysis presentation sakin ang dalawang chief resident. I wore a decent dress and made my way to the other building for the conference room.

Dinama ko ang simoy ng hangin sa labas. It is very rare na ala sais na ng umaga pero madilim pa. The hems of the white coat I'm wearing is swaying with the wind.

Some people who were jogging is looking at me. Some of them were patient's relatives. Some are people from the neighborhood that wants to see the beauty of this hospital. And of course, some of them were doctors and nurses.

Habang tinitignan nila ako, it feels so fulfilling. Ewan ko ba, kahit pa walong taon na kong isang consultant, I can still feel the thrill whenever someone call me "Dra". It feels like, this is the fruit of my sufferings. This is the fruit of my sacrifices.

"Good morning, Doc!" Bati ng iilang nakakakilala sa akin.

I smiled at them and greeted back. Nagring ang phone ko kaya dinukot ko iyon mula sa bulsa ko. Nakita ko naman ang mukha ni Sandro sa screen. Ano nanaman kayang problema nito.

"Quinn! Breakfast tayo!" Napaismid ako sa lakas ng tono ng boses niya. Kelan ba hindi magiging hyper ito?

"I'm on my way to the annex. I have an early case analysis for now."

"Ang aga naman! Teka- Hey Lorenz, papunta raw 'tong annex. Dalhan na lang natin ng breakfast?"

Napangiti naman ako sa dalawang 'to. Hindi man halata, they are really sweet. Sa totoo lang, napaka swerte ng magiging girlfriend nitong dalawang to. Wag lang nila akong auaurahan tungkol sa pagiging close namin ng mga 'to. They are the fruit of my being a med student world. I must say na yung mga pinagdaanan namin, it's one of the best.