MAURICE'S POV

"Goodmorning Doc," bati ko kay Doc Kieran. Kieran Constantine, a neuro-oncologist.

"Goodmorning Mau," pabalik na bati nito tsaka umupo sa upuan, "Who is it again? Perez?" then asked me if he was right.

"Yes Doc, Kayecee Savannah Perez. First-time pa lang pong magpa-appointment," I said, thinking what really happened to ms. Perez.

Well, she's a big deal for me, anak kasi siya nung lalaking ayoko nang balikan pa kung ano ang ginawa. I wonder if she knows everything that her dad was doing?

"Mau," he called me.

"Yes, Doc?"

"Sa'yo nalang 'to oh," sabi niya sabay abot ng ferrero rocher na heart yung hugis, sa'kin.

"Oooh, who is it this time?" sabi ko sa kanya since alam ko namang madaming admirers 'to.

"The same".

"The same? The surgeon?" 'yon kasi yung last na natatandaan kong nagbigay sa kanya eh.

"Nah, yung nasa café, yung nagbigay din sa'kin ng coffee na may message nakasulat," Oh, I thought yung surgeon ang nagbigay nun.

"Infairness, she's beautiful doc ah, why don't you tr--" I stopped when someone knocked on the door, I rushed to the door and opened it to find out, it was ms. Perez.

Pareho kaming nagulat sa kinatatayuan, hindi dahil magkakilala kami, kundi dahil kakatok na ulit sana siya kaso yung mukha ko ang nandoon.

"S-sorry, andyan na po ba si Doc Kieran?" I stared at her for a few seconds dahil maputla yung itsura niya.

"Ah yes, pasok po," and cleared the way for her.

What happened? She looks sick, is she being abused din sa house nila? Pagka-isip ko nun ay biglang nang-init yung ulo ko pero pinipilit kong patahanin at pakalmahin muna yung sarili ko. Ayoko ng gulo.

Natulala muna ako saglit doon, tsaka lang ako nabalik sa wisyo nang marinig ko yung sinabi ni Doc Kieran sa pasyente.

"Buti naman at sa'kin kana nagpa check, I told you before sa'kin nalang," what?

"Kier--"she stopped and looked at me, "Doc Kieran, I know you will sugarcoat everything in my results kaya sa iba ako nagpa-test," sabi nito. Oh? Are they, somewhat, related?

"I promised na hindi ako mag-su sugarcoat Kayecee. And then now second opinion, I promised to take care of you pero binalewala mo," I understand na there's something going on between them, pero hindi ko hahayaan na galit ang papalibot dito.

"Ah, Doc umupo nalang muna kayo, calm down and understand the patient," I said trying to calm him down, nakikita ko kasi na teary-eyed na si Kayecee, that's why I need to do it. Even though may part sa'kin na galit pa rin ako, pero ayokong idamay siya, I felt like she's innocent.

"Can you hand me the test results?" I handed the test results since Kayecee handed it to me earlier nung pumasok siya.

We were silent for a while, actually, my heart was beating fast, 'di ko alam ang mararamdaman ko, I was checking also the test results kanina, and I don't know if what I am thinking was right until I heard Doc Kieran cussed.

"Sh*t," I was right! But this one's rare for her age. I think she's still in her 20s.

"Arghh! O-ouch!" Sabay kaming napalingon ni Doc Kieran kay Kayecee, at napatingin din sa isa't-isa.

"Mau, call the neuro-surgical now! Tell them it's glioblastoma."

"Yes Doc," I hurriedly ran to the neuro-surgical, but my mind is saying no, it suddenly brought back the bad memories brought by her father, I was still running as my tears fell down.

"Sh*t, 'wag ngayon please, wala siyang kasalanan, wala siyang kasalanan," sabi ko sa sarili ko.

When I arrived at the neuro-surgical team, I hardly can speak but I tried my best to relay the message "N-neuro," I stopped and exhaled "neuro-surgical t-team, Doc Kieran, n-now, the p-patient," I again exhaled "has glioblastoma," as I finished telling it, I felt dizzy and shortness of breath.

"Mav! Mav!" before my sight turns black, I saw Iris rushing to me, crying and asking for help.

.
.
.
.

"What the hell? Akala ko po ba magigising na after an hour? 3 hours has passed ba't wala pa?" I heard someone talking, it's Iris, I didn't open my eyes yet kasi para akong napagod sa bigat ng nararamdaman ko, I moved my fingers para ma-aware sila na nagising na ako.

"Ave,"

"Mav, thank God, you're awake," nilibot ko yung paningin ko sa kwarto. I'm still wearing my uniform and saw Doc Agustin.

I smiled at him but I'm also having a teary-eyed while looking at him. "Sorry Doc," I can't stop crying. Doctor Ric Agustin is my psychiatrist, he is like a father to me, yung hindi ko pa kakilala yung naituring kong tatay eh, para man lang walang pamilya.

"Shh, I know what you're going through, but tell me what happened this time," he said and hugged me, I hugged him back as if he was my dad.

I was ready to tell him nang maalala ko na may ibang tao pa pala bukod sa amin ni Doc Ric sa room na ito. I looked at them and stopped at the guy, he was the guy I met sa café.

Kumunot yung noo ko nang makita ko siya, while he, then smiled at me. What is he doing here? Oh, maybe Doc Ric asked for help.

"Doc Hendrix, Avery, please go outside, we have some important matters to talk," he said, ordered them to go out. Nang kami nalang dalawa ang natira, I immediately looked at Doc Ric and cried.

"I'm really sorry Doc, hindi ko talaga mapigilan, our patient today is the daughter of Mr. Perez," I said and cried again, he looked at me with his shocked face.

"Yes doc, I know hindi ko dapat siya sinasali, and kailangan kong pakalmahin muna yung sarili ko, pero bumalik lahat nung nagmadali akong tumakbo para tawagin yung neuro-surgical team," dagdag ko pang sabi dito.

"Okay okay, it's alright, but be sure next time 'wag masyadong paibabawin yun, control, we are good at that right? Control your feelings, risky yung ginawa mo kanina Mav, umiinom ka pa ba nung binigay ko sa'yo?"

I feel guilty hearing that, 'di ko kasi minsan naiinom yung gamot, lalo na't medyo busy ako.

"Please drink your medicine, anak," I was shocked but also in awe, I hugged him again tightly and cried.

"Thank you po," e were sitting there like a father and daughter, sharing each others' thoughts.

I'm so glad na siya yung nakakita sa'kin sa kalsada that night, the night when something bad happened to me. A psychiatrist helped me, wala akong pera nun kaya parang nilibre niya ako, I am really thankful, it felt like I have my real dad.