"Hoy! Nakikinig ka ba? OMG I cannot with you" Keily annoyingly said to me.

"Oh I'm sorry, I just thought of something" I didn't realize that I was out of reality for too long.

"Okay okay so ganto, dahil hindi tayo magkaka-team pero same hospital naman tayo let's make sure na sa lunch break at uwian natin magkakasama tayo" pagpapaliwanag ni Keily.

1 week ago pa kasi na'announce yung assigned hospital kung saan kami magkakaroon ng rotations. Third year of med school really is a big change from the past two years.

"Wow jowa? kailangan talaga sabay sa lahat?" Ella joked.

"Di naman lahat! diba sabi ko nga lunch at uwian? san yung lahat dun? bingi ka gurl?!" she annoyingly said.

"Bakit ba ang init ng ulo mo? Tapos itong si Lance at Soph parang baliw na nakatulala" she almost said it sounding like a child.

"Ha?" I suddenly went back to my senses, I just can't believe we're going to experience our dreams first-hand.

I looked at Lance who I found looking at me so our eyes met. I can't stand looking at him in the eye for too long, it drowns me. I'm afraid I can't seem to figure out what's coming because of him.

Yung pag-uusap namin during our vacation still makes me think a lot. After that conversation I tried my best to not look awkward sa harap nila Keil at Ella, buti na lang they're too busy enjoying the whole vacation. We left early after that day to come back to our reality.

I don't know if I should start anew and leave the past behind, I don't want to lose the scars of her love if it's all I have left.

Lance is a good guy but I don't want to rush everything, I want to slow things down and make sure na okay na muna ako bago tanggapin what he has to offer.

"Sa gc na lang natin guys, I don't really feel well tsaka we have to rest para may lakas na tayo bukas" pag-aaya ko dahil alam ko naman na wala na rin patutunguhan yung conversation puro kami lutang e.

We all agreed to go home already, now nasa tapat na kami ni Lance sa gate ng apartment ko.

"Is something bothering you, are you hurting somewhere?" he said with a soft voice, he held my two shoulders with his hands and bend his knees a little to level me.

"I'm fine, you should get going" I said smiling, masyadong nahalata na I'm out of my senses the whole day.

"Okay, just message or call me if you need something"

"Lance I can handle myself but yeah, I'll message you if something happens"

I entered the vicinity and went directly to my room, I'm tired of thinking too much. I'll just focus on what's coming especially for tomorrow.

I cooked instant noodles and egg for my dinner, I'm too lazy to cook something decent. After that I decided to take a shower and sleep I know to myself I need a lot of energy for tomorrow. Just hold on tight Anna, You'll be a licensed doctor soon.

The next morning was gruelling, I moved too fast it tired me out agad. But I still made it ahead of time sa hospital.

I prepared a lot for this day, we all did. I checked my watch, 6:37 am, the call time is 7 am, I smiled realizing angaga ko pala.

I dusted my gray ankle pants and white coat before entering the lobby, dito kami muna igagather e bago kami bigyan ng different instructions ng head ng bawat department.

Hindi ko nga alam kung maswerte akong sa ER ang first assignment ko with my team, dun daw pinakahectic e. But I've got to be ready for what's to come, I love what I'm doing.

Kasama ko si Ella when finally dumating na rin si Lance.

"Bakla 7:26 na bat late ka naman?!" pagsita ni Ella.

"Where's Keily?" he asked.

"Ha? e wala pa" I answered.

"Then atleast hindi ako yung last" he grinned.

"Okay have you found your team mates?" we heard the head doctor asked.

"Omg omg, wait.. excuse me" we then heard Keily na sumisingit na papunta sa team niya, nilampasan niya lang kami smiling and waving.

"Punta na ako sa team ko" paalam ni Ella.

I nodded and smiled.

"So? see you at lunch?" Lance said.

"Hmm"

"Keep safe!" he said with a wink before walking away.

"Students for the Emergemcy Room department, please follow me. I'm Dr. Claire Ferrer your resident physician" I followed her together with my team mates.

We went straight to the ER, she said there's no time to be wasting. We followed her listening to all her little notes of what we're about to face for the day and for the rest of our third year of med school life.

"No perfume, no vibrant colored nail polish, no open shoes and most importantly.. stay focused" she seriously said before showing us medical tools and equipments explaining it's purpose and proper usage.

"You have the whole day to serve your patients, countless patients who will enter from that door, never lose your presence of mind. Stay in your lane and don't ever be content of your job, people's lives are in your hands, so start going around and help where help is needed, our patient rounds will start at 1 pm"

Then she left, we were all lightly shaken by what just happened. Everything went too fast and just as we tried to start lightly may mga bagong patients na agad na pumapasok ng ER. This is going to be a long.. long day.

"Can you get me the status from the  nurse, why did she come alone?" I panicked when a random doctor took over the patient I was trying to calm down.

"P-po?" I stuttered.

"Are you deaf?! get the nurse na nagdala sakanya dito, I need to talk to her and know her status. You students need to step up."

Though I was shocked with his words, ginawa ko nalang yung inuutos niya dahil hindi ko rin naman alam ang gagawin ko dun sa patient na namimilipit na sa sakit ng tiyan.

I sat down sa cafeteria at break time, the day's not even half done and my body is already giving up.

I'm sweaty, I smell like shit, nalagyan pa ng dugo yung shirt ko kanina when we accommodated a patient na nadisgrasya, buti nalang dark blue yung damit ko, hindi masyadong halata.

"Finally found you!" then I heard Lance's voice before I saw him walking towards me holding a drink.

He sat down sa tabi ko before handing me soy milk.

"I know you need it" he said.

I smiled before taking it and taking a sip.

"God ako lang ba yung haggard na? bat parang fresh ka pa? masaya siguro sa lab no?" I told him, parang nagalaw lang yung neck tie niya ng konti e tapos ako parang hinabol ng ilang aso.

He chuckled.

"We're chill, but still hectic though. Demanding kaya mga nagpapatest"

"Argh, I just don't think kakayanin ko pa until lunch nanghihina na yung tuhod ko" I groaned.

"C'mon you're better than that!" he pulled my hand before standing up.

"15 minutes is over, back to work doctor" he smirked.

"Che! parang wag nalang pala" I joked before walking with him pabalik na sa departments namin.

Lunch finally came after what felt like war sa ER, di ko naman inexpect na ganun karaming tao ang naaadmit daily. Andami palang nagkakasakit, maswerte na ako.

"Soph!" I heard before turning around and saw Keily running towards me.

"Oh? kamusta pedia ward?" I asked her, maayos parin yung buhok niya na nakatali and she seems to be in a good mood.

"Hay nako, angcute ng mga bata.." she answered.

"Really?" di naman to marunong mag alaga ng mga bata e.

"No, my God gurl no! those little satans are getting on my nerves but duh! I can't let them ruin my look" maarte niyang sagot.

"Gaga ka e, mga bata yun papatulan mo pa!?"

"Pano ba naman kase! iinjectionan lang para nang sinasapian!.. but no di ko naman pinapatulan kahit anlaki ng bintana and magaan lang sila, plus we're on the fourth floor" she rolled her eyes.

"Ikaw ang satanas sa sinasabi mo e" I replied and we both just laughed.

Pababa na kaming first floor nang nakasalubong namin si Ella na mukhang pagod na pagod in her scrubsuit. Her bun was already half falling.

"What in the hell?-" I cursed upon seeing her. It's not everytime you can see an Ella Choi looking like this.

"Anyare sayo gurl!? san ka ba pinagtrabaho bat parang isa ka na sa mga nasa psych ward?! hindi student e yung pasyente" Keily said kaya binatukan siya ni Ella before fixing her hair.

"Gurl try niyo kaya mag OR no?! pagpasok ko dun ngayon lang ulit ako nakalabas, di naman sa kami ang nagtratrabaho but still! may mga utos din" she complained.

"Parang ikaw yung inoperahan na nakatakas lang" Keily again teased her and earned her second batok for the day, many more to come I know.

"Okay this is Mr. Raymond Samonte, he was brought here by family two days ago complaining about chest pains, we had to admit him immediately.." Dr. Ferrer introduced our first patient for our afternoon rounds.

"Now I will have a conversation with him and his nurse and I expect you all to take notes and by the end of the week, I need your reports complete for all of the other patients status"

I took a deep breath before trying to focus, katatapos lang ng lunch but here we go again, long day indeed.

We're in our fifth patient when the department head doctors were called for a conference meeting kaya she just instructed us to go down sa ER ulit and work there muna bago itutuloy mamaya yung rounds.

It's 3:16 pm when our department's team was mentioned sa gc, hinahanap kami ni Dr. Ferrer na pumunta na ng office niya asap pero tumatiming ang kalikasan when I felt na naiihi ako.

Pinauna ko na lapa yung mga kasama ko, I didn't want them to wait for me baka sabay sabay kaming mapagalitan. Nagmadali nalang akong pumunta sa cr.

I was running papuntang elevator when I saw na andami pang nakapila and hindi pa dumadating yung elevator sa floor namin. Bakit ba naman kasi nasa 5th floor yung office ni Dr. Ferrer e.

I decided to take the stairs nalang bago pa ako hanapin sa taas, nasa 4th floor stair na ako paliko to the 5th when may bigla akong nabanggang lalake.

"Aray!" nagulat ako when I stumbled down at napaupo, I felt a sting sa may ankle ko when I fell.

"Huy hala! sorry miss.. ahm doctor, sorry doc" the guy helped me up apologizing while bowing to me, he looked like he's hiding his face. He's wearing a simple white shirt and green sweat pants, he has glasses and is wearing a hat.

"Uh okay lang po.." I quickly fixed my clothes and ran upstairs, although he looked pretty familiar, I didn't have time to waste.

I got to the office catching Dr. Ferrer's attention.

"Uhm sorry doc, I needed to use the restroom" I apologized and she just nodded.

"I just need to give you this list before we go see the last patients for our round today, 4 pm ang out niyo so I need to clear my intructions about this patient list now.."

We listened for what she was assigning us to do and work with at home, just a list of patients we need to examine the situation of to exercise our minds with distinguishing and diagnosting different symptoms ng mga possible na kalagayan ng patients na ihahandle namin.

Natapos na rin yung shift namin and we were dismissed by our resident physician already kaya naglalakad na ako papuntang locker to get my things and meet with the guys.

I was walking sa hallway when I felt na parang may mali sa sapatos ko, I sat down sa waiting chairs sa gilid to check my shoe.

"Ay shuta" I cursed realizing na malapit na matanggal yung sole nung right shoe ko, dahil siguro sa pagkatumba ko kanina. Damn it. I knew I felt something wrong.

"Oh bat ka nakaupo dito?" nagulat ako sa boses, I looked up to see Lance na dala yung bag niya and nakasabit sa right arm yung white coat.

I sighed.

"Kamalas ko naman talaga" I pointed to my shoe.

"Aw, sad" he replied while smiling teasingly.

"Tangina mo laki mong tulong" I sarcastically said.

"Tch lika na nga" he suddenly bent down, his back facing me.

I raised my eyebrows not knowing what to do.

"Are you getting on o maglalakad kang nakapaa?" he asked.

"Huh? exactly yung shoes ko yung may problema so I can still walk on my own" I reasoned.

He stood up almost immediately and started walking away.

"Okay sabi mo e" I realized na pagod na rin ako and nakakahiya naman maglakad ng iisang sapatos lang or nakapaa.

"Huy teka! to naman wait" I limped with my left foot at hinabol siya.

Nasa likod na niya ako when he suddenly turned around which startled me kaya nakaatras ako with my bare foot and made me lose my balance.

I closed my eyes expecting a painful fall sa likod ko but all I felt was a warm hand holding me.

I slowly peeked to see what happened, I saw Lance's face only inches away from mine, it made my heart race to realize he had caught me before I fell.

Our eyes met and it felt like I was being sucked out of my being, like he was telling all with his dark orbs.

He gulped before pulling my hand up and helping me stand straight.

"Sinabi na kasing sumampa ka e" he shortly said.

I couldn't aswer him, things were already awkward before, damn it.

"Hoy mga malalandi! akala niyo hindi ko nakita yon!" pagbasag ni Keily sa katahimikan.

I don't know if her coming saved me or lalo lang akong nilubog sa hukay.

"Nasan sapatos mo?" she asked when she was already infront of us.

I showed her that I was holding it.

"Omg very sumusuko na siya sayo.." she said.

I looked at her and rolled my eyes. Is that supposed to mean something else?

"Hayaan mo na gurl sure ako may dalang extra si Ella as always, extra shirt, extra pads, extra underwear, extra toothbrush, the list goes on kaya tara na, let's look for her bago pa bumigay yung isa pa kapit ka nalang sakin" she took my hand before walking sa gitna namin ni Lance to look for Ella.

I was eating dinner when I heard a knock on my door.

"Sophia iha, may nagpapabigay nanaman saiyo" bati nung landlady namin.

"Ho? may sinabi po bang pangalan?" tanong ko habang inaabot saakin ni lola yung box na nakacover ng kraft paper at may nakataling note with twine.

"Nako wala iha, baka nagdedeliver lang" she replied with a smile.

"Ah ganun po ba? sige salamat po"

I sat down sa hapag kainan holding the gift box.

"I said don't overwork your self, keep chasing your dreams though :)"

I read the note it came with, who is this from? bakit sobrang timing? Naalala ko yung chocolates na natanggap ko before, siya rin kaya may gawa nito? is Lance playing again? hindi pa pala ako nakapagpathank you noon.

I opened the wrap and saw a box of sketchers shoes. I gasped, kumunot yung noo ko with what I saw, silang tatlo lang naman may alam na nasira yung shoes ko kanina e, I'm still wearing Ella's pink crocs parin hanggang paguwi.

I opened it and saw a brand new white sketchers energy. What? I looked at it and realized it is my shoe size. I decided to try them on and it fit perfectly.

I was confused bakit naman to gagawin ni Lance?

I quickly fixed it and texted him.

"Hey, are you still awake? what's this for?"

I waited for a reply but minutes passed wala parin akong natatanggap. Naghugas na muna ako ng pinggan and cleaned my self bago nagpantulog na at humiga.

Nakapatong lang sa bedside table ko yung box ng sapatos na nakabukas, I looked at it and checked my phone for messages but I furrowed my brows when wala parin.

"Lance? why are you doing this?"

I decided na magbasa na muna ng assigned sakin patient's data para madali ko nalang matapos.

Hindi ko namalayang nakatulog na ako sa study desk, nagising nalang ako and saw the time madaling araw na.

I didn't think of anything else, I just got onto my bed and slept more.

Next thing I knew my alarm went off na rin. I yawned before starting to get ready.

I checked my phone as I was walking outside to where I usually wait for jeeps.

"It's for you, it's the only way I can help now" I read Lance's message and smiled, he really is a caring friend. I took note to thank him later personally.

The morning went by very quickly I didn't even notice the time, I'm sitting ngayon nasa mcdo kaming apat. It's our lunch break and we decided na mag fast food nalang pampawala ng stress.

Ella and Keily is ordering sa counter while I'm sitting infront of Lance, he's busy about something in his phone so I just sat there looking at him.

"Lance thank you nga pala dun sa-"

"Can you put your number on my phone?" he suddenly cut me off handing me his phone.

Kumunot yung noo ko with his request before I chuckled.

"Huh? bakit" I asked.

"I lost my sim kahapon when I was on the 5th floor e, nakiinsert kasi yung team mate ko cause his phone died and heck I lost it, akala ko I secured it sa may table sa lab since wala namang ibang tao dun and all your numbers is saved sa sim so yeah can you just put it in?" he asked again after telling his story.

"Oh.. okay" nilagay ko yung number ko but I was still confused as to how it happened, especially the part where he texted back last night.

"Why? is there something wrong?" he asked noticing my expression.

I faked a smile.

"No, nothing's wrong"

~~~~~~~

uwu :/