Eula's POV
"Doctor V, kanina pa po kau hinahanap ni Dr. Alcantara. Yung pasyente niyo po kasi, nagwawala na naman. E hindi po kayo matawagan." Nag-aalalang sabi ng Head Nurse na si Amy. "Hindi rin siya mapakalma ng ibang nurses. Muntik na ngang paturukan ni Dr. Joan ng tranquilizer iyon."
Ano na naman kaya ang naisip ng loko lokong yun.
After ng surgery ng latest patient ko na si Major Roniel Reyes ay naging pasaway na ito dahil gusto na daw makalabas sa ospital. Pero hindi siya pwedeng idischarge hanggat walang doctor's clearance.
At nang malaman nito na nakasalalay sa akin ang paglabas niya, lagi na itong nagtatantrum na parang bata at laging nagpapapansin.
"Doctor Valdes!" I heard someone yelled from behind.
It's Dr. Joan Alcantara.
"I am on my way to your office, Doctor." sabi ko nang makalapit siya sa akin.
"You may be a resident doctor Eula but turning off your phone to avoid urgent calls is against hospital rules and that is something I never thought you would do." mahinang sabi niya pero may diin ang bawat bigkas.
"There was an emergency, Doctor." I said trying so hard not to explain further to this woman. Siguradong hahaba lang ang discussion once na sumagot sagot pa ako.
"Are you doing house calls?" She asked with a frown.
"Of course not. That's against hospital regulations." I denied vehemently.
"Dr. Valdes!" someone yelled again. Probably a nurse. "Ipapa-page po sana namin kayo, sa ICU po Doc."
"Excuse me, Doctor."
Hindi ko na pinansin si Dr. Alcantara na tumatawag sa akin dahil nagmamadali na akong tumakbo papunta sa ICU. Alam kong hindi ako nakatakas sa usapan namin ni Dr. Alcantara but I was relieved na napostpone kasi I am not in the mood na sumagot sa mga tanong niya.
She is my senior and ever since I completed my residency, she has been eyeeing me like a hawk. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang problema niya sa akin.
....
It's two o'clock on the dot when I was able to grab my sandwich and have a quick lunch.
Sometimes I am considering changing career cause I think I cannot go on this way forever. Well, the pay is good but that's all there is to this.
I do not have a boyfriend cause he broke up with me for the excuse of not giving him time and that was three years ago.
Same case with the first boyfriend.
Time.
The most precious thing one can give. Somehow no matter how I tried to give all the time I could give to someone, it's always not enough.
"Day dreaming, Mrs. Martinez?" someone said and I snapped out of my trance and I looked up and see the handsome face of Albert Martinez, grinning at me like a... Heartthrob.
Wait! What? Did I just thought of that? Ang mokong na to? Gwapo?
"Can I join you?" He asked. There is something about his feature that urges me to get mad at him. Maybe because I was so embarrassed the first time we met, at hindi na ako nakarecover sa humiliation na yun. And Albert was so kind despite the circumstances of the situation.
"No." I said giving him a death glare.
"Well, I am not actually asking for your permission, wife." he said with emphasis on the 'wife'.
"I am not your wife." I said calmly. Trying to ignore the nurses who are looking at us. I bet there will be a poll again on who it is I am dating.
"But you said you are." He said seriously.
"We both know it isn't true, Mr. Martinez. I don't know why you are doing this."
"Then we'll make it real." He said in finality. "We will get married and you will be my wife."
Is this some kind of a proposal?
"Are you proposing?" I asked with brows raised to the highest level.
This is ridiculous! I barely knew the man.
"If that is what you want to call it, then I am proposing." He said seriously. And I can't help but laugh.
"No, Mr. Martinez. I am sorry but I cannot accept your proposal. And what are you doing here anyway? May sakit ka ba? Ah! Siguro mayroon kasi mukhang may tama ka sa pag-iisip." I said harshly and stand up at akmang iiwan na siya pero mabilis nitong nahagip ang aking kamay.
"Please sit, Ms. Valdes. I didn't mean to be rude, I just really wanted to talk to you." He pleaded.
There is something in his eyes that wanted me to stay and listen to him.
"Rationally?" I finally conceded.
"Rationally. I promise." He said.
I sit once again never breaking an eye contact with him. Yes, we are looking into each other's eyes as if we are communicating telepathically.
Our eye contact was broken when I heard someone calling my name.
"Dr. Valdes!" a nurse is rushing towards me. "Si Major, nagsisimula na naman. Nalaman niya kasi na andito ka sa ospital kaya ayun, hinahanap ulit ang atensyon mo."
This is my chance para maiwasan si Albert.
"Excuse me, Mr. Martinez. I need to see my patient." I said and then left without hearing any response from him.
...
"Major, lalong hindi makakalabas sa ospital kung ganito ka palagi. Everytime na nagwawala ka lalong nag-oopen ang mga stitches mo." malumanay kong sabi.
"Dr. Valdes, kailan mo ba ako balak bigyan ng clearance? Hindi ka ba nagsasawa sa akin? Siguro may gusto ka sa akin kaya hindi mo ako gustong lumabas." nanlolokong sabi nito.
I rolled my eyes inwardly. This man is quite a looker pero ni katiting na balahibo ko ay hindi tumayo kapag nakikita ko siya.
"Major Reyes, bukas po pwede ka nang lumabas. Antayin lang natin result ng Lab tests mo para makasiguro tayo na magaling na po kayo." paliwanag ko ulit. Sa totoo lang nagsususpetsa na ako kung bakit ganito ang asal ng isang to.
"Ikaw naman, hindi ka na mabiro. Pero yung totoo, nagugwapuhan ka sa akin noh?" sabi pa niya sabay kindat.
Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako.
"Gwapo naman po talaga kayo." pagsang-ayon ko na lang.
Napatawa ang pulis ng malakas. "Sinasabi ko na nga ba at may pagtingin ka rin sa akin. Paglabas ko, let's have a date."
Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya. So, totoo nga ang mga hinala ng mga nurses tungkol sa pulis na to.
"I'm sorry, Major Reyes pero hindi ko mapagbibigyan yang hiling mo." sagot ko.
"Matagal na kaming hiwalay ng asawa ko. I am single and available. So why not? "
For so many reasons...
"Because she is my wife."
Mahina lang ang pagkakasambit ng mga katagang iyon ngunit sobrang lakas ng dating sa pandinig ko.
Sabay kaming napalingon ni Major Reyes sa pinanggalingan ng tinig na iyon.
Nanlaki ang mata ko pagkakita kay Albert na nakatayo sa pintuan at seryosong nakatingin kay Major Reyes.
"Who are you?" mabagsik na tanong ni Major Reyes. Pero hindi man lang nakakitaan si Albert ng pagkabigla.
"My name is Albert. And I am Eula's husband." mahinahon at seryosong saad ni Albert.
😁😁😁