Kabanata 3

I woke up strangely with a heavy head. I'm sober but I feel so dizzy. Nasobrahan siguro ako sa inom kagabi. My hangover really sucks! God, kung alam ko lang na mapapasobra ako sa inom, edi sana hindi na lang ako uminom kagabi at pinanood ko na lang sila.

Never expected anything like this happened. I told myself last night that I'm not going to drink violently, pero ito ang napala ko. Hindi ko maipagkakailang, I became too barbaric in drinking last night. Sana man lang pinigilan nila ako.

I remember, I have work today. Hala, anong oras na? I'm absolutely late. I want to check my phone first. It's already 8:30 am and my day shift starts at 7:30, which implies...

"I'm fucking late!" sigaw ko.

23 missed calls from Manager Travis...

56 unread messages from Co-Doctor Layla...

12 unread message from nurse Lilia...

16 unread messages from Chanel...

Patay ako kay daddy pag nakarating ang bslitang ito sa kanya! He will probably get furious. Or worst, makatanggap na naman ako ng speech of disappointment.

So, after I get up from my bed, I rushed inside my shower room. There's no time for complains and regrets. I have to run and fix myself. I've never been so stupid in my entire life like this. Masyado akong nagpadala sa alak.

Pagkatapos ko sa banyo, nagmadali na akong nagpalit at kinuha mga gamit ko. Sana hindi ko naiwan yung phone ko. I check everything in my bag to make sure my things are with me, then went out of my unit and rushed inside the elevator. Buti na lang at umabot pa ako. It almost closed when I arrived. Sinulyapan ko yung lalakeng nakatayo sa gilid. Wow, ang tangkad. Never seen someone this tall.

But I have no time to look on his face. My phone is ringing and it was my dad who's calling me. I immediately answer it. Ayokong mapagalitan, but for sure he will scold me on the phone not because I answered his call late, but because I'm late for my work. As I've expected.

"Yes, dad?" I manage to answer the phone while I'm intensely trembling. My knees are getting jelly. My palms are also cold. Why am I being like this? Saktong makababa ako sa basement nang magsimula na siyang magsalita.

"Young lady don't make me mad this time! Hurry up and go here right away! Your patient is waiting for you!" I remembered! May operasyon ako ngayon. Why the hell did I forgot to tell them na may importante akong gagawin sa trabaho ko kinabukasan?

Sinamantala nila ang oras ko. I can't even blame them dahil maraming beses na akong hindi nakadalo sa mga lakad nila.

I need to save the mother. I need to hurry up. Kung hindi, may posibilidad na mamatay ang mga pasyente ko dahil sa pagiging late ko. At yun ang isa sa mga pagsisihan ko habang buhay kung sakali mang mangyari.

Pinaghaharurot ko ang aking sasakyan hanggang sa makarating sa building ng St. Martha. Tumakbo ako ng mabilis sa may hallway dala dala ang bag ko at ang lab coat ko. Kahit naka-heels ako, hindi man lang ako natapilok. Sanay na sanay na ako.

I entered my office and change my shoe. Saka lumabas at tumakbo ulit pagkatapos ko itong i-lock.

I don't even care kung pagtinginan ako ng mga tao. Nakaka-irita rin ang mga pakalat kalat na nurse dito. Hindi man lang marunong magparaan. Kita na ngang may emergency. What the hell, they we're like hving a death march. I just rolled my eyes in irritation, may magagawa pa ba ako? Alangan makipag-away pa ako rito, eh late na nga ako.

Tagaktak ang pawis kong nakarating sa operating room. Hindi pa nga sila nakakapagsimula Nagsi-tinginan lahat sila sa akin. Inilibot ko ang aking mata sa loob ng silid at nakita kong handa na ang lahat. Ako na lang ang hindi.

"Nako, doktora mabuti at hindi pa po nagsisimula ang operasyon. We can start now that you're here already. But wait you should sanitize yourself first," sabi ng anesthesiologist ko. Mabuti nga't hindi pa nagsisimula. Malilintikan talaga ako ka'y daddy. Mas importante ang buhay ng tao pag operasyon ang usapan. Bawal ang late. Ang oras ay mahalaga sa amin.

Maingat kong lininisan ang aking sarili. Sanitation. I immediately finish everything para makapag simula na.

Matapos ako maghugas ng kamay, nagsimula na akong magdasal ng tahimik. I need to pray always to ask for guidance. I can do this with God's light. Naniniwala akong maililigtas ko ang taong walang malay na nakaratay ngayon. Makakayanan ko 'to kagaya ng dati.

This is the least I can do for poor people. Save their lives. I'll try my best not to fail her husband nor my father nor myself.

"Let's go!" tanging sambit ko sa mga nurses bago pa tuluyang pumasok sa operating room. Tumingin ako sa itaas waiting room sa itaas kung saan may glass pane. Manunood si daddy. Kinakabahan na naman ako. Relax lang, Savannah. Kaya mo 'to. I couldn't bare looking at his eyes for now. Gusto ko muna kalimutang may nanood sa akin at mag-focus.

"Let's start,"

The operation will last for almost twenty minutes dapat matapos ko ito. I need to remove the dead fetus inside her body. Or else, she'll die. The dead baby is almost six months. Hindi maganda ang kanyang pagbubuntis that's why she got a miscarriage. Sayang yung bata. Baka malala ang magiging epekto ng pangyayaring ito sa ina. She may suffer the stages of grief or worst... depression.

Inilagay ko na ang aking mask at nakahanda na ang mga gamit. Nawala na ang panginginig sa akung mga kamay at kumalma na rin ang aking puso mula sa malakas na pagtibok nito kanina.

"Anaesthesia," utos ko sa anesthesiologist ko. Sinimulan niya ng lagyan ng anaesthesia sa may bandang pusod ng babae. While I'm doing this operation, I'm praying for her. I hope she'll be okay after this operation.

"Scalpel." sabi ko at iniabot nila sa akin ang scalpel. Maingat kong linaslas ang kanyang balat sa tyan hanggang sa makarating na ako sa kanyang water bag.

"Forceps." Iniabot nila ang gamit na hinihilong ko. Maingat kong tinanggal ko ang patay na fetus sa loob nito at inilagay sa kidney dish.

Nagsimula na ako sa suture...

"Cut!"

"Cut!"

"Cut!"

The mother got seven stiches. The operation is successful. Maayos na ang lahat. Tumingin ako sa taas. Nagpalakpakan ang nga board of directors. Napangiti ako. Dad smiled at me and he mouthed the words 'good job'.

Paglabas namin sa operating room nakangiti ang lahat sa akin at nagpalakpakan. This is the best day ever. Na-late man ako kanina, successful naman ang aking operation.

"Courtney! The surgery went well. Congrats. Galing mo sis!" Lumingon ako sa aking likuran and then I saw Chanel with Arville. He's really trying to get close to her. It's obvious na may balak talaga siya sa kaibigan ko. My conclusions starting to build up. What if, he planned this? To take advantage of my friends and get close to me.

I already told Chanel what's wrong with that man–kung anong ginawa niya sa akin. But she still insisted to be with him instead of request for better senior. Ang daming iba riyan. How can she not mind my warning? O baka naman nagpadala na siya sa gagong 'yun? How can she manipulate her that far? Hindi ako natutuwa.

I started scanning his face. It's tainted with lust and desire. He was like, he almost gonna drool over me. Ah, I see. She's making my friend a tool to make me jealous. Screw him.

I'm aware he wanted to get inside my pants, and he knew I will never let that happen. He knews I can crack his balls. I will never let him. Not in my territory.

"Courtney, don't be mad. I already told you yesterday right? He's my senior. Alex knew about it." I just shrugged my shoulders and rolled my eyes. I know this is being immature. Masyado na ata akong nagpapadala sa galit ko sa lalakeng yan.

I hope madulas siya mamaya sa banyo.

"So you're with him?" I coldly asked. Tumango lang siya. What the hell, I told her she always ask me kung magpapalit siya ng senior, but she didn't even consider my goddamn offer. So, papayag na lang siya na gamitin siya ni Arville para mapalapit sa akin? I knew what he was planning.

He's tryinng to get me with my friend!

"Courtney naman!"

"What?" My voice sounds irritated at this point. 'Pag hindi ko natantsa 'tong lalakeng to, sa mukha niya tatama 'tong bag ko.

I'll probably hit his scheming face if I could get the chance. I'll slap him hard. I'll punch him. I'll do everything to ruin him.

"Take it easy, Savannah. It's not like I really want this. Don't worry, I'll be good to her." I just looked at him from head to toe and flip my hair with annoyance. Hindi ko talaga siya kayang tantsahin kaya mas mabuti kung aalis na lang ako.

I woke up in the morning with annoyance. Day off ko ngayon tapos may nagdo-door bell para gisinging ako. Who the hell is this? Pagod qko sa trabaho and my mood is about to burst. I lost my patience, now I'm ready to hit whoever that person is.

Binuksan ko 'yung pinto at bumulagta si Thariah mula sa labas. Hay, panira talagang tulog. Hindi naman nagsasabi kung pupunta ba o hindi. Basta na lang pupunta rito. Kumbaga gatecrasher ang dating. My eyes look sleepy. I couldn't open them wide because they feel so heavy.

Inaantok pa kasi ako, eh!

What the-hindi pa pala ako nakakapag-toothbrush...

"Girl, may new neighbor kang gwapito. Kararating niya lang kahapon." Tinignan ko siya ng masama. Tuwang tuwa pa talaga. 'Yan lang ba ang rason kung bakit siya pumunta rito?

...and what the hell is she trying to imply?

Na kailangan ko na magkaroon ng boyfriend?

"You came here in my unit just to spill a nonsense news coming about neighborhood? I'm enjoying my sleep kasi pagod ako kahapon. Tas gigisisngin mo ako dahil lang dun?" reklamo ko. Itinulak niya ako papunta sa loob at pumasok siya. Isinara niya naman ang pinto at umupo ako sa sofa. Tumabi naman siya sa akin. Naka ilang dabog na rin ako dahil nga sa ginawa niya. She just ruined my beauty rest.

Hay, inaantok pa man din ako!

"Sorry na, 'to aman galit agad. This is the time to find a boyfriend! Bagay siya sa'yo. You look sexy pa man din!" Minsan, naiirita na ako sa boses niya. Lagi na lang tungkol sa kalalakihan. May trabaho pero nambubulabog ng taong nagpapahinga.

"Ang bitter mo naman!"

We spent the whole day of my day off in movie marathon, ordering foods and resting. Natutuwa ako na pumunta siya rito kahit sinira niya ang aking tulog.

Kinabukasan... lumabas na ako sa unit ko. I'm ready to face this day. Another day of stress! Nakangiti akong naglakad dahil maaga pa.

There's someone who's standing outside his unit and typing his door's code. Siya ata 'yong lalakeng tinutukoy ni Thariah kahapon.

He seems familiar. Siya ata yung matangkad na lalakeng nakita ko nung nakaraan o kahapon ata.

Nagulat ako nang biglaan siyang tumingin sa akin. Kumurap pa ako ng isang beses habang pinakikiramdaman yung lakas ng tibok ng aking puso. What the hell is wrong with me?

Ganito pala talaga angpakiramdam ng single... Parang hindi interesado sa lalake. LOL! I don't care kung gwapo siya. Binabawi ko na pala yung nararamdaman kong kaba kanina.

"You okay? Hello, neighbor!" he winked at me before he opened his door. Medyo kinakabahan pa ako.

"I want to meet my neighbor. Would you mind if you come inside. We should eat lunch together. What do you think?" holy mother of a freaking white bull in the farm! He invited me inside his unit! What the hell should I fucking do now?

Should I?

Should I?

"Uhm? Okay?" he smiled at me.

"Let's go then!"

Dapat ba akong sumama?