AURELIA

"Doctor Alcantara, a 4 week old baby has been projectile vomiting."

I quickly ran towards the patient's room for me to see what happened. I have been so close to every patient that I have that I can't let anyone be discharged without me taking extra precautions.

The four week old baby that I am handling has been here for about 3 days now and one of my colleagues thought that the baby is just having a normal stomach ache but when I took some tests, I found out that the baby had an infection.

I wore my gloves and checked the baby's heartbeat before trying to feel her stomach. It has a large lump and I know that she's been overfed. "Aria can't be fed in the next 18 hours, she needs a lot of rest and as much as possible only give her 4 ounces of water every 3 hours," I told the parent while looking at the patient chart.

After checking up on Aria, I finished my rounds with other patients before going inside of my office. I sighed before slamming my face on the table before groaning. I've been awake for about 49 hours and hindi pa rin ako makapag-off dahil ayaw kong magkaroon ng emergency bigla tapos wala ako dito sa ospital.

Nakakapagod 'tong trabaho na 'to pero mahal ko mga pasyente ko. Kaya kaya kong isugal ang sarili kong kalusugan para sa kanila. Wala rin naman kasi akong ibang pagtutuunan ng atensyon e besides my patients.

I heard a knock from my door and I sighed before fixing my sitting position, "Come in!" Bumukas sara naman ang pinto pero hindi ko naman tiningnan kung sino 'yon kasi alam ko naman na 'yung bestfriend ko lang ang may kayang pumasok sa office ko.

Even though I am very nice towards my patients, my co-workers find me very intimidating and I can't blame them. I am always so tired so I can't force myself to smile every time I see them in the hallways.

"Papers to sign," She said and I nodded before pointing at the other table para doon niya ilagay 'yon. Umupo naman siya sa harapan ko at tiningnan ng maigi.

"Aren't you leaving Seattle tomorrow morning? Why are you still on duty?" She asked at umiling iling lang ako sa kanya bago tingnan ang schedule ko. I am coming back to the Philippines tomorrow and I'll work at our hospital.

After I graduated med school, pinadala na ako agad nila Mom and Dad dito sa Seattle to be a pediatric surgeon. Hindi naman ako nakatanggi sa kanila, hindi dahil pinilit nila ako kung hindi ayaw ko palagpasin ang opportunity na lumapit sa akin.

And I started to hate my home country. Because everywhere I go... I see him.

"Yeah, after today... my patients would be transferred to you. So be good, take care of them," I said and she nodded. Iniwan naman niya ako at napatitig naman ako sa kisame. Handa naman na akong bumalik doon sa Pilipinas. I want to help children there and I am excited to see Ryssi and Eve again.

Ilang years ko na silang hindi nakita e. 6 years na ata? Inggit nga ako sa dalawang 'yon, ang dami nang naranasan sa buhay. Habang ako, walang inatupag kung hindi pag aaral.

After finishing signing my last few papers here in my office, inayos ko na ang gamit ko. Hindi ko na planong matulog dahil maaga rin naman ang gising ko bukas. I just need to drink coffee and take Modafinil to stay awake.

Papasok na sana ako sa loob ng elevator nang may makita akong maliit ng bata na parang naliligaw. I slowly walked towards her and knelt down to be on the same level as the child.

"Why are you out here alone, baby?" I asked while fixing the strands of her hair covering her face.

"Mom said that she'll be at the lobby. But I don't know the way to the lobby, can you help me?" She asked with her little voice and I smiled before holding her hand with my left hand while the other one carried a box.

When we arrived at the lobby, nagulat ako nang may pumutok bigla and it was a party popper. I roamed my eyes and there I saw all of my colleagues wearing party hats. May pagkain rin doon sa isang mahabang lamesa at may banner pa sa likod.

Good luck on your journey without us Doctor Alcantara! -Seattle Fam.

I smiled before thanking them. We celebrated my despedida party before going home. May sumalubong naman sa akin at agad ko siyang niyakap.

"Did you miss me, baby?" I said in a baby voice.

My dog barked and I smiled before taking off my shoes and coat. I cooked some food before chilling on the sofa and watched Netflix.

I was already used to this kind of routine. After work, I go home and relax with my dog and then go to work again. For 6 years I have been lonely and I guess it was okay with me because at least I proved to my parents that I could take care of myself.

"Yeah, matagal ang flight. Balitaan ko na lang kayo kapag malapit na mag land ang eroplano ko bukas."

[Okay, anak. Mag ingat.] Mom smiled and I ended the call. My parents and I are now on good terms and they aren't as strict as they were before.

After I got my heart broken, I had a very hard time pulling my grades back up. When my heart was still fresh from the pain, there was never a time where I didn't cry.

Para kasing nawala lahat ng motivation ko no'ng nawala siya. There was no one else to push me towards my goal. I actually thought that I would just be a pediatrician but look at me... a pediatric surgeon. All of the blood, sweat, and tears that I poured just to be what I am right now.

Everything was worth it.

Habang nagaayos ako ng carry on things ko ay may biglang pumasok ulit sa kaisipan ko. Am I ready to see his face again?

Pakiramdam ko ay oo pero may halong duda pa rin.

Even so, I was ready to come back and serve for my country as one of their best doctors in the field.

Tamang desisyon lang rin na umuwi ako sa Pinas for good this year dahil ang alam ko ay uuwi rin sila Kuya para mag birthday si Keondre, ang kanilang anak ni Ate Kaye.

Minsan nga naiinggit ako sa kanila e, dahil pamilyado na sila at masaya. Kahit ako naman ay gusto ko rin magkaroon ng pamilya dahil ayaw kong tumanda ng walang kasama 'no!

There were so many what if questions on my mind back then. What if our child was born without him? Would I still be here being a successful pediatric surgeon or am I stuck in the house taking care of my child?

"Boarding of flight 372A to Philippines, please proceed to gate 3 immediately. Thank you."

Naglakad na ako papunta sa boarding gate habang dala dala ang passport sa isang kamay at hila naman ang isang malaking maleta sa aking kabilang kamay. I was so tired because I didn't have any sleep, ang hectic na agad ng araw ko kahit ang aga pa.

"Diel, don't bark when we board the plane, okay?" Sambit ko sa aso ko bago tuluyang makapasok ng aircraft.

Wala akong ibang ginawa sa eroplano kung hindi matulog at mag cellphone. Hindi naman ako magrereklamo dahil maayos naman ang pwesto ko. First class kasi ang pinili kong ticket at si Mom ang nagbayad no'n kaya masaya ako. At least wala akong maririnig na ingay masyado.

After a very long flight, we finally landed. Pagkatapak ko sa labas ay naramdaman ko agad ang mainit na simoy ng hangin. The atmosphere here is very different from Seattle but I missed this.

"Oh hello? Yeah, I just landed. Kunin ko lang mga maleta ko tapos labas na 'ko d'yan. Hindi talaga nakasama si Ryssi sa pagsundo sa akin?"

[Hindi e. Busy mag alaga sa baby niya, alam mo naman clingy masyado.] Eve replied and I ended the call after that. I took a cart and waited patiently to look for all of my luggage.

Habang naglalakad papunta sa exit ay may nagkakaguluhan sa airport. May celebrity kaya doon? Gusto ko sanang tingnan kaso pagod ako, ayaw kong makipagsiksikan sa mga tao kaya nagpatuloy na lang ako sa paglalakad.

"Holy shit! Aurelia," Nakita kong tumatakbo na palapit sa akin si Eve kaya I opened my arms for her to have access to hug me. Naramdaman ko ang yakap niya sa akin at gano'n rin ang ginawa ko.

"Kumusta kayo dito? A lot happened when I was gone 'no?" I asked her while we were loading my things in my car. Tumango naman si Eve bago pumasok sa loob ng kotse. Namiss ko kotse ko dito sa Pinas.

"Gusto mo mag drive?" Tanong niya sa akin at umiling naman ako.

"I'm tired and I have jet lag so ikaw na lang."

When I woke up, nasa bahay na kami kaya nanguna na akong lumabas at kinuha ang dalawang maleta. Pagkapasok ko sa loob patay ang ilaw, wala bang tao? Alam naman nila Mom na ngayon ang dating ko ah?

"Welcome home!"

Sabay sabay na bumukas ang mga ilaw at nakita ko ang mga close relatives ko together with a few of my friends. Napangiti naman ako bago lumapit sa kanila at niyakap isa isa. I was about to go get some food when I saw a familiar figure near the table.

"Gabe! You're here," I approached him and he smiled before walking towards me. Nakipagbeso siya sa akin which caught me off guard but I still managed to keep my composure.

"Welcome home, Aurelia," He said with a smile. "You're still pretty as ever, parang 'di ka tumanda ng anim na taon," He chuckled and I playfully rolled my eyes.

"Are you seriously hitting on me? Ilang years na ang nakalipas, crush na crush mo pa rin ako?" I raised a brow and he chuckled before licking his bottom lip. He didn't answer my question! Not that I am expecting an answer, it was a joke naman e.

Kumuha na ako ng pagkain at umupo sa gilid. Seeing them happy in a gathering like this already makes me smile. At least there's unity in my family for once.

"So how is Seattle? I heard you were one of the best pedia's they had?" Gabe asked and I smiled before nodding.

"Correction, pediatric surgeon po ako. Ikaw, I heard you're a surgeon at our hospital?" I asked back and he grinned.

"Correction..." He mocked my voice at tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. Was I wrong? Kahit naman nasa ibang bansa ako ay alam ko ang nangyayari sa ospital namin. "Nevermind, you're right pala," He chuckled.

After the welcome party, hindi ako nagayos ng gamit dahil bukas ay uuwi rin ako sa condo ko. Nakita ko si Diel na nageexplore ng bahay habang ako ay nakahiga sa sofa.

"Are you ready to work tomorrow or do you want to start next week?" Mom asked me and I smiled.

"I'll start at Sarurday. I just need a day to settle back at my condominium," I told her and she nodded.

The next day, I took my things and went to my condo. Una kong inayos ang play area ni Diel dahil ayaw kong guluhin niya ako mamaya habang naglilinis ako.

"Behave lang baby, Mommy is going to fix her things muna hmm?" I baby talked to my dog as if he'll understand.

After settling, I bought groceries from the mini market near my place. Para naman may laman na ang refrigerator ko.

After long hours of running errands, sinalampak ko ang sarili ko sa sofa at natulala sa kisame.

"Magluluto pa ako ng hapunan," Tamad na sambit ko sa aking sarili. I shrugged before standing up and tied my hair up in a bun, leaving a few strands of my hair undone.

I was humming a song while stirring the soup when I heard a doorbell. Kumunot naman noo ko bago tingnan ang peephole kung sino 'yon. Mas lalo akong naguluhan nang makita ko si Gabe sa labas.

Ano ang ginagawa niya dito? At bakit may dala siyang bulaklak at pagkain?

I opened the door and I gave him a questioning look and he smiled before walking in.

"Mr. Diez, what are you doing here?" Mataray na tanong ko and he chuckled because of my facial expression. Umirap naman ako bago bumalik sa kusina at pinatay na ang kalan.

Nakita kong nilapag niya ang pagkain sa counter. Lumapit naman siya sa akin at inabot ang bulaklak. "What's this for? Ang corny mo naman," I chuckled before taking the bouquet of flowers.

"Wow, corny na flowers sa'yo? E dati no'ng binibigyan kita ng bulaklak kilig na kilig ka na," He scoffed and I made a face before putting down the flowers.

"Past is past. I find it corny. Pero para saan ba 'yan, aren't we too old para ligawan mo ako ulit?" I smirked, teasing him and he grinned.

"So ibig sabihin diretso sagot ka sa akin ngayon?" He said and I was caught off guard. Umiwas na lang ako ng tingin at isinalin ang soup sa bowl.

"Kay Mom galing 'yung bulaklak, assuming ka talaga lagi," He chuckled.

Umalis naman na siya after dropping of the food and flowers at ako naman rin ay diretso pahinga pagkatapos kumain.

"Doktora, new patient in the ER. Droopy eyelids, having trouble swallowing and movement issues," I heard my nurse say in my pager. Agad ko sinuot ang coat ko bago tumakbo papunta sa ER.

May nabunggo pa ako pero hindi ko na siya nahingan ng paumanhin dahil alam kong mahirap ang case na nasa ER ngayon.

Droopy eyelids and movement issues are symptoms of a neuromuscular disorder.

I checked the vitals of the baby and put him in the ICU. He was a four month old baby and it pains me so much to see him suffering in pain.

"Take a close look at him. These are the medicines that he needs, once every 1-2 weeks for four weeks every 6 months," I said as I showed the baby's guardian and she nodded.

I was about to do my rounds when I saw a wounded kid at the ER. I went to him and I knelt down to check up on him.

"Hi baby, where's your parents? What's your name?"

Kinuha ko 'yung cart sa tabi ns may laman na bulak kaya nilinis ko na ang kanyang sugat.

"You're really pretty, and you look familiar," The kid said and I smiled before putting on the band aid.

"You're still young and you already know how to win a woman's heart hmm?" I joked and the boy flashed a wide smile.

"Wala kang kasama?" I asked him.

"I'm with Daddy! Ah. My Dad showed me a picture of you, that's why you are familiar," He said excitedly and my brows furrowed because of confusion.

What?

"Adiel," Someone called the child at napalingon ako doon. A man reached for the child's arm and dragged him out of the hospital.

Adiel...

It gave me flashbacks. Memories that I had to remove from my mind.

It was an unfamiliar man, hindi ko siya kilala kaya paano niya pinakita ang litrato ko sa bata?

Hindi ko na binigyang pansin 'yon at pumunta sa lobby to page my nurse sa speakers when I stopped and dropped my pen to see him standing beside the counter.

"The payment is settled Mr. Cortez."

I saw him.

After many years, I saw him again.

He smiled at the nurse and turned to my direction and he mirrored my reaction.

Ravi.

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:)