More Than Anything (TAGALOG)

Quinn

“Kung anu-ano kasi ang ginagawa mo!” Pagalit na sabi sa akin ni Louise habang nakapila kami sa emergency room para sa sugat ko sa ulo.

I didn’t know it would happen. I was just doing what I do best—motor cross. I didn’t expect my bike to take a wrong turn making me hit my head into the fence.

Galit na galit si Louise sa akin nang malaman niyang ito ang nangyari sa akin.

Louise is my girlfriend. We’ve been together for five years now. I’m planning on proposing to her next year as we celebrate our sixth anniversary.

I laughed and ruffled her hair. “Wag kang mag-alala, I’m not gonna die.” I told her and that made her frown at me.

“If you’re gonna die, I’m gonna be the one to kill you.” Aniya na lalo namang nagpatawa sa akin.

I tried to calm her down and assure her that this cut is superficial. Hindi naman ako mamatay nang dahil lang sa bakod ng motor cross track!

“Excuse me? Mr. Quinn Leonard Guevarra?” May isang nurse na lumapit sa amin.

Tumango ako nang marinig ang pangalan ko.

Ngumiti ito sa akin. “Wala po kasi iyong resident surgeon namin ngayon, pero may magtatahi na po sa sugat niyo.” Aniya.

I nodded and didn’t care at all. Don’t all doctors know how to stitch? And besides, I’m not in much pain, so, I’m not in panic.

Well, I’m not but my girlfriend bombarded the nurse with a lot of questions.

“Bakit wala kayong resident surgeon? Di ba siya dapat ang laging nasa ER?” I can sense that Louise is in distress. “Dapat ay lagi siyang nandito!”

I can see that the nurse wanted to respond but she couldn’t find the right timing for it. Sa tono ba naman ng pananalita ni Louise, e.

“Akala ko ba maganda itong ospital na ito? Why don’t you have enough doctors to treat my boyfriend?”

I held Louise hand and told her that it’s fine. “My wound doesn’t hurt, babe. Ayos lang ako. There are a lot of patients who need more immediate attention from the doctors.” I told her.

Louise narrowed her eyes on me. Hindi siya nagsalita pero alam kong pati sa akin ay galit na siya. She has a habit of overthinking and she’s so easy to piss off.

“Papunta na po dito si Dr. dela Fuente. Siya po iyong isa sa mga general surgeons namin dito.” Ani ng nurse na siyang nagpakalma kay Louise.

Louise looked at me and I smiled. She sighed.

Ngumiti ako sa nurse habang sinasabing magintay na lang kami ng konti dahil malapit lang naman ang panggagalingan ng doktor na sinasabi niya. Nang makaalis ang nurse ay hinarap ako ni Louise.

“Who said your wound isn’t urgent? Nasa ulo kaya!” Aniya at hindi pa rin nagpapatalo. I thought she had calmed down. I was wrong.

“I’m fine. Wala naman akong ibang nararamdaman. If you want, I’d ask the doctor to order a CT for me or any other tests.” I told her, cooing her.

She pursed her lips in a thin line and sighed in defeat.

I smiled and planted a kiss on her forehead when I noticed someone familiar talking to the patient’s relatives.

Margaux.

It’s been so long that I haven’t seen her. After breaking up with her, I haven’t had any news about her. She made it sure that she was really out of my life. She never showed up ever again.

Nang naghiwalay kami ay residente na siya sa isang ospital. Five years later and now, she’s wearing a long white coat with her name engraved on it.

I wonder if she went on and pursued her dream to be a cardiologist.

I wonder if she has a family now.

Hindi naman ako nanghihinayang sa paghihiwalay namin. I still think that being with Louise, the woman I love, is the right path. But I’m just curious about how the life of the woman I used to love went.

She was smiling widely at the relative and they were smiling back like they’re liking all the things that she say. Anyone who could see her looking at the relatives would know that she’s having fun and she’s enjoying her job.

“Quinn Guevarra?”

Inalis ko ang tingin ko kay Margaux nang marinig ko ang doktor na tawagin ang pangalan ko.

“That’s me.” Sagot ko at diretso siya sa pag-check up sa sugat ko.

“I’m Deonna dela Fuente, General Surgeon.” Pagpapakilala niya sa sarili niya habang tinitingnan ang sugat ko sa ulo. “This looks superficial.” Aniya.

I didn’t know if I needed to answer because she wasn’t asking.

“He hit his head on the fence, doc. Hindi malala iyon?” Here comes Louise and her endless probing. She really wouldn’t stop.

Doctor dela Fuente smiled and shook her head. “It seems like it’s nothing. Just a scratch.” Aniya. “But I’m still gonna order CT to be sure.”

Tumango kaming dalawa ni Louise sa sinabi ni Dr. dela Fuente. Louise held my hand. Now I think she got the view of the whole scenario. Hindi ako mamatay. My girl needs to chill.

Ngumiti si Dr. dela Fuente. “You’re his wife?” She asked Louise.

Louise shook her head. “I’m his girlfriend.” Sagot niya.

Tumango si doktora at nagsimula nang magprepare para tahiin ang sugat ko. The doctor’s hands were light. Ni hindi ko nga naramdamang tinatahi na niya pala ang sugat ko.

Patapos na kami nang biglang nagring ang cellphone ng doktor.

“Doc, si Dr. Marbel po ang tumatawag.” Sabi ng nurse sa kanya.

Tumango si Dr. dela Fuente at pinasagot sa nurse ang cellphone bago itapat sa tainga nito. “Yes, Margaux…” I narrowed my eyes when I heard her name.

Margaux Cynthia Marbel.

I looked at Louise to see if she noticed it and was relieved when she was talking with someone on her phone as well. It’s not like I’m cheating on her but I’m going to be doomed if she knew Margaux was one of the doctors here as well.

“Ah? Akala ko ba dadalhin mo iyong bago mong boyfriend?” Patawang tanong ni Dr. dela Fuente habang patuloy pa rin sa pagtatahi sa akin.

“Shawn is sick?” I can sense worry from her voice.

Suddenly, I was curious. Who’s Shawn? Her boyfriend? No. Narinig ko ang joke ni doktora tungkol sa bagong boyfriend. Shawn is not her boyfriend. Well then, who is he? Is he her cousin? Brother?

“Dadalhin mo ba dito? Where are you? I’m in the ER. Cubicle 16.” Dagdag niya. “Okay. I’m almost finished.”

I didn’t speak and just waited for her next words.

“Look, your son’s gonna be alright. I’ll go check when he comes here.”

Tumigil ang buong mundo ko nang marinig iyon. Son? Anak ni Margaux iyong Shawn? Who’s the father? Hindi ba niya ito pinanagutan? Is she alone in raising her son?

Who the f**k is that bastard?

“Yes. Calm down. Baka UTI lang. Children throw up when they have UTI or even just a simple fever.” Dr. dela Fuente’s voice got softer when she tried to calm Margaux down. “Your helper needs to calm down as well. Are they on their way?”

Helper? Helper lang ang kasama ng bata? Does that mean she had the child out of wedlock? Walang ama ang bata?

“Yes. Tapos na ako dito. I’m coming to the lounge in five.” Aniya at tinapos na lang ang huling tahi bago ipinaubaya sa nurse ang mga gamit.

Dr. dela Fuente looked at me. “I’m going to send you to the CT scan room since your girl doesn’t believe that it’s just a superficial wound. At para na rin mapanatag ang kalooban niyo.” Aniya. “I’ll also be leaving a prescription with the meds on it. Iyong nurse na ang mag-eexplain tungkol sa oras ng pag-inom mo.” Ngumiti siya bago lumabas sa cubicle.

The nurse looked at me. “Hintayin niyo na lang po iyong wheelchair na magdadala sa inyo sa CT Scan room. For a while, sir.” She bowed before leaving the cubicle with the small table of the instruments.

I looked at Louise who’s got her eyebrows creased as she listens to whoever is on the phone with her. It seemed like it was an emergency. “Yes. I’ll be there.” Aniya bago ibaba ang tawag.

Louise looked at me and I smiled. “They need you at work?” I asked and she nodded. It was obvious that she didn’t want to go. I can see through her facial expression. “It’s okay. Pahatid ka na lang kay Kuya Roger sa labas.” I told her but she pouted even more.

“Paano naman kita iiwan dito?” She asked.

I chuckled and gave her a hug. “I’m fine. I’m going to get my head scanned and then I’ll go home as well.” I told her to assure her I’m fine.

Ganito kasi talaga siya. She doesn’t want me hurt or wounded. She’s always worried about me. And that’s what I’ve always loved about her. She’s so concerned about other’s welfare that it makes it her asset. Besides, everyone loves a woman with a soft heart.

“Pero…” She’s still hesitating.

I smiled and cupped her cheeks. “I’m fine. Babe, you can go to your work. I’ll call you when I’m done and when I’m on my way home.” I told her.

“Buti na lang talaga at bakasyon ka ng isang buwan kung hindi, papasok sa opisina ng ganyan ang itsura mo.” She told me before kissing my cheek.

I grinned and gave her a quick kiss on her lips. “Wala na rin namang titingin sa aking iba kasi alam naman nilang lahat na ikaw na ang nagmamay-ari sa akin.” I told her and I can see how her cheeks blushed.

“Ewan ko sa’yo!” She beamed and I hugged her even tighter.

“Don’t compromise your work for me, okay?” I whispered.

She nodded and took a breath of relief. “I love you, Quinn.” She uttered in a soft voice.

“I love you too, Louise.”