|| Reign
"The doctors advised not to let him do some heavy work, and not to be stressed for three months, in order to be fully healed. Medyo malalim kasi pagkabaon ng bala." pagexplain ni Ate Florence.
Nasa private room kami ni kuya ngayon sa AXU-Hospital, naisipan namin dalawin si kuya pagkadala kay Axis. Nakaupo kami sa isang L-shaped sofa in this order; si Ate Florence, Maryl, ako na malapit sa corner, si Ian na nakaupo sa corner at si Carlo sa kabilang side ng sofa.
Noong mismong araw na binaril siya, dun muna siya sa malapit na hospital para maoperahan agad, tapos nilipat siya dito kinabukasan para makarecover. Although malapit lang ang hospital, dahil nga university hospital 'to, ngayon lang ako napabisita. Ngayon lang free time eh.
Kailangan din ni kuya na magstay ng medyo matagal para mamonitor. Sa baga kasi tumama. Saka di ko rin siya makausap ngayon kasi masarap ang tulog.
"I don't think he would postpone the wedding plans, wouldn't he?" tanong ni Carlo.
"I think we should advice him to rest. On-hold niya muna yung plano." dagdag ni Maryl.
"Exactly I was thinking. Kaso you know you're Kuya Ryze, matigas ang ulo." sagot ni Ate Florence na may pagbuntong hininga.
"Kaltukan ko ba ate?" tanong ko sa kanya at napatawa siya.
"Hay nako Reign, no need. Be nice nalang sa kuya mo."
Yung boses ni Ate Florence and the fact na parang anghel siya kung magdeliver, maguguilty ka nalang pag di mo sinunod eh.
Tinignan niya kaming apat na may pagtataka.
"Where's Axis?" tanong sa amin ni Ate Florence. "Parang may kulang sa inyo ngayon ah?"
"Nasa kabilang room lang ate." sagot ko.
Kumunot noo niya. "Why? What happened to Ax?"
"Hindi umayon ang gravity at law of physics sa pagbagsak niya, ayun nagkaroon ng cervical fracture." sagot ko.
"At talagang yun ang explanation mo ah?" tumingin sa akin si Ian at kinunutan ako ng noo.
"You told us it was safe since sa inflatable playhouse siya babagsak." dagdag ni Carlo.
"Bakit, anong nangyari?" gulat na tanong ni ate sa amin.
"Nadulas kasi pagbaba, napasomersault pa nga bago tuluyang bumagsak sa inuurong na inflatable playhouse eh." sagot ko, trying to cover up kung ano talaga nangyari.
Ate Florence gave me a look. "Lawreign, I know you were lying. Hindi siya nadulas."
Napatango si Maryl. "Pinagtripan kasi ni Reign, ate. She said kung mahulog man, it's safe kasi may inflatable playhouse naman na nakaset-up."
"The initial plan was to make his knees weak." dagdag ni Carlo.
Napafacepalm si Ate Florence sa akin. "Hay nako Reign."
"Babayaran ko naman hospital bills niya!" pangatwiran ko.
"Shhhh. Si kuya mo magigising." saway sa akin ni Ate Florence. "Dapat ginawa niyo nalang sa isang kwarto kung mantitrip ka, hindi sa balcony."
Napatameme kaming apat.
Pero agad sinira ni Maryl ang silence na 'yun.
"Y-you know what ate, Reign was trying to 'make his knees weak', like what Gio said. I know it was just for fun pero ayun nga nangyari sa ginawa niya."
Tinakpan ni Ate Florence yung bibig niya. "Oops."
"May nakita kasi akong pictures namin na galing pa pang fashion magazines and sites na medyo kita skin namin. Hindi ko alam kung anong purpose nun." pagexplain ko. "Balak ko lang din pagtripan siya dahil dun!"
"Wait, what kind of pictures?" tanong ni Ian
"Yung mga nakabackless, sleeveless, crop top, shorts; yung sa mga trendy fashion magazines saka yung sa aesthetic project kasama sina Maryl dati. Di ako komportable sa mga suotang yun pero kailangan ko rin talent fee dun no!" sagot ko.
Napafacepalm ulit si Ate Florence.
"I mean, it's not a porn material, but I think it's suspicious as well." pagagree sa akin ni Carlo. "Like, you should've opened this to us so we could understand."
Napatango si Maryl. "I guess we have to postpone those brand deals muna."
Bukod sa pagiging anak ng mga businessman, mga part-time model din kami kasi nahihila ng pamilya. Di ko alam sa mga sikat na magazines at kami pa kinukuha, marami namang potential model sa tabi-tabi. Gaya nila kami sa pamilyang feeling mga model at artista na may sariling tv show pa sa lifestyle channels.
"Oh yeah, it does sound suspicious..." sabi ni Ate Florence na narerealize na kung anong ginawa ko.
"Dapat kay Nathalie mo nalang pinagawa." sabi ni Maryl sa akin.
"Ba't nakalimutan ko si Nathalie, mas malakas mantrip yun sa ganun! Saka di ba magaling ka rin dun?" sinabi ko in realization.
Hay nako Lawreign Ellison, beri wrong. Beri beri wrong ka dun.
Kumunot noo ni Maryl. "Why me?"
"Di ba capture tactic mo ang mangseduce?" tanong ko sa kanya.
"Huh?" rinig ko na react nina Carlo at Ian na para bang nagjojoke ako.
"Di niyo alam yun?" tanong ko sa kanila. "Daming nahuli ni Maryl na kriminal noong nagreresearch siya about sa hypebeasts."
Nakita kong napatakip ng bibig si Carlo, although natatakpan talaga ng face mask niyang itim.
"Guys." Ate Florence sighed. "Tama na, wag nang gumawa ng delikadong plano. Nangyari na kay Axis. Just make sure na magsorry ka kina Mr. and Mrs. Salvatierra pag balak mo dumalaw."
"Ate, you forgot Jia." segway ni Ian.
Tumingin si Ate Florence kay Ian at nagtanong. "Jia Shin? Yung dating supermodel? Sila na pala?"
"Yes ate." sabat ni Carlo. "Since last year."
"I see. I was in Rome last year, kaya pala di ko alam." sagot ni ate. "Kumusta na pala yun?"
At napatahimik kaming lahat... ng mga... ilang segundo.
Nakakabingi ang katahimikan, sobrang nakakabingi.
"About her weight, I saw her at the party. No need to be silent." Ate Florence broke the silence. "She's still beautiful despite her weight gain though."
Napatingin si Maryl sa wrist watch niya. "Oh fuck. Kailangan ko nalang pala ng isa pang patient sa phlebotomy!"
"Tapos na ako, patient mo ako since first year mo. Next year naman." pagremind ko sa kanya.
Sa sobrang taranta niya, tumayo siya at hinawakan niya kamay ni Carlo. Tumingin siya kay Ate Florence. "Ate I have to go. I need to complete my extractions pa."
Tumango si ate. "Sige sige, go. Good luck. Make Ate Beks your inspiration!"
"She is my inspiration. Kayong dalawa." sagot ni Maryl.
Ngumiti si ate ng napakasweet.
Kinuha nila agad bag nila na nasa gilid ng sofa, hinila ulit ni Maryl kamay ni Carlo at agad sila lumabas ng kwarto.
Hmm. In good terms na ba sila? Gumana mga plano ko? Di ako nainform nun ah!
"I didn't know they were close already." pagtatakang sabi ni Ate Florence habang tinitignan sila papaalis.
"Yeah." parang matamlay na response ni Ian.
Napatingin si Ate Florence kay Ian. "Mio fratello, stai bene? Matamlay ka yata?"
Wala akong naintindihan, pero ang lambing pa rin ng boses ni ate. Azar. Although lagi naman siya malambing, pero iba yung lambing niya kay Ian.
Napatango si Ian at ngumiti. "Sì, sto bene. Non preoccuparti per me."
Binigyan siya ni ate ng mapanigurong tingin. "Adriano. Parli sul serio?"
"Sì, sono serio. Non preoccuparti per me." sagot ni Ian sa ate niya.
Feeling ko may alam ang dalawang to na hindi ko alam.
Pakialis na po ako dito, may dalawang Italiano sa tabi ko, baka mamaya sinusummon na nila ang tatay ko na si Demonyo. Happy happy pa ako dito sa lupa kako!
-----
Carlo
Oh fuck.
OH FUCK.
Maryl made me her patient.
I'm praying that she would perform her extraction well, for there are medical technologists na masakit magextract.
Hopefully she could find my vein.
She dragged me to one of the lecture laboratory in Alexandra University Hospital, right in the basement. I can say it is fully equipped and is perfect for medical students. When we arrived, 4 other student medtechs with their patients, and a professor greeted us.
"Ay Ms. Liu! Si Sir Fulgenzio pala patient mo today! What a blessing!" he greeted in a gay accent.
I can hear the pseudo-patients gossiping.
"Carlo Fulgenzio yun di ba?"
"Ang gwapooo."
"Kyah, akin ka nalang!"
"Magsitigil kayo. Girlfriend niya ata yung student medtech."
"Mas bagay kami."
"Luh. Feeling."
Oh god.
Wait, before I get fully distracted, is he a "he" or a "they"?
"Excuse me sir, how would I address you? What are your pronouns?" tanong ko.
"Ay buti nalang nagtanong ka." sagot ni gay prof. "He/him/mister pa rin. Hindi sa lahat ng pagkakataon ay dapat makiuso sa luho ng mga gen z's sa Twitter."
I sighed in relief. Gladly.
"Ms. Liu, ikaw na ba muna mageextract?" he asked Maryl.
"Aren't they done yet?" Maryl asked, referring to the group of medtech students, with their patients, three armchairs near.
"Ikaw muna mauna Maryl. Nagpapalipas muna kami ng kaba." a brown-skinned, chubby-looking girl wearing braces and plastic eyeglasses told her.
"Oo teh. Kanina pa kaming nanginginig ni Fiore dito. Saka mas alam mo magextract." an innocent and young-looking chinita agreed. She looks too young to be in college, to be honest.
Maryl placed her backpack onto an arm chair near me and took out a first-aid box, which I presume is her extraction kit.
"Okay. Ms. Maryl Juneaux Liu, perform venipuncture to patient number 15, Mr. Giovanni Montecarlo Fulgenzio. In three, two, one."
"Good day sir, I'm Maryl, your medical technologist for today. You don't have to worry for I've been doing this for a while. I won't stick you if I don't feel confident."
She opened the extraction kit, labelled her test tube and put on her surgical gloves.
"Kindly take your blazer off and roll your sleeve up please. Thank you." she instructed.
I followed; I took my blazer off and rolled my left sleeve up. She tied a torniquet above the venipuncture site.
"Kindly make a fist, sir." she instructed again, and I did.
Honestly, I am getting bored, I find the procedure kind of slow.
She looked for my vein and cleaned the site with alcohol. She prepared the needle and started to insert the needle in. It doesn't hurt but things are so serious that I'm getting bored.
Wait, may naiisip akong kalokohan.
"Ahhh shit babe." I moaned mockingly. She was inserting the needle slowly, so I had to lighten the "mood".
"Gio, what the fuck?" she murmured.
"That's the spot ughh." I continued.
"You do want me to fail, don't you?" she murmured again.
While we were talking, her classmates are entertained about this stunt.
"Wild naman dis patient."
"Magtigil ka Mau, hindi ito hentai."
"Kuha ka rin ng patient na magaling magfake moan Rika."
"I am innocent."
"Oo mga pala. Batang ate ka pala namin."
"Shhh. Quiet!"
"Sorry po Fiore."
"Oo nga ingay niyo. Nagoomegle nga lang ako dito eh."
"Wawang Janelle, wala si Adriano."
My blood is starting to flow out of my body and into the collection tube.
"Babe I'm cumm--"
And she gave me a quick slap on the face.
Natahimik ang buong lab, and everyone was shocked.
She kept her cool as she released the torniquet, and placed a dry cotton around the area.
"You can open your hand na." she said while pulling the needle out.
"Babe it feels--"
"Shut up." she swiftly responded and gave some pressure onto the area.
"Fuck. Mahapdi." I responded.
"Fake moan ka pa ah." she answered and gave it more pressure.
Natawa ang lahat, especially Mr. Gay Prof whilst writing her grade. "Miss Liu, you can't do this in actual, ha? But since you both gave me a laugh and kilig today, I'll give you 100 percent."
She gave me a glare while applying bandage onto the punctured area. "Pasalamat ka, kundi I'll give you a Lawreign Ellison-style torture."
I gulped. "Ryl maawa ka sa akin."
She took the contaminated supplies and disposed those in a nearby biohazard trash bin.
"Sir. Pa hot seat muna kayo bago kami hehe." the girl with braces requested.
He looked at her and said "Ikaw na talaga isusunod ko Ms. Fiore Ramirez, magprepare ka na!"
"Oo nga sir. Konting time pa. Interview mo muna yung mga mayayaman, chance mo na to oh." sagot niya.
"Okay magandang idea. Sige." he agreed and looked at us. "So tell me Mr. Fulgenzio, kayo ba ni Ms. Liu?"
"Ayiiieeee." they all said in unison.
"No." Maryl answered. "Ayaw niya kasing magkagirlfriend na chingchong."
Uh.
I didn't say anything yet.
Siya lang yun.
I was about to tell them otherwise.
"Whyyy?" prof asked again. "Bagay pa naman kayo?"
"I always get a feeling that he would throw me to China anytime soon." Maryl answered
"Grabe, di naman." I murmured.
"He despises Chinese people more than anyone else." she added.
"You're an exception." I answered.
She looked at me confusingly. "Huh? But you hate Chinese people, right?"
I sighed and answered. "You're born in Hong Kong, spent most of your childhood in Singapore, you grew up here; and that makes you different from the Mainlanders I referring to."
Of course I knew all of those, my memory is sharp.
"Ayyyiiieeee." they all said in unison, again.
"Stop making jokes, Giovanni Fulgenzio." she ordered.
"But... I am not?" I answered.
Maryl sighed and changed the topic. "Fiore, go do your venipuncture na."
"Luh. Nagchange topic?" the girl answered.
"Career over love tayo sis." Maryl answered.
Damn, she is a literal Miss Independent.
-----
Translations:
(It.) Mio fratello - My brother
(It.) Stai bene? - Are you okay?
(It.) Sì - Yes
(It.) Sto bene. - I'm okay
(It.) Non preoccuparti per me. - Don't worry about me
(It.) Parli sul serio? - Are you serious (about it?)
(It.) Sono serio - I am serious
_____
Beyond the Spectrum | Wave 16: Hospital • © mxylms