Dogtag (completed)

15. progress

Rj felt that it was time for him to be more independent. He no longer needed medical assistance. He just needed a caregiver for his personal care like toileting and bathing because of his hand/arm tremors. He was working very hard, though, to improve his fine motor skills while strengthening his large motor skills and mobility.

He mentioned all these to Mama Chelo when she came by his unit in the two days that Dei stayed with him and recuperated. He also requested for her to rest two days more. He had called the General once more to ask for help with Dei because they all knew how stubborn and hardworking she could get. In his call with the General, Rj mentioned wanting to move to an apartment within the camp’s compound. The General, along with Mama Chelo’s help, found a small bungalow for Rj. As soon as they found it, more plans were laid for his transfer. All these were unknown to Dei.

To get things going, Rj declined the Sunday lunch invitation the following weekend after Dei’s illness. He said that he wanted to go to therapy which he missed the previous week. Dei found this a little odd because she knew that Rj really didn’t like going to therapy but was happy nonetheless because of Rj’s efforts and determination to better himself.

“O, akala ko kasama mo si Rj?” Lolo Teddy said when Dei greeted him.

“Next Sunday nalang daw po. He’s at therapy now. Na-miss nya kasi yung therapies last weekend.”

“Hmm…” Lolo Teddy nodded. He was about to tell Dei about talking to Rj on the phone but he kept quiet instead. Besides, Rj, who was now becoming quite comfortable with Lolo Teddy, had requested for them to keep everything a secret from Dei first. “…kamusta naman pakiramdam mo?”

“I’m better, thank you. Wala na akong sipon at pawala na yung ubo ko…”

“That’s good to know. Pahinga ka ha? Hinay-hinay lang sa trabaho. Ano naman ang silbi mo kung may sakit ka?”

Dei smiled at Lolo Teddy and nodded.


On the other side of the camp’s residential area, Joey helped carry things in the apartment while Rj supervised.

“…ang swerte talaga ni Ms.Dei. Sana maging ganito din kami ni Nina…”

“…tiyaga lang…you’ll get there…”

“Eh Coach, sinagot ka na ba ni Ms. Dei?”

“Hmm…hindi…”

“Huh?”

“Not formally. Gusto nya kasi na magpaalam muna ako sa Lolo nya para ligawan sya…”

“…kay General?”

“Hmm…nagpaalam na ako pero di pa alam ni Dei…”

Joey looked at Rj, confused. Rj began talking about the phone calls to the General.

“…wow naman Coach! Ang swerte-swerte talaga ni Ms. Dei…pero Coach, what if…”

“Ayoko na isipin ang ‘what if’…sa ilang buwan na pagsama namin at pag-aalaga nya sa akin, I think kampante naman ako…sa pagkakaalam ko, mas nagkkwento at nagsasabi sya sa akin kesa kay Nina…”

“Hmm…”

“…kayo? Nag-uusap kayo ni Nina?”

“Hmm…masarap nga syang kakwentuhan e. Kengkoy madalas pero may sense naman…”

“That’s good…basta keep the communication lines open…yun yung natutunan ko after kong humiwalay sa pamilya ko…rebelde ako nun pero nung nalayo ako sa kanila dahil sa school, naintindihan ko kung bakit mahalaga yun…mas na-appreciate ko yung relationship namin ni Tatang…yun bang kahit na di sya nagsasalita o sumasagot, ramdam ko na nakikinig sya at naiintindihan ako…I learned to do that for others too…”

“Yun nga e, Coach…sabi ng ibang tropa sa ibang troops, mas okay ka daw kausap kesa sa mga commanders nila…kahit na strikto ka rin minsan, nakikinig ka…”

“Hmm…o sya, tapusin na natin to…baka mabuking tayo na di na therapy ang ginagawa ko…”

“Okay po”


“We’re getting an influx of patients in the next few days. Those who are currently caring for just one or two patients might have additional work. I will also be getting some people to work with me in the office to assist in admissions, record keeping and patient profiles.” Mama Chelo said during the weekly staff meeting.

“Paano po yung mga current patients?”

“May mga patients na mag t transfer na…ready for discharge…inaayos nalang ang mga papers nila…yung iba kasi will need continuous therapies as an out-patient. The list of those who will be discharged this week will be posted on the bulletin boards. Once you see your patient’s name, please see me right away.”

Rj had progressed so much in the few months he had stayed at G. Although he still had tremors and was working on his mobility, he was more independent. He could now transfer from bed to wheelchair and vice versa almost independently. He could stand, assisted, for a few seconds so that he could wear his pants. He still needed toileting and hygiene assistance but could generally manage most things on his own.

“I was thinking, saan kaya ako titira pag na discharge na ako?”

“Iiwan mo na ako…”

“No way! I want a place na malapit lang dito. Kailangan ko pa rin naman ng therapy to strenghten my muscles. I’ll probably need to hire a maid to clean and cook…”

“…plus someone to wash your butt…”

“Yun din…may katulong kaya akong makukuha who would do housework plus caregiving stuff?”

“Hmm…” Dei shrugged her shoulders. As much as she wanted Rj to regain his independence, she was going to miss caring for him. Since the time she began working as a nurse, she was more passionate in caring for Rj than the other patients who were under her care. “…honestly, Babe, I don’t want anyone else to take care of you. Kung pwede lang na ako na lahat…kung pwede ngang sabihin sa yo na pakasalan mo na ako e, I’d say ‘yes’ in a heartbeat…kaso, eto, di pa nga tayo mag boyfriend-girlfriend…”

“Dei?” Rj asked. He was at his desk looking at photos of his new home. Dei was busy cleaning the unit.

“Yes?”

“…wala…” He smiled and watched Dei work. “…Love, live with me, marry me…I want to spend the rest of my life with you..Let me take care of you more than the sacrifices you’ve done for me…I love you”