Persona Non Grata

Scene 9 - Señor Mercado

Intramuros is awfully quiet in this time of night, but I need to make my rounds with my patients for we have a crisis on our hands and only with the diligence of the men of our profession can we combat this invisible enemy lurking in the streets of Manila. My body is tired - my arm aching to drop my bag of medical supplies - but I have to carry on. This is the last patient on my rounds.

The disease has been spreading in this part of Intramuros, and it's spreading fast. Through my recent efforts to find out the nature of the pathogen, I came to the conclusion that the problem we physicians have at hand is a new strain of the influenza virus - and it's something we have never seen before. It's origin is still a mystery to us - even with the body of the first reported victim available to multiple fellow practitioners from Madrid for examination. Our research has been fruitless so far, but I have a hunch that this new strain did not come into being...naturally. Thanks to Gregor Mendel's concepts, I was able to somewhat gather clues as to the nature of the disease, and was able to pinpoint its very distinct differences from the naturally-occurred strains, and if my theories prove true, then our worst fears have been realized. None of the formulae we have at our disposal is able to even ease the symptoms of the disease, and therefore we have little hope of curing this disease until someone comes up with remarkable findings about this virus.

But even so, I cannot stop now. I have to do whatever I can for the people of Intramuros. Although my medical charts in my journal haven't arrived in something conclusive, I believe my findings will be a great help in finding a cure for this disease.

Tonight is a very silent night. The houses surrounding the abode of my patient are barred shut - windows and all - understandably due to the virtue of caution. Nobody wants to contract this deadly disease, and it's not like a lot of Filipinos are that accustomed to being awake at night. Fortunately, my patient's house seemed to be brimming with life, for I can see the lamp's light shining brightly from the opening of the window. From here, I can see Pepay observing the bystanders from her house's window - probably looking out for any sign of me, for her father is a patient of mine and the last one I have to visit for my rounds.

I immediately walked towards their doorstep, and Pepay, watchful as she is, took notice of me despite me being a few paces away from her house. Pepay moved here in Intramuros with her father a few years ago in February if I remember correctly - their house bought from a man named Enrique Alvarez. They have lived here since, and during their stay here I sometimes spy upon Don Custodio, the head of the Board of Health, visiting their house every now and then whenever I chanced to visit this neighborhood.

The girl waved at me cheerfully, and then rushed outside to meet me. Their house only comprised of one floor, but it was big enough to accommodate around twenty people inside - which, in my opinion, is a house too big for a father and a daughter. And, although I am not the one to judge, the house doesn't seem to match the...financial capabilities of Pepay. For a start, she is a...shall we say, a 'dancing girl'. And although I have an idea as to who might be financing this woman's lavish lifestyle, I am not in the position to point fingers in something I lack evidence of. And besides, her father is my patient, and it is unbecoming of practicioners like myself to meddle in affairs that are irrelevant to my work.

As I walked closer to the house, I found myself approaching Pepay, clearly gladdened my arrival.

"Good evening, doctor. Thank the heavens you are here!" greeted Pepay, who was rather cordial as she received me.

"Likewise, Señorita Pepay." I answered in a like manner. "How is your father feeling?"

"To tell you the truth, he's not feeling much better than before, doctor." she replied. "His fever and coughing is just getting worse."