War of Hearts

Simula

From where I came from, they say that med school is only for the strong-hearted. You have to have the courage of a soldier and a heart of gold to withstand the harsh reality of the healthcare delivery system not just in the Philippines but also abroad.

Not everyone is called to this profession. Some have fought the fates to prove their worth in this field. Some are discouraged, and they eventually drop out.

As for me, it was never that easy compared to my pre-med, Nursing.

I am now a first year med student pero first sem pa lang, gusto ko nang mamatay. Sobrang daming aaralin at ang hirap pa ng subjects namin. Humanda ka sa akin med school kapag clerkship ko na, madami akong experience sa hospital.

Registered Nurse din ako kaya bago magsimula ang school year, nagtrabaho muna ako ng isang taon para kahit pa-paano, ako na ang nagbabayad sa miscellanous fees.

Additional na doon iyong experience. I am a curious person, kaya kapag walang rounds iyong mga doctors, especially the senior residents, I bombared them with questions and they are actually nice in giving me a lot of advice for med, board exam, and residency.

"Ana! Kain tayo! Wala daw si Dr. Agbayani," I heard Francine's authoritative shout not too far from me.

I look back as I follow where her voice comes from and see my only friend in med school walk inside our room wearing our white blouse and white pencil skirt.

Francine's long black hair caught my attention. It's the first thing that you'll notice about her feature, followed by her mischievous almond eyes. She has a different air than those around her, just like me. Her stare demands respect. Her stance demands authority. Her body language demands to be studied. Some of these are just a few of the many things people in our college have said about her. As for me, she's just Francine.

"Weh?" Kontra ko.

"Oo nga! Tara na!" She tried to pull me up of my chair, but I remained seated. Binigatan ko talaga ang sarili ko para 'di niya ako mahila patayo.

Nakakatamad buong araw. In fact, walang kwenta ang araw ko ngayon. Nag-aral lang ako sa physio, 'yon lang at wala nang iba pa.

"Ang arte mo naman," iritadong niyang kinamot ang ulo niya.

"Kung i-announce mo muna kaya sa klase 'no," pag-ta-taray ko sa kaniya. Inirapan niya ako at padabog siyang pumunta sa harap ng classroom.

Bilis naman magalit.

"Guys, wala daw si Dr. Agbayani kaya pwede nang umuwi," naghiyawan ang mga kaklase ko sa announcement ni France at diretsong lumabas ng classroom.

May ibang natira, tulad nang mga nag-re-review at may iba namang mga nagpapaganda, tulad ko.

"Mag-aayos lang ako," kinuha ko na iyong make-up pouch sa bag at nilagyan ko ng pulbo ang mukha at liptint ang bibig.

Nag-spray din ako ng pabango nang Victoria's Secret na Bare Vanilla. Sobrang bango kasi. Kapag nag-spray ako, amoy doughnut shop ang classroom.

"Pahingi din ako," kinuha ni France iyong bote ng pabango at naglagay sa kanyang palapulsuhan at leeg.

Lumapit sa akin ang isa kong kaklase sa upuan ko na may dalang physio book at backpack na nakasabit lang sa kaliwang braso. "Ana, sa wednesday na lang natin gawin yung worksheet sa biochem. Hindi ako puwede ng weekend."

"Okay lang. Mag-aaral naman ako sa Physio," I gave her a smile.

"Thanks," she waved her hands at us and walked out of our classroom. Mabait siya. Matalino na rin. Isa siya sa mga tinuturing ko na rin na kaibigan ko.