Chasing the Heart's Pursuit (Heart Series #1) - COMPLETED

Chapter 40

CHANGED PERSON

40

"Nurse Rhian, kindly monitor Patient M in room 207. His medication is supposed to be given a.c. PO," I instructed one of nurses assigned this shift.

I was manually checking the Nursing Care Plans of the nurses who had their shifts earlier this morning. Nasanay lang ako. As the Chief Nurse of Fortunato Memorial Hospital, it is my responsibility to supervise all the nurses under me.

"Noted, Chief," Rhian, the nurse who's supposed to continue Nurse Irene's care, responded. Bago pa lang si Nurse Irene. Napapansin kong kinakabahan siya sa tuwing nagbibigay ng gamut. Naiintidihan ko. I was like that too exactly 3 years ago.

I nodded at her as a sign that I am acknowledging her answer.

Working for 2 years as a Chief Nurse here taught me a lot of things. Well, life generally taught me valuable lessons. I've underwent a different kind of journey. I worked hard to get my Masters in Nursing for 2 years. Then, made my way here as a Chief Nurse.

I can still remember how hard it ws studying for the board exams that same year. Countless number of sleepless nights. But, I learned to control my emotions better.

Much better than I did even before he came in to my life.

I can say that I know better now.

What's really intriguing is that Yusseff would always tell me that I've changed. Truth to be told, I don't think so. All of them, including Kuya Doji and Kuya Samuel would tell me that I'm different now.

The bottomline? They'all always claim that it's because of pain and that things will become better if ever that I would mend that pain and not let it grow.

Pain...

I firmly disagree with the idea that pain changes people and that pain makes a person different that who he is in his core. No. Pain streghtened a person's side that he is always hiding. Pain lets that side reign to protect that person – as an additional protective layer. That is, pain does not produce a new person. It just let the undiscovered part be known. That's all.

For once, I disagreed with him. He's currently working at another hospital. Of course, in the same city as me. His Thaliah is not with him. I heard she flew and worked at Canada. They seemed happy. Good for them or I'm notreally sure. Yusseff have been so down lately. Long distance relationship issomething that needs strong foundation of not just love but trust and loyalty.

Chade and Rax broke up, apparently. They both went away from here. Naiintindihan naman namin kung hindi na muna sila magpapakita sa amin. They don't want to burden us, I guess.

I just know that Rax went towards North whereas Chade, he completely disappeared and became unheard under the radar.

It's sad but I guess that is how life is. Things that are supposed to break will really break.

Ayos lang kasi sa paraan 'yan naman natuto ang mga tao. Just treat it as an avenue to learn and avenue for development.

I went inside my room. An apartment again. Malayo kasi at hassle kung uuwi ako araw-araw sa bahay naming. At saka wala na naman sila Kuya Samuel at Kuya Doji doon. Seems like they agreed to give to me our ancestral house. Kuya Samuel gradually took over our plantation. He runs it now. He built a house near the farm for his family. He already had a daughter.

Kuya Doji just recently married. They are planning to build a family too. This the vry reason why they are so adamant of me finding a partner. They are worried that I'll be alone forever.

As if being alone is disease and hideous thing.

Being alone doesn't mean being lonely.

But, is it really not?

I sighed as I turned on the shower. I feel accustomed to my lifestyle now. I got used to it because I chose this.

I willingly chose this.

I learned my lesson but I am still me. I did not change.

"Audrey, how about that Gomez guy?" One time, Kuya Doji asked me in one of our lunch sessions together. Napagkasunduan kasi naming, tuwing linggo ay magkakasama kaming kumain. Just like how Papa wanted things to be.

"Gomez? Doctor Gomez?"

"Yes. That one. I heard he is courting you. Why don't you give it a try?" sabi niya habang unti-unting nilalagyan ang pinggan ni Ate Angelica, his wife.

Ever the sweet Kuya Doji.

Kuya Samuel's wife, Ate Jessa, slightly pinched Kuya's side.

"Aw! What's the matter, Hon?" Kuya Samuel quietly asked.

Ngumungusong itinuturo ako ni Ate habang nagkakawanring sinusubuan si Jemuella. Tila ba sinasabing dapat tulungan ni Kuya Samuel si Kuya Doji.

"Right! Oh! Mory, your Kuya Doji is right. Narinig kong doktor na 'yon sa hospital na tinatrabahuan mo ah."

Doctor Gomez has been sending me signals. He likes me. I can't just seem to find the motivation to entertain those things again. Observing him, we're kind of similar. We know what we want and we know how to get it. We don't waste our time to useless things.

I am a very observant person. One look and I know, that we're almost the same – with the way he prioritizes things and the way he talks to people.

"I'm busy, Kuya," I replied shortly. A sign that I wanted to end the conversation.

Pero nagpatuloy pa rin si Kuya Doji. I rolled my eyes at annoyance. "Busy din naman siya, ah. Katulad lang kayo."

"I don't want to talk about this."

With that, I can feel all their worried looks at me.

Their faces that say it all. That, it has been five years. Come on, move on!

Doon ako labis na nagtataka, parati nilang patahimik na sinasabi na kalimutan ko na. Ang hindi nila alam nakalimutan ko na naman talaga. Wala na nga akong alam na bagay sa kanya. Meron pala, pero tungkol naman sa ama niya.

His father won the election again as the City's mayor for three consecutive terms. That is why until now, San Francisco is still a household name at Koronadal. I am working at General Santos City along with Yusseff. No other reason, just because I wanted a new environment.

For five years, I have managed. Then, fine. If my preferences changed and how I viewed things changed then they are right. I'm a changed person.

That is what I thought until I saw him again.

Going inside the Cardiology Department wearing his white coat was him.