At What Price (Completed)

XIII

#AtWhatPrice 13

“I have had dreams, and I’ve had nightmares. I overcame the nightmares because of my dreams.”
– Jonas Salk

•••

Bwisit. Pwede bang 'wag na lang pumasok?

My head is hurting so much. Nakaupo lang ako kanina pero feeling ko lumilindol. My eyes are in distraught. I think I'm having a migraine.

Unfortunately, it's that time of the month.

Dumiretso na muna ako sa clinic ng university. I told the nurse at the reception that I need a hot compress. However, she advised me to go inside at bibigyan ako ng reseta ng doktor.

Noong una, nag-atubili ako dahil lalaki iyong doktor, medyo nakakahiya na ipaalam na may period ako. But I really needed to rest and I feel like I'm gonna die plus he's a professional so I told him.

I saw him wrote dysmenorrhea sa resta plus I don't know what. Too difficult to read. "You're anemic, hija. You have low red blood cells. After your classes, try to spend the day in the fresh air — fill the body with oxygen. Sa ngayon, the nurses will give you hot compress. If you want to take pills to avoid dysmenorrhea, get some advice from an ob-gyn first." He adviced.

Napatango lang ako, ang sakit ng ulo ko talaga.

I muttered my thanks and went outside. The nurse guided me to sit tapos hinanda niya ang hot compress.

Ang taray. Sa dati kong school, pag may sakit ka, aabutan ka lang ng gamot eh. Sabagay, may nursing school at med school dito. I saw how nurses and doctors went in out of this four walls. Kaloka naman.

My eyes widened when I saw a familiar built. Si Hadwin!

Kakapasok lang nila, may inalalayan siyang bata para humiga. Dun yata che-check-upan. Nang matapos siyang ayusin ang kung anu-ano, napalingon siya sa gawi ko. His eyes widened in surprise.

"Claudia!" masigla niyang bati.

Then his eyes look worried. "Anong ginagawa mo dito?"

Saktong inabot na sa'kin ng nurse 'yung hot compress. He nodded 'cause he understood. I said thank you and the nurse left us.

"Are you okay?"

"Not really. Migraines." The only words I managed.

"Do you need anything? May pampalit ka naman na dala?"

I smiled softly. "Yeah. I'm okay, Hadwin. I just really need to rest."

"Papasok ka pa after nito?"

"Yeah. May importanteng quiz later. May class ngayon but I decided to ditch it." I said weakly.

"Ano sabi ng doktor?"

"Anemic. As always. Nakakalimutan ko mag-exercise lately."

He nodded. "That happens. It drops and rise, Claud. Hey, do you know cinnamon or mint flavors can strengthen the nervous system?" He reached something in his pocket. "Chewing gum." Inabot niya sa'kin.

"Ang dami mong stock." I noticed.

"Habit. Need it for studying. " he replied.

I winced as I felt a searing pain again. "Hadwin, I'll nap muna."

"Okay. Sleep, Claudia." He guided me to fall back. I felt him caressed my hair. "I'll wake you up after thirty minutes."

I made myself comfortable. I can feel my lids closing. Inabot ko iyong kamay niya, then I squeezed it. "Thank you. You look cool. Bagay ka dito." mahina kong sinabi sa kaniya.