Sa sobrang panic ni Sandy ay bigla na lang niya binulyawan ang mga kasama niya sa paligid ng kwarto ng pasyente. "What the... Let's put him down this instant before it's too late." Utos niya sa mga lalaking nurses at pulis na napadaan lang din doon sa kwarto.
They put up a ladder beside the body at pinutol nila ang lubid na nakabuhol ng mahigpit sa leeg ng biktima. "We just hope that there is still a great chance for his survival but we need to be extra careful folks."
The policemen assure them that everything will be fine as long as the patient is rescued immediately. Mahina lang ang pulso nito ngunit makakayanan pang maagapan dahil base sa kanilang pag-oobserba ay ilang segundo pa lang ang lumipas mula nang maisagawa ang planong pagpapatiwakal.
Nang makawala na ang pasyente sa higpit ng lubid ay inalalayan siya ng mga nurses para marevive siya sa mismong kamang hinihigaan niya. Doctors also arrived at naglapat na sila ng paunang lunas sa binata.
"Claire, bakit ba lagi na lang ito nangyayari sa akin? I always see someone dead in front of me mula nang mawala ka. The much worse feeling is that wala man lang ako magawa para pigilan ang bwisit na kamatayang iyan maski sa kaso mo."
Napapaisip na lang mag-isa si Sandy sa isang sulok dahil sa traumang pilit niyang nilalabanan magpasahanggang ngayon tungkol sa pagkasawi ng matalik niyang kaibigan at tila mauulit pa ang sinapit na kapalaran sa katauhan naman ng kanyang pasyente.
The clock's tick-tock becomes slower as they further try their best to save Asher in his unfortunate choice of action. "Ughhm, was there any way to contact his family or friends? I'm sure they will be more worried if they don't know what has happened here." Sandy also inquired with her fellow block mates who are also under the OJT program at their university.
"How are we supposed to know Sandy? Wasn't he your patient to take care of?!" Intrimitidang sabi ng kanyang kaklase at saka sila bumalik sa kanilang assigned area for other patients.
No matter how suspicious it was, the doctor answered back to her questions. "You could immediately ask for the mayor's contact details in our logbooks. This patient was his son after all." Paliwanag sa kanya na tila nanghihinayang sa sinapit ng binata.
"Really?! But will he be okay?!" Naluluhang tanong ni Sandy na unang beses pa lang makakita ng suicide attempt sa tanan ng buhay niya.
"His vital signs were normal but the mind is unstable for sure." Deretsahang sabi ng doktor sa kanila. Ayon pa sa kanya, "These kinds of incidents are unpredictable but I'm relieved that you were able to prevent the worst-case scenario. You all have one month to deal with your patient's company that was assigned to you by the management. They all lack moral support from their own environment so good luck on your journey here with us. Psychology is not for the weak heart and mind if you know what I mean."
"The doctor was right all along. How could I help these patients if I'll let my fears grow inside me." Sandy thought to herself nang makita niya si Asher na bedridden and they kept his movements restrained after they revived him.
She was left alone with him for a couple of hours. Nagsibalikan na ang mga kasama niya sa duty nila kaya tinangka na ni Sandy na ipaalam sa pamilya ni Asher ang tungkol sa kalagayan niya.
"Asher Martinez... Hindi ko alam kung paano ka humantong sa ganyan. We're not even close friends nor acquaintance but I'm still happy na humihinga ka pa pagkatapos ng ginawa mo sa sarili mo." Bulong ni Sandy as she reached his bedside.
Sandy dialed the telephone without any glimpse of nervousness. Meanwhile, the mayor's office was kinda messy with damp, sweaty, striped garments around the place and some of them belong to his mistress secretary who still cannot process moving on after their adulterous act of lovemaking.
"You better clean yourself after this. I'm not yet done teaching you a lesson for your disobedience and betrayal. Do you understand?" The mayor was still gripping her arms while the secretary was freezing cold due to her undressed state.
"Yes sir. I'm always ready to follow your instructions from now on." Mahinahong sabi ng secretary niya habang nagmamakaawang bitawan siya sa mga oras na iyon.
Almost three minutes na mula ng mag-ring ang telepono. "Hello! Can I speak with the town's mayor?" sabi ni Sandy mula sa kabilang linya.
"Who is this?" Sagot naman ng secretary sa kanya na tila inaayos pa ang butones sa harapang bahagi ng uniporme niya.
"I'm Sandy Margaux who takes care of his son at the mental institute. Was the mayor available for a private conversation?" tugon ng dalaga sa kanyang kausap. Nang marinig ng mayor na hinahanap siya ay nagsiwalang kibo ito at pilit na pinapatahimik ang kanyang sekretarya.
"Apparently, he was in a closed door meeting with his council members and it may have lasted for half an hour." Palusot na sabi ng secretary kahit nakatitig pa din sa kanya ng malisyoso ang alkalde ng siyudad.
"Is that so... Well, this is actually an urgent request. Does he have any siblings or someone close to Asher?" tanong muli ni Sandy.
"His older brother is in California right now and I think their semester started today which is impossible for him to attend in his care."
[Sandy Margaux…]
"Tsk! What the heck is wrong with these people?!" Napabulaw na lang ako sa tugon sa akin ng kausap ko.
"Is there something that his family needs to know? I could definitely relay your message to the mayor." Isa ring mosang ang sekretarya ng tatay nito. Kaya ko nga gustong makausap ng personal ang mayor eh para sila mismo ng asawa niya ang makaalam sa lagay ng anak nila.
Kinutuban ata ng masamang pangitain ang magulang ni Asher at bigla na lang sumabat sa usapan namin ng sekretarya ang misis na kakarating lang ata mula sa opisina dahil hapong-hapo ang boses niya sa pagod. "Hello? How's my son? Was he alright?" Crying lady as usual ang peg niya at salamat naman at tumugon siya sa panawagan ko.
"Ughhm... please calm down ma'am. He was sound asleep. Although, he almost died from killing himself a while ago, his health is stable now." Balita ko sa kanya at hindi ko namalayan na nagising na pala ang sleeping beauty. Nalaman ko na lang ang history ni Asher sa mga police officer na humuli sa kanya noong nangyari ang insidente sa casino.
"Why..." Bulong ni Asher habang tulala sa kama niya. His mother insisted na makausap si Asher pero parang hindi sumasang-ayon sa amin ang panahon.
Asher was having delusions on his sight dulot na din siguro ng mga weed na hinithit niya mula pa noong naenganyo siya dito. "Fuck off, bitch! Stay away from me." bulyaw niya sa akin na may kasama pang pandidilim ng paningin.
"Don't worry. You will definitely be fine here as long as you behave yourself." paliwanag ko sa pagmumukha ni Asher habang pinapakalma ko siya ng todo.
"Why am I still alive? You'll just gonna make me suffer don't you?!" Sunod-sunod niyang tanong sa akin na may halong pangamba para sa buhay niya. May konting katotohanan naman ang expectation niya sa akin pero siya pa talaga ang may ganang magwala samantalang pagod na din ako sa mga ganap dito kahit wala pa namang isang linggo ang nakalipas mula ng manatili ako rito for my OJT grades.
His looks on my eyes could definitely kill me mga friends and base na din sa boses ng kanyang mother dear ay sobrang worried siya sa lagay ng kanyang anak."Iha, I want to talk to him, please." request ng nanay niya sa akin kaya tinutok ko kay Asher ang telephone.
"Oh my goodness Asher baby, I've missed you so much. I'm sorry for neglecting you for the past few years. We just didn't know how to deal with you so..." She was really sorry for what happened to them from the past at ang masakit pa dito ay hindi pa sila nagkakausap ng kapatid niya.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Biglang nagwala ang pasyente kong ito at nabitawan ko ang telepono sa panghahampas sa kamay ko ng siraulong ito. Kahit pala nakagapos na siya sa hospital bed ay may possibility palang maging imbiyernang malala ang pasyenteng gaya niya sa duty namin.
"You are the most worthless person to be called as my mother. Bakit niyo pa ako binuhay kung si Jester lang naman ang nakikita niyong mabuti at may silbi sa aming dalawa? Huh?!" Naghihinagpis ng todo si Asher while I'm still on the ground at iniinda ng bahagya ang pwet kong medyo flat na bumagsak sa tiles ng kwarto niya.
"Ouch!" I was literally shocked as well dahil ibang tao ata ang naaaninag niya sa mukha ko.
"It's not our intention to disregard you. Asher, please listen to me. We love you that's why we are so strict in reminding you about the consequences of your actions. Be mindful that we're public figures even though your father is trying to project his track record about good governance through his family's reputation of law-abiding citizens..."
"Good governance? What the heck are you talking about? I don't belong in your own plastic circle of friends and will you please stop calling me your son?! It was never applicable to you in the first place to become a parent of twins whom you can't even love equally so stop pretending that you are a saint."
That's it. Sobra na sa venting out ang drama ng Asher na ito. I have a firm stand about family matters kaya naubos na niya ng husto ang natitirang awa ko para sa kanya. Umiiyak man ang nanay niya sa kabilang linya ng telepono pero wala akong pakialam nang busalan ko ang bibig ng pasyente ko.
"You better listen to me before I get furious. Start apologizing to them right now if you want them to treat you fairly after your recovery." Banta ko sa kanya at tila nabahag ang buntot niya.
"Who the heck are you?" At talagang sinabayan niya pa ang init ng ulo ko sa mga ganap nila.
"Ang babaeng nagligtas sa'yo sa sarili mong kamatayan kaya sundin mo ang inuutos ko sa'yo kung ayaw mong pahirapan pa kita ng husto!" Nanlilisik panigurado ang mata ko sa pagkakasabi nun sa kanya.
"Tsk!" Nabwisit siya sa akin habang hinihigpitan ko pa ang kapit sa mukha niya na para bang masasakal ko pa ata dahil sa bugso ng damdamin.
Tila maamong tupa ang naging asal sa akin ni Asher at nakinig nga siya sa sinabi ko. "I-I'm s-orry... ma!" Nanghihinayang na sabi ni Asher at humupa na ng bahagya ang galit na nararamdaman ko sa kanya even though he is glaring at me.
"I'm actually the one who needs to apologize to you, Asher." Sabi naman ng nanay niya na tila naiiyak sa tuwa. Bagamat malayo sila sa isa't isa ay naramdaman ko namang sincere nilang itinuturing ang bawat isa bilang kanilang kasangga sa pagharap sa hamon ng buhay.
"Iha, I'll leave the rest to you. Please take care of my son." Bilin ng nanay niya sa akin.
"No worries ma'am. I will and it seems that he's only listening to me like a puppy now." Biro kong sabi at napairap sa inis ang Asher dahil hindi siya makapalag sa aking presensiya. Naputol na doon ang usapan ngunit nagsimula na naman siyang maghimutok sa akin.
"Hay naku! Hindi mo talaga ako pinagpahinga sa pag-aalala sa'yo. Don't get me wrong hah! Inaalagaan kita ngayon dito dahil required sa amin ng university na puntahan kayo dito." I explained to him thoroughly para wala siyang mahitang motibo sa akin.
"Let me get out of here!" He is looking at me to murder my presence.
"No..." I hissed.
"I said let me go." Pangungulit niya sa akin.
"I won't," I said and I almost can't help myself but smile on his distressed face.
He sighed at me. I don't know what to expect from him so I initiated the conversation. "It seems that you already have a high tolerance when it comes to drugs. I can't be certain if you have a dissociative identity disorder since the doctors say otherwise. You're just a brat who only seeks attention, I guess." I commented on his regard at mukhang lalabas din naman sa tenga ni Asher ang lahat ng sinasabi ko sa kanya.