Ricci Rivero, MD

05

I didn't know I was capable of doing things for other people. Natutulog si Rivero ngayon sa living room at ako naman ay nagsusulat. It's 1am at malapit na din ako matapos. Hindi ko talaga alam ba't hindi ito printed eh. Same shit lang naman or baka gusto lang talaga kami pahirapan.

Finally natapos ko na rin yung akin. Sisimulan ko nalang yung kay Rivero hanggang sa kaya ko. I mean this is my way of helping him. He's strong masasabi ko talaga cause if I were him baka siguro nagkulong lang ako sa hospital ngayon with my mother. But he still managed to go to school and visit his mom.

Di ba jealous type yung girlfriend nito? I mean yea its nice to know na they trust each other but I'm still a girl and nandito siya with me ngayon instead of his girlfriend. Plus the fact that he's sad. I mean I shouldn't be the one comforting him.

Lumabas ako in the middle of me doing his microbio assignment para kumuha ng coffee. I was slowly walking in the kitchen place baka kasi magising ko siya.

Pabalik na sana ako sa room ko when I saw him move na parang gininaw siya kaya agad ako lumapit at hinawakan siya. Oh, fuck. He's sick. Agad ako pumanik sa taas at kumuha ng blanket and thermometer.

Nilagay ko na agad yung thermometer sa axilla nya. I was just staring at him while waiting for it to beep.

He has long eyelashes at ang tangos ng ilong nya plus his lips it's swollen and red. He's handsome when he sleeps.

"You done checking me out?" Agad ako napatayo sa boses nya.

"You freak. I wasn't checking you out tinignan ko lang for assessment." I rolled my eyes at umalis na para kumuha ng towel with cold water.

Pagbalik ko nakita ko na siyang nakaupo sa upuan. "You're sick." Sambit ko.

"Hindi pa ako mamamatay." He stood up quickly. Tigas talaga ng ulo eh.

"Where do you think you'll go?"

"My unit. I'm sorry for disturbing you."

"Dito kana. You're sick. Just go to your unit pag okay ka na." I decided for him. Baka ano pang mangyari. He has 38.7 na fever.

"Wag baka mahulog ako sa'yo." There was a moment of silence. "Joke" he added.

"Did you eat a while ago?" Umiling ito.

"If you want to become a doctor, you should eat on time." I countered and quoted what he said that made him chuckle.

"I will, Dr. Larazabal."

"Soon to be pa kasi." I muttered.

"It's the same thing. Magiging doctor ka pa din." He rested his head sa sofa.

"Ingatan mo naman sarili mo." Sabi ko at inalalayan siya humiga ulit.

I went to the kitchen to cook soup for him and while cooking I just realized that it's been 4 years since the last time I took care of someone who's sick. Ngayon lang ito naulit.

That's when it hit me. Kusa lahat ng ginawa ko sa kanya. Hindi ako pinagsabihan or ano. My body's moving for him without me knowing. Shit.

"Rivero! Wake up. Kain ka na muna and drink medicine kasi I still have to finish writing your microbio." agad itong napatingin sakin ng malalim. Napalunok nalang ako.

"You're making my microbio?" I nodded.

"Wag. Ako na gagawa nun mamaya. Just leave it to me and you sleep." Even though he's sick he still cares for me. He's just too genuine. For keeps ng lalakeng to' eh.

"Will you stop caring for me?" Tanong ko. "Ako na muna ngayon, please lang." I begged. I'm studying medicine to treat people. Me prioritizing myself when I'm just fine sound so selfish.

Wala na siyang nagawa and exhaled heavily. "Fine but when I'm good, I'll make it up to you."

I smiled and nodded. He started eating and I started walking my way sa stairs. Pagdating ko sa room ko. I started making his assignment. Ang sakit na ng kamay ko pati na yung mata ko. Nasa 10th page pa ako. Napatingin ako sa phone ko. It's 6:10 am na pala. Wala pa akong tulog.

I checked Rivero's state. He was sleeping peacefully parang ayoko siya galawin or what. So instead of checking him kinuha ko nalang muna yung kinainan nya.

After cleaning everything agad ko naman siyang chineck. I held his forehead at nilagay na din yung thermometer sa axilla nya.

Hindi na siya medyo mainit. Nag beep na yung thermometer at tinignan ko yun. 37.9. Hay salamat naman at medyo okay na siya. Nilagyan ko nalang ulit siya ng bimpo.

I decided to cook breakfast and after this I'll finish Rivero's microbio and I'll finally sleep. I was busy cooking nung ma realize ko nanaman na first time to'. 6 years kami ng ex ko but I haven't tried staying up for him yung tipong wala talagang tulog and done things like these -- cooking and making assignment.

Napailing nalang ako.

"You didn't sleep?" I startled when I heard his voice.

"I slept for an hour." I lied. White lies lang naman.

"I want honesty, Akilia."

"Fine. Wala pa."

"Why are you like that?" Tinignan ko siya with a questioning look.

"You remind me so much of my mom."

"Is it a bad thing?"

Umiling ito.

"No and you're making it hard for me cause I cannot not like you." He looked away.

"And I know I have to stay away from you." aniya.

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Axilla - armpit