Brave Hearts

Kabanata 17

Kabanata 17

Living life and fighting for it isn't easy as it seems, walang kasiguraduhan ang lahat ng bagay. Hindi lahat nabibigyan ng privilege na maging may kaya at maging masarap ang buhay. Ni wala ngang sino mang sigurado na magigising pa sa susunod na araw.

Life is full of challenges, uncertainties and failures. It's full of risks, na minsan kahit walang kasiguraduhan ay kailangan mong sumugal sa mga bagay. I almost failed when my mother died but I didn't let that failure overcome my goals for her and myself.

Kasi...how will you know you'll succeed if you won't fail? Kapag ba nadapa ka ay mananatili kang lugmok at hindi tatayo? Will you let the simple scrap on your knees disable your ability to walk?

No, gamutin mo at kahit mahirap, muling maglakad kahit paunti-unti. Baby steps are still steps, no matter how long those steps would take, if you won't stop climbing then you'll reach the top.

No matter what happened, I trusted the process and now, kahit wala ang Nanay, alam ko sa sarili kong proud siya sa naabot ko.

"Lia, ikaw muna roon sa customer." Nawala ang atensyon ko sa ni-re-record na mga gamot nang tawagin ako ng co-pharmacist ko.

"Sure," I smiled, tumayo ako at sinarado ang prescription book bago hinawi ang diretsong buhok bago tumungo sa counter.

"Hi, Ma'am, good morning." I flashed a small smile.

"Hello, good morning. Kukunin ko na sana ang lahat dito." Aniya at nag-abot ng prescription.

I took it, binasa bago nagtipa sa computer tungkol sa mga gamot. Kumuha ako ng maliit na basket at tumungo sa may counter para kunin ang mga kailangan niya bago ibinigay sa kanya.

"Nice naman si Miss Summa Cum laude!" bigla na akong napatawa nang makita ang Senior Pharmacist ko na kararating lang.

"Hi, Ma'am. Good morning." I chuckled.

"Congrats sa graduation mo no'ng sabado, Lia!" she cheered. "Ang bait mo naman at pumapasok ka pa rin, I assume the offers for your internships are overflowing?"

Nag-init ang pisngi ko at nahihiyang umiling, "hindi naman po."

"Asus! Pa-humble!" tawa niya at sumandal sa may counter kaya natawa na rin ako roon.

"I'm still looking into it, Ma'am." Sagot ko. "I'm eyeing an offer from a large hospital for the internship bago mag-boards, I will consult my professors muna for now."

"Hmm, I'm so proud of you." She smiled softly at me and I felt happy too, this place is almost my home too, ilang taon din akong naging pharmacist dito sa kasagsagan ng med school ko. They treated me like family too.

"Thank you, Ma'am. Thank you rin for treating me like a family here." I said.

"Oh, silly, pamilya tayong lahat dito!" aniya kaya natawa ako roon at tumango sa kanya. "I'm just sad that you have to go lesser here for your internship."

"Nandito naman po ako ng isa o dalawang beses sa isang linggo, don't worry, Ma'am." I chuckled at her. "Kailangan lang kasi talagang mag-intern, isa pa, the hospitals are looking good. Sana makakuha kaagad ako ng trabaho kapag nakuha ang lisensya."

"Oo naman, ikaw pa ba!" she exclaimed, looking so proud at me. "You are one of a kind, Lia. You are so brave and resourceful too, plus the skills!"

My heart felt warm while listening to her, para siyang si Nanay kaya ngumiti ako.

"Maraming salamat, Ma'am." I said gratefully.

Natigil lang kaming dalawa nang may marinig na sigaw.