Pieces of Pastiche

Kabanata 32

Kabanata 32

Lumapit ako unti unti sa kanya. My heart hammered against its walls at pakiramdam ko, tatakas na iyon sa dibdib ko. I swallowed when I reached his place.

"Let me suture you up."

Tinignan ko kung aalma siya pero hindi so I took it as a signal na pwede. Hinatak ko ang sterile set na nasa gilid. I started cleaning the edges of the wound. Alam kong masakit iyon kaya iniiwasan kong tumingin kay Archer. I injected some Lidocaine para mag numb iyon.

Tahimik. Tahimik masyado at naiilang ako sa katahimikan namin. I didn't expect it to be like this. I expected him to ask, to yell at me, to slap it in my face that I left him.

My hands starts to tremble kaya tumigil ako saglit. I heard him smirked, I inhaled deeply before I started again.

"Uhm, the operation was successful. I was able to remove the nails on his head without doing more injury." Sa sobrang awkward, sinubukan kong magsalita. Dahil hindi siya sumagot, inangat ko ang tingin ko sa kanya na sana ay hindi ko ginawa. He's looking at me very darkly that it made me look down immediately.

"I-I just thought you want to know." Habol ko.

I heard him smirked so I closed my eyes tightly.

I felt like that was the longest five minutes of my life. Nung matapos ko iyon, dinikitan ko ng gauze. I was so careful not to touch him.

"U-uhm, mag antibiotics ka." Sabi ko pa. Nagulat na lang ako nung tumayo siya. Sya na ang nagtapos magdikit ng micropore. I swallowed when I saw his irritated and pissed look.

"You don't need to tell me what to do."

He walked out on me after he said those. Just- just what kind of encounter is that?

Mag uumaga na nung umuwi ako sa condo. Hindi ko alam kung anong mararamdaman ko. Una, pagod ako sa dami ng pasyente sa ER. Bukod sa may 4 pa kong pasyente bukod sa inoperahan ko ang dinaluhan ko kanina, nakalinya na kaagad ang consults ko para bukas. Pangalawa, si Archer. Hindi ko maintindihan bakit ganun siya. Siguro nagpapasalamat na lang din ako na hindi niya ko sinigawan kahapon o sinumbatan. Masyado akong busy kahapon para intindihin pa ang feelings ko.

Nakatulog ako kaagad. Mas grabe talaga ang pagod kapag hindi mo inexpect ang trabaho. I woke up from a text saying minimal lang ang residual blood sa inoperahan ko. I said okay and just monitor the ICP. Fourth year resident na naman si Chickie so may tiwala na ko sa kanya.

It is ten in the morning and kakatapos ko lang mag breakfast. I'm prepared to go to work. Ben texted me na nasa Manila siya ngayon, niyayaya akong lumabas bukas dahil birthday ni Ursula. I replied with 'okay'.

Pumasok na ko sa ospital bago maglunch time. Wearing white slacks, maroon top, and stilettos with my white coat on my hands and a hand bag, I graced the halls of Crimson Medical City. Some welcomed me back and greeted me. Diretso ako sa opisina ko.

I was surprised when my office still looks the same. Walang nagbago doon. Kahit ang ayos ng dating mga papeles ay naroon pa din. Divina, my secretary, entered the office with a coffee from a well known coffeeshop in her hand. Nilapag niya iyon sa lamesa ko.

"Good morning, Dr. Wildrige! Welcome back!" She greeted. Natawa ako at ngumiti sa kanya.

"Upo ka, we have a lot to talk about regarding my work." Sabi ko sa kanya. Tumango naman siya at sinabing kukunin lang ang kanyang planner. I sat by my sofa and she sat in front of me.

"I noticed walang nagbago ah?" I mentioned. She chuckled and nodded at me while scribbling something on her notes.

"Mahigpit pong bilin ni Dr. Houston na wag gagalawin ang dati niyong opisina. Nung umalis po kayo, napunta po ako sa kanya as his secretary sa pagiging head ng Neurosurgery department ng ER. Minsan may kukunin lang po akong files dito tapos ibabalik ko din."

Napatango na lang ako sa sinabi niya. I don't get it bakit hindi sya naghire ng ibang neurosurgeon na magtatake sa post ko. Kung bakit di niya ginalaw itong opisina ko. It's a waste of space and resources.

"You have a meeting po later at 2pm with Dr. Aldea and 3pm brief meeting with Dr. Houston. 4pm you have a general meeting with the department heads at the ER department. You have no operations scheduled for today dahil po packed ang schedule niyo. Mayroon po kayong 6 pending Neuro consults. Irorounds niyo po ba today?" Tanong niya. Hinilot ko ang sentido ko. Narinig ko pa lang na imemeet ko si Archer ngayong araw ay naiistress na ko agad. I can't be in a room with him. Pakiramdam ko mahihirapan lang ako. I know he'll get his revenge and I am afraid na tatanggapin ko lang iyon.

"After the general meeting, I'll do my rounds." Utas ko.

Natapos ng alas dose ang briefing ko with my secretary. Naisipan ko namang itext sila Lorenz para sana kumain ng lunch. Sabi niya ay may consult sya ngayon at rounds.

Dahil bored ako, naisipan kong sumama sa kanila.

"After nito kakain ka na?" Pangungulit ko sa kanya habang nagsusulat siya sa chart. Natatawa siyang umiling.

"Para sa isang tulad mong kakasimula lang ulit sa trabaho, ang dami mong free time." Pangaasar niya. I rolled my eyes dahil nagbibiro na sya ngayon. Dati ay hindi sya ganun. Mikaela really brings color to his life.

"Syempre, ako pa. Alam ko namang namiss mo ko sa work." Pangaasar ko pabalik. Nailing na lang sya at tinawag na ko papasok sa kwarto ng pasyente.

We saw the patient and we smiled to her. Manilaw nilaw na siya at tingin ko may liver problem na agad to. May jaundice sya at yellowing sclera.

Nilingon ni Lorenz ang resudente niya. Tinanguan niya ito a signal para magsalita na.

"Sixty seven year old woman with adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Has had radiation therapy to reduce the tumor load. Rates her abdominal pain five out of ten. Positive nausea, but no vomiting. Diarrhea, hematochezia, melena, afebrile with maximum temperature of 37.4 celsius and stable vital signs. Labs significant for a total ability of seven and elevated liver enzymes." Tumango tango si Lorenz sa sinabi ng residente. If Lorenz is here for a cardio consult and this is a case of Pancreatic Cancer, there might be an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms. Pancreatic cancers are associated with AAA.

Nagulat ako nung pumasok si Archer sa kwarto. My eyes widened. Napakurap ako at nilingon si Lorenz ng may nagtatanong na mata.

"Sorry I'm late, where are we?"

"Still presenting the case."

Nagpresent muli ang residente. Bukod pala sa Pancreatic cancer ay meron rin siyang tumor sa level L3-L4 ng spine. It is compressing the spinal cord kaya may pain na rin and numbness.

Tahimik ko lang na pinakikinggan sila. Nung napatingin si Archer sa banda ko, nilagpasan lang niya ko ng tingin. Wala nanaman siyang sinabi. I sighed. Mas nagmature talaga ang itsura niya. He looks so handsome lalo na ngayong suplado sya. Which is honestly, hindi ako sanay. I an used to him as the funny one. Quiet and then funny. Hindi ganitong masungit. Pero oo nga naman, taon rin ang lumipas at tulad ng sinabi nila Aurora, pain changes people.

"Full blood work up and abdominal CT. Enema and ERCP for a stent and brush biopsy." Lorenz commanded.

Tinapik ni Lorenz ang balikat ni Archer bago lumabas.

Pagkalabas, hinampas ko si Lorenz.

"Aray!"

"Bakit di mo sinabi na may pasyente rin ni Archer yon? Nakakainis to!"

"Why, are you avoiding him? You know that's impossible."

Umirap ako kay Lorenz. Natawa naman siya sakin.

"Let's just have our lunch, little tiger!"