Epilogue

“Urayta, Uttley, Uvegas...” Takip-takip ko ngayon ang aking tainga habang binabasa ni Ate Trixie ‘yung results ng Physician Licensure Examination.

“OMG!” Mas lalo kong tinakpan ang tainga ko dahil sa tili nito. Ayokong marinig ‘yung binabasa niya, at the same time ay gusto ko ring marinig kung ano iyon.

Darn. Nakakabaliw pala kapag results na ng board examination ang pinag-uusapan. So sobrang lakas ng pintig ng puso ko, parang gusto nitong lumabas anytime sa katawan ko.

“Meg!” Sinubukang tanggalin ni Ate ang mga kamay sa tainga ko at niyugyog pa nito ng ilang beses ang katawan ko.

“You’re now a doctor, Meg! You passed the board exam!” My eyes grew bigger because of her announcement and I quickly took the phone in her hand to make sure if she’s really telling the truth.

I browsed her phone with trembling hand and with heart thumping so fast, mas lalo pang nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita ko nga roon ang pangalan ko. Binasa ko pa iyon ng ilang beses at tinignan kung same ba ‘yung spelling no’n sa pangalan ko.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaah!” I screamed loudly when I realized that it was really me. “Aaaaaaaaaaaah!” I screamed again, now jumping on the couch. Maging si Ate rin ay nakikisigaw na rin sa akin.

Gosh, I can’t believe this! Doctor na ako!

“What’s with the scream? Is everything okay?” Nahinto kami ni Ate sa katitili nang magsidatingan ang parents namin maging ang mga kasambahay.

Tumalon ako pababa roon sa couch at nilapitan ko sila. “Mom, Dad, ganap na pong doctor ang bunso niyo!” I announced with teary eyes.

“Oh my God! For real?”

“Really?”

Sabay pang tanong nilang dalawa. Napatango na lamang ako ng ulo bilang sagot at bigla nila akong niyakap ng sobrang mahigpit.

“We’re so so so proud of you, Megan.” Hinaplos ng Mom ang pisngi habang si Daddy naman ay ginulo ng bahagya ang buhok ko.

“Congratulations, Doctor Megan!” Ate Trixie greeted me and I couldn’t erase the smile in my lips now.

“Thank you, future doctor.” I replied to her saka kaming niyakap ulit ng parents namin. “Three years from now, ikaw naman po ang sunod na magiging doctor, Ate and we really can’t wait for that.” I told my sister at ngayon pa lang ay sobrang proud na ako sa kanya.

Ganito pala sa pakiramdam ang maging masaya. ‘Yung masaya ka at walang problema. ‘Yung masaya ka kasi masaya ka talaga. Thank you, Lord. Thank you for letting me feel this happiness.

Dahil nga sa nakapasa ako sa board exam, in God’s grace, si Ate naman ang future doctor ngayon sa family namin. Yes, Ate Trixie is now studying a med course like what I enrolled before. She’s actually a lawyer now and she’s making money out of it at iyon ‘yung ginagamit niya bilang pantustos sa pag-aaral niya.

My parents told her na sila na raw bahala sa studies niya but she declined. She’s already at the right age na raw at ayaw naman niyang umasa sa parents namin. Lawyer na rin naman daw siya so might as well use that to make money for her studies.

When I was in my third year in college, my parents allowed my sister to study again and that’s when she took the med course. Ngayon ay nasa third year college na siya.

It’s exactly one month when the board exam results were out. Shane and I are now busy preparing because we are planning to apply in Glenville Medical Centre kung saan kami nag-immersion noon.

Sobrang nakakatuwa lang dahil maging si Shane ay nakapasa rin. Ever since si Shane na talaga ang kasama ko at sobrang saya ko na sabay rin naming tinatahak ang daan papunta sa pangarap namin ngayon.

“You’ll start working on Monday. Welcome to the Glenville Medical Centre!” Sabay kaming napangiti ni Shane kay Doc. Melanie, iyong training coordinator namin noon matapos kaming i-welcome nito.

On Monday, it would be the start of our final battle because we will be working as a doctor now. Gosh, I am so excited!

Nang magsimula kaming magtrabaho bilang ganap na doctor, naroon ‘yung kana at excitement sa dibdib namin. Mabuti na lang talaga at sobrang bait ng mga kasamahan namin sa trabaho. Nagkakamali rin kami kung minsan but we’re using our mistakes to improve ourselves.

Our days, weeks, months and years of staying in Glenville Medical Centre became memorable. Noong nakapasa rin si Ate sa Physician Licensure Examination, doon din siya nag-apply and right now, kaming tatlo na nila Shane ang magkakasama although magkakaiba lang kaming departamento.

Our experiences there molded us for who we are right now. Ang dami naming natutunan sa mga kasamahan naming doctors doon lalo na sa mga seniors namin.

On top of that, I am so happy dahil nagagawa ko na ‘yung pinakapangarap kong tulungan ang mga tao para humaba pa lalo ang kanilang mga buhay.

Hearing how thankful the patients were and seeing the smiles on their faces before leaving the hospital gave us strength. Sa mga ngiti pa lang kasi nila ay nawawala na ‘yung pagod na mayroon ako.

Time flies really fast until the day that I’ve been waiting for came. After rubbing both of my hands, napabuntong hininga ako nang sobrang lalim.

“Relax Meg, okay?” nakangiting sambit ni Ate sa akin.

“Kinakabahan ako,” sagot ko dahilan para tawanan ako nito pati si Shane na ngayo’y nasa tabi ko.

“Kinakabahan din kami, ano ka ba? Pero mas lalo kaming kinakabahan dahil sa’yo,” Shane replied, making everyone laughed at us.

I don’t know. Kinakabahan lang talaga ako ng todo.

As we reached the venue, everyone now gathered. After a short opening prayer, lahat kami ay napatingin sa harapan hanggang sa unti-unting bumukas iyong napakalaking tela na siyang nagtatakip sa building.

When it finally opened, I am literally in awe. Halos hindi ko pa magawang iiwas ang paningin ko roon.

“Go,” Ate Trixie’s mouth turned up.

I then stepped forward. When I’m already in front of it, they handed me scissors and that’s when I cut the big ribbon wrapped in its main door and everyone gave a loud applause habang ako ay naroon, nakatayo lamang at hindi makapaniwala sa nakikita ko ngayon.

Yes, today is the grand opening of our own hospital and after years of struggling, finally eto na siya, handa ng magsilbi para sa lahat ng mga tao.

“Meg, speech mo na oy!” I got startled because Shane suddenly tapped my back.

After composing myself, I breathe a sigh of relief before going in front and faced all the guests.

“Angel Care Hospital,” banggit ko sa pangalan ng hospital na ngayo’y nasa harapan na namin. “This started with a dream and now, it turned out real.” Big smile now crept in my lips while meeting the eyes of the guests.

“Believe in yourself. Have faith in your abilities. Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy. That statement was according to Norman Vincent Peale and that was my mindset ever since I dreamt of becoming a doctor.” I continued and things traveled back in my mind now.

“Everything went rough while pursuing this dream but I remained tough and that was the reason why I am now standing in front of you all.” Tears shone at the side of my eyes and people clapped at me.

It was good remembering back the experiences I had before. I once questioned my worth and I always asked the world why am I experiencing this, but now I have come to realize that everything happens for a reason and that reason became a life-changing lesson for me.

“Every medication is important. Every medical treatment is important but most of all, patient is the most important for us. Patient is not just a patient. For us, they are the most important thing we must prioritize.” Mula sa malalakas na palakpakan ng mga tao, sinasabayan din iyon ng mga flashes mula sa camera.

“Everyone, let us all live long, and we, the Angel Care Hospital will always be here to care for you.” I ended that speech with my closing remarks which made everyone applaud again.

As I stepped down, people congratulated me. Some even shook my hand.

Sobrang saya ko ngayon. Hindi ko alam na darating ‘yung araw na ‘to sa buhay ko. It’s still like a dream for me at hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin nagsisink in sa akin na mayroon na nga kaming sariling hospital.

“We are so proud of you, Meg. I can see how you really love being a doctor.” Napatango ako sa Mommy ko. “We are very sorry if we tried to stop you from pursuing your dream before—”

“Don’t mention it, Mom. Siguro ay parte talaga iyon at kailangan ko talagang pagdaanan ang mga iyon for me to reach where am I right now. I guess sacrifices really come first before success.” Natatawa kong sambit sa kanila.

Me, Ate Trixie, my Mom and Dad are now standing in front of our hospital while staring at it. This is beyond what I imagined.

Thank you Lord. My dream really turned out real now.

“Saan ka pupunta?” bungad ng Ate nang makita ako nitong pababa sa hagdan. She’s sitting in an island bar with a laptop in front of her at hindi ko alam kung anong kinakalikot niya roon sa mga files niya.

“Somewhere. I’m going to visit someone,” I replied.

“Ingat!” then she smiled at me.

“Thanks!” As I went out in the garage, I hopped in my car and headed to the mall. Dumaan lang ako roon sa isang flowery shop bago ko pinuntahan ang sadya ko.

Habang tanaw na ‘yung pwesto niya kahit nasa malayo pa ako, hindi ko mapigilang hindi ngumiti.

“Hi. It’s been years, love. How are you there?” tanong ko pagkaupo sa harap niya saka ko sinindihan iyong kandila na dala ko.

Ilang taon na rin akong hindi nakakadalaw sa kanya dahil naging abala ako sa mga kaganapan ko sa buhay, but despite that, I never forget him dahil sa lahat ng mga ginagawa ko, siya lagi ang naalala ko.

Aldridge became one of my inspirations and he’s also the reason kung bakit nagkaroon ng Angel Care Hospital.

He’s like an angel to me who keeps watching me and he’s my angel who helped me in taking the path to my success. If it weren’t because of his support, I wouldn’t have gone this far. So I really owe him my success.

“Naalala mo ‘yung last dalaw ko sa’yo when I told you that I already graduated?” I asked him. “Ngayon ay masasabi kong isa na akong successful na doctor, love. Hindi lang ako, Ate and Shane were also with me, and yesterday, we celebrated the grand opening of our hospital.” Masaya kong pagkukwento sa kanya.

“Thank you so much for watching me, Aldridge. Kung nasaan ka man ngayon, I will pray for your soul, and even though I can’t see you anymore, please continue watching me from afar,” pasasalamat ko sa kanya.

I also shared some of the happenings I did the last previous years, maging ‘yung mga pinagdaanan ko bago ko nakamit ang tagumpay na mayroon ako ngayon, hanggang sa makapagpatayo kami ng sarili naming hospital.

“Wait, I have a gift for you.” I opened my pouch and look something on it hanggang sa makita ko iyon. “This success of mine is also yours, so I’m giving you this,” saka ko inipit ‘yung picture.

It was my picture wherein my background is the Angel Care Hospital. That was taken just yesterday during the hospital’s grand opening. Inipit ko lang iyon sa tabi ng glass candle holder. Then I also put the bouquet of flowers in it.

Kahit na wala na siya, I wanted to give him that para kahit papaano ay parang kasama pa rin namin siya.

After staying a bit more, I smiled saka ako tumayo at pinagpagan ‘yung pantalon ko. Before leaving him at his grave, I looked up, it’s as if I’m looking at him from heaven above.

“I love you, Aldridge. Always remember that.” Muli na naman akong ngumiti habang nakatingin na ngayon sa lapida niya.

“When the right time comes, let’s see each other again, love.” I continued before leaving him as the corners of my mouth turned up.

No matter how hard life may seem, at the end of the day, we all deserve the happiness and the success we’ve been aiming for.

Life doesn’t guarantee giving up because if you do so, you will fail. Although I almost gave up, still thanks to God because He made a way for me to continue the life He has given me.

I believe that all of us have our own purpose in life and I guess, I found my purpose now.

I am Megan Uy, a girl who always yearns the support of my family. After all the sacrifices I gave and all the painful experiences I had, I’m happy to say that I am now successful doctor.

THE END.