The Right Calling (Tagalog)

Chapter 1

Revi

“Good morning, Baguio and Northern Luzon! This is your DJ Revi, ang DJ niyong pwede niyo ring maging doktor,” bati ko sa radio. “Bagong araw at bagong kaalaman na naman ang ibabahagi ko sa inyo.”

Nilingon ko si Ana, iyong isa sa mga writers ng stasyon at tumango lang siya. Itinuro niya ang pulang ilaw sa taas na may nakasulat na ON AIR.

“Kumusta na kayo, mga kababayan? Malamig ngayon dahil sa maulang panahon kaya naman pinapayuhan ko kayong magdala lagi ng jacket at payong,” bungad ko sa kanila. “At dahil diyan, napapanahon ang topic natin ngayong umagang ito.”

Inayos ko ang mic at headset ko. “Dahil sa malamig na panahon, mag-uusap tayo tungkol sa pulmonya o pneumonia sa Ingles.” I played some effects. “It’s a rather simple topic but I’m sure many could relate.” I chuckled and the show went on with me talking about pneumonia, how it’s transmitted, the side effects and the remedies they could do at home.

I also answered some of the listeners’ questions sent via text message. “Up next, we’ll get a lucky caller who would have a free consultation. That will be up after this music from Ben&Ben entitled, Leaves.” I played the song and muted my microphone.

Ana smiled and gave me thumbs up. “Last fifteen minutes, Rev,” paalala niya.

I nodded and showed her an okay sign. Nilingon ko ang phone ko sa tabi para icheck kung anong oras na. Ako ang nakaschedule na reliever sa residente sa isang maliit na ospital sa kalapit na bayan kaya dapat ay matapos ako sa oras.

Pagkatapos ng kanta ay agad nang bumugad ang tanong ng lucky caller.

“Doc, may ubo po ako, ilang araw na. Pwede ko po bang gamitin ang tanim kong oregano?”

I smiled at her question. “Yes, ma’am,” sagot ko. “Effective po ang oregano sa paggamot ng ubo. Hugasan at pakuluan niyo po ito at pagkatapos ay inumin ang tubig na pinagpakaluuan.”

“Naku, doc! Salamat po.” I can hear that she’s middle-aged with the sound of her voice. At dinig ko rin ang pagkapaos sa boses niyang maaaring dahil sa ubo niya.

I smiled. “Hindi naman po ba kayo nahihirapang huminga?”

“Hindi naman po, doc. Minsan lang kapag naglalakad ako pauwing bahay galing sa palengke. Malayo po kasi ang bahay namin,” paliwanag niya. “Nakitawag nga lang po ako ngayon.”

Tumango ako kahit alam kong hindi rin naman niya iyon makikita. Dali ko siyang pinayuhan sa dapat niyang gawin bago tuluyang nagpaalam sa programa. I played the last song for my program before muting my mic and removing my headset.

Sakto naming dumating na si Maya, ang susunod sa akin.

“Alis ka na?” tanong niya.

Tumango ako. “Kailangan kong pumunta sa ospital. Duty ko na,” nagmamadali kong sagot bago tumakbo palabas.

I immediately hailed a cab because I wasn’t able to bring my car today. Tumirik siya kahapon at kasalukuyan pang inaayos sa car shop. Ilang taon na rin nilang sinasabing palitan ko na iyon pero dahil iyon na lang ang tanging remembrance ng nanay ko, hindi ko magawang bitawan.

I checked my phone to see if the hospital has been calling but, fortunately, I don’t have any text from them. I sent them a message that I am on my way though. And as soon as I pressed sent, I heard a loud thud, making the taxi halt abruptly.

“Ano pong nangyari?” kinabahan kong tanong sa driver.

Napakamot ng ulo si Kuya bago lumingon sa akin. “Bigla po kasi siyang tumawid, Ma’am!” sagot niya sabay turo sa lalaking nakaupo sa harapan.

Umikot ang mga mata ko at napabutong hininga bago lumabas sa sasakyan. Tumakbo ako at agad na nakita ang lalaking nakaupo, hawak-hawak ang kanyang kaliwang binti.

I can see him cursing under his breath while looking into his leg. I raised my brow before kneeling in front of him. “I’m a doctor,” I told him before stretching his leg. “Can you feel your toes? Move your foot?”

He just stared at me with lips parted and eyes wide. I narrowed my eyes at him. “Alam kong maganda ako,” sagot ko kahit wala naman siyang tinatanong.

He immediately chuckled after hearing my remark. He shook his head and started moving his foot. I checked for fracture pero mukhang wala naman. His leg has abrasions though. Hindi naman malala ang nangyari pero gusto ko siyang dalhin sa ospital para lang makasigurado.

I pursed my lips. “You don’t seem to have a fracture but I just want to be sure,” sabi ko sabay tingin sa kanya. “Do you mind going to the hospital?”

His brown eyes stared back at me before nodding. “Sure,” he replied. “If that’s what you think is best, doc,” he continued.

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Okay,” sagot ko bago ko siya tinulungang tumayo. He could stand up just fine. “Sakay ka na.” Itinuro ko ang taxi.

Nakatingin ang driver sa amin. “Ayos lang po ba siya, ma’am?” tanong niya sa akin, tunog nag-aalala.

Tumango ako at ngumiti. “He’s fine, Kuya. Don’t worry,” sagot ko at kita ko ang ginhawa sa kanyang mukha. “Tara na po. Dadalhin ko siya sa ospital.”

“Salamat, ma’am,” sagot niya at agad-agad na tinulungan ang lalaki papasok sa taxi. I can hear the guy apologizing to him. Well, it’s his fault for crossing the street all of a sudden. Mabuti na lamang at walang nangyaring masama sa kanya.

I sighed and got inside the cab, sitting beside the patient.

“I’m sorry for the trouble,” aniya.

Napataas ang kilay ko bago ko siya nilingon. He sounds like a professional. “At least you know it’s your mistake for crossing the street with the green light on.”

He chuckled and nodded. Hindi ko naman ipagkakailang gwapo siya. His face could make girls swoon because he looks like he could be seen in the magazines. His dark brown eyes are accentuated by his thick brows. The bone structure of his face looks like those that the famous renaissance artists sculpted. His clean -cut hairstyle makes me imagine him as a high-ranking businessman.

But the most prominent thing in his face is his dimple on his left cheek. I’m sure girls fall for that.

“Sorry about that,” aniya. “But I’m relieved to know that you’re a doctor, too.”

My eyes widened. “Doctor ka rin?”

Ngumiti siya at tumango. “I’m from Manila.”

“Are you on vacation here in Baguio?”

He shrugged. “You could say that.”

Maybe he’s here for a conference. May narinig akong may mga conference ang mga doctor sa Baguio Convention Center. Maybe he’s attending that one.

“You probably want to take a break from the hospital but to the hospital we go,” I teased him to make the atmosphere a little lighter. “Mind you, though, the hospital we’re going to is not as huge as the hospitals in Manila. Baka lang nag-eexpect ka ng mala-Sta. Monica.”

He raised his brow at me. “You work at the hospital we’re going?” tanong niya, tila binalewala ang sinabi ko.

Tumango ako. “It’s a small hospital. It’s outside Baguio, too.”

“Wow, a country side…”

Yes, he could say that. Fidel Mercado Memorial Hospital is a simple community hospital. It lacks a lot of equipment but I really think that it’s a good hospital because of the people working in there. Nasubukan ko nang magtrabaho sa isang malaking ospital dito sa Baguio pero hindi ko naramdaman ang saya sa pagtatrabaho roon.

In a huge hospital, I feel like all my moves are calculated. I feel like one mistake would define my whole character as a person and as a doctor. Tila maraming nagmamatyag sa paligid. Our profession knows no mistakes and that alone is already stressful. A harmonious working environment is the best I could get.

“Don’t worry. Aabot naman ang mga taxi roon kaya you can still find your ride back to the city.”

“It’s okay. Hindi naman ako nagmamadali. At wala naman akong gagawin buong araw,” sagot niya.

I smiled weakly before nodding. “Buti naman,” sagot ko bago tumingin sa labas ng bintana.

“I’m Theo, by the way,” aniya. Nilingon ko siya at kita ang kanyang kamay na harap ko. 

“Revi,” sagot ko bago kinuha ang kamay niya para isang mabilis na handshake.

***

Walang tao sa ER nang dumating ako. Normally, it would be cramped but today, I think there are only five patients inside. The nurses are busy tending to them while the residents are on the station, writing on the charts.

Iminuwestra ko kay Theo ang isang bakanteng kama. “You can stay here first. I’ll ask the nurses to tend to you while I go and change first.” Kita ko ang pag-ikot ng ulo at mata niya sa loob ng emergency room. He must have not expected this. “Sorry. The hospital is small.”

There are only eight beds in the emergency room at halata pang mga luma na ang kama. Ang iba ay hindi na gumagana ang cranks at ang iba naman ay wala nang siderails. Nahahati lamang ang mga cubicles ng manipis na berdeng kurtina.

The interior is made of wood and not of cement dahil ang ospital na ito ay nirenovate lamang galing sa isang old house. It only expanded through the years.

Nilingon ako ni Theo at dali-daling umiling. “No, it’s not that,” aniya. “I’m just…” he trailed, looking for the right word to say.

“Not used to it?” I continued his sentence for him.

Tumango siya. “Yeah, you can say that.” Nangiti siya at napahawak sa likod ng ulo niya. “I’m sorry. Did I look too judgmental?”

I chuckled and shook my head. “Not at all. That’s exactly my first reaction when I first came here. It’s normal,” sagot ko. “Upo ka muna riyan. I’m coming back in a few minutes.”

Nagtungo ako sa station at agad na binati ng mga nurses. “Please check on the patient with me. Nabangga ng taxi na nasakyan ko.”

Tumango si Gina, iyong nurse. “Ano pong diagnostics, doc?”

“X-ray of the left leg and please, dress his abrasions,” bilin ko bago ako pumasok sa doctor’s quarters at nagpalit ng damit.

I wore my maroon scrubs and tied my hair up. I’m on duty until eleven in the evening. Siguro ay dito na rin ako matutulog ngayon.

Lumabas ako sa quarters at agad na pinuntahan si Theo na kasalukuyang iniinterview ni Gina. “For X-ray po kayo, sir,” ani Gina at saka naman dumating ang wheelchair.

Ngumiti lang si Theo bago sumakay.

“Sira ba yung portable?” tanong ko kay Gina.

Tumango siya. “Opo, doc. Sabi ng Rad Department baka po by next week pa gumana.”

I sighed hard before looking at Theo. “Mabilis lang yan, doc,” sabi ko. “The people there are nice.”

He chuckled before nodding. “Thank you, doc,” aniya bago siya dinala sa X-ray department.

Nilingon ako ni Gina. “Doctor rin po siya?” tanong niya.

I smiled and nodded. “He’s from Manila.”

She instantly sighed dreamily. “Kailangan ko na bang lumipat sa Manila? Ang gugwapo ng mga doktor doon!”

Natawa na lang ako at napailing bago naglakad patungo sa station.

“Doktor daw!” anunsyo ni Gina sa buong station at agad namang nagtilian ang mga nurses. Pati si Dr. Flordeliza Pimentel na apat na buwan nang buntis ngayon ay napatili na rin.

“Alam mo, bagay kayo,” aniya sa akin.

Naningkit ang mga mata ko. “Hindi, ‘no!” I vehemently denied. I don’t want to be paired with anyone. Hindi naman ako naghahanap ng boyfriend ngayon. I just want to work and help people. Isa pa, napakarami kong ginagawa.

Pero bakit ba ako nagpapaliwanag na para bang nililigawan na ako no’n?

Ngumisi lamang si Dr. Pimentel bago nagkibit. “Ewan ko, a? Para lang kasing malagkit ang tingin niya sa’yo.” Gumalaw galaw ang kilay niya.

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “Not happening, Flor,” I told her. “You know I don’t have time for love.” Kinuha ko ang isang chart at agad na binasa ang kaso ang pasyente.

“Naku, Revi! Nakakadalawang ire na ako, pangatlo na ito, wala ka pa ring asawa gayong magkasing-edad lang tayo. Hindi ka pa ba napi-pressure?”

I gave her a smug look. “Hindi. Hindi naman kasi unahan ang pag-aasawa, Flordeliza.”

“Hay naku! Manghihinayang ka na lang ‘pag thirty-five ka na at wala ka pa ring jowa.” Hindi pa rin siya tumitigil. “Sa tingin mo, hindi mapapanis iyang petchay mo? Galaw-galaw na, uy!”

I looked at her with mouth ajar and wide eyes, totally feeling scandalized upon hearing her words. “I can’t believe you said that!”

“I can’t believe you’re still feeling awkward about it. We’ve been doctors for years now, Revi. Come on!” hirit niya. “Hindi naman masamang magkaroon ng inspirasyon sa pagtatrabaho.”

Napakamot na lang ako ng ulo. Kilala ko ang isang ito. Hindi na ito titigil hanggang hindi niya ako napapa-oo. Siguro ay may irereto na naman itong pinsan niya sa akin. Pangarap daw niya kasing maging kamag-anak ako.

“Hanap ka ng boyfriend, girl! Mahirap tumandang dalaga!” aniya bago isinarado ang chart at naglakad patungong ward.

I sighed and shook my head. She’s just too assertive about my love life sometimes. Mas stressed pa siya sa akin kung tutuusin, e.

“Ayan na siya!” excited na utas ni Gina habang halos manginig na sa kinauupuan niya.

Nilingon ko ang pinto at nakitang papasok na si Theo na nakasakay sa wheelchair. Agad na nagtama ang mga tingin namin at unti-unting sumilay ang ngiti sa kanyang labi. And damn that dimple. Why must he have a dimple?!