housemates (completed)

housemates 3 -- kids' stuff

A little backstory...as I was standing half-awake at Simbang Gabi this morning, 12.20.18, I realized that this story is somehow similar to "You've Got Mail" which is one of my favourite films. I recently chanced upon the plot again while watching "Guddo Moningu Koru" on Netflix. Taking some ideas from both produced this fic.

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A month had passed before Richard and Nic began working together in the Pediatric Wing of the hospital. Although they had been working on the same floor and wing, it was the first time they would be working together as a tandem.

"...adjust your rounds to 9am. I leave the hospital at 11am..." Nic said as they prepared for the first day of work together.

"Why?"

"In case you haven't been aware, I work the third shift. I've been here since midnight. I know that you're not much of a night owl so you've been working during normal hours since you started in this hospital..."

"How do you know so much?"

"I read. It helps me learn more techniques in dealing with the sick kids around me. Besides, technology is so much advanced these days, it gives me sort of an edge to be a little more advanced in knowledge, don't you think?"

"Ang yabang nito..."

"Ako, mayabang? Excuse me po, Dr. Richard Faulkerson Jr, better known as Rj, the whole world does not revolve around you. If you want people to warm up to you, you should do the same. Read. Learn." Nic said as she picked up her stack of charts and walked into the Ward 11.

Richard immediately saw how the kids in the room excitedly greeted Nic. For her part, she had personal greetings for each child as she drew the curtains around their beds open.

"Ate Nic!" Coby, the boy with high fever and diarrhea almost immediately sat up from bed. He had his arms stretched out so Nic gave him a hug.

"Hmm...parang may konti ka pang owwie sa tummy e. Pasilip nga?" Nic spoke to the boy and pulled the back of his diaper. "Meron nga..."

"Wash mo ako?" Coby asked.

"O sige. Wait lang at mag-g-good morning pa ako kela Gio and Carla. Babalikan kita."

"Okay!" Coby gave Nic a thumbs up.

"Ate Nic, bakit kasama mo si Doctor Sungit?" Carla, a 4-year old with fever due to UTI, whispered in Nic's ear as the latter hugged her.

"Sino?"

Carla looked at Richard who was currently examining Joey, a 3-year-old with skin asthma, on the bed across from Carla's. Nic looked and watched how Richard tried to listen to the child's chest but Joey kept on squirming.

Nic approached Joey and gently lifted the child off the bed. Joey calmly rested his head on Nic's shoulder and Richard was able to thoroughly examine the child.

A while later, Richard sat at the kiddie table at the far end of the room where a small play area was. He wrote down some notes in his notebook so that he could update the children's charts properly after rounds. Nic took care of washing Coby and changing his clothes. She also encouraged the children to take their medicines.

"Bye kids!"

"Awww..."

"Sus! Andito na naman ako tomorrow. Be good ha?"

"Opo"

"Dr. Richard, say goodbye..." Nic whispered to Richard while they were walking out of the ward.