Pawfriend

Chapter 6

Luke's POV

I slowly open my eyes, squinting it due to the bright light. Ilang beses pa akong kumurap para makapag adjust sa liwanag. Kulay puti ang paligid. Inilibot ko ang mga paningin ko.

Where am I?

I tried to move my body but I can't feel it. What's happening? Bakit 'di ko magalaw ang katawan ko? I tried to move again pero ayaw pa rin. Sinubukan kong magsalita pero parang may nakabara sa lalamunan ko.

Narinig ko ang pagbukas ng pinto kaya sinubukan ko itong tingnan.

"Baby? You're awake!" nagagalak na saad ng isang babae. Nagmamadali itong lumapit sa akin at may pinipindot sa bandang uluhan ko.

"Ayos ka lang ba anak? May masakit ba? Naririnig mo ba ako? Nakakakita ka ba?" Sunod-sunod na tanong nito. I'm just staring at her confusedly. I tried to talk again pero walang lumabas na salita sa bibig ko. Agad siyang kumuha ng tubig at pinainom ako ng konti.

"Where am I?" nahihirapang tanong ko. My voice came out raspy pero mukhang naintindihan niya naman iyon.

"You're at the hospital anak." Sinubukan ko ulit gumalaw pero ayaw pa rin makisama ng katawan ko. Bumukas ang pinto ang may mga taong pumasok doon. Lumapit ito sa akin at may ginawang kung ano-ano.

"Can you see us Mr. Alcantara?" tanong ng isang lalaki. Who is he talking to? May itinapat siya sa mata ko at inilawan iyon.

"He's still processing everything Doc, let's give him some time. It's seems like he can't remember anything now but let's just wait for tomorrow for another monitoring," saad ng lalaki sa katabi nitong babae. "He's suffering from stiffness from the muscles kaya it will take time for him to move, you perform some massage to relax his muscle," dagdag nito.

Who are they? Bakit ba ako nandito?

"Salamat Doc Chavez," sagot ng babae rito. Umalis na rin 'yong lalaki at sumunod naman 'yong iba maliban sa babaeng unang pumasok sa silid ko. Lumapit ulit ito sa akin.

"Baby? Naaalala mo ba ako?" she asked. I look at her strangely trying to remember her face. Hindi ko siya kilala. Umiling ako sa kan'ya.

"I'm your mom, I'm Cynthia Alcantara," nakangiting pagpapakilala nito. Siya ang ina ko? Bakit wala akong matandaan? Hindi rin familiar ang pangalan at apelyido niya.

Ako si...

Ba't 'di ko matandaan ang pangalan ko?

"I," panimula ko. Nahihirapan pa rin ako sa pagsasalita pero pinipilit ko ang sarili ko. "I can't remember. I don't..my name.. I can't," putol-putol na saad ko. Agad niya akong pinakalma.

"You're my son, Luke Alcantara. You're a doctor in this hospital. You're a neurosurgeon, and I am a psychiatrist," paliwanag nito. I'm a doctor? Then why am I lying here? I should be doing my job. Mukhang nabasa niya ang iniisip ko kasi muli itong nagsalita.

"You're suffer from a coma anak. Comatose ka for one year," bakas ang saya at lungkot sa tinig nito. I look at her.

"I'm so happy that you're fine now," naiiyak na saad nito ngunit may ngiti sa labi. Gusto ko siyang patahanin ngunit 'di ko pa rin nagagalaw ang mga kamay ko. Tanging daliri ko lang ang naigagalaw ko.

I am just lying in bed for almost a week. May pumasok dito araw-araw upang masahiin ang mga binti at kamay ko. Dahil na rin siguro sa na-comatose ako ng 1 taon kaya namamanhid ang katawan ko. Araw-araw rin akong binibisita ni mom. Its weird, I still can't remember anything. If she didn't tell me my name, I would still be wondering about my identity until now. But I'm comfortable around her, and I can feel that I know her. I just can't remember her or any memories with her.

"Open your mouth baby," saad ni mommy habang hawak-hawak ang kutsarang may lamang kanin. I groan.

"Mom, I can feed myself. Nagagalaw ko na ang mga kamay ko." Pinakita ko naman sa kaniya 'yon at ginalaw ito. Tumawa lang siya sa akin.

"Come on Luke, hayaan mo na ako. Ngayon ko lang ulit naramdaman ang feeling na nagpapakain ng baby," she joked. I playfully roll my eyes before laughing.

"Mom, I'm already a grown man. Hindi na ako baby," I said.

"Oh you're still a baby in my eyes." She pinched my nosed before letting me feed myself.

"Aren't you busy?" I asked her. Lagi kasi siya umaalis dahil sa trabaho niya. Lagi rin kasi siyang nagkakaproblema sa isang pasyente niya.

"We'll, I'm not that busy, hands-on lang ako sa isang pasyente ko. I don't know why, pero I'm just worried about her," she said sighing.

"You should send her in a psychiatric hospital if she's troublesome," I suggested. Binigyan niya naman ako ng masamang tingin.

"She's not insane. She's harmless. Ayaw niya lang talagang makisalamuha," she sadly said. "And she also lost her voice."

Napatingin naman ako sa sinabi niya. What kind of trauma is she suffering from for her to lose her voice?

Bumukas ang pinto at pumasok ang isang nurse.

"Doc, Si Miss Guevarra po nagwawala. We can't calm her," natatarantang saad ng nurse.

"Are you really a nurse? Inject her a sedatives to calm her down," she exclaimed. Nang makaalis ang nurse ay humarap siya sa akin.

"I need to go anak, she might be having her episode," she said. I nodded my head and kiss her cheeks. Umalis din siya agad.

I'm just staring at the door for a long time. I look around trying to find something interesting. Nag-cellphone ako para pampalipas ng oras. Minasahe ko na rin ang mga binti ko at sinubukan itong igalaw. I still can't move it. I got bored so I decided to roam around. I push the nurse button to ask for assistance.

Maya-maya ay dumating sila dala ang isang wheelchair. They help me sit on it bago ako tinulak.

"It's okay, I can do it myself," saad ko rito. Nagdadalawang-isip pa ito kung hahayaan niya ba ako o hindi. Sa huli ay pumayag na rin siya. Binuksan niya na lang ang elevator para sa akin.

"Thank you," nakangiting saad ko rito.

"Walang anuman Doc." Umalis din ito agad kaya pumasok na ako ng elevator. Balak kong maglibot sa garden ng hospital. Nang magsawa ako ay bumalik na ako sa loob. Lumapit ako sa elevator, may babaeng naghihintay ro'n. I can feel her staring at me pero 'di ko na lang pinansin 'yon.

"Uhm. You need help?" she asked. I look at her and shook my head while smiling.

"Thank you but I can manage," I answered. Sabay kaming pumasok ng bumukas ang pinto. Tahimik lang kami roon.

"I'm sorry to ask this, pero nagkita na ba tayo noon? You look familiar kasi," she asked me. Now that she mentioned it, she do look familiar to me but I can't remember her name.

"I guess," sagot ko nalang. Tumango naman siya. Bumukas naman ang pinto at bumungad sa amin si Mommy.

"Doc," tawag ng babae kay mom. So they know each other?

"Miss Sanchez! Good to see you here again," bati ni mama sa kan'ya. Niyakap pa nila ang isa't-isa.

"How is she?" bakas ang pag-alala sa boses ng babae.

"Pinakalma namin siya kanina. She's sleeping right now," paliwanag ni mommy. Lumabas na kami sa elevator kasi magsasara na ito.

"Is it that serious?"

"No, it's normal for her to experience some episodes. Other than that, she's fine aside from her voice. Hindi pa rin siya nagsasalita." 'Yong babaeng hindi makapagsalita pala 'yong pinag-uusapan nila. Baka kapatid niya 'yon. I don't know what's gotten into me pero naging interesado ako sa usapan nila.

"It might be a symptoms of a brain damage," sabat ko sa usapan nila. Nagtataka naman akong tiningnan ng babae habang si mom naman ay pinipigilan ang tawa.

"Right, this is my son, Luke. He's a doctor and a surgeon at the same time. He's a neurologist," pakilala sa akin ni mommy. "Luke, this is Miss Missy Sanchez, kaibigan ng pasyente ko."

"Neurologist, you mean doctor ng utak?" she asked. We nodded our head. Her mouth for into 'O' na tila namangha siya sa nalaman niya.

"Can I look for the patient's record?" I asked my mom.

"Luke, you're not on-duty. Nagpapahinga ka pa," paalala ni mommy. I sigh on her remark. She's right.

"Paano mo nasabing connected sa utak ang pagkawala ng boses niya," Missy curiously asked. She looks interested on the topic.

"We'll, a brain damage can cause paralysis like brain paralysis, eyes, mouth, legs or body and voice paralysis," paliwanag ko sa kanya. She nodded her head trying to analyze everything that I said.

"Gano'n pala 'yon?"

"Don't worry about it Ms. Sanchez, kakausapin ko si Doc Silva about it," mom assured her. Tumango naman ito at nagpaalam na. Pumasok siya sa isang silid. I was just looking at the door ng itinulak na ni mommy ang wheelchair.

"Mom? How has it been since she lost her voice?" I curiously ask her. She hummed while thinking.

"I guess it's also a year now," she said.

"Ang tagal na pala," wala sa sariling saad ko. I feel bad for her.

"I want to be her doctor," muling saad ko. Gulat naman akong tiningnan ni mommy.

"You're still healing Luke, hindi ka pa pwedeng mag-duty," reklamo nito.

"Mom, I'm fine. I might loss my memory but I didn't forgot my job," natatawang saad ko sa kan'ya.

"‘Buti pa 'yong trabaho mo naaalala mo samantalang sarili mong mommy 'di mo maalala," nagtatampong himig nito. I laugh at her saka siya niyakap.

"You're still my mom even if I can't remember you," panlalambing ko sa kan'ya.

"Sos! Bolerong bata 'to" natatawang saad niya. Tumawa naman kami hanggang makarating kami ng kwarto.

"It think I'm healing rapidly, I'm starting to be familiar with few things and someone," pagmamayabang ko.

"Sige nga kung may naaalala ka na," mapilyong saad nito. "Ano ang pangalan mo?"

I laugh as I heard the question. Napakadali naman. "Mom, that was so easy, I'm Lucas."

Napakunot naman ang noo ko nang tumawa siya. Why is she laughing?

"Silly, Lucas was the name of your dad, you're name is Luke. Easy pala ha," she smirked. I blink my eyes repeatedly.

Right. I'm Luke Alcantara. Not Lucas.

"‘Buti pa 'yong daddy mo naaalala mo tapos ako hindi."

"Mom, kahit si daddy pa 'yong naaalala ko, nothing can change na ikaw ang nandito. And I'm so grateful to have you as a mother, love you mom." She look at me smiling. Now she's happy and I'm happy for her.

"Aww, ang sweet naman ng unico hijo ko!" She hugged me tight.

"So can I be her doctor?" I asked with a mischievous smile. She rolled her eyes and sigh in defeat.

"Fine. I can send a request for a switch. For now, focus on yourself and heal quickly," she reminded me.

"Yes mom, I'm actually planning on walking tomorrow para naman masanay na ang binti ko." I tried to move my foot at nagagalaw ko na 'yon.

"Are you sure? Mukhang kinakalawang pa 'ata ang tuhod mo eh," pang-aasar na tinig niya. I look at her.

"Magagalaw ko na 'to bukas."

"Sige ganito na lang, If makakayanan mo nang tumayo at maglakad ng walang support in three days. Then, you'll be her doctor." She made a deal. Agad naman akong pumayag do'n.

"I'm gonna win anyway," she confidently said.

"Well, don't let your guard down mom," I said smirking. She made face before leaving the room. My mom looks young despite of her age. My dad? We'll he's according to mom due to brain tumor. It's also the reason why I take neurology as my field in medicine. I can't remember it tho.

Buong araw kong ginalaw-galaw ang paa ko. I even practice standing on my on. Even though I keep on falling, I didn't give up. Why am I putting so much effort to be her doctor? Hindi ko naman siya kilala. Is it because I pity her?

Sa loob ng 3 araw ay 'yon lang ang ginawa ko. I made a progress! Nakakatayo na ako at nakakalad pero madaling mapagod ang paa ko kaya minsan naghahanap ako nang alalay.

"Oh my gosh! Luke, don't push yourself!" sita sa akin ni mommy when I showed her my improvement.

"Mom, I'm fine." I slowly walk towards her.

"Gustong-gusto mo ba talagang maging doctor niya, kaya pinipilit mo sarili mo?" she asked.

"It's not like that. Gusto ko lang bumalik sa trabaho ko," I explained. Nabo-bored na kasi ako sa loob ng kwarto ko. I think my mind will slowly eat my up if I didn't push myself to be productive.

"So, pa'no 'yan? I won the deal." I look at her smirking. She rolled her eyes at me and laugh.

"Fine. Just rest for now," she said.

"You promised! Walang bawian 'yan."

"Yes kaya magpahinga ka na." I smiled as I go back to my bed. I'm so happy to back at work soon. I'm excited to do my job again. She's gonna be my first patient after a year.

"Mom? Can you tell me what happened to her?" I curiously asked. She look at me at nagdadalawang-isip na magkwento.

"I shouldn't be telling you this, but I guess It's okay since you're going to be her doctor soon," she said. Lumapit sa akin at tumabi.

"She was rushed her with a head injury, she also had some bruise on her face and arms, and even in her stomach."

"She was beaten?" 'di makapaniwalang tanong ko.

"According to her friend, yes. We'll no'ng dinala siya rito, she was still conscious pero iyak siya ng iyak and looking for someone. She keeps on calling for Lucas, funny how they have the same name with your dad," natawa siya ng bahagya dahil do'n. "Missy said, Lucas was her dog and the dog died trying to protect her."

Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. "How did the dog protect her?"

She started to tell me the story. I can't believe about how smart that dog, Lucas, can be. I also can't believe the suspect. How can people be so cruel? How can they do such unhuman things?

"Nakakapagsalita pa siya after her surgery but when she found out about the death of her dog, she cried out loud and pass out. After that, 'di na siya makapagsalita. We tried our best but she keeps on distancing herself from us," she sadly said.

"‘Yong suspect naman ay na-sentensuyahan ng 8 years na pagkakakulong kasi hindi nakapagbigay ng statement ang victim. Muntik pang makapagpiyansa pero mabuti nalang at nagawan nang paraan para makulong siya." Umiling ito at tumayo.

"Oh siya napahaba ang kwento ko, I need to do my rounds," she said. "See you later, anak."

I watch her leave. Napaisip ako tungkol sa pasyente ni mama. I even forgot to ask for her name. I was so immerse in her story. I want to know more about her. I want to treat her. I want to help her.

And I also want to meet her, soon.