(M) Main Protagonist's Point of View
"D-DON'T MOVE... I WARN YOU, DON'T EVEN TRY TO MOVE!!!" said someone pointing a pistol behind me.
Instantly, I raised my hands, the thought crossing my mind that this might be my last day on Earth. But I realized from the tone and trembling of the voice that the person behind me was just a frightened girl. With courage, I dared to turn around.
" Fufufuu…WATCH OUT, THERE'S A COCKROACH!!"
"WHERE?!" The girl exclaimed in shock. Quickly, I tried to snatch the pistol from her hand, but...
"NO, DON'T COME CLOSER!!" With the pistol now pointed at me. Suddenly, an explosion of Dark Green emotion surrounded me. And just like that, she pulled the trigger. Is this the end? BANG!!!
In a fraction of a second, the bullet hit my head, leaving a small red bruise on my forehead. Why? Because it was just a toy bullet that came out of the toy gun.
"Huhhh... For a moment, For the climax, I thought my soul had ascended to the heavens. Hey...?"
Suddenly, as she was caught, the girl threw the toy gun straight at my head, causing a double HEADSHOT, along with kicking my Batavia cannon. It made me confused about which pain was more genuine.
"Y...YOU...DAMN IT, Hey!" I uttered in extreme agony.
Then, in sheer fright, the girl ran to hide.
While calming myself down, I stood up and chased after her. But my attention was diverted back to the trail of blood. Eventually, I decided to follow it until it led me to an old man with a gunshot wound on his right shoulder, leaning against a shelf. Seeing him, my face turned pale. It felt like fate always put me in the wrong situations, in situations where I had to meddle in other people's affairs. I wanted to leave quickly, but as I took a step.
"Come on, Hari...! You can do it...! Just do what's your business and not others'...!"
Then, a flashback of past memories crossed my mind. Two young boys playing superheroes wearing masks.
"You...! You're not a hero...! You can't save anyone!" I started to walk away again.
Then, an image of one of the boys from the two playing appeared, walking sobbing in the middle of the road in the rain, crying out his brother's name.
"Ughhh... Brother! Ughh.... BROTHER..!!!"
I began to move away. And finally, the last flashback came to mind. A high school girl with blood on her head and her uniform, screaming amidst the silence and emptiness of the rain, holding her father's unconscious body with severe injuries.
"HELP!!! PLEASE... ANYONE, HELP!!! HELP...!!!" the girl cried and screamed for assistance.
Then the situation returned to the present.
"But why..? Wasn't I also a victim at that time?" I said, biting my lip.
Quickly, I ran back and immediately checked on him, realizing him were already semi-unconscious and in need of immediate first aid.
"Sir... sir... I hope you can still maintain consciousness." I said while trying to keep the person conscious.
Swiftly, I laid them on their side and bent their upper legs about 90°. Then, I ran to search for useful items around the area.
"I beg, just this once! I hope, I can... I hope, I can change something... I hope it doesn't get worse. I hope I CAN CHANGE THE SITUATION!!!" I screamed in my mind as I kept running.
When I returned, I saw a girl stunned beside the old man, who turned out to be the same girl who had just run away. She appeared clearer now. She became clearer. A young girl with hair in a face-framing layered style, with the color contrasting and different hair in general, had a gloomy expression and teary eyes.
"Do you know him?" I asked, to which she turned around in surprise and pointed a cutter from her pocket towards me.
"HAH! That's him," I said as I walked closer to her.
"AHH...!!! Please don't come closer." she said, closing her eyes in fear. Then I easily took the cutter from her left hand, and I casually passed by the girl, which instantly confused her.
Ignoring that, I quickly proceeded with the operation. I swiftly cut the man's shirt and poured alcohol on the injured area. I didn't forget to sanitize my hands and the tools used, then I put on a mask and took a deep breath before attempting to make an incision on the wound. However, my arm was quickly stopped.
"What are you going to do?" the girl asked.
"Operation? What else." I said with innocently.
"Are you a doctor?" she asked, gripping my shirt sleeve, her hopeful expression evident.
"Uhhh... Nah, but I know a little about first aid," I said with a faint smile. Disappointment showed on her face, then she pushed me away with frustration and tears, saying,
"Damn it! What have you done!!! Do you realize your actions could endanger patient life? No sane person entrusts their life to someone who cannot be held accountable for anything." Hearing her statement with a sharp gaze, sweat dripping from my body, then..
"What I mean is, I laugh because it seems like I know and you know that there's someone here who not only knows the patient's condition, like me, who's stupid, but they're also credible in this matter. Yet, for some reason, she's caught up in her own confusion. And she's busy searching for someone more worthy, busy looking for a gallant hero in a white suit. But are disappointed to meet someone like me? But in reality, she know exactly the person she's looking for is sheselves. So, what else are you looking for, Doctor?" I said, looking at the girl with a puzzled expression.
Where did you know that's? " she asked. I scratched my head before answering.
"Well, it's... the position, the wound. I guess you're the one who treated him before I got here. To minimize the escalation of the wound and position it to prevent continuous bleeding. Then, the wound, ambidextrous, cutter. Choosing this cutter not as a weapon? you didn't intend to use it for self-defense but for surgery. Not to mention your skill in using both hands on several occasions, as well as other things like shoes too clean for someone who usually steps on asphalt rather than the sterile hospital floor, and bla..bla..bla so on." I said to her, to which she instantly replied.
"After knowing all that, why did you still insist, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S A DOCTOR. WHO COULD POSSIBLY CHALLENGE YOU FOR ILLEGAL PRACTICE THAT ENDANGERS THE PATIENT'S LIFE!!!"
"Blaming is easier than trying, but at least I'm willing to try to help with what little knowledge I have. But here's the problem, it's you. The person lying there should have received medical attention several minutes ago. But what I see, what are you doing? Just busy finding excuses because you're too afraid to act. And not realizing that every minute, that person's life is at stake," I said to her, but suddenly a cough from the old man diverted both of our attention.
"Khukk... khukk..." he tried to sit up.
"Please don't move, Sir." the girl said.
"Shh... it's okay, miss. I'm grateful you're safe, because if something were to happen to you, I would regret it." said the old man, instantly causing the girl to shed tears again.
"It's okay! Are you crazy? Look, you're hurt! Even in this condition, you still worry about others. Didn't I tell you not to follow me? It was my decision to leave home. Even in these last moments. I'm still causing trouble for you until it comes to this. Grandfather was right about me, expecting results from useless people only brings disaster. I'm just too selfish to admit it. Even in these last moments, I'm still causing trouble for you..." she said, crying.
A hand wiped away the girl's tears. And the person said.
"Hope... be... with people who are willing to move. Those were my sister's last words. It took me a long time to realize it, because not everyone will be able to understand. Just like the people who misunderstand you, miss. Even yourself, because they don't see what I see, what that child sees. A girl with unwavering conviction despite insults and curses. Someone who remains steadfast even when faced with pressures others couldn't bear, yet she bravely faces. The child's name is Lukas, right, miss? Do you know why he wanted to perform that operation even though he knew the odds? Because he saw hope from someone. An irony that won't be understood by people who only see opportunities, when in fact what they've been searching for all along is Alanta: A hope. And you are my Alanta..."
"Mr. Andri... Mr. Andri!" she shouted while patting the old man's cheeks.
then he returned to his unconscious state. Quickly, I checked his condition, but suddenly my steps were halted.
"Now what, do you still want to..." My words were cut off, the grip on my shirt sleeve with weakened. The girl's face was stunned, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"P-please... Ugh... I beg you, save him. He's the only one who's always been there for me all this time. PLEASE-PLEASE," she said with a trembling voice. Then I brushed away her grip.
"First, wipe away the urine that are flowing from your eyes." I said flatly. Then, I slowly stood up while speaking.
"I don't know what you've been through all this time, what they've said about you, or what's been weighing you down. Whether you laugh, get angry, or feel sad, but one thing I know for sure: Actions may not guarantee opportunities, but those who move forward always know what they're fighting for. Stop crying. It's okay to rest and take a break for a moment, to think about everything that has happened. But when the spotlight turns back, a doctor must put on their surgical shirt again. A doctor must know what they're fighting for, and moreover, I've made my decision." I said, handing her the cutter. Hearing that, she wiped away her tears, then took the cutter and tied up her hair.
"Huh... Okay, okay. Alright, this time your face looks like a real doctor. Where has that face been all this time?" I said, smiling. Her previously gloomy expression now looked confident and optimistic.
"Ugh... Stop teasing," she said, pressing her lips together looking slightly annoyed.
"Hehe... Sorry, sorry, I didn't mean to. But even Dr. Nick can't fight alone, right?" I said, covering my mouth and nose with a mask.
"Who's that?" she asked.
"Ahh... just a famous doctor I know from Springfield." I said.
"Springfield?"
"Never mind, stop asking so many questions, turn around," I said as I tried to cover her head with a cloth. Then, in the midst of it all, she looked back at the old man again.
"Control your emotions, as it can drive you. But don't let it overwhelm you. Let it fuel you instead. Your heart may be in turmoil, but your mind must remain focused and controlled. That's what a doctor typically does. And guess who I'm helping to tie the cloth now?" I said.
"Hmm... By the way, we haven't properly introduced ourselves earlier. My name is Alexa Dewastro, and you?"
"I'm Hari Wongsoyudan Pratama, just call me Hari. Yap...it's finished now. of caurse not like the usual in the operating room, but I hope this help." I replied.