Kaori

My body froze when someone knocked on my door. Nag-aayos ako ng buhok nang may kumatok at ng tignan ay si manang lang pala.

"Bukas na ho siguro ako makakauwi, manang. Hectic ang schedule ko sa ospital," ani ko.

"Ganoon ba? Anong sasabihin ko kapag pumunta dito ang mapapangasawa mo?"

My face flattened. I didn't really like that idea. A week after we arrived her in Japan, mom immediately introduced me to my fiancé. A man three years older. He was polite and I can sense that he's kind too. Nagkausap kami at nalaman kong hindi niya rin gusto ang ganitong set up. He said he agreed to marry me because of his ill mom. Pwede naman daw kaming maghiwalay after five years or so.

"Just tell him I'm working my ass off so that I won't ask huge amount of money from him when we get married," I answered.

Aoki came from an elite family. Mayaman at respetado ang pamilya. Kilala sa larangan ng pangangalakal. Social media influencer din sng kapatid nito at kilala ng karamihan.

I arrived at the hospital earlier than expected. Mom referred me to this hospital and immediately got the chance to work here. Hindi ginamit ni mommy ang estado niya kung bakit ako natanggap dito. I needed to pass all the requirements, the interview and all to work here. Pangarap ko 'to.

I've been working here for almost a month now. Si Kady iyak ng iyak noong nalaman na matatagalan pa bago ako makabalik ng Pinas. She also told me that he already left Philippines. Baka bumalik ng Italy.

A few nurses here became my friends. Some of them were Filipinos. May iba ring galing sa iba't ibang bansa. Niki's from India, Ken is from Canada, and Rosa is from Mexico.

"Kaori! Your fiancé was here looking for you," Ken approached me.

Shit. Nagkasalisi kami.

"I arrived late, he must have thought I'd come here on time," I heaved a sigh. "How long was he here?"

Six AM ang schedule ko. Nagising na ako ng eight dahil ang bigat ng katawan ko. Ayokong gumising ng maaga. I wasn't that productive lately. Pagod ako sa lahat ng bagay.

"A few minutes. Twenty? I'm not sure. But he was waiting for you. Then he left," she nodded.

"Hm. I'll call him later. This day will be stressing for us."

"I was already here before five in the morning and I look really really worn out. I can't with this work!"

Napailing ako at natawa. Nagpaalam ako na magbibihis lang sa locker room. I changed into my nursing uniform and looked at myself in the human size mirror. Hapit sa katawan ko ang uniform namin. Making my body features look thinner. Nakaayos na rin ang buhok ko.

"Pinapabigay ni Aoki."

Lumapit si Samantha sa 'kin at inabot ang isang bento box. Aoki really is thoughtful.

"Dumaan siya?"

Sam nodded. "Hindi ka na daw niya hihintayin kasi may pupuntahan pa siyang meeting."

"Okay. Thank you!"

The day passed by with me being so busy. Papalit-palit ang pag-check ko sa mga pasyente. May isa akong pasyente na bata at nakakatuwa dahil bibo ito. She's five and was rushed here in the hospital because of high fever. Bumaba na rin naman ang lagnay nito. The doctors still needs to run some test to her.

"Rain received a few chocolates. Was it from you?" Niki asked.

Kasalukuyan kaming kumakain sa cafeteria ng ospital. It's past two already and I'm really hungry.

Niki was talking about the five years old patient of mine. Iyong bibong bata na nasa second floor.

"Hm. A gift. She'll go home later at five," I nodded.

"She's such a cutie. I miss my baby," Rosa's face saddened.

"You can take a leave, Rosa. Two months," I suggested.

"I need to earn money to provide for my family," umiling ito.

"It must've been so hard to be a single parent," Ken said and I nodded.

Hindi ko alam kung gaano kahirap maging single parent pero alam kong mahirap talaga. Mahirap na nga mag-provide para sa sarili eh, ano pa kaya kung dodoblehin 'yon? Also, kids go to school, syempre may bayarin.

"My Rica is depending on me. I need to work harder to give her her needs. I enrolled her to a special kids' school. You know, her condition is not normal."

I felt sad because of that. Feeling ko maiiyak ako. Napaka-emosyonal ko talaga.

"I can help you. Come to me if you need something for your daughter, I'm here to lend a helping hand," I smiled.

"That was recorded, you cannot take it back," she chuckled.

Naalala ko bigla sa Aoki. Hindi ko alam kung posible bang maghiwalay kami matapos ang ilang taon o ano. Pareho naman kaming napilitan dito. Itatanong ko kay mommy. Mom and dad was the same case as I do. Then they fell in love with each other and had me.

Nakauwi na ako sa bahay kinabukasan. Manang was there to help me with the house chores. Manang is Kady's neighbor in their province. I hired her because of Kady. Trusted naman si manang at reponsable.

"Manang, can I have my milk? Masakit ho ang ulo ko," I groaned as I sat on the couch.

Wala akong pahinga at tulog kagabi. Akala ko ay makakauwi na si Rain. Bumalik ang lagnat nito kaya hindi nakauwi at kinailangan kong asikasuhin. I was worried for her. Iyak ng iyak at pati ang mga magulang niya ay gano'n rin.

"Hindi ka ba nagpahinga kagabi? Namumutla ka, hija," manang said as she handed me my milk.

"Nagkaproblema ho bigla sa ospital," sagot ko.

I took a sip from my milk and inserted my hand inside my hand bag to get my phone. I saw Aoki's text saying he'll be here. Hindi na ako nag-abalang umakyat dahil sa pagod. I lied down on the couch and closed my eyes until I fall asleep.

Nagising ako ulit dahil sa ingay sa paligid. All I see was white at first, and then my sight found Aoki next to my bed, sleeping.

"Diyos ko, gising ka na, Kaori," manang gasped.

Nagtatakang tinignan ko siya. What is she talking about? And where the heck am I? Hindi ito sng kwarto ko. My room is white and gold, not pure plain white.

"What happened, manang?" I asked.

"Daijoubo?" How are you? Aoki woke up and checked my forehead. He frowned.

"Nani ka?" What? I asked, cofused.

"Pwede bang huwag kayong mag-alien language? Hindi ko kayo naiintindihan," manang said.

I chuckled. "Sorry, manang. Aoki can't understand tagalog."

"I know how to speak and understand English, Kaori! I'm not stupid. You baka!" stupid.

"Nante itta-noyo?!" What did you say?! naiinis kong sigaw.

Aoki flashes an irritating smile. "Baka mitai." You look stupid.

"Damatteyou! Anata-no-kotto daikarai." Shut up! I hate you. Umirap ako.

"You passed out. Nanang thought you're just sleeping," Aoki mumbled.

"It's 'Manang' not 'Nanang', stupid!" sigaw ko.

"Maghintay nalang tayo sa resulta, hija. May pumunta ng doktor dito para i-check ka. Pasalamat tayo kay Aoki dahil dumating siya at nadala ka agad dito sa ospital. Bakit ka ba nagpapapagod masyado?" concerned na tanong ni manang.

"What did you do last night? You look awful."

"I was working the whole night," I frowned.

"How many times do I have to tell you that you don't have to work? Look at what happened! You made us all worried!"

Tanggapin ko sana offer niya na pera niya nalang gamitin ko kapag may kailangan at huwag na magtrabaho. Ang kaso nakakahiya naman. Makapal mukha ko pero may hiya pa naman ako ano.

Natigil ang bangayan namin ng pumasok ang doktor. He gave us a jaw dropping news, making my body freeze and made me collapsed again for the second time.

*****