"I'm sorry, I'm late."
"No worries, Dra. Hindi pa naman kami nag-uumpisa." Sabi ni Dra. Malesi
Nakahinga pa ako ng maluwag dahil sa sinabi niyang yon. Nakakainis naman kasi at bigla biglang pinatawag pa ako ni Prof Z kanina. Hindi pa nakatulong na dumagdag pa ang traffic papunta dito sa ospital.
"So, what do we have here Dra? Why did you call for an urgent meeting?"
"Do you remember your two-gunshot wound patient? The man in uniform who got in two days ago."
"Yes, Dra. He will be discharged the next day because of his fathers wish." I can still remember how intimidating his father was that day.
"Yes. That was General Zeri Lemireo, the Commanding Officer of the 33rd and 34th Infantry Battalion. The patient is his second son, 1st Lt. Phoenix Lemireo."Dra. Malesi said. As if I care.
"What about them Dra.?" I smiled and act politely kahit wala naman akong pakialam sakanila. Having a connection with a soldier will not do me any good. Ikapapahamak ko pa yon kung sakali.
"General Lemireo alongside his youngest 2nd Lt. Andrei Lemireo asked if we can send some doctors to assist them during their operation. I know that this is a risky task pero sabi naman nila na hindi tayo mapapahamak dahil hindi naman tayo sasabak sa mismong battlefield."
"Isn't the job of the military doctors?"
"Yes, it is. Kaso kulang ang bilang nila ngayon. They are still in the process of recruiting more doctors. They told me that you will be around 10 kilometers away from the battlefield. Dun nila ipupunta lahat ng nasugatan o nabaril na mga sundalo. Your safety is ensured, dont worry."
Safety? Mapro-protektahan nga ba kami ng mga nakatokang sundalo don habang nakikipaglaban ang iba nilang kasamahan? Well, safety is not the issue here. Kung wala lang akong tinatagong trabaho, papayag naman ako kaso iba to. I shouldn't be affiliated to anyone in the military.
"Pag-iisipan ko po, Dra."
"Okay, I wish I could say take your time in such situations like this. Unfortunately, soldiers are just like us. Every second is important. You only have until tomorrow morning to decide. The operation will take place two days from now."
"Yes, Dra. I do understand."
Tumango na lang siya. "You may take your leave then."
"Yes, Dra." Tumayo at umalis na lang ako sa meeting room na yon.
I should really talk to Prof Z.
To: Prof Z
Prof. This is Dalari AZ 007. We have to talk.
When I hit send. Ilang segundo lang ang binilang ko nang magreply kaagad si Prof.
From: Prof Z
I know your problem, just agree on what she said. Basta wag kang magpapahalata. We need another eye in the military.
Kakaiba talaga tong matandang to. Alam kaagad.
I was about to reply when someone spoke.
"Doktora" Sabi ng isang lalaking naka unipormeng pansundalo.
It took me a second to realize who he was. "Oh, hi! Andrei Lemireo, right?" I smiled. Tamang plastikan lang naman talaga.
He chuckled. And for a second I can't help but to like his smile.
"Buti naalala mo pa ako, Dra. I expected that you would ask for my name but you didn't. I'm quite surprised."
"I only met you two days ago, so I remembered who you are. Brother of the two-gunshot wound patient right?"
Natawa ulit siya. "Ganyan ba talaga ang code names niyo sa mga pasyente niyo? Base sa dahilan kung bat sila nandito? Funny but weird."
"Hindi naman. That's just how I call my patients, mas madali kong tandaan kung sino."
"Oh, I see. By the way, pwede na ba naming ilabas ang kapatid ko ngayong araw din lang?"
It seems that they are in a rush. Ganto ba talaga ang mga sundalo?
"Sir Lemireo, I do understand that soldiers like you are needed in your designated areas but unfortunately this is only his second day after the operation. I know, sabi ko one-two weeks but when I checked his records a while ago, we found out that there were some bullet fragments inside his brain. Hindi lang namin ito nacheck kaagad dahil inuna naming pagtu-unan ng pansin ang dalawang bala sa katawan niya.
I think I shook the shit out of him. Nakita ko ang pagtataka sa mukha niya.
"What do you mean bullet fragments in his head, Dra.? Sa pagkaka-alam ko, sa balikat at paa natamaan ang kuya ko."
I was on my way to my office to check some paper works when Dr. Lazaro stopped me midway.
"Dra. I think you should see this." Dr. Lazaro told me. Napahinto naman ako ng makita ang isang CT Scan.
"It's a bullet." I said while looking at the scan. While analyzing I asked. "Whose patient is this?"
"Yours, Dra." Napahinto naman ako at napatingin sakaniya. As far as I can remember, I'm not handling any patient that has some problems in their brain.
"Mine? Sino sakanila?"
"The soldier we operated."
And that got me curious.
"Yes, doon nga. But when Dr. Lazaro asked him if we can do a whole body CT Scan, he agreed. Dun lang naming nakita na may bullet fragments nga sa ulo niya."
He was still in shocked. Yeah, I get that a lot. Ganto ang reaksyon ng mga taong pinagsasabihan ko ng bad news tungkol sa pasyente.
"Dra., does he know about this?
"Yes, sinabi ko yun kaagad sakaniya after I found out the results. Ang alam ko sinabi na niya sainyo, that's why I said it already. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to tell it first."
Bakas pa din ang gulat sa mukha niya but that changed into worry.
"S-sige po doc. Puntahan na lang po natin siya don."
Mabilis lang din kaming nakarating sa kwarto kung san naroon si Phoenix. When we entered, four pair of eyes met us. It feels like they were judging us not individually but as partners. Okay, not that word. Partners? Really Qads? Ayan na yang naisip mo?
I cleared my throat. "Ahhmm—since you are all here, I suppose, you already know. Did you tell them, Sir Phoenix?"
Tumango siya. "Yes, Dra."
"Okay, then. Did you already decide kung kailan natin gagawin ang operation?"
Sumabat ang tatay nila. "Can we have it now, Dra? I'm willing to pay how much it might cost basta matapos na lang to."
I'm shocked by that. Di ko inaasahan yun ah. It sounds like a general demanding rather than a father asking.
"W-we can have it scheduled right away sir." Nautal pa ako.
"I will just inform our neurosurgeon. I'll have someone update you once the OR is already ready."
YOU ARE READING
Our Own Secret Mysteries (Ranger Series #1)
RomanceAndrei Zyie Lemireo. The youngest in the team. He is part of the Philippine Army under the Scout Rangers. A military operation almost took his life but someone saved him and because of that, he only had one goal.... To find who saved him that night...
