CHAPTER 5
1707 Words
“Good morning, Doc Jewel!”
“Good morning, Doc Tiffany!”
“Aaaah! It’s our first day as the junior psychologists!”
Tuwang-tuwa naman kaming dalawa ngayon ni Tiffany dahil finally, after a year ay iba na ang uniform naming dalawa.
“This is the product of our hardwork, bestie. And because it’s our first day, we shouldn’t be late.”
“Aba, talaga. Kumain na tayo.”
Dali-dali na kaming kumain ni Tiffany at agad na ring pumunta sa main branch ng Wade Medical Hospital. Sinadya talaga naming hindi bisitahin ang hospital kahapon since para hindi ma-spoil ang hype namin today. We know how narrow and vast the main hospital is kaya naman worth the hype talaga.
“What do you think will happen today?”
“From what I’ve read on the guidelines of the hospital, deritso naman tayo work on our first day. We’ll just have to meet with the director for us to be guided on what we should do.”
“Ah! So same lang naman sa ginawa natin dati back in there?”
I nodded at her. “Yup, precisely.”
After eating our breakfast, excited kaming umalis ni Tiffany sa apartment. Mabuti nalang talaga at walking distance lang ang hospital from the apartment kaya hindi na kami mahihirapan ni Tiffany sa traffic jam.
“This hospital is massive. No wonder it ranks top 1 on the best architectural design…”
“Not only about the architectural design…but also about the services. We’re lucky enough to be a part of this hospital.”
“Nakakalungkot lang isipin na ang isa sa mga shareholders dito ay anak niya pa ang ahas na nang-agaw sa boyfriend mo.”
Natawa naman ako dahil kahit anong anggulo talaga ng pag-uusap namin ni Tiffany ay siguradong babanggitin niya pa rin talaga ‘tong si Jessica. “Stop with that, bestie. Baka mamaya ay madapa na ‘yon sa kakabanggit natin sa kaniya.”
“Serves her right.”
“Hoy!”
Nauna nang maglakad si Tiffany kaya panay naman ang abot ko sa kaniya. Nang makapasok na kami sa loob, napatigil naman muna kami para tingnan ang buong first floor. The main branch of the hospital is a lot more different than what we have sa lugar namin. The architectural designs were more intricate and complex compared to the previous building we had.
“Can’t get enough of this view,” sambit ko naman habang pinagmamasdan pa rin ako buong lugar.
“I think I’ve been snapped by reality, bestie. You won’t witness these number of people from our last work. Grabe, iba talaga kapag nasa capital city na ka na.”
I nodded. “Life is very different. Okay, tara na. Kailangan pa nating hanapin ang office ni Doc Sonza.”
“Oh, yes. The head doctor.”
Naglakad na kaming dalawa ni Tiffany sa pagka lawak-lawak na hall. “Sa’n nga ‘yon?”
“Fron what I remember, it’s on the third floor daw, bestie. Kung saan ang clinic natin, doon din ang office ng head doctor,” anito.
Hindi ko alam kung bakit mukha akong absent-minded simula nang makapasok kami rito sa loob. Mesmerized pa rin siguro talaga ako sa buong lugar kaya halos makalimutan ko na ang lahat ng mga binasa ko for the past few weeks of preparation.
“This is the office,” sambit ko nang makarating kami sa tapat ng isang double glass door.
Tumigil muna kami ni Tiffany para tingnan kung may tao ba sa loob. It’s a common etiquette. We just can’t enter the room without checking about the people inside.
“Shall we?”
“Sige na, mukhang may tao na rin naman sa loob, eh.”
I faintly pushed the glass door with Doc Sonza’s engraved name on it. Nadatnan naman namin siyang naka-upo sa tapat ng kaniyang desk while doing something at ang assistant niya naman na naka-upo sa kaniyang desk banda sa kaniyang likuran. Doc Sonza is around 50 years old na pero his skills and knowledge in psychology and medicine could compete with the youngsters.
He’s a multi-awarded psychologist and researcher all throughout his years of service kaya hindi lang ang architectural design o high-tech equipments ng hospital ang gusto naming makita, kung hindi pati na rin si Doc Sonza.
“Good morning, Doc!” Sabay naming bati ni Tiffany.
Napatigil naman si Doc Sonza sa kaniyang ginagawa at napatingin sa amin. “Oh, my two new child psychologists. Welcome! Welcome!”
He stood up and gave us a big smile.
“I am delighted to finaly meet the two of the best psychologist of the other branch,” he mumbled and gave us a thinl folder with full of papers. “That will serve as your stepping stone in determining all the things needed for this new task the hospital have given the two of you. Always remember that it isn’t what you think of your previous work. This new beginning is something you shouldn’t take so easily, it will be hard at first, but definitely worth it in the end.”
Nagkatinginan naman kaming dalawa ni Tiffany dahil halos isang buong libro rin ang kapal nitong mga kailangan naming pag-aralan.
“Ito na po lahat, Doc?” I raised a question.
“Yup. And for the meantime, you won’t be officially starting your work at the clinic. I will be assigning you to one of our charity houses with children with special needs, which will be for two days. How does it sound?”
“Uhh…”
“Sure, Doc. That would be our pleasure,” agad din namang sagot ni Tiffany.
Ngumiti nalang din ako dahil hindi ko naman na alam ang isasagot ko. “Sige po, Doc. Rest assured that we will do out best at this job. Thank you for the opportunity.”
“I’m glad to here that.” Tumayo na siya at inayos ang mga gamit niya. “Do good today. I still have to go to a private client, and it’s actually my first time having a hard time handling a five-year-old child.”
Doc Sonza chuckled while getting all his files on the table. Kaming dalawa naman ni Tiffany ay pnay ang tingin sa hawak-hawak naming makapal na folder.
“Good luck to the both of you and congratulations!”
“Thank you, Doc!”
Nagpaalam na kaming dalawa ni Tiffany at lumabas ng office ni Doc Sonza. Hindi ko naman alam dahil disappointed lang ako ng very very slight. Ang taas din kasi kanina ng expectations ko na magkakaroon agad kami ng client sa clinic namin ni Tiffany only to find out about what he just told us, but it’s okay.
“Bestie…akala ko pa naman…”
“Same, bestie…pero okay na rin ‘yon. May mga seniors tayo sa clinic kaya it’s better to observe nalang muna for now and guide the children at the charity house. Besides, two days lang naman.”
She tapped my shoulder at ngumiti. “I just remembered something, bestie.”
“What is it?”
Naglalakad na kami ngayon papunta sa magiging clinic namin. Ang sabi sa amin ng sekretarya ni Doc Sonza ay apat kami sa clinic. Dalawang senior psychologists at kami dalawa naman ni Tiffany.
“Tomorrow is the day!”
Nangunot naman ang noo ko sa kaniya. “Ano ba meron bukas?”
“Bestie, the ceremony. The award’s night for your ex-boyfriend!”
“Hoy!” agad ko namang sambit. “Babaan mo lang ang boses mo at baka may makarinig sa’yo. Alam mo namang nasa Orthopedic Department tayo at baka maya-maya ay sumulpot pa dito ang dalawa.”
Nagsitawanan nalang kami ni Tiffany at agad na ring pumunta sa magiging clinic namin. Tumigil na muna kami sa harap ng pinto at kami ay kinakabahan. The only thing we know about our two seniors is their name and age.
“Itabi mo, bestie. Ako na…”
Hinayaan ko naman na si Tiffany kaya siya na ang nagbukas ng pinto. Na-trauma na rin kasi ako last time sa dating head doctor ng department namin na siguro ay masyado akong naging feeling close sa kaniya and I expected that she’ll be easy to go with, and ayon, I never expected that she could be the coldest person I could encounter.
“Good morning po!” pahayag ni Tiffany nang makapasok na kami.
Napatingin naman ako sa buong clinic.
Kung malaki na ang clinic nami sa ibang branch ng Wade Hospital, tatlong beses naman ang mas ikinalaki pa nito. May apat na desk sa magkabilang sulok at hindi occupied ang malapit dito sa pintuan.
“Doc Tiffany and Doc Jewel?” tanong naman ng isang babae sa amin na shoulder level ang buhok.
We both nodded at her faintly.
“Yes po.”
“Welcome to your new home. I’m Ivory Acosta, senior child psychologist, and that’s my partner, Taylor Rosario, also a senior child therapist.”
Napangiti naman na ako dahil pangarap ko rin talagang maging kagaya nila sa future. Maging isang senior child psychologist.
“We are delighted to work with you Doc Ivory and Doc Taylor.”
“Did Doc Sonza told you guys what to do?” tanong naman ni Doc Taylor.
“We were told to help with the children at the charity house for two consecutive days…” sagot ko pa.
“Yes, I’m glad he told you about it. Is it okay with you?”
Ngumiti naman ako at napatango na. “Yes, Doc.”
Umupo na kami ni Tiffany sa respective desks namin. Hindi na kami nahirapang maghanap ng desk since may mga pangalan na rin naman namin sa harap. Napangiti naman ako dahil ang clinic namin dito ngayon ay a lot cozier and comfortable than the previous one kaya for sure ay mas lalo kaming gaganahang magtrabaho.
“Bestie, restroom lang ako,” sambit ko naman at tumayo na.
Palagi nalang akong naiihi sa hindi ko malamang rason kaya kinuha ko na ang phone ko at lumabas na ng clinic. Hindi ko naman inaasahan na sa paglabas ko ay makikita ko si Andrei na naglalakad palapit sa kinaroroonan ko ngayon. Dali-dali naman akong tumalikod at maglalakad na sana palayo.
“Jewel! Wait!”
- Writer
