UNDERWATER | They, are sick to humanity.

Chapter 1: Experiment

ANALA KHAN

TO take care for patients, communicate with doctors—especially when comes to patient's need, and checking vital signs. That was including on nurse duties. I know. And I've been doing it for my whole life.

But this thing that going on the past weeks, is a shit.

Every night, hirap ako makatulog. Something haunting me. And it was the feeling of guilt. Nagagawa kong iligtas ang buhay ng mga tao, but for that creature, hindi ko magawa. I fucked up.

"That innocent creature,"

I was about to cry when the telephone rang. Halos manginig pa ang kamay ko na may hawak ng wine nang marinig 'yon. I set aside the wine at nagpunta sa living room.

I answer the call at naghintay na ito ang mauna magsalita.

"Nasa'n ka na? Hinahanap ka na dito."

Agad kong binaba ang tawag at napahawak nalang ako sa ulo. "Fuck."

Nagpunta ako sa shower room at wala akong gana sa pagligo—kahit naman sa ilang bagay na dati ko pang ginagawa, dahil sa tuwing naiisip ko ang bagay na 'yon, pakiramdam ko wala akong karapatan na sumaya.

I wear my whole white scrub uniform. Habang nakatayo ako sa harapan ng malaking salamin na nasa loob ng kwarto ko, ay hinawakan ko ang logo ng hospital na nasa gilid ng uniform ko.

"This will be my last duty." I said.

Habang nagmamaniho ay tinawagan ko naman ang kapatid kong si Kabir, and he answered it immediately. "Pahale se hee skool mein?" ["Already in school?"] I asked.

"Haan. Abhee-abhee aaen hain." [Yes. Just arrived."] He answered with very calm voice.

"Okay. Take care then." I was about to hang up when I remember the important thing I need to tell him. "And oh, when you get home, packed some of your clothes." I said.

"Why?" I feel the confusion on his voice. "Just do it." I said directly. "Okay, badee bahan." [Okay, elder sister."] He then end the call.

Kabir and I, are half Indian. Our mom married to an Indian man. They decided to live here on Cagayan de Oro City, as this was my mom's place. They passed away last year, dew to car accident.

I almost lost Kabir, dahil magkasama sila that night, while I was on a duty. Susunduin sana nila ako to celebrate my birthday. But that accident happened. Malala ang natamo ng mga magulang namin. Only Kabir survived.

I just arrived here on Northern Mindanao Medical Center, where I work as a registered nurse. This is a very well known public hospital in Cagayan de Oro City. Not just here in the city, but the whole region of Misamis Oriental.