Caught in a Wildfire Named Solana

Prologue

"It's good to see you here, Dr. Hiraya," Bati sa akin ni Dr. Yap, professor ko noon sa med school. Katatapos lang ng seminar at nagkasalubong kami sa may lobby ng hotel kung saan ito ginanap. Naglahad ako ng kamay at tinanggap niya naman iyon. "Are you still working at MDDH?" Makahulugan siyang ngumiti sa akin.

"Yes, doc. Third year in my residency. Still a long way to go," Humalakhak ako.

Umiling si Dr. Yap, "You sure you don't want to apply at my hospital?"

I see he's still at it. He's been at this since I was in med school. I don't know what he sees in me but he's been obssessed about having me work for him. He always knew I can't take the job but this old man is really persistent. Siguro ay iyon din ang dahilan kung bakit nangunguna sa buong Davao region ang ospital na pinamumunuan niya.

"I don't think my family would like that," Tipid akong ngumiti.

He shrugged, "I thought so," Tumatango niyang sabi. "Well, then, I better get going. I guess I'll see you around, boy!"

My schedule's been really tight lately. It's the second seminar I have attended to for this week, and there's another assembly that I also need to attend by next week to represent Metro Davao Doctors' Hospital. To be honest, I would prefer duty hours at the hospital instead of having to go to each of these meetings my mom set up for me.

Speaking of whom, I felt my phone vibrate. Agad ko iyong sinagot nang nakita ang caller ID. It was mom.

"Where are you?" She sounded impatient.

Right. We have a family dinner tonight, too. I completely forgot about that. Tiningnan ko ang oras sa aking relo.

"I'm on my way," Sakto at dumating ang valet. I quickly drove my car out of the hotel.

Alas siete na at hindi pa nakakatulong ang malalang traffic dito sa Davao. Pinatong ko ang siko sa may bintana ng sasakyan habang pinaglalaruan ang aking labi. Yellow by Coldplay was playing through the stereo.

I turned it off.

When the cars started moving forward, I immediately changed gears and stepped on the gas. It was around eight when I arrived at home. Everybody was already there, except of course for my mother's husband.

Nasa hapag na silang lahat nang dumating ako. Seriously though, in this family of doctors, I don't know how everyone finds a time for a gathering. I barely even sleep these days.

"Tito Uno!" Masiglang bati sa akin ng anak ni Gil, pinsan ko. Nakaupo siya sa isang high chair habang sinusubuan ni Guillermo. I smiled at the little girl.

I went to my mom and kissed her cheek before I sat on the vacant seat beside her. Hinaplos niya ang gusot sa may balikat ng damit ko bago ako pinandilatan ng mata habang nakangiti.

"How are things for you at the hospital, hijo?" My grandmother greeted as she eats her steak.

"Everything's great, Lola." Sagot ko. Nagsimula na rin akong kumain.

"Good thing you managed to pull yourself together, Uno," Tita Ola commented. "I remember how you were back in college. Naku! Sobrang sakit sa ulo!" She let out a laugh. My mother shifted on her seat. I can sense her embarrassment.

"He was helpless! Akala ko nga hindi siya makakapagtapos ng kolehiyo," Nakisali na rin si Tito Ismael. "But look at him now!"

The truth is, I only took up medicine because of my family. My family owns a hospital and everybody's a doctor so I'm also expected to become one, and so I did.