More Than Anything (Absinthe Series 4)

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Hello! This is the Wakas of More Than Anything. Thank you for patiently waiting! Salamat at nakaabot kayo sa dulo ng kwentong ito! Let's see each other again in the next installment mga mahal ko! 💜

W a k a s

Growing up, I've always think that I was being punished. Palaging napapagalitan at napagbubuntunan ng sisi dahil hindi nagagawa ang responsibilidad bilang anak at nakatatandang kapatid. I thought that I was loved less by my mother.

Sa paglipas ng taon, simula nang may malaman ako tungkol sa pagkatao ko, napuno ako ng galit at takot. Galit dahil bakit kailangang ako pa at sa pamilya ko pa. Takot dahil kapag nalaman ng iba kung saan ako nanggaling, alam kong marami ang manghuhusga. Marami ang magbubunton ng sisi sa akin kung bakit simula noon naging miserable ang buhay ni Mama.

I became selfish. I hurt my mom, even my siblings. Kahit na si Papa na naging mabait sa akin matapos ang lahat ay alam kong nasasaktan din sa ginagawa ko. I wish I could be like him. I always wish that somehow, I could be as selfless as him.

Marami akong naging rason. I've hurt people because I always think about myself. Palaging nakikita ko lang ang sarili sa mga kapahamakan na hindi ko alam na may mga tao din palang naaapektuhan sa mga desisyong nagagawa ko.

I thought I couldn't find my home. Not until him. Not until Crithos came.

We practically grew up together but I never imagined that I would fall for someone like him. Someone who's younger than me. Someone whom I've never dreamed of.

Nakakatawang isipin pero may mga bagay talagang kahit anong pangarap natin ay hinding-hindi natin makukuha. Because God knows what's best for us. Hindi porke't pinangarap natin, may magandang dulot na sa atin. Sometimes, it's better to keep it as a dream. Something to be inspired of kasi mas higit pa ang ibibigay ng Diyos sa atin.

Funny how I speak of Him now but it's true. God works in such wonders that we couldn't see. That we wouldn't expect. At sa tanang buhay ko, ngayon ko lang nakita iyon—ngayon ko lang napagtanto.

"We have a patient at 714. His name's Carlos Reyes, 74. Kailangang i-attend mo iyon because he seriously had a bad knee injury." I nodded on what my co-worker said. We were stationed at the Orthopedic unit and it's my night shift.

Yes, I got my work now. Hindi man sa dating ospital pero nakakita naman ako nang mas magandang pasilidad para sa aking propesyon. It feels like coming back to where I started. At mas gusto ko ang mga tao ngayon dito.

"You might have a quiet night after all," ang sabi niya sa akin na tinawanan ko lang. On some nights, totoo ngang tahimik lang ang shift ko. Nabubulabog lang kapag seryosong emergency call ang nagaganap.

I gathered the reports on every patient and performed some assessments. It was quiet a good hour. Gusto ko sanang tumawag kay Crithos kaya lang baka tulog pa iyon at maaga pa sa kung nasaan sila.

They were back again for a concert in London. Si Talia ay excited na manuod dahil nakakuha siya ng tickets at winagayway pa talaga sa akin. I told her I could get her a VIP ticket from Crithos kung gusto niyang malapitan ito at hampasin ng cymbals.

My eyes were drooping when 2 am passed. Nagising lang nang makitang umiilaw ang signal light mula sa room 714. It was from Mr. Reyes. Kanina ay nagreklamo rin ito sa sakit ng tuhod pero hindi naman malala.

I got another of his medications from the dispensary before I made my way to his room. Sa pagbukas pa lang ng pinto ay nakita ko na ang balisang mukha ng pasyente. I asked him about the intensity of his pain and where it was located.