Medical Mission

      "ARE you sure you're going to join the medical mission in Mount Arayat, darling?" Tanong ni Mommy for the fourth time.

I am here in her office after I discovered there will be a medical mission for one week for the indigenous community in Mount Arayat, Pampanga. Since I was in college, nakagawian ko na talaga ang sumali sa mga medical mission para tumulong sa mga nangangailangan.

When I went to the States, hindi ako nakapag attend ng mga medical mission dahil naging busy ako sa medschool. Ngayong ganap na akong doctor, I want to continue what I've started.

I feel like I was born to help other people.

"Yes, Mom. I really wanted to join the medical mission this year. 1 week lang naman 'yon, mommy. You know how much I love helping indigenous people, right? So, please let me join this one," I heard her sigh before she pushed the form in front of me.

"Fine. Go, write your name in the list." I beamed and quickly scanned the written names that would be volunteering in the medical mission.

Iilan lang ang kakilala kong nakasulat sa form dahil hindi kami pare-pareho ng department. Nevertheless, I'm eager to meet and work with all of them.

I was smiling while writing my name on the form. "Thank you, Dra. Altamirano," I giggled when Mom just shook her head at me.

"Sige na, Dra. Kelsea you may now go back to your office," Nakangiting sabi ni Mommy kaya hinalikan ko na siya sa pisngi bago lumabas at dumiretso sa A&E ward.

I'm in a good mood until the end of my shift. Dahil maganda ang mood ko ay bumili ako ng isang tub ng ice cream sa may convience store. I got home safely and parked my car in the garage. Pumasok na ako sa loob ng bahay at naabutan si Reeve na pinapakain sina Beau at Scout.

"I'm home," I announced while changing my shoes into regular slippers.

When his head turned in my direction, I quickly flashed a subtle smiled at him. "Wife. . ." His face brighten when our eyes met. "How's your day at work? Ang aga mo umuwi, 'ah?" Tanong niya nang makatayo siya. 

I waved my hands at the dogs and pouted when they only wiggled their tail at me, still eating in their bowl. I looked back at him. "My shift was great. How about yours?" I replied casually.

"Mine was alright," he answered dryly.

"Nice," I commented wryly. "I bought an ice cream pala." Inabot ko sa kanya 'yong ice cream tub na binili ko. "I'll take a shower first before we eat dinner," He said alright and nodded, so I went straight to our room for a night shower since I just came home from the hospital. 

After about twenty minutes, I finished showering and sauntered downstairs wearing my lavender pajamas. Eating breakfast and dinner together became our routine since we started living in the same abode.

Naabutan kong nakaayos na ang lahat sa dining table at tanging ako na lang ang hinihintay.  I sat in my usual chair and proceeded to put food on Reeve's plate. On daily basis, he always serve my plate first before his, ngayon gusto kong siya naman ang ipagsandok ko.

He looked so stunned because of my action, but I only gave him a subtle smile before I slid his plate in front of him. "Here's your food," sabi ko.

"What's gotten into you, wife?" His brows slightly raised as he was looking at me with suspicion.

I chuckled lightly, shaking my head. "Nothing. Can't I serve my husband?" I stated, causing his lips to slightly opened. Mukhang hindi niya inaasahan na 'yon ang sasabihin ko. 

He cocks an eyebrow, but I see the smile he tries to bite back.

Kinikilig ba siya?

I bit my lip at that thought. Tumingin ako sa kanya, and gestured the foods. "Let's eat," He just nodded, but the light aura of his face stayed.

Habang kumakain, naisipan kong buksan ang topic tungkol sa medical mission namin. Pwede ko naman hindi sabihin sa kanya ang tungkol doon, but I feel like he needs to know about it because somehow, I don't want him to get worried about me.

"Reeve. . ." I called his name and looked in his direction. "I would like to inform you that I won't go home for one week—"

Napakurap-kurap ako nang isawsaw niya ang hawak na drumpstick sa garlic sauce at bahagya pang nagkaroon ng sauce ang daliri niya.

He slowly licked the sauce in his fingers before his eyes shifted to me. Napainom ako ng tubig as I closed my legs firmly when I felt my body temperature elevated.

"Are you okay, wife?" he asked softly. "What were you saying again?" He wipes the side of his lips using the table napkin.

Shit! He looks so sexy doing that!

I cleared my throat and composed myself. "Just like what I said earlier, I would like to inform you that I won't go home for one week—"

He lowered his glass with force. "Why?" The light aura on his face was gone. His gaze returned to being hardened and stern.

Napalunok ako. "We have a medical mission in Pampanga for one week," I kept my tone as relaxed as possible.

I glance at him, who turned awfully quiet. I bit my lips when I heard him sighed. "Will you be okay? Do you really need to be there for a week?"

"I'll be fine, alright? I'll text you naman, 'eh. Saka sa Pampanga lang naman 'yon." I chirp, lightening the mood with a smile.

He took another sigh before he reached for my hands and held them. "Just don't forget to text me, alright? Don't make me worry, wife," he emphasizes his every word.

I squeezed his hand. "Noted," I nodded obediently.

TODAY is the day where we're going to Mount Arayat in Pampanga for our medical mission. Isang mini bus ang sasakyan namin kaya hindi na ako magdadala ng sasakyan sa hospital, instead, Reeve insisted to drop me off at the hospital.

Reeve softly looked at me. "Alagaan mo ang sarili mo doon, and don't forget to text me, alright?" He held my hand and slightly squeeze it.

"48. . ." I said, grinning.

His brows knotted together. "What?"

I lifted my chin in defiance. "You've said that 48 times since last night!" I blurted out.

He cocks an eyebrow as the corner of his lips lifts up, forming a soft grin. "Go, make me proud, my surgeon," He whispered before he snaked his hands on my waist, hugging me.

Doc RJ, the senior physician, gave a twenty-minute orientation talk before we started transiting for our two hours journey up the mountain of Arayat, Pampanga. After the orientation, he introduced each one of us to each other since we came from different departments.

Apat kaming license physician na nag-volunteer; two were surgeons, which includes me, two internal medicine doctors, four registered nurses, two licensed dentists, and two dentistry students. The rests were five nursing students.

The whole trip was a hassle because the road was bumpy, but this kind of trip was worth it, especially when the reason was good.

We arrived in one of the barangay in Arayat, Pampanga, just before dinner, and we were immediately greeted by Conrado, the barangay captain of their barangay. Conrado and some of his tanod prepared food for us in his humble abode to welcome us to their barangay.

"Maraming salamat po at ang baranggay namin ang napili niyong tulongan," magalang na sambit ni Kapitan Conrado.

"Trabaho namin bilang mga doktor ang tumulong sa mga taong nangangailangan," sambit naman ni Doc RJ.

"Maraming salamat po, doc. . . Kumain na po muna kayo bago ko kayo ihatid sa mga tutuluyan niyo," sabi ni Kapitan Conrado.

After eating, captain conrado and his brgy tanod walked us to our house for one week. Dalawang mini bungalow house 'yon na may tig-tatlong kwarto. Dahil masyado kaming marami, kailangan naming magtabi-tabi sa bawat kwarto pero apat na tao lamang ang maaaring sumakop sa bawat silid.

We insisted that the others can stay in the living room but Captain Conrado opposed it. Nakakahiya raw kasi kung hindi kama ang hihigaan ng mga doctor na tutulong sa barangay nila. Thankfully, One of the tanod offered the tiny house of his daughter who's working in Manila.

"Guys, let's all rest up!" sabi ni Doc RJ. "Bukas ang call time natin ay 7AM sa may covered court." aniya at tinuro pa 'yong covered court na walking distance lang sa mga bahay na tutuluyan namin.

"Yes, doc!" The juniors answered in unison.

"Dra. Kelsea, ayos lang ba talaga kung doon ka sa tiny house matutulog?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Doc RJ.

I nodded, and gave him a comfort smile. "I'm fine with it, doc."

The tiny house where I will stay for one week is not far from where my coworkers will stay. Tatlong bahay lang naman ang pagitan namin. Sinamahan ako ni kuyang tanod sa bahay na tutuluyan ko bago siya nagpaalam na babalik na sa barangay hall.

The house was under 500 square feet. May sariling kwarto, katamtamang laking banyo, living room, maliit na kusina ang bahay. The whole house doesn't have much stuff, but everything I need except food is here. Most of the furniture was made of wood except for the sofa.

We will stay here for one week, and I'm excited to explore the beauty of Pampanga. Maganda at masarap sa balat ang simoy ng hangin dahil maraming puno at mga palayan na nakapalibot sa lugar. Good thing I brought my Antihistamine spray in case I need it for my pollen allergy.

AROUND 5 AM, when I woke up and the first thing I did was to drink water and do yoga before I took a shower. I wear my denim high-waisted pants and simple salmon ruffles blouse. I did light makeup on my face and sprinkled my favorite perfume before I went out to eat breakfast.

"Good morning," binati ko lahat ng mga madadaanan ko.

Naglakad ako papunta doon sa wooden table kung saan nakalagay 'yong mga packed food namin. Nandoon 'yong mga kasamahan kong kumakain na.

"Good morning, Dra. Kelsea," unang bumati sa akin si Dra. Santos na isang internal medicine doctor.

"Doc, baka gusto niyo po ng Coffee," One of the nurses handed me a cup of coffee.

"Good morning, dra. Santos," I greeted her. "Thank you, Nurse Mary." I smiled.

Binati ko rin 'yong iba pang kumakain doon at umupo na sa mahabang upuan na gawa sa kahoy. Sabay-sabay kaming kumain ng almusal habang nagkukwentuhan.  I'm delighted because even though they were a little timid towards me, they still spoke to me.

"Good morning, heroes! Doctors, Nurses, are you ready? After having breakfast, prepare all the medical supplies," Doc RJ came with a coffee in his hand.

"Yes, Doc!" The juniors answered in unison.

I have my medical bag with me when I went to the covered court na walking distance lang mula sa maliit na bahay kung saan kumain ng almusal. Exactly, 8 AM when we started the medical mission.

My first patient is a little boy that I think is around 3 or 4 years old. He was accompanied by his mother, who stayed by his side.

I smiled widely at him before I looked up at his mom. "I'm Doctora Kelsea, a pediatric Surgeon. And this is Nurse Elaine, my assistant." I did a short introduction.

"Hello po, dra." The mother greeted me, and I smiled back.

"Hi, baby, anong pangalan mo?" I asked while looking at the kid.

"Aaron po," He coughed between his answer. I turned my head at his mom na nag-aalalang nakatingin sa anak.

"Ilang araw na po siyang inuubo?" I asked as I approached the kid with a smile to check the sound of his heart and his lungs using my stethoscope.

"Apat na araw na po, Dra. Bigla na lang po siya inubo kahit hindi naman siya palakain ng malalamig at matatamis."

I placed my stethoscope on his back. "Umiinom ba ng vitamins si Aaron? Bukod sa vitamins ay mahalaga pong nakakainom siya ng anim hanggang walong basong tubig kada araw. . ."

"Umiinom naman po siya ng tubig, dra. 'Yong vitamins po ay hindi po madalas dahil wala naman po kaming pambili," Suddenly, her voice cracked.

I sighed and went back to my chair. "I'll give Aaron vitamins and cough syrup for his cough." I turned to Nurse Elaine, who was attentively listening. "Nurse Elaine, the Prescription slip and pen, please. . ." Mabilis naman niya akong binigyan ng mga kailangan ko.

I started writing on the slip. "Sa biyernes po ay bumalik kayo dito sa covered court para sa pangalawang check up ni Aaron." I handed the prescription slip to Nurse Elaine.

"Ascorbic Acid with zinc and Ambroxol." She read what was written in the slip. "Tara po, ibibigay ko po iyong mga gamot ni Aaron," Nagpasalamat ang mag-ina sa akin bago sila sumama kay Nurse Elaine. Naghintay naman ako ng panibagong pasyente para sa araw na 'to.

Nang maglunch ay panandalian natigil ang program. May mga pagkain silang ibinigay sa amin kaya malaki ang pasasalamat naming lahat.

I asked for a photo with the other medical volunteers and uploaded it on my Instagram. I also took random pictures of the view.

After ng lunch break ay nagpatuloy na ulit kami sa pagtanggap ng mga pasyente hanggang sa matapos ang unang araw namin at nagsimula na kaming magligpit. It was a tiring day that everybody just headed straight to each local houses after we had dinner.

DAYS went by, and today is our fourth day here in Arayat, Pampanga. Nakakapagtataka na makitang nagkakagulo sa labas especially sa covered court. 

My eyebrows knotted when I spotted two pickup trucks and a familiar black mercedes benz in front of the court. The people, whether young or old, are lined up inside the court as if there's a celebrity inside.

"Doc! Good moning po," sabay-sabay na bati sa'kin ng mga student nurse nang makita nila akong papalapit sa pwesto nila.

My lips peal a smile. "Good morning. . . What's happening in the court? May artista ba? Bakit ang daming tao sa loob?"

They glanced at each other before they turned at me, smiling. "Hindi po artista pero mukha pong artista! They're having feeding program po,"

My heart melts at that thought. "Really?"

"Opo, dra. . . May feeding program po sa covered court,"

"Oh," namangha naman ako. "Should we help them?" I asked.

"Sige po, dra. . ." 

We sauntered inside the covered court, and the first thing I saw was the logo of the food container they were holding. I squinted my eyes as my lips parted when I saw the name on the lid of a silver foil container, Zuriel's Lès Aromès.

"What the hell is he doing here?!" I murmured to myself while my eyes stapled on the tall tan skin man in the middle of the covered court.

Maraming tao sa basketball court, but he still managed to stand out. It was because of his exceptional physique. His masculine body and height is an attention stealer kaya hindi na nakakapagtataka kung bakit ang mga mata ng mga tao ay halos lumuwa na habang nakatingin sa kanya.

Sa simpleng ngiti na iginagawad niya sa mga matatandang ginang ay halos mamilipit na tila maiihi na sa kilig. I pursed my lips while watching all the girls, Including gays and even guys ogling at him. Mukhang hindi lang ang free breakfast na handog ni Reeve ang gusto nilang kainin, kung hindi pati siya.

When his amber eyes flickered into mine, my stomach twirled, and my heart started pounding. Parang kuminang ang mga mata niya bago nagpaalam sa mga kausap para lapitan ako.

My eyes almost bulged out of my skull as I froze in my spot when he sauntered towards our direction. . . My direction! My subconscious instantly panic. Shit, No! Don't come near me!

"Hala, doc! Nakatingin sayo si pogi!" One of the nursing students exclaimed.

"Papalapit siya dito, dra! Ang gwapo at ang tangkad!"

 Huli na para makapagreact ako dahil nakalapit na siya sa amin. He was all smile in front of us. Oh, God!

"Hi everyone," he greeted my colleagues before he turned at me. His eyes were glowing, and I don't have an idea why!

"W-What are you doing here?" I drawled still in shocked, seeing him here.

"Surprise, wife," he whispered, caressing my hair and tucking some stray hairs in the back of my ears. "For the last 72 hours, 540 minutes, 76500 seconds, I've missed you."

I feel my heartbeat quicken. "W-What?"

"I can't bare another day without you, wife. I'm going crazy if I won't see you today," he said tenderly as his thumb stroked my cheeks.

Bahagya akong lumayo at tumitig sa kanya. "How did you find out that I am exactly here?" Mahinang tanong ko.

"I've asked your talkative nurse friend," I gasped.

Nurse Eva!

"Doctora, magkakilala po pala kayo ni pogi?!" One of the volunteer Nurse asked.

"Hi, heroes! Oh, we have a visitor! Dra. Kelsea, ipakilala mo naman kung sino 'tong gwapong lalaking 'to," biglang dumating si Dra. Tanyag, one of the internal medicine doctor.

I fake a laugh. This kind of situation is really inescapable, and I should be used to it right now since ilang beses na nangyari 'to, but still hindi pa rin ako masanay-sanay!

I swallowed a lump in my throat. "This is Reeve. . ." I trailed off. "He's my—"

"I'm her future husband," I quickly cocked my head to his side when he cut me off from speaking.

"Fiance po kayo ni doctora?" Tanong naman ni Dr. Lyndon, one of the volunteer dentist.

"Soon. . ." he answered. "For now, we're still getting to know each other. . . But I'll make sure that our last destination will be at the church." He was saying each word while his eyes were glued to me.

His words sent the butterflies in my stomach into a racket. "Are you crazy? What are you saying, Reeve?" Pasimple kong bulong sa kanya.

He wrapped his arm around my shoulders, which made me stiffen. Kinikilig naman na nakatingin sa amin 'yong mga kasamahan ko, but I don't feel the kilig they were feeling. I don't know why I don't feel any sparks with him, siguro dahil sa tingin ko sobrang bilis ng mga pangyayari.

"I want to get to know you more, wife. That's why I came here to personally ask you.  .  ."

"Do you really need to come here for that?" I muffled through gritted teeth. "And can you please remove your hands on my shoul—" hindi na ako natapos sa pagsasalita nang putulin niya ang mga susunod kong sasabihin.

"Can I court you, Kelsea?" he whispered, causing my jaw to hinged.

© Fushia