Nursing the Billionaire

SIMULA SERAH'S POV The combination of white and light green wall welcomed my eyes while doctors and nurses are busy supervising their patients. The hospital staffs are busy as always. I walked towards the right wing so I can proceed to my office. Other staffs greeted me and I politely greeted them back. Napatigil lang ako sa aking paglalakad nang makitang naghihintay si Dr. Iphraim sa tapat ng pinto ng aking opisina. I glanced at my wristwatch and it is a surprise that he has visited me this early. Kadalasan kasi ay hindi siya tatapak dito sa hallway namin kung hindi pa nag-a-alas nuebe. "Good morning, Dr. Iphraim," I greeted him and flashed a simple smile. "Good morning too, Dr. Cortez," he greeted back. Mukhang importante ang pag-uusapan namin ah. Binuksan ko ang opisina ko at inaya siyang pumasok. I asked him to sit first as I reach for my white coat. Hindi ko pa naaayos ito ay nagsalita na siya. "I will be straightforward to you. There is no time to chitchat. I'm sorry. The director doesn't want you to take part of the operation," said Dr. Iphraim. Napatigil ako sa aking ginagawa. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Alam ko na agad kung ano at sino ang tinutukoy niya dahil ito ang pinagtalunan namin noong nakaraan. "Oh, come on! I already asked permission from him," I replied. I can barely continue giving attention to my coat. Nakatuon na ngayon ang mga mata ko kay Dr. Iphraim. Pinagtaasan niya ako ng kilay. "You are too confident last week. But it is an order from the board of the director to not let you operate." Wala akong ibang makita sa kanyang mga mata kundi determinasyon lamang. Minsan ko lang makitang seryoso ang lalaking ito. Sa ilang taon kong pagtatrabaho sa ospital na ito ay pangatlong beses ko pa lamang siyang makitang ganito kaseryoso kung tignan. "There must a mistake, Dr. Iphraim! I've known that kid since he got admitted to the hospital!" "What part of you being not allowed to be the surgeon of the patient can't you even understand?" he snorted out. My lips parted and I couldn't afford to talk back. We are in the same department but I know that among all the other doctors here, he is the most elusive person and is hard to get along with. "He is not your patient, that is the point. Although our superior has given you the permission to operate at first since you even want to put your name at stake, you are now excluded from the list of the doctors who have lined up to take full responsibility of the surgery," he said with a hint of ending this conversation. Nanghina ako. Hindi maaari. I've promised that kid that I will be his doctor! Papaanong nangyari ito? Lahat naman nila sinukuan ang batang iyon kasi sinasabi nilang walang pag-asa kahit pa matapos ang operasyon niya. Tapos ngayon na ako ang nagka-interes sa kaso niya ay ayaw ng director na ako ang mag-opera?! "That's all I want to say. I need to prepare for the operation. Excuse me," he excused himself and went out of my office. Napaupo ako sa aking swivel chair. Kung ang nakatataas na mismo ang may utos ay wala akong magagawa. Hindi ko lang maintindihan kung bakit biglang nagbago ang isip niya. Kinapalan ko na ang mukha ko noong nakaraan para lang humingi ng permiso sa director tapos ngayon ay babawiin niya? I hit the table with palm to direct my anger to it. Tumayo ako at determinadong dumalo sa operasyon ng bata. I fixed myself first before going out of my office. Napapatigil ang ibang nurse para lang panoorin akong tahakin ang operating room. Pero hindi pa ako nakakaabot sa pinto ay may humigit sa akin. Sinamaan ko ng tingin ang taong iyon. Pero nang makitang si Freya iyon ay umaliwalas ang mukha ko. "Are you out of your mind?! You can't get in there when you are not required to assist the surgeon!" singhal sa akin ni Freya. Mukhang alam na niya ang nangyayari. Sabagay, hindi naman kasi tago sa lahat ang paghamon ko kay Dr. Iphraim noong isang linggo. He was so annoying that he even tried to drop his patient just because the percentage of his survival is very low. Kaya ngayon ay mukhang napagalitan siya ng director at sa kanya hinulog ang pag-opera mismo sa batang iyon kaysa hayaan ako sa gusto ko. "I just want to make sure that the kid is fine," sagot ko sa kanya. "He is fine! Mike Iphraim is a doctor himself." She rolled her eyes to show that she is annoyed. Napabuntong hininga ako. Hindi ko alam kung bakit nakakaramdam ako ng kaba. Dr. Iphraim is one of the best doctors here in Mazarine International Hospital but I don't know why I feel somw negative vibes about him. Parang mali na sa kanya ipinagkatiwala ang bagay na ito. "I made a promise to that kid, Freya. If I can't operate then this will forever stain my pride and name." Sinubukan kong magpumiglas sa kanyang pagkakahawak. Hindi niya binitawan ang kamay ko at umiling-iling sa aking sinabi. Akala ko ay magtatalo kami. Pero wala akong nagawa nang higitin niya ako papalayo roon at dinala sa hamba ng pinto ng emergency room. Wala siyang iniwang salita at iniwan ako roon. I heaved a sigh and proceed to other patients in emergency room to divert my attention for some moment. Dr. Freya Wysteria is one of my best friends. I've known her for twelve years since I got here in Paris. We've met when I received my license and when we are both hired in this hospital. Simula noon ay hindi na kami mapaghiwalay. She is a good doctor and a very reliable one. "Have you checked his vital signs?" I asked the nurse as I approach a patient who is unconscious at this moment. "Yes, doc. Everything is stable." "What about his blood pressure?" "It's normal." "Even his body temperature?" The nurse said yes. My brow shot up. I glanced at the nurse. She smiled awkwardly. Sinuri ko ang lalaki at idinampi ang likod ng aking palad sa kanyang balat. Normal nga ang kanyang body temperature. I even check his pulse and it's not showing any signs of illness or something. I even tried to crouch for a bit to smell if he is smoking or not. He is very fine! "Doc, he just won't go home. He's been here for days even if we told him that he is healthy, he won't believe us," nahihiya niyang sambit. I stood up straight. This man better got his valid reason or else I will drag her out of this hospital bed. Napatingin ako sa entrance ng emergency room. Anim na pasyente ang sunod-sunod na ipinasok sa loob. Ibinalik ko ang aking mga mata sa lalaki at sinubukan itong gisingin. Pero ayaw niyang bumangon. "Sir, you need to get up now. There are other patients who need to lie on that hospital bed. Your eyelashes and eyelids are slightly moving. Thus, you are awake," I said with my bored tone. "Call the guards and get him out of here," baling ko sa isa sa mga nurses. "Serah, here!" pagkuha ni Smith sa aking atensyon. Pupuntahan ko na sana siya pero bigla akong hinawakan ng lalaki sa aking kamay. Napatingin ako sa kanya. When he saw my cold look, he immediately withdraw his hand. "I'm sorry for the trouble," he said sincerely. "Serah!" Hindi ko na nga lang siya nasagot dahil kinailangan kong puntahan ang ibang pasyente. I spent hours in the emergency room supervising the patients. Muntik nang mawala sa isip ko ang operasyon ng batang pinangakuan ko. Halos takbuhin ko na ang pagitan ng operating room at emergency room. Tapos na ang operasyon sa ganitong oras. Naabutan kong nagsisilabasan ang ibang nurse, si Dr. Embree at sunod si Dr. Iphraim. Agad kong nilapitan si Dr. Iphraim. "How's the operation?" bagot kong tanong. As usual, he just gave me his cold look and didn't even answer my question. Agad siyang umalis roon habang ang iba ay napapailing-iling. "Dr. Cortez… I know how badly you tried to appeal to the director to take part of this operation. But I think the result will still be the same since his condition has worsened," Dr. Embree said and showed me her sad reaction. Lumakas ang pagtibok ng puso ko lalo na nang napatungo siya. Nakaramdam ako ng kaba. "The kid didn't survive…" dagdag pa niya. Para akong pinagsakluban ng langit at lupa. Nagsitindigan ang balahibo ko sa katawan. Akala ko ay nabingi ako. Akala ko ay guni-guni ko lamang iyon. Kusang nagsipatakan ang mga luha ko sa aking pisngi. Hindi ko magawang i-absorb ang kanyang sinabi! Nanghina ako at nanginig ang aking mga tuhod kaya napaupo ako sa sahig. The nurses tried to get me up. "You gave him so much hope. He tried to fight and hold on but his heart couldn't just keep up. You know that his condition is rare for someone who is as young as he is." Hindi ko magawang pansinin ang mga sinasabi ni Dr. Embree. Pakiramdam ko ay hindi ako makarinig nang maayos. I've studied his condition. I even consulted some doctors so that I can perform well in his operation. But I can't blame anyone. I just feel guilty because I didn't even try my best to save him! He was a young boy who is full of dream, happiness, positivity, and energy. He was part of my source of happiness too. And now… he didn't even get the chance to show the world his sweetest smile. What's more painful than that for someone who wishes to be heard and to be seen by the world itself? The patient has a rare condition. He is suffering from a bundle branch block. Bundle branch block is a condition in which there is a delay or obstruction along the pathway that electrical impulses travel to make your heart beat. Bundle branch block is more common in older adults than in people who are middle-aged. But since his family has a history of being exposed to heart disease and some chronic conditions, he is more likely to adopt this condition at a very young age. I was so sure that a pacemaker or a cardiac resynchronization can save him. I was so sure that he will survive as long as I will be the one to lead the operation. But I have broke my promise to him. I will regret this forever! "You can go now, I will attend to her." Nabalik lang ako sa aking huwesyo nang marinig ang malumanay na boses ni Freya. Hindi ko namalayan na nakaupo na pala kami sa waiting area. Nakaalis na ang ibang mga tao. The hallway is so silent that only my loud breathing can be heard from this spot. "Hush now, Serah. It's not your fault. You did everything you can," Freya comforted me. Mas lalong bumuhos ang aking mga luha. Niyakap ko nang mahigpit si Freya at saka ko pa lang napakawalan ang hikbing kanina ko pa pinipigilan. Mas sumakit ang dibdib ko. Masakit kapag itinatago ang pag-iyak. Hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili ko na mas lalong tumangis gayong para na rin akong nawalan. I've lost part of my happiness and my pride as a doctor. "I know that you are sad about what happened or maybe you are blaming yourself about it. But everything happens for a reason... He fought until the end. He did a great job, you did a great job too. I'm sure that kid is grateful because at least you tried. It's just that you are not meant to fulfill your promise to him..." Mas lalong lumakas ang pag-iyak ko. Hindi na bago sa akin ang ganitong pangyayari. I have been devastated for so many times because I grieved for all the patients I have who have fallen in a deep slumber. Pero hindi madali para sa akin ang makabawi lalo na kung may binitawan akong salita sa kanila. I live with my passion, pride, and dignity. And now, I think it will take some time again to heal…