Algea Series #1: The Chase Escape

Author's note: For those who want to know why it was called Algea Series, this is for you. According to my research, Algea is the personification of pain and suffering of both mind and soul, grief, sorrow, and distress. In short explanation, I called it Algea Series because of the pain it will deliver to you as you read it so keep your emotions and mind intact as you read this relatable series. It may be related to a true story or not but it's up to your perspective, reader!

Names, characters, business, events, and incidents are the products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events, is purely coincidental. This novel's story is somehow related to someone while the characters remain fictitious.

This story is not affiliated with BHC/hospitals/companies/organizations that will be mentioned ahead.

This story is unedited. Be mindful of the grammatical errors because the author is not the master of stories and concluded to have mistakes including the confusion of the use of 'ng' and 'nang'. I will be back to revise this once the Algea Series is finished, so please bear with me until the end of the chapters.

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GENRE: Romance

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R18 Alert. Please be advised that this story contains mature themes and strong language that are not suitable for very young audiences. Read at your own risk.

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TW: Wounds and Blood

"Nurse Gonzales, some patient was rushed to the ER. You need to go there now!"

Someone from my group went to me and called me. I rushed into the ER without any questions and entered it. I saw five men inside bleeding. Two men have abrasions and three of them got lacerations on different parts of their bodies. Thankfully, they don't have any lacerations on their faces. Obviously, what happened to them?

I helped in treating the new patients. I remove the first aids in their body and replaced it with the right treatment and bandages. After that, the two men who just got abrasions can stand up for themselves and the other three were moved to different rooms since they cannot still move from the lacerations they have. It was bleeding in the ER when I arrived a while ago. That's why we replaced the sheets of the beds for the moment before I proceed to the doctor in charge in the ER to ask what happened to the patients for my nurse report.

"Doctor Chavez!"

Lumingon siya sa tawag ko at hininto ang pagsusulat sa papel na nasa clipboard na hawak niya. He is wearing a light blue button up shirt with his coat on top of it. Also, his stethoscope is around his neck for obvious purposes.

"What happened to the patients?" I asked without even thinking twice. I need to be sure what happened to the patients before going back to the nurse station.

"Oh, Nurse Gonzales, you helped with the procedures?" he asked unbelievably.

"Yes, Doctor Chavez, but can you answer my question? What happened to them?"

"There is an accident. It occurred in the construction nearby and they're the mechanical engineers assigned under their head engineer. But one of their equipment malfunctioned and the three engineers got stuck in the scene while the other two were just been around and were also got struck. Natamaan kasi ng equipment ang wires na malapit sa paanan ng tatlong engineers na nagkaroon ng laceration  sa katawan and they've gotten deep. Masyado yatang naging malakas ang impact ng pagpalo sa kanila ng wire. Buti na lang at wala pang kuryenteng dumadaloy sa wire noong natamaan sila. Kung hindi, you know what obviously would be the result, Nurse Gonzales." They will be DOA.

Napahawak na lang siya sa sentido niya bago umiling-iling habang ako ay napakunot ang noo. 'Di ba dapat they need to make sure that the engineers are safe while at work? Why is the head engineer not responsible for his or her engineers?!

"Who's the head engineer, Doctor Chavez? And what's his name?" Itinaas ko ang kilay ko habang nakahalukipkip ang magkabilang braso sa dibdib ko. "I just need to talk to him," kunot-noo kong tanong sa kanya.

"Why are you going to talk to him, Nurse Gonzales?" Iniangat niya ang tingin niya sa akin. "Don't cause any trouble if I were you and that's the job of the doctors to talk to the guardian of the patients unless you've been told to," pagpapaliwanag niya.

He's one of my friends in this hospital. Halos magkalapit lang din namang ang edad namin and he's always the one who will stop me from getting into trouble with patients. The truth is nurses are partners of doctors and they cannot take action if they are not been told to. That's what always Chavez tells me that I never listened to. But I also don't want to get into any trouble that's why I choose not to do what I want and just pour it into my work.

"I am just planning to talk to the head engineer about the safety of the engineers para aware siya sa susunod na kailangan niyang ingatan ang mga empleyadong nasa kamay niya." And I paused for a moment when I remembered that he mentioned the gender of the engineer. Did I even hear it right?

"Teka, pakiulit nga, Doc Chavez."

Siningkitan ko siya and he chuckled at my reaction. I know I am acting like a highschooler right now so I just rolled my eyes when he chuckled.

"Don't cause any trouble if I were you," pag-uulit niya pero hindi iyun ang pinapaulit ko.

"Hindi 'yan, Doc!" Mahina lang ang pag sigaw ko sa kanya dahil inaalala ko pa ring nasa loob pa rin kami ng hospital. Ayokong masigawan dito ng head nurse, 'no! 

"'Yung isa. 'Yung tanong!" pagpupumilit ko sa kanya.

The end of his lips rosed up and he shook his head.

"Why are you going to talk to him, Nurse Gonzales?" he repeated.

Lalo ko siyang siningkitan ng mata.

"Him?" pag-uulit ko sa sinabi niya.

He chuckled again at my reaction. Is my reaction really that funny for him o mababaw lang talaga kaligayahan niya?

"Yes, him. Why, Nurse Ellaine?" He's confused. "Usually, it's a boy who will be the head engineer. Why are you asking an obvious question? Kailangan ba kita ibalik sa college?" Umiling siya.

"Usually lang, pero 'di mo sure kung babae," ani ko. "Anyways, what's the name of the head engineer?" tanong ko pang hindi nagsawa sa kakatanong sa kanya. I'm acting like an interviewer right now or something!

"Engineer Jason Lavin Dela Rosa sabi ng driver ng ambulansya ng hospital. I think he's the one who will pay for the bills of the three engineers na magsi-stay muna dito for a while for check ups because of their wounds," pagsagot niya katanungan ko.

"'Ah, nasaan siya ngayon? I'll just talk to hi--" Napahinto ako sa pagtalikod nang mapagtanto ko kung kaninong pangalan 'yun.

Jason Lavin Dela Rosa. 

"I told you to not waste your time talking to him. It's the job of the doctor to talk to the guardians of the patients, Nurse Gonzales," pagpigil na naman sa akin ni Doctor Chavez sa sinasabi ko, but I have something in mind. 

Someone in a light blue dress up button shirt entered the room. He rolled the sleeves of it until it rest on his elbows. He's still wearing his hard hat. He was taller than before and he is wearing his serious face. Maybe, his work face I presumed. His body was toned and his biceps were showing. 

Jal.

Napailing ako at napaiwas ng tingin.

"Nurse Gonzales?" Napatingin ako kay Doctor Chavez at nakakunot na ang noo niya habang nakatingin sa akin. Nagtataka siguro siya bakit ako tumalikod. "You said you want to talk to the head engineer. Nandito na siya. You have my permission now."

"I changed my mind, doc." 

I bowed my head a little with my body before I walked passed him. But the great destiny won't allow me. I bumped into him.

Shit.

My pen dropped to the ground and I kneeled to get it when someone got it for me before I did. His hand was showing veins on it. 

And his hand is big. 

Fuck. Bakit siya pa ang nakapulot?

Umayos ako ng tayo at tumikhim. What happened is still processing to me.

"Here." Iniabot niya ang kamay niya sa akin. "I am sorry, nurse."

Kinuha ko ang ballpen ko mula sa kamay niya at nilagay ulit 'yun sa bulsa sa dibdib ko. My hand brushed a little in his fingers. I don't know if he noticed it but I think he didn't. 

"Don't worry about it. Sorry if I bumped into you, sir," I respectfully responded.

Why is he here? Shit.

"Be careful next time, nurse."

"Be careful also with your engineers next time, engineer." 

I whispered and I know he heard me. He nodded before I decided to walk away from the room. I went straight to the station and was seated in front of the computer.

"Huy, Ella!" narinig kong tawag sa akin ni Xyril habang nagta-type ako ng report ngayon.

"Oh?"

"'Di ba ex mo 'yung engineer na nandito ngayon? 'Yung head engineer ng mga nalipat sa wards kanina lang?" tanong niya.

Huminto ako sa pagtipa at tumingin sa kanya. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.

"And so?"

Her lips parted and her eyes widened. Napairap tuloy ako at itinuloy na lang ulit ang pagtipa ko sa computer. I am really not in the mood to answer the questions about my ex. But since she's been with me from senior highschool to college until now, I am required to answer her questions. Parang naging best friend ko na siya simula 'nun.

"Kumusta puso mo, mima?"

Nahinto ulit ako sa pagtipa at pinag-isipan ang sinabi niya. Kumusta na nga ba ang puso kong nagpahinga for 7 years? Kumusta na nga ba ang puso naming dalawa?

"Ayus lang. Kaya pa naman. Wala pa ulit akong planong mag-jowa." I shrugged my shoulders.

"Ang sabihin mo mahal mo pa," pang-aasar niya.

It's not a lie. I still have feelings for him, but it's been years. For sure, baka nakahanap na siya ng bago. 

"Huwag na natin siyang pag-usapan. Baka mabulunan, mare."

"Asus! In denial hanggang ngayon. Mema ka ay!"

"Ikaw, baka may shift ka pa. 'Dun ka na nga!" pagtataboy ko sa kanya.

"In love ka pa rin, Ella. Ayaw mo lang aminin."

I shrugged my shoulders. I never talked about my past not until now it was served again in front of me.

"Baka may iba na 'yun, Xy. Hayaan mo na."

It's been years since I left him for my passion. To pursue my passion.

That's when my nursing journey started when I ended our relationship.

I smiled while thinking of it.

You really chased your dream, engineer.