Twin Tulips Hospital

This is a work of Fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the Author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. [Tagalog/English story] "Code Blue. Code Blue.” I am currently scrubbing in as I heard the announcement from the hospital’s speaker. Napapikit ako. “Aina..” As I open my eyes, I saw both my mom and my dad. They were rushing to see me and in exchange I stared at them intently. Why?  “Flat line na ang kapatid mo.” dad declared. Sa tabi niya ay ang humahagolgol kong ina. I took a deep breath. “Please do something…” I heard mom. I balled up my right hand into fist and because of too much range I'm shaking!  Tinalikuran ko ang mga magulang ko ang headed towards the operating room. There's something I need to do and not even my parents could help me.  “Dr. Velez na anesthesiahan na po ang pasyente” ani ng circulating tech. Tumango ako sa kanya and looked up. There I saw both my parents. Walang tigil ang iyak ni mom and daddy's supporting her shoulder.  “If you don’t mind?” I whispered. They can't hear me now because they're at the theater viewing of the operating room. I bowed in front of them and took my exit. I briskly walk my way to my patient-- tulip patient.  Nang matapos akong mag sanitize ng aking sarili at handa na para sa operasyon ay pumasok na ako sa silid. Ang aking dalawang kamay ay nakataas at nakaharap sa aking dibdib. Kompleto na ang aking team sa loob at madaling naman akong na suotan ng surgical gloves at gown. “Dr. Velez” Dr. Fuentes, the anesthesiologist called out. I nodded at him and he nodded back. He is now in his position, sa bandang ulo ng pasyente to check all the vital signs and necessities. As I position myself nasa harap ko ay si Dr. Sy na kanina pa nakatitig sa akin. He is my first assistant, cardiothoracic surgeon. Ang mga mata niya ay tila’y nangungusap. Maigi namang naka antabay si Nurse Gen. Tumingala ako sa taas at nakitang nanonood ng maigi ang aking mga magulang. Nahirapan akong lumunok. “The operation will now commence.” I declared without looking down. As I open up the chest of my patient to perform CABG (Coronary-artery bypass grafting), I saw through the sternum which where the heart rests beneath it. “Retractor” nilahad ko ang aking kamay at agad naman akong pinasahan ng retractor ni Nurse Gen. Dr. Sy slowly spread apart the cut halves of the sternum with the retractor that will allow the chest and heart to be open before us. “Suture” Maigi akong nag trabaho in joining blood vessels--as in bypass surgery, managing to get comfortable putting stitches into a beating heart. “Cut” I utter. “Cutting.” I heard Dr. Sy. I saw him cutting so close to the vessel at napadilat ang mata ko. Nang tingnan ko siya ay parang wala lang sa kaniya. Huminga ako ng malalim. “Vitals?” tanong ko kay Dr. Fuentes. “Still stable.”, Dr. Fuentes answered. When I finished one blood vessel and proceeds to another may namatyagan akong pagdudugo. I moved my hand towards it and the bleeding severed! f**k! Biglang bumigat ang ulo ko. “Suction!” “It’s helpless.”, ani ni Dr. Sy hawak-hawak ang suction. “The bleeding isn’t ceasing.” “What’s the patient’s history?” tanong ko. “The patient has been taking aspirins baka yan ang dahilan.”, Nurse Gen said. “And you didn’t informed me? Wala iyan sa medical records!” giit ko. “The chairma-” Tumingala ako ulit kina mom and dad. Umiling ako. “The patient’s vitals are dropping rapidly!”, Dr. Fuentes declared. This can’t be! I requested for another suction. “Doc..isa lang po..” I shrugged even my head is throbbing real bad. I move my right hand towards the chest of the patient. Hinahanap ko ang pinagmulan ng bleeding but I couldn’t find it. Inilayo ni Dr. Sy ang suction at hinayaang mapuno ang buong thoracic part ng pasyente ng kanyang dugo. “Alexander!” bulyaw ko. “You are not helping!” My heart is uncontrollably beating as fast as it could. My sweats are building up. Hinagilap ko pa nang hinagilap ang pinagmulan ng pagdurugo. “He won’t catch up Dr. Velez!”, Dr. Fuentes informed me. I hopelessly look at my parents once again. Tumango si daddy sa akin. In-on niya ang mic doon at narinig sa operating room ang boses niya. “Nurse Gen, move Aina away from the operating table.” utos niya. Nurse Gen forcefully pull me away. Nagpumiglas ako but I know I cannot cause chaos inside this room. “Dr. Sy..” tawag ni dad sa aking first assistant. Tumingala naman si Alexander kay dad. “I believe you can finish up?” tumango si Alexander. Tumingin si Alexander sa akin and I eyed him unbelievably. Binawi ko ang sarili ko from Nurse Gen’s tight grip and stormed out of the operating room. Hinagis ko ang gloves at hairnet sa basurahan without even looking. Tumungo ako sa kung nasaan sina mom and dad. “Daddy!” I yelled. Nagbabadya ang mga luha sa aking mga mata. As every second pass, nawawalan ako ng lakas. Mom approached me and caress me. “Sshh…it’s for Kale”, mom whispered to me and tried kissing my head while my dad looked at me with dismay before I passed out. ~ “Aina..” I heard Kale’s voice. Pag dilat ko ay nakita ko ang naka ngiting kakambal ko na nakahawak sa aking kamay. “It’s weird seeing you in my own hospital bed.” he said with hint of teasing. Bumangon ako. Nang nahimatay ako kanina ay dito sa silid ni Kale ako dinala. “Yep! You should be here instead of me though.” I told him. My head feels a little bit better now. Tinungo ko ang tubig sa table at uminon. “Not anymore!” he exclaimed happily. Napangiti ako. Lumapit pa si Kale sa akin at niyakap niya ako. “Thank you Aina”, my twin softly said. Napapikit ako. Ramdam ko ang sakit sa aking puso. Kale, I would do everything for you. Even if the death of my patient will be the only way for you to live. I’d do it, Kale. 3 years ago... “Congratulations Dr. Velez!” lahat ng pumapasok sa aming bahay yan ang bungad nila kay daddy. Kinakamayan naman silang lahat ni daddy. Samantala kami ni mommy at ng kambal ko ay nasa gilid niya. We are holding a party in our house to celebrate daddy’s success. “Dr. Arturo Velez!”, a same-aged man called out daddy. “The newly elected chairman of Twin Tulips!” “Enough of it Dr. Alcantara I am still the same Dr. Velez” ani ni daddy at napakamot ng kanyang ulo na tila ba’y nahihiya. “Still humble huh!” namangha ang lahat sa ipinakitang pagpapakumbaba ni daddy. That’s just how he always is. Hindi siya sanay sa big crowds but very fluent with patient care. It was my mom’s idea to hold a grand party like this. Never in my daddy’s thoughts occured na ganito ka engrande ang party para sa kanya but I can say he deserved it though. “Mommy pwede na ba kaming kumain?” my brother tilted his head towards mom’s ears at sinabi iyon. His goal is to whisper pero rinig ko iyon kahit nasa side ako ni daddy. “Later Kale marami pang paparating.”, sagot ni mommy si kanya. “So tatayo lang kami dito hanggang nakapasok lahat? Papasokin nalang kaya natin sila agad-agad?” reklamo ni Kale. I motioned my hand discreetly to Kale sending a code to him. Tumango naman siya. Kinuha niya ang phone niya at nagtipa doon. Mataps ng ilang segundo ay nag thumbs up siya sa akin. Tumango ako at naghintay. Di nagtagal ay dumating si Alexander, Kale’s bestfriend. “Tita Ollie! Tito Art!” bungad ni Alexander. “Oh Alexander! Nasa loob na ang papa mo” ani ni mommy. “Ah opo! Pinapatawag niya nga sina Kale at Aina dahil may e-didiscuss si daddy na bagong procedure sa kanila.” Sabi ni Alexander. He would’t pass as a liar. Hindi siya direktang makatingin sa parents namin but gladly it worked though. “Dr. Sy seems to be working hard as a professor huh!” usal ni mommy. “Oh well, twins you can go.” “Yes!” napalakas na sabi ni Kale then I glared at him. Tumungo na kami papasok sa loob at nang mapalayo na kami ay nag appear sina Alexander at Kale. I mouthed ‘thank you’ to him. His father is our professor and we make sure to do more than well with Dr. Sy because it would be so easy for him to report us to our parents. We are on our first year residency. Kale as a cardiothoracic surgeon, silang dalawa ni Alexander and ako naman as a general surgeon. It is so hard to get away with reports about our standings and performance though kasi nasa iisang ospital lang kami. Daddy as the chairman and mommy as the financial coordinator of the Twin Tulips Hospital. Not long enough ay nagsimula na ang programme proper. Maraming nangyaring speeches and stuffs. Lagi kong kinukurot ang tagiliran ni Kale because he has the audacity to sleep in front of the speaker! My god! “Tss..” he hissed. “Patay ka kay mommy kapag nakita ka niya.” I told him. “What do you expect my dear sissy napaka boring nito” napailing ako. I think my brother is born to whine but I couldn’t agree more to him. Speeches are really boring! I toured my eyes towards the crowds just to find Alexander talking with Violet, his girlfriend. I sigh. Violet is the girl I could think as the opposite of me. I am petite, she isn’t. Her morena skin is glowing and I’m as pale as a bond paper. I got chinky eyes and her’s is exposing much about her pupil. In short, Alexander would never like me. Whatever. After the long and dragging speeches the party has now started. Busy sina mommy and daddy sa mga bisita. Kale is also busy with his phone. Ako naman, I tried hard to mingle as what mom instructed. Sabi niya, “Smile Ania…be welcoming” “Am I not welcoming?” tanong ko kay Kale. “Yep!” he answered without second thoughts. “You’re my twin and I know if you are a b***h or not--” “What the f**k Kale Caius! What b***h are you say-” he covered my lips using his index finger hushing me. “Let me finish Asteria Aina!” tinampal ko ang kamay niya palayo sa labi ko. “What you always display is a bitchy face. Kambal kita kaya alam kong hindi ka b***h, slight lang!” at tumawa siya. A kind of laugh na kahit sinong nakikipag-usap sa kanya ay maiinis and as of this moment naiinis na ako ng sobra! Urgh! Bitchy face? Is that why Alexander preferred Violet? Now, the night is not young anymore. Halos umuwi na lahat ng mga bisita ni daddy leaving the close family friends of ours including Alexander’s family sa aming sala. They were talking about the hospital. Nakita ko ang naaabalang mukha ni daddy.  “Umakyat ka na sa kwarto mo hija.” galeng sa kusina si mommy andd now she’s heading towards the sala. Mabagal akong naglakad patungo sa hagdanan. “I know it wasn’t easy Arturo.” narinig kong sambit ni Dr. Quinones. “Earning the position you have right now must have a consequence.” “Thank you for the concern Dr. Q but I believe my husband can deal it well.” I heard mommy. Their atmosphere isn't something friendly. I can see how mom, dad and Tito Phil glanced at each other and smiled awkardly to the other guest. I can't seem to phantom how fast my dad accelerated to the chairmanshi-  “Psst Aina! Dali!” sa second floor ay nandoon si Kale at tinatawag ako. I headed where he is and found ourselves sa entertainment room.  “What are we doing sa entertainment room? I’m heading towards my room!” giit ko kay Kale. Aren't he tired? It took a lot of enegery standing and uhh to smile kanina sa baba.  “We won’t be sleeping yet. Maglalaro muna tayo ng…” he trailed. “Uno!” he was in unison with someone familiar. “Alexander?!” “The one and the only” mayabang niyang saad. They motioned me to sit down with them sa mat. It was past 2 am when I was awakened by the continuous ringing of our doorbell. From the entertainment room ay lumipat kami sa terrace nina Kale and Alexander before we started our second round but they’re fast asleep now. Our kasambahays must be sleeping too pati na sina mommy and daddy to not hear the doorbell. Thinking na baka bisita ni daddy kanina ang nag dodoorbell ngayon who must’ve left something ay tumungo ako sa ground floor and check sino iyon. Nasagi ko si Kale nung bumangon ako. He is not a heavy sleeper. “I’ll check who’s outside” I said with a lower voice baka magising ko pati na si Alexander. Dala ko lang pababa ay ang phone ko to serve as a flash light. I'll be illuminating the whole place at this hour if I bother to switch the lights on.  As I open the door nakita ko ang isang babae. I think she’s around 50s or 60s I’m not sure. I hesitantly smiled at her. Base from her looks she is not someone familiar to me or someone na kakagaling sa party dito kanina. “Anak ka ni Arturo Velez diba?” sabi ng babae and the way she speaks send shivers to my spine. “Yes po manang, how may I help?” tanong ko sa kanya. For a minute, wala siyang ginawa. She didn’t move an inch nor say a thing. Nakatitig lang siya sa akin. Biglang lumamig ang ihip ng hangin as she utter the words. “Maraming buhay ang mamatay para sa isang buhay.” I crest my brows and tilted my head. What? I don’t understand her. “Aina!” my brother called me from the back. Nang lumingon ako kay nakita ko na papalit si Kale sa akin and he is holding something. “Saan galing yan Kale?” I asked my brother. He is holding somethings in his hands as he approached me. Nang tumingin ako sa harap ay biglang nawala ang babaeng kausap ko kanina. Damn!  Palinga-linga ako sa aking kaliwa at kanan pero nawala na ang babae! "Manang!" I called out again and again. I wanted to know what she meant by what she said. Maraming buhay ang mamatay para sa isang buhay? Is this a riddle or something? Bakit niya hinahanap ang daddy ko? At this freaking hour! “Aina…”, I turn to my brother once again.  "Pasok na tayo, Kale. I think that woman was just lost." ani ko.  I touch Kale's arm to drag him with me inside the house when suddenly he started to vomit blood - a lot of blood! Before he can reach the ground, agaran ko siyang siinalo gamit ang katawan ko. Dinalohan ko ang kakambal ko and saw that he is not just vomiting blood but his nose and ears are abnormally releasing blood. Excessive bleeding may lead to death! “Mommy! Daddy!” paulit-ulit ang sigaw ko. My heart is pounding so hard and crazy. My mind is so clouded I can't think straight! The tears are falling endlessly and I don't know what to do. I just screamed and screamed until I saw mom and dad rushing towards where me and Kale is.  “Aina why are you shou-- Kale!” I heard mom. Nang nakita kami ni daddy ay dali-dali niya kinuha sa mga bisig ko si Kale. Mom's hysterical too. Nang nakita ni daddy si Kale ay para bang binuhosan siya ng malamig na tubig.  "Arturo!" sigaw ni mommy as Dad forze in his position. "Do something Arturo!" pagmamakaawa ni mommy. My dad snapped back to reality and went inside again to get the car keys.  Agad na pinaandar ang sasakyan.  Bumabawa si daddy at agad na kinarga si Kale sa loob ng sasakyan. My brother's body is so weak as he continually bleeds. Sumunod kaagad si mommy sa kanila leaving me sa harap ng pintuan.  "What happened?" bumungad ang kakagising lang na Alexander.  He roam his eyes around and when he realized something happened he took big steps towards me and locked me in his arms. "f**k Asteria! Why are you bloody?"  I can't contain my tears at humagolgol ako as Alexander hugged me. I have no energy left to move an inch and speak.  I'm helplessly calling out the person above. Please, don't let something bad happen to Kale.  I am now holding the thing that Kale held just a while ago. Twin tulips.