CHAPTER 10: The First Day Of Internship

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HANNAH

“Hannah, wake up, isn’t it this is your first day on your internship?”

It was 8:00 in the morning; I heard Nanny Rose yelling at my doorstep, calling out my name and reminded me about my internship.

Of course, who would forget his first day on his internship? Nobody! But knowing my nature, she was afraid that I might arrive late if she didn’t me at all. Well, I got it, Nanny Rose was well concerned about it, needless to say. Nevertheless, i stayed a little longer on my bed, begging for more time until my clock alarmed. I had a signal, it was really time for me to get up. Honestly, I didn’t know how I feel. I was a bit nervous, excited and elated. There were so many anticipations I had in mine like what to wear, what will we do, are we going to meet schizophrenic patient, am I going to meet patient with ADHD and more thoughts apparently. But when Nanny Rose appeared in my room, bringing her magic stick, well, I guess that was really the best time to stand.

“Okay, okay, I am getting up.” I answered reflexively.

When I paved my way to the kitchen, I smelled her flavoured rice cakes, and my hunch was right, it was jackfruit. I was very familiar with the aroma, and when I looked closely to the table, I was right. It was jackfruit flavoured rice cake - Nanny Rose’s greatest recipe indeed.  That was her best for me, though she said that jackfruit was a seasonal fruit, and it would take some time to make one, I was wondering where she bought the fruit. Then, I asked her directly. And she told me, it was secret.

I tasted the rice cake. It was heaven, the taste was really good and it made me feel like better. I even asked her to join me eating but she said that seeing me eating would make her even more satisfied. Then, I began to ask where Lolo Claro was. She said that he went already out for his part-time job. I asked Nanny Rose to sit beside me; I held her hands and promised that I would repay them for everything they have done for me. There were even tears on my eyes while uttering those words. Nanny Rose hugged me tightly and said that it was not my responsibility to do it but I insisted, I wanted to give the best life for them.

After a while, she asked me to take a bath. And I did. After that, I was already prepared. I left home and headed my way to our meeting place, in the convenience store. I arrived safely checking my watch, I was 10 minutes early, so what I did was, I went inside the store and bought a drink. But before I open the door, I saw Jordan inside, talking to the cashier. I turned my back swiftly and when I felt that he was heading his way out. I suddenly had the urge to hide, so there was no other choice but to hide in the trash bin. The trash bin was huge enough to conceal me. I was thanking the bin for saving me from that situation. I even covered my face as if I were a kid crying. I didn’t know if he walked away, I had no idea if he was there or not. So, my other choice was to stay in my position for more than a minute.

“Hannah, is that you?”

A familiar voice caught my attention. I was certain, it was Roz. She was the one calling me but I could not still show my face off until she went beside me and suddenly asking me what I was doing. I asked her if Jordan was still there but when she said that there was no trace of him, I stood up and searched the entire place with my own eyes to see. Apparently, i could not afford to see him, or to talk to him, considering of what happened on the night of our celebration. I was still thinking about the words I said, and everything was vague. I didn’t know if those words in my heard were just part of my dream or they were totally authentic. I really had no clue.

“Is everything okay?” Lexy arrived.

I managed to tell them the whole thing while heading our way to the clinic. They could not imagine that I was capable to hide, and was capable to do that. Roz said that putting herself in my shoe, she would do the same thing while Lexy said that she would run rather than hide herself from a bin.

When we got there, there were other interns inside, assuming that we had the same course and we would spend the rest of the internship with them. There was a tall guy with glasses which made him look smart among the rest, and there were two girls  with same shoes, same bags, same hair colour but no twins.

“Okay, you are all here.” The secretary said.

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THEON

After my breakfast, I went to my daily routine; reading. I took the book George had bought yesterday and i began reading the following pages. I was still bewildered how he explained where he got his extreme introversion and his story was different from mine, though I was really not sure if I knew where I had mine.

In the story he shared, Mario was really locked in a room and talking to other people was prohibited. It started when her parents died and he was under the supervision and care of his wicked auntie. Mario was bombarded with the lies about the society, and he made him believe that people and society were wicked and cannot be trusted. He was 8 years old when he started experiencing those unpleasant circumstances. Though, he was treated well by her Auntie, Mario was lack of social skills, abilities, interaction which made him scared of people. So, when his Auntie died after 12 years, Mario was forced to live in an orphanage where he started to live with people. His first few years were really a challenge for him and for the people in the orphanage because of what happened to him.

A knock was heard on my door which caused me to stop reading, it was George saying that a teacher called telling him to submit some homework from last week’s activity. Then, I was shocked because those activities he was referring to was still untouched, knowing that I would still more time to prepare for them. Since, I was in shock of the news; I started checking them on my study room. The more I tried to concentrate, the more I get distracted with reoccurring thoughts. It was not really a good idea. I need distraction. I really need to change my setting. So, I called George and ask to prepare for the car because I would be visiting the library again.

Well, that’s the problem with me somehow, when I was in the middle on unwanted situation and pressure, it was so ironic that I would love to stay anywhere but not in my house, not in my own safe haven. It was a bit weird and unusual, but for me, it was normal but in the eyes of others, there was really something wrong with me.

So, after a while, George drove his way to the Library.

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HANNAH:

“So, you would start by creating a psychological report.” The secretary mentioned.

After the orientation and tour, the secretary disseminated our task on that day. I and my friends were tasked for the psychological report. While Rod, that’s the name of the guy, was tasked to administer psychological test to a patient while Rina and Cherry were tasked to conduct regular interview with the in-house patients.

I guess, everything was fair though, we wished to have interview with the in-house patients but sooner, we can all experience that, and that’s according to the secretary. While checking the battery of test, I found out that the client was really depressed. So, I went to the secretary to talk about the result of the psychological report. The secretary referred me to the psychologist, Ms Caroline to double check my work.

“Okay, it seems that this is not the first time you did this. When the patient arrives, help me to discuss the result.” Ms. Caroline mentioned.

“Sure, ma’am. “I said confidently.

So that was the feeling. I felt the surge of happiness grew in my heart, and it showed in my face when I went back to my desk and shared my experience talking with Doc Caroline. They could not imagine that I finished it at once, and made a nice impression with the psychologist. They even got surprised when I mentioned that I would be the one explaining the result.