Pieces of Pastiche

Kabanata 30

Kabanata 30

"Quinn!"

Patakbong sinalubong ako ni Aurora. I nearly got teary eyed from seeing her again after two years. She aged like a fine wine. With her maroon knee length flowy dress, she looks like a real fine mom. I hugged her and she hugged me back so tight. Tumawa ako.

"You look so beautiful Aura!"

"Nako! Maganda pa ba ko nito eh kunsumeng kunsume na ko kay Sandro!" we both laugh as Sandro approached me. Niyakap niya rin ako ng mahigpit at binuhat pa. Napatili ako at sinamaan siya ng tingin.

"Namiss kita Pangs!"

"Where's Jess?" I asked. Sumimangot naman siya.

"Ang galing! Buti pa anak ko hinanap!"

Natawa na lang ako sa banat niya. Sandro and his remarks. I miss all of those.

Sa likuran niya, naroon si Lorenz na nakatingin sakin. My eyes immediately watered at the sight of him and Mikaela. They were both standing there, Lorenz waiting for me to be done and Mikaela, smiling widely at me. Lorenz went near me and hugged me. I hugged him back.

"I missed you, Quinn." Utas niya. I nodded at him.

"I miss you too."

Minabuti naming kumain muna sa isang restaurant. We did some catch up. Ang dami nang nagbago sa kanila pati na rin sakin. Lahat sila, pamilyado na. Something you won't expect immediately from doctors who are in the height of their careers. Napag usapan na din namin ang nalalapit na kasal. I will be Aurora's maid of honor while Lorenz is Sandro's best man. Lorence is goong to be their ring bearer. Excited na kong makita si Aela, Jess at Rence.

Pati yung mga nangyare nung nakaraan, maayos ko nang kinwento. Kung dati ay hindi pa ko handang ikwento iyon, ngayon, medyo kinaya ko na. I guess it's because I don't have the fear of Archer getting exposed to the media anymore.

Mula sa pangbablack mail sa akin, sa pagkamatay ni Papa, at hanggang sa pagkamatay ni Mr. Valderama.

Aurora's eyes watered after my story. Si Sandro tahimik lang, bagay na alam mong ginagawa niya lang kapag seryoso na siya. Lorenz is looking intently at me.

"I didn't know you went all through these, Quinn. Without us knowing." Nginitian ko na lang si Sandro. Pinagdaanan ko man, nakayanan ko naman lahat ng iyon. It made me stronger. It made me who I am now.

"It's Amanda who pulled the life support, not Archer." Dahan dahan akong tumango kay Lorenz. Napailing siya pagkatapos nun.

"You shouldn't have judged him quickly. But I understand why you left. Kahit pa sinabi mo kay Archer na para sa kanya yon, Archer will insist that he did not kill Melody. Tayo oo maniniwalang hindi niya pinatay but once it goes out in the media, kahit pa hindi totoo, madaling paniniwalaan ng mga tao."

We all nodded in agreement at Lorenz's sentiments.

"That's why I did it. Kahit pa hindi siya ang pumatay, hindi madaling paniniwalaan ng mga tao yon lalo na maimpliwensya ang mga Valderama."

"And it will surely cost Dr. Houston's neurosurgery career." Sandro said. Mapait akong ngumiti.

"You really love him do you? Para iwan mo siya ng ganun, para iwan mo ang career mo dito, para iwan mo kaming lahat, you basically sacrificed yourself, Quinn." Nangilid ang luha ko sa sinabi ni Aurora. Yes, that's how much I love Archer. Kahit pa ako na yung mag mukhang masama dito, wala na kong paki. Kahit pa maghiganti siya sakin for hurting him and leaving him, tatanggapin ko na lang.

"Magiingat ka Quinn. Once he knew about this, he might have his revenge. I don't want to hurt you but those two years na wala ka, ang laki ng pinagbago ni Archer. There's one time where he got drunk in a bar where we were hanging out. He shouted to everyone and told us he'll get back at you for the pain you've caused him. You'll need to accept that he's not perfect and he may do things that may hurt you."

Tumango ako kay Aurora. Naisip ko na rin lahat iyon but hearing this, him wanting his revenge on me hurts me. Pero alam ko kahit masasaktan ako, or kahit nasasaktan na ko, hindi ko siya masisisi. I've learned my lesson. Pain really does change other people. Anger blinds them.

But what really removes the pain and anger from them?

"Tatanggapin ko. If he will let me, I will explain things to him. If not, wala na kong magagawa."

Nalipat sa iba ang usapan namin. I am glad they changed it. Hindi ko na yata kakayanin pa kung si Archer pa rin ang pag uusapan namin. After Aurora and Sandro's wedding, binyag naman ni baby Jess ang pagtutungunan nila ng pansin.

"By the way Quinn, Dr. Aldea asked me if you want to go back at Crimson Medical City as the head of Neurosurgery at the ER department. Mula nung umalis ka, Archer took the position while you were gone pero nung nalaman ni Dr. Aldea kay Dr. Buckingham na hindi mo tinanggap yung bagong contract, binitawan ni Archer yung posisyon."

Tumango ako kay Lorenz. I really wanted to go back at Crimson. Kahit anong posisyon tatanggapin ko naman. Kahit as hospital physician lang okay lang sa akin. I didn't expect na mababakante ang posisyong iniwan ko pag kabalik ko.

The days passed and I accepted the position. Bukas na ang first day ko. I was given the lists of names of interns and residents na ibibigay sakin. I figured it's the same as before kaya naman madali na iyon. They will give me a couple of days to familiarize myself with the hospital as per protocol pero since alam ko na naman na, madali lang sakin yun.

Inayos ko ang ID ko ng ospital. Pati na rin yung coat and scrubs ko. It feels nostalgic to be back here in Crimson. Mula intern, residency, fellowship at kahit pa nung ganap na kong neurosurgeon ay dito ako nagstay. Somehow it feels home.

Nagpapasama sakin ngayong gabi mag final fitting ng wedding gown si Aurora. Seven kami ng gabi magkikita at alasais na ngayon. I wore a high-waist jeans and cropped top para naman relaxed lang ako. I took my car keys and pouch before I went out and drive going to Crimson. I sighed as I look at the condo. Sobrang tahimik na. Of course bumukod na sila Sandro at Lorenz dahil may kanya kanya ma silang pamilya. Suddenly this condo unit feels so big and empty.

Pag dating ko sa ospital ay maraming bumati sakin. Some doctors who were familiar with me. Pati iilang nurses, med techs, pharmacists and pt's greeted me. Dumaan ako ng ER at nakita si Aurora doon. Kumaway siya sakin kaya naman lumapit na ko papunta sa nurses station. Sinigurado kong wala si Archer dito ngayon. Sabi ni Aurora ay day off daw at hindi siya ang on call. Buti na lang dahil hindi ko pa yata siya kayang makita.

"Doc Wildrige! Long time no see po!" Bati sa akin ng mga nurses doon. I smiled at them and greeted them back.

"Good morning Ma'am Gekai, Ma'am Tin!" Bati ko pabalik sa dalawang nurse. They both giggled. May dumating na consultant kaya naman nabusy na ulit sila.

Nilingon ko si Aurora na nagsusulat sa isa sa mga chart doon. Nakangiti siya sakin bago binalik ang mata sa sinusulat.

"Iba talaga ang glow ng ikakasal ah?" I joked. Tumawa naman si Aurora.

Nagring ang phone sa nurses station. Wala ang mga nurses dahil nasa kanya kanyang pasyente kaya si Aurora ang sumagot. From smiling face, napunta sa seryosong mukha. I sensed a little problem. Mukhang may maramihang emergency ah?

Binaba niya ang tawag.

"Quinn, we might need to cancel the fitting. There's a mass injury. Nagcolapse ang isang construction building. More than 20 patients ang inaasahang isusugod dito. You might need to start your first day tonight."