Jael's POV

"DOKTORA, kukunin kitang ninang ng anak ko, pwede po ba?" the woman in her mid-thirties said as I stared at the glossy invitation she's trying to hand me.

Matiwasay akong naglalakad sa hallway nang bigla niya akong hinarangan. I tried to recall her name but my memory failed me, sa dami ba naman ng taong hinaharap ko araw-araw dito sa ospital.

Hindi nakatakas sa gilid ng paningin ko na natigilan ang mga tao sa nurse station. They exchanged meaningful looks with each other; one nurse wrote something in his notepad and showed it to his peers.

The other nurses shook disapprovingly, one even waved her hands around her neck, whispering, "Negative 'yan."

What a bunch of moron. Instead of doing their jobs, mas pinipili nilang huwag palampasin ang pag-ma-Marites.

One minute felt like an eternity. The woman was also beginning to wonder why the good-looking lady doctor in front of her seems to be thinking about it. Paniniwala kasi ng mga Pinoy na isang blessing ang maimbitahang maging ninong o ninang ng isang bata kaya bawal daw tumanggi.

"No," sagot ko.

"Ano, dok?" kumunot ang noo niya habang ngumiti lang ako.

"I decline."

Kulang na lang ay pumalakpak ang mga taong nakasahod ang tenga sa paligid. Tama ulit ang prediksyon nila at isang magulang na naman ang na-reject ng isang Doktora Fariñas. Patay-malisyang bumalik sa mga kanya-kanyang ginagawa ang mga nurse habang pasimpleng inabangan ang magiging reaksyon ng babaeng kaharap ko.

But I didn't give the audience the satisfaction for their entertainment; I took out my red notepad, checked something, and swiftly excused myself while the woman was left speechless. Bumalik din ako kaagad sa area ng nurse station at wala na roon ang babae, saktong nadatnan ko ang tsismisan ng mga nurse.

"Pang-ilan na ba 'yang tinanggihan ni madam?" tanong ng isa sabay nagbilang pa sa daliri.

"Sabi sa inyo, eh. Matik decline 'yan pag si Dok Fariñas," natatawang komento ng isa.

"Dapat meron kasing disclaimer sa mga pasyente natin."

"Anong disclaimer?" tanong ko sabay halukipkip.

"Ay sorry, doc! Nandiyan po pala kayo!" Nagsikuhan pa ang mga loko. I still smiled at them before requesting the charts I needed for my rounds.

Then I walked away with my head held high, shoulders back, and my every stride was purposeful to ensure that I was worthy of my white coat. I glanced at my reflection to meet my focused clinical eyes, while my long dark brown hair tied back in a neat ponytail, highlighting my sharp features. This is the demeanor that I worked hard for many years in med school, a demeanor that puts my patients at ease, earning their trust.

Pagkatapos ng rounds ko ay pabalik na ako sa Pediatric Ward nang tumunog ang phone ko at sinagot ang tawag.

"Doktora, kailangan ka po namin sa room 305, ASAP!"

"Anong nangyari?" 

"Namimilipit po sa sakit ang tiyan ng bata, naging unstable din po 'yung vitals."

I immediately remembered the patient from room 305, a five-year-old who had recently undergone surgery for intestinal malrotation with volvulus. In this condition, the intestines are twisted, causing a dangerous obstruction.

Napailing ako kahit inalalang successful naman ang initial surgery pero hindi pa rin nawala ang posibilidad ng komplikasyon. Kailangang maoperahan kaagad ang bata.

"Alert anesthesia and the OR team," I instructed the nurse who immediately followed my orders. The staff moved the boy onto a gurney and rushed him to the OR.

Calm and still alert, I entered the sterile room. Taking a deep breath, I approached the sink to turn on the faucet, letting the water flow steadily. I washed my hands with soap, scrubbing thoroughly from my wrists to my fingertips. I rinsed my hands under the water, watching the soap bubble swirl down the drain. Then I repeated the process.

Wash. Scrub. Rinse. Repeat.

Then I entered the OR and glanced at the spot where I secretly posted that tiny cross. It's still there, unnoticed. Good, everything's going to be alright.

The anesthesiologist was already administering sedation to the patient kaya inobserbahan ko muna nang maigi ang ultrasound images sa screen. After observing it, I told the team what procedure we were going to do. Pero biglang may bumagsak 'di kalayuan, isang staff ang 'di sinasadyang matisod.

"Ayoko nang tatanga-tanga sa loob ng operating room kaya lumayas ka." They just gave the look to the guy, alam na nila kung anong ayoko sa lahat kaya wala itong nagawa kundi umalis. "Scalpel."

⋅───⊱༺ ♰ ༻⊰───⋅

AFTER a long day of surgeries, patient updates, endless consultations—my shift was finally over. Pagkasara ko ng locker ay kaagad kong sinalpak sa tenga ko ang wireless earphones at nagpatugtog.

Pahuni-huni pa akong naglalakad at hindi ko napansin ang mga nagtatakbuhang staff sa hallway. Typical day as always, wala namang araw na hindi toxic sa ospital. But for me who's long enough in this place, I already mastered how to thrive in chaos.

Basta ako, tapos na ang shift ko.

Naglalakad ako sa hallway nang mapansin kong may lalaking tumatakbo sa direksyon ko, hindi siya staff at napansin kong nakasuot siya ng hospital gown at may winawagayway na mahabang bagay sa ere. The man locked his gaze onto mine, his eyes were bloodshot and his mouth was hung open like a savage beast.

Then it hit me, I removed one earphone and immediately heard the shouts of the staff. But my body froze, my mind screamed for me to move yet I was rooted in place as he approached.

Out of nowhere, a figure stepped between us. The man—tall, broad-shouldered, with a quiet intensity in his eyes, I immediately smelled his manly scent—grabbed the patient mid-lunge, one arm firmly blocking him from getting any closer to me.

"Whoa, whoa," the man said, his voice calm but authorative. He held the patient's wrists with an ease, his body positioned protectively between us. "Okay ka lang, Miss?" muntik na akong mapanganga nang tumingin siya sa'kin.

Who is this angelic guy?

"Doktora! Okay lang po ba kayo?!" isang staff ang biglang dumating sa gilid ko at bahagya akong nilayo sa dalawa. Saka ako natauhan. 

Pare-parehas kaming napatanga sa ginawa niya nang bigla niyang patungan ng kamay sa ulo ang pasyente. Sa mababa at kalmadong boses ay umalingawngaw ang isang panalangin mula sa kanyang bibig. 

"Lord of all peace, have mercy on this man. Bring rest to this troubled soul, and cast away the darkness that grips him. By Your grace, let Your light shine through and bring healing where there is torment. May Your peace fill this patient's heart, mind, and body, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen,"

We all watched in awe as the patient mysteriously calmed down. Kinusot ko 'yung mata ko at nakita ko ang isang nurse na naturukan na ng sedative ang lalaking nakakawala mula sa Psychiatric Ward.

Hawak-hawak ko pa rin ang isang earphone habang patuloy na tumutugtog ang kanta ng Six Part Invention sa kanang tenga ko nang lapitan ako ng lalaki.

"Are you alright?" he asked softly, his voice was full of concern.

Pero bago pa ako makapagpasalamat ay nagsalita 'yung staff sa tabi ko.

"Salamat po, Father Kai!"

Father?

Saka ko napansin ang puti sa collar ng itim niyang polo at suot na rosaryo. Muli kong tinitigan ang lalaki at katulad ko'y hindi rin siya kumukurap.

Naglaho ang ngiti ng lalaki nang tila may maalala at nagpaalam na umalis. Habang ako naman ay tinanaw siya palayo. Bakit parang pamilyar siya?

Unconsciously my index finger slowly reached my cheek.

And tapped three times. 

-xxx-

https://youtu.be/vj7Ez1q6Zmg