Wrath's Sin

VII

Chapter 7

Coincidence

            NAPAILING na lamang si Gian nang hindi na niya ma-contact si April dahil kanina pa niya tinatawagan ito. Nagsabi kasi si April sa kanya na magpunta na lamang sa sarili niyang condo at bukas na siya kikitain nito pero hindi alam ni Gian ang kanyang pupuntahan.

            Gian is April’s niece and he has been living in Japan for five years and it is only this time around that he got home here in the Philippines. April gave her a permanent car and it was sent on the airport to pick him up but he seemed to be new here as if he is not famillair of the roads anymore despite having a navigation.

            Napahinti si Gian sa taxi bay nang mapansin niyang may tao roong nakatambay. Magtatanong na lamang siya para hindi siya maligaw.

            Pagbaba ni Gian ng kanyang bintana ay nagsialisan naman ang ibang nag-aabang maliban sa isang babaeng nakatayo roon.

            “Miss, puwede bang magtanong? Saan po dito ‘yung papunta ng Giga Lands?” pero naghintay si Gian ng ilang segundo, tahimik at parang tuliro ang babae.

            “Miss?” paulit-ulit nitong tawag sa kanya hanggang sa napapitlag ang babae at uulitin na sana niya ang kanyang tanong ngunit bigla-bigla itong sumakay sa look sa back seat.

            “Kuya sa Celestia Homes lang po.” 

            Nagulat si Gian sa inakto ng babae at mukhang pinagkamalan siyang taxi driver. Makikipag-usap pa sana siya ngunit sunod-sunod na ang busina ng mag taxing nakaparada sa likod, hindi kasi niya naisip kanina na bawal ang private cars dito.

            Gian drove and wished to pull over somewhere he can talk with the girl but the traffic is stopping him to do that. Hindi naman siya puwedeng bastang magbaba dahil walang babahan dito at isa pa, bawal siyang lumagpas sa bike lane.

            And then he started hearing her sobs. It was soft at first so he glanced her at the front mirror, she is indeed crying.

            Naagaw naman pansamantala ang kanyang atensyon nang biglang lumakas ang ulan.

            Gian input the location on the map and followed it. Pagkatapos ng ilang minutong traffic ay nahanap niya ang lugar na sinabi ng babae.

            When he stopped the car, that is when the girl handed her a credit card and he could only smirked. Pakunwaring binalik na lamang niya ito para makaalis na ang babae.

            Napailing-iling siyang nag-drive palayo dahil sa nangyari ngayong unang araw na kauuwi lamang niya.

***

            NAKARINIG si Kara ng kaladabog sa sala at ang tunog ng pintuan kanina kaya agad siyang lumabas habang nasa kalagitnaan ng pagtatahi ng scarf.

            “Good Day, it’s my day off so, tara!” bungad agad ni April sa kanya nang dumiretso ito sa kanyang ref at kumuha ng malamig na soft drinks.

            “I don’t plan on getting out today,” aniya naman ni Kara.

            “Gusto ko iyang sando mo, bagong tahi mo iyan?”

            “Oo? Bakit gusto mo ba?”

            “Oo bigay mo sa akin mamaya pagkatapos nating umalis.”

            Sinundan ni Kara si April na naglakad sa sala sabay sindi ng TV. “Saan tayo pupunta?”

            “Secret. Basta magbihis ka na!”

            Kara knew April won’t stop until she’s dressed up and agree to go out with her. Madalas, sapilitan talagang nilalabas ni April si Kara dahil hindi talaga ito lumalabas ng walang dahilan.

            April brought Kara into the Shopping District of Fiore where there are a lot of people there. They browse a lot of clothing stores and bought some clothes and bags, after that they stopped by a near cake shop and took a bite.

            April mentioned that they have a last stop before they go home, at hindi naman inaakala ni Kara na dadalhin siya ni April sa isang clinic.

            “Where are we?” kunot-noo’ng tanong nito kay April na lumabas sa kotse at pinagbuksan siya ng pintuan. “We’re here for your heart. Let’s go…” April grabbed her hands to force her get out. Napatianod sa pagsunod si Kara kay April.

            There is a signage of ICare Clinic in front of this four story building.

            “Good Afternoon, can we have a checkup without an appointment? I know a doctor here…” ang sabi naman ni April sa receptionist na mukhang mag-isa pa lamang ngayon.

            “Yes po, kaninong doctor po ba?”

            “Wrath Dela Viego…”

            Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Kara sa sinabi ni April kaya kumalas siya nang marahan kay April an ikinagulat naman nito.

            “I’m fine, I don’t need a doctor!” bakas na ang inis sa boses ni Kara kaya naman humarap si April sa kanya.

            “If you don’t see a cardio today, I am done being your therapist,” nakipagtagisan naman ng tingin si April kay Kara hanggang sa si Kara ay umiwas.

            “What’s the commotion?”

            Umalingawngaw naman ang boses na hndi pa handing marinig ni Kara.

            “Wrath! Are you wrapping up for today? I heard it is your soft opening? Puwede ko bang ihabol si Kara?”

            “Hmmm. Of course, but I’m going to need her do lab tests first,” aniya naman ni Wrath habang palapit ito na nakasuot ng kulay asul na scrub suit.

            “Myka, can you perform ECG on her after she’s fill out her form?” utos naman ni Wrath sa Nurse na pumunta sa receptionist.

            Kara was escorted to laboratory with nurse because she can’t talk right now and Wrath’s stares is all over her. It’s better getting away for now.

            “Your clinic looks good! Wow, so modern!” namamanghang sabi naman ni April sabay libot ng tingin sa buong clinic.

            “Hindi pa handa ang lahat. Don’t react too much,” ngising sabi naman ni Wrath habang nag-che-check ng mga envelope sa reception’s desk na naglalaman ng mga forms ng ilang pasenteng nagsubok ngayong araw.

            “So ilang doctor kayong nandito?”

            “Sa ngayon tatlo pa lang. Kaming mag incorporators pa lang,” sabay kindat nito sa kanya. “I am planning to hire an ob-gyn and derma soon, if all of these works out…”

            “Ano ka ba? Si Wrath Dela Viego ka! Susundan ka ng mga pasente mo rito!”

            “Although I would miss me assisting surgeons,” he sighed.

            “We need a psychiatrist, actually…”

            Pagdinig ni April sa sinabi ni Wrath ay sumilay ang ngiti sa kanyang labi. “Sure ka? Sige, magkano naman ang offer mo?”

            Napatawa na lamang si Wrath sa diretsahang pagtanong ni April sa kanya.

            “So, before I check up your patient, can you give me a gist of her situation? Although I respect your doctor-patient confidentiality, maybe a little bit of teaser would do…”

            Hindi mapigilan ni April ang mapahalakhak sa estillo nang pangungumbinsi ni Wrath sa kanya.

            “I would break that rule because I know she won’t tell you anything,” she said. “But all I can share to you is that she’s having panic attacks frequently.”

            “Just like what happened at the airplane?”

            Napawi ang ngiti ni April nang mapagtanto niya kaagad ang sinabi ni Wrath sa kanya.

            “So, you’re the doctor who performed treatment on her!?” bahagyang nanlaki naman ang mga mata ni April samantalang napakibit-balikat lamang si Wrath sa kanya.

            “I told her she needs to consult a cardio, somehow and the therapies won’t suffice…”

            “Normally, panic attacks do not cause heart attacks but it can be possible,” Wrath started explaining as they walk when another patient came to the reception.

            “Panic attacks are just the body’s response after an emotional situation and it could only last for a few minutes but if it happens regularly, it can lead to heart attack eventually…” he added as April is listening eagerly.

            “When a person experiences panic attacks, it could increase their heartbeats up to 200. If it happens often, this could also lead to increase blood pressure which triggers the risk of heart disease.”

            “She’s diagnosed of Anxiety for years. I just handled her five years ago. She’s doing good in improving but you know, she’s also my friend so I am worried about her heart…”

            Napahinto naman silang dalawa nang nakita na nila si Kara sa may reception na nagpipirma na ng forms para sap ag-receive ng results.

            “I could tell it right away,” Wrath smirked. “Panic attacks happens to her everyday frequently just as how many times she eats. She sleeps at night at 12midnight and wakes up at 4am after a bad dream, am I right!?”

Napaawang ang bibig ni April nang tumugma ang mga sinabi ni Wrath sa kanya.

“Kinilabutan ako do’n,” sabay hampas sa braso ni Wrath nang mahina.

            “Miss Kara? Can we talk for a moment in my clinic?”

            Gusto ni Kara na magpanggap na bingi nang marinig niya ang pagtawag ni Wrath sa kanya ngunit napapansin niyang nakatitig si April sa kanya at hinihintay kung lalapit siya o hindi. After taking the receiving form, she slowly walks towards Wrath.

            Nang mapatiuna si Wrath na maglakad patungo sa clinic nito ay napasunod nang dahan-dahan si Kara habang nakatitig lang si April kay Kara na nakahawak sa kanyang isang kamay nang mahigpit.

            “Have a seat,” alok naman ni Wrath sa kanya nang sila ay makapasok.

            If it wasn’t for Kara’s new face because she undergone plastic surgery before, she would have been running away like a fool by now. Thanks to her new face, it gives her a complete guard from Wrath.

            “Your results will be ready after maximum of 2 days, you’ll have to come back here on that day and have me read your results.

            “Yes, doc…” she softly answered.

            Tumayo naman si Wrath at kinuha ang kanyang stethoscope sabay lapit sa kanya na dahilan nang lalo niyang pagkaba.

            “Can I listen to your heartbeat first?” akmang ilalapit na sana ni Wrath ang chest piece sa kanya nang mapansin niyang napapatras si Kara na parang gustong umilag.

            “Will you unbutton your blouse, at least two?”

            Hindi nakailag sa paningin ni Wrath ang kamay ni Kara na nangingnig habang binubuksan ang kanyang butones.

            “One is okay…” aniya ni Wrath upang pahintuin ito nang akmang aalisin pa ang pangalawa.

            Dahan-dahang dinampi ni Wrath ang chestpiece sa kanyang dibdib at pinakinggan ang paghinga nito.

            Tumingin si Wrath sa kanyang relo habang pinapakinggan ang pulso nito. Nang mapansin niyang bumibilis-nang bumibilis ito ay napatingin siya sa kanya na nakatulala lamang.

            “Hindi ka naman nahihilo?” tanong nito ngunit umiling ito kaagad.

            After a minute that lapse, Wrath moved away from her and went back to her seat.

            “Your heart beat just now is 150. We’ll see your ECG results for the diagnosis. In the meantime, you can go home and relax.”

            Kara grabbed onto her bag in attempt to stand up but the door suddenly opened which startled her.

            “You should have knocked, Adara. I’m with a patient…” aniya naman ni Wrath habang nagsusulat sa kanyang papel.

            “Sorry, Wrath.” Kibit-balikat na sabi lang naman nito sabay baba ng kanyang bag sabay ubo sa kama na para sa pasyente.

            “Greed is still with a patient wait until he finishes it.”

            Hindi rin maintindihan ni Kara kung bakit siya napahinto at hindi makagalaw.

            “Why is she wearing a face mask?” Kara asked Wrath who just finished writing.

            “She’s got asthma. She’s coughing…” pagkasabi naman ni Wrath no’n ay sunod-sunod naman ang pag-ubo nito.

            “Is it contagious? Hindi naman nakakahawa ang asthma, ah?”

            “Asthma is triggered by allergic reactions and she’s outside, where there are a lot of bacteria that causes allergy that she can inhale…” paliwanag naman ni Wrath. “She’s not wearing a facemask to protect people around her but she’s doing it for herself.”

            “Why does she have an asthma?” napatitig lamang si Kara habang namumula ang kanyang mga mata kay Adara.

            “She’s got weak lungs…” sagot naman ni Wrath sabay lumingon si Kara sa kanya na kinagulat naman ni Wrath lalo na nang makita niyang namuo ang luha sa mga mata nito.

            “Why are you crying!?” Wrath was startled a bit.

            “No. I’m just. I should go…” dali-dali namang umalis si Kara palabas ng clinic ni Wrath.

***