Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The three judges walked mightily amidst the chaos. They settled themselves in their assigned seats.

Ang kaninang maingay na paligid ay unti-unting tumahimik.

Napuno ng tao ang loob ng korte.

The protesting outside the law firm days ago became the talk of the town. It spread like a wild fire. It caught the media's attention. It even featured in media news.

The protest paved way to public trials. It known to be discussed in public to finally put end to the rumors.

Bridgestone Medical Center's involvement is like a fuel to the fire. Imagine the power it holds.

Bridgestone Medical Center is not just an ordinary hospital. They are not just treating known illnesses but also unknown and newly discovered disease. It is rare that market doesn't have treatment or any medicine for it yet.

Bridgestone Medical Center developed its own medicine. Recruiting researchers that is best in the chosen field.

Dahil sa commotion na nangyari. Doctors involvement in such heinous crime, as what they reported, put themselves in a hot seat. The president of the said hospital decided to take them off their works temporarily and excluded them from seeing admitted patients and outpatients until the case is on-going and the verdict still not announced.

If they will proven guilty at the end of the case. Bridgestone Medical Center has no other choice but to let them go. Their reputation is more important than accepting someone again, who tainted their name. They strive hard to be where they are today. They cannot crumble that easily. Not now, not ever.

Silence.

The atmosphere suddenly changed. The present of the mighty judges intimidate them. Wearing their robes with so much power and dignity.

Mula sa maingay na kapaligiran kanina ay siya namang pagbalot ng katahimikan ngayon. Their mouth got sealed. Napaayos ito ng upo.

"The court is now in session. All rise."

Dahan-dahan silang nagsitayuan.

Suddenly bowed their heads as a sign of respect, their way of greeting and acknowledging the judge's presence.

"Take a seat."

Kaniya-kaniyang upo ang mga tao. They settled themselves in their seats and sat comfortably as they fixed their eyes in front.

Getting ready for the justice to unlocked.

"Let us start. Shall we?" pangungunang tanong ni middle seat judge. Sabay lingon sa dalawang abogado ng magkabilang panig.

"Yes, Your honor!" attorney Collins answered confidently.

"Yes, Your honor!" attorney Lucas seconded.

Attorney Lucas is their medical attorney. He works at Bridgestone Medical Center for five years and counting. So basically, he knows a lot of things about their hospital, the lives of every medical staffs and the progress of their newly developed medicine.

Today's scene is a first time in record. They never been involved in such scandalous act. They faced many challenges along those years. Building the medical center to become of a kind. Creating a name in medical world.

They have come so far. Bridgestone medical center became top 1 of the best hospital in the whole world with the best doctors.

But since that day when incident happens, their hospital name got tarnished. It put the hospital at risk.

In order to clean their name, he need to understand the situation first. That's why he summoned the doctors involved inside his office.

*flashback*

Prenteng nakaupo si attorney Lucas sa loob ng opisina nito while sipping his tea.

He sat comfortably in his seats when he suddenly heard three knocks in his door.

"Come in." pagpapasok niya kung sino man ang nasa labas ng pintuan na iyon.

Humahangos na pumasok si doctor Reyes. Isa sa mga matataas na board member ng hospital.

"Good morning attorney Lucas. Sorry for the sudden meeting with you. I came here without notice." paghihingi ng paumanhin ni doctor Reyes.

"No worries. You came here such in a hurry. So I believe it is an important matter. Am I right?" he asked in a gentle manner.

Doctor Reyes nodded.

"Take a seat." turo nito sa meeting area.

Mula sa komportableng pag-upo niya sa kaniyang mesa ay unti-unti itong naglakad kung saan banda naroon si doctor Reyes.

"Coffee? Tea? Anything?" he offered.

"No, thanks." magalang na tanggi ni Doctor Reyes.

Tumango lang si attorney Lucas at naupo na sa harap ng inuupuan ni doctor Reyes.

Hindi mapakali si doctor Reyes. Halatang kabado ito sa hindi niya malamang dahilan. Nakayuko lang ito habang nilalaro ang kaniyang mga daliri.

"So... what brings you here?"  he asked, breaking the silence.

Mula sa pagkakayuko ay umangat ang tingin ni doctor Reyes at sinalungat ang nagtatanong na mga mata ni attorney Lucas.

"Six patients died after receiving an  unsuccessful operation last night."

Maingat na inoobserbahan ni doctor Reyes si attorney Lucas. Bakas sa mukha nito ang matinding pagkagulat.

"W-Wait. W-What? W-Why?" naguguluhang tanong nito.

"We have successful operation ratings according to our latest reports, right?" paninigurado nito.

Doctor Reyes nodded.

"Then what happened?"

"Performed surgery while under the influence of alcohol."

Nakakunot at problemado ang mukha ni attorney Lucas. Bahagyang hinihilot niya ang kaniyang sentido.

"Where are they now?" nag-titimping tanong nito, tinutukoy ang mga doktor na nakatoka sa operasyon.

"Sa meeting room po attorney. Nagpapalipas ng oras. They are banned to entertain patients at the moment."

"Kindly call them here. I want to talk to them."

"Yes, attorney." doctor Reyes obeyed.

Yumuko lang ito saglit at tahimik na naglalakad palabas.

Tinahak nito ang kahabaan ng pasilyo papunta sa elevator. Doon siya sumakay sa private elevator intended  for board members only.

Mataas at malaki ang hospital. Mayroon itong dalawampung palapag. Nasa ika-labing-limang palapag ang opisina ni attorney Lucas habang nasa ika-labing-pito naman ang opisina ng halos lahat ng board members.

Sumakay na ito paakyat sa ika-labing-walong palapag kung nasaan ang meeting room.

Dahan-dahan niyang binuksan ang pintuan ng meeting room at pumasok doon.

Nakaupo lang ang mga doktor na nakatoka sa nasabing operasyon. Papikit-pikit pa ang mga mata nito, halatang hindi pa nahimasmasan mula sa kalasingan.

Hindi nila napansin ang pagpasok ni doktor Reyes, kaya bahagya silang nagulat ng makarinig ng tatlong katok sa mesa

Napatayo ang mga ito bigla at inayos ang kanilang mga suot bago hinarap si doktor Reyes.

"Doc!" sabay-sabay na sigaw ng mga ito habang nakayuko bilang pagbibigay-galang sa doktor na mas nakatataas sa kanila.

"Tawag kayo ni attorney, hinihintay niya kayo. Punta nalang kayo sa opisina, gusto niya daw kayong makausap." mahabang litanya ni doctor Reyes.

Tango lang ang naitugon ng mga ito sa kausap. Nagpaalam muna ang ito sa kausap bago dahan-dahang pumanhik palabas.

Sa kabilang banda, hindi mapakali si attorney Lucas. Pabalik-balik lang ito sa paglalakad sa loob ng kaniyang opisina.

Bahagya pa itong nagulat ng biglang tumunog ang kaniyang telepono.

Chairman Santos calling...

Beat.

Ito na nga ikinakatakot niya.

Bumuntong-hininga muna ito bago pinindot ang accept call.

"H-Hello Doc.?" kinakabahang sagot nito sa tawag.

"I have heard about what happened. Did you already talked to them?" mahinahong sagot nito sa kabilang linya.

"I have summoned them already doc. They are on their way." he responded.

"Good. Talk to the bereaved family too. We should shoulder the funeral expenses at least. Send my condolences. And plead guilty. Let them face the consequences of their action. Do not let them act irrationally. We are at fault and we have to admit it. I cannot go back in Philippines yet. My schedule is full for the next few months. I got summoned by the U.S.A's president himself to perform surgery in their patient."

Pause.

"Can you take care of the situation?"

nagsusumamong dagdag nito.

"Yes, chairman. You can count on me. Ako na po ang bahala." sagot nito.

Nakangiti sa kabilang linya ang chairman. Hindi nga siya nagkamali ng attorney na kinuha. He was proud of him. He is indeed a man of justice.

"Thank you, attorney Lucas. I am hanging up."

Nakangiting ibinaba ni attorney Lucas ang telepono pagkatapos ng tawag.

Chairman Santos. A man in his mid-forties. He comply and follow everything according to the law.

Hindi na nakapagtataka kung bakit ganito na ka layo ang narating nito sa buhay. Magaling at kilalang doctor sa buong mundo. Mabait at may malasakit. Tumutulong sa mga nangangailangan. Established a lot of hospitals.

Naputol ang kaniyang pag-iisip at pagbibigay puri sa chairman ng makarinig ng katok sa labas.

Sila doc. Arvi na yata ito.

"Come in." pagpapasok ni attorney Lucas.

"Take a seat." he added.

Hindi niya muna nilingon ang mga ito at dumiretso na sa may coffee area para ipagtimpla sila.

Tahimik lang na umupo ang anim. Hinihintay nalang nila si attorney Lucas.

Habang lumilipas ang oras ay siya namang ikinakaba nila.

"Drink it. Sober up." seryosong saad ni attorney Lucas.

Dahil sa malalim na pag-iisip, hindi na nila napansin ang paglapit nito. Bahagya pa silang nagulat sa presensiya ni attorney.

Tahimik lang nilang inuubos ang kape habang mataman silang tiningnan ni attorney Lucas na prenteng naka-upo sa harap nila.

Nakakailang.

His gaze is quite intimidating.

Naubos nila ang kape ng hindi nila namamalayan. Dala na rin siguro ng kaba.

Medyo nahimasmasan na rin sila. Gising na gising na ang diwa nila. Nawala na rin ang sakit ng ulo nila na dulot ng puyat at kalasingan.

Ngayon lang tumatak sa isip nila ang nangyari kagabi.

'Nakapatay sila.'

'Nakapatay sila.'

'Nakapatay sila.'

Iyan ang paulit-ulit na rumerehistro sa kanilang mga isipan.

Nanlalamig ang mga kamay at namamawis ang noo. Hindi mawari kung ano ang dapat gawin.

Isang tikhim ang nakapabalik sa kanila sa reyalidad.

They were drowned by their own thoughts just awhile ago.

"So..." pagbasag ng katahimikan ni attorney Lucas.

He initiated the talk.

"Doctor Raven, doctor Adler, doctor Kim, doctor Jaro, doctor Sebastian, and doctor Arvi."

Isa-isang pagtawag nito sa pangalan nila. He looked at them one by one, straight in the eyes. Trying to read their minds.

But he cannot, of course. He does not possess any power.

He just want to touch their soul. He wanted to talk to them in calm manner as possible as he can. To talk rationally without clouded by anger.

"What happened?" nagtitimping tanong nito.

He is so close to bursting out. But he refrain himself from doing so. He wants to know the truth, he wants to know their reason. At hindi niya makukuha ang gusto niyang mangyari kung galit ang papairalin niya.

Hindi magkandaugaga sa kakaiwas ng tingin ang anim. Malilikot ang mga mata nito at talagang iniiwasang magtugma ang mga mata nila sa kausap.

Tumikhim ito upang agawin ang atensiyon nila.

Leave with no choice, they rerouted their eyes back to him.

Matalim niya silang tinitigan. Hindi na rin nakapagtitimpi sa mga asal nito.

He is aware that they are a little bit stunned and shocked about what happened but they cannot solve anything if they will not cooperate. No time to waste.

"Performed surgery while under the influence of alcohol." he paused then looked at them fiercely. "Great." he sarcastically uttered.

"What do you all think you were doing?" he added.

Wala pa ring imik ang anim. Nanatiling tikom ang mga bibig nila.

"We will shoulder the funeral expenses. Make sure to send your apology to the bereaved family." he uttered with emphasis.

They nodded obediently.

"They will sue all of you for that. So do not do anything and take my lead. Do you understand?" he asked.

Tahimik lang na tumango ang mga ito. They listened carefully to their attorney. They know they are at fault so there is nothing they can really do but to follow attorney Lucas's lead.

"We will lose the case. We will plead guilty."

Expected na nila ito pero ang hirap pa rin paniwalaan.

"You were all known as best doctors on your own field of expertise. But for the first time, you failed to do your job."

Kitang-kita sa mga mukha nila ang matinding pagtutol. They cannot plead guilty or else their name will be ruined.

Pag-iisip ng mga ito.

"But attorney—"

"No buts." pagputol niya sa dapat sasabihin nila.

"You will face the consequences of your actions. You might end up in jail. But I will do everything I can to prevent that from happening. This is your first offense, so you will more likely to receive at least three years in jail or got your license revoked. I will plead the latter. "

"But—"

"No buts." pagputol niya sa sasabihin ng mga ito sa pangalawang pagkakataon.

Doc. Sebastian nodded understandingly. His wife is pregnant and he cannot afford to stay in jail while her wife is suffering alone. License revoked then.

"Order from the chairman. End of discussion. You can all leave."

Tahimik lang na naglalakad ang mga ito palabas. Pinoproseso ang mga kaganapan. The situation they are in is quite hard to process.

Ang bilis ng pangyayari. Ilang araw lang ay kalat na ang balita ng pagkamatay ng mga pasyente who have received a high probability of successful operation in the last consultation.

The doctors credibility were being questioned. And they were sued for medical malpractice. They received a letter from the court saying that they were summoned for public trial.

Since that day, their case became a hot topic and talk of the town.