E.R. – Chapter 1 – The Surprise

A/N: Yes, I know you’re expecting an update for PBMLW or MaMS, or even for BCWMH Extended. But there are so many stories lined up in my laptop and I felt that I should at least, release one chapter for one of those stories, so that I’ll be forced to write more updates for the other current stories so I can finish one soon.

Honestly, para po kasing ayaw ko matapos ang stories eh, hahaha. But of course each story has to end. I just do not know which between PBMLW and MaMS will end first. I will make an update for each soon

Anyway, I hope you’ll like this one and keep you entertained while I am still working on the updates for PBMLW and MaMS.

ER – Chapter ONE

The Surprise

She opened her eyes to the bright sunlight that inched through the thin space left uncovered by the brown curtain of the bedroom. She blinked a few times, waiting for her brains to function. So, anu naman ang pagkaka abalahan mo today? She asked herself silently. For the past weeks, she was busy traveling to and from Batangas, Cavite and Makati and has lost her sense of time. Soon after she gained full consciousness, she panicked. “Oh shit! Late na ‘ko!!!”

She immediately looked at the clock and was a little relieved to find that there is still about a little more than an hour to make it on time. She was also thankful that she lives by the “do what you can do today and not leave it for tomorrow because tomorrow may never come” principle and prepared her clothes and things last night. Today is a very important day and she hopes that everything will turn out okay. She reached for the MP3 player on her bedside table and pressed some buttons a few times. She got up and headed towards the bathroom door. “Today is the beginning of the best days of my life.”

About fifteen minutes later, she came out of the bathroom singing along the song that’s been repeatedly playing in the room. “This ♪ is gonna be ♫ the best day of my ♪ life…” All pumped up for the day, she moved around fast, excited and apprehensive of what’s to come.

She went outside to grab something from the kitchen so she can eat breakfast while drying her hair. She learned the value of time and became a multitasker, often doing two or more things at the same time ever since THE day she was told that she has cancer.

Back in the bedroom, she sat in front of the electric fan, turned on the hair dryer she was holding with her left hand and positioned it a few inches away from her head. She then took a big bite of the peanut butter and grape jelly sandwich she made and began to run her right fingers through her hair to speed up the drying process. In her mind, she wondered about the people she will meet and be working with, and what will it be like. Although she’s apprehensive, she felt secured that some of her schoolmates and former housemates will also be there.

Finally dry, she took some mousse and massaged it though her hair then let the drier blow some hot air against it for a few seconds. Satisfied with the scraggly-scruffy look, she carefully combed the strands and neatly tied it in a ponytail. “Done and ready to go!” she said aloud and put on her blazer as the final step before leaving. Then, she stood before the full mirror located on the wall of the ante room to see if she looks presentable. She smiled and noticed something. “Ang putla mo naman.” she said to herself again.

She rushed to her dresser and took the cheek tint. “Wearing make-up is allowed”, she thought. Since she’s scared to overdo it, she just dabbed some tint on both cheeks and spread it with her fingers. She chose a light pink shade lipstick and put some as well. She went back to the full mirror and smiled at herself. “You’re okay, girl! Just make it happen…live your life to the fullest, live your dream!”

Now out of the condominium building, she looked ahead and stared at the facade of the all-too-familiar building where she is supposed to be at 8:00 a.m. Instinctively, she glanced at her wristwatch and suddenly felt blood rushing through her veins. “10 minutes left?!”

Wearing her most comfortable shoes, she walked swiftly through the crowded sidewalks, by-passing others who were taking their time. “Excuse me po, salamat.” “Pa over take po ha.” “Pasensha na po, nagmamadali lang.”

When she finally reached the main entrance, her heart was pounding loud and fast, hands cold, and a little sweaty. She took a deep breath and released it with a big “Wah!” “This is it. Help me God.” She took out her name plate and tried to pin it on her blazer while she ran to the designated area.

She immediately saw Emmanuel Castro, her classmate and former housemate motioning her to move faster, pointing to a record book. “Where have you been? Kanina ka pa namin kinokontak ni Jam. We were worried about you.”

“Hoy Ma. Aurora dela Rosa, tulala ka pa jan, bilis na log-in na muna! Bilis 7:57 na! Mamaya na mag explain diyan sa feeling ex-future mo!” Katrina Eunisse Ramos, her other classmate/former housemate intervened.

“Not funny Katniss!” Emmanuel replied.

Still catching her breath and feeling a little disoriented, she answered “Ah…okay! Nag simula na ba? Technically hindi pa naman ako late diba?” she asked. “Kayong dalawa ha, pwede ceasefire muna kayo? Lalo akong nalulula eh. This is our first day, wala munang aberya.” She forged on while she signed her name in the attendance log book.

“Ano ba naging aberya mo Maya at ngayon ka lang ha?” Jam Sunga, her closest of her former housemates, asked.

“Wala naman, late lang nagising. I had a hard time sleeping last night, kahit napagod nako from unpacking my boxes. Hindi ko na nga natapos because I wanted to sleep early. Eh ang kulit lang ng utak ko, ang dami ng tumatakbo sa utak ko eh. ” Maya directly informed her friends while they walked towards the designated area.

“Sorry we couldn’t be there to help you.” Emmanuel said.

“Okay lang, I’m almost done unpacking my things, and I’m almost settled. Besides, pare pareho naman tayong may mga pinagkaka-abalahan eh.” Maya assured her friends.

“Oo nga, in fact we need a get together soon. As in now, today, later.” Katniss suggested.

“On that note, I agree with you.” Emmanuel gave Katniss a high five while they walked side by side.

Jam moved to get closer to Maya and said in a soft voice. “I’m sure you were thinking about THE day you were diagnosed….or at least it was one of those in your mind last night.”

“Of course Jam, I will always be reminded of that day. My life changed since then.” Maya confirmed.

The room was already full of interns when they reached it. “OMG ang cute niya!” Jam declared in a very soft voice.

“Cute agad? Akala ko ba distraction causes you to malfunction. Distraction lang ang lalaki.” Maya reminded her friend.

“But a distraction can also be a source of inspiration.” Jam countered Maya.

“Oh yeah? Sige lang, first day natin ngayon, bahala ka ma-distract, first impression usually lasts. Mag concentrate ka kaya muna because briefing is about to start.” Maya insisted and elbowed Jam on the side. By that time, a group of doctors all clad in white blazers, some with stethoscopes around their necks, entered the room with a pleasantly looking old man on the lead.

“Good morning doctors! I’m Dr. Antonio Garcia, Head of the Medical Education and Training Department of this hospital.” A soft buzzing sound was heard from the interns.

Dr. Garcia paused and waited until he got the attention of the interns and the buzzing sound stopped “I know its music to your ears to be addressed as doctors, interns. You’ve earned the title when you graduated from your respective med schools, so you better get used to it. Look at those smiling faces. Let us see if you’ll have the same faces the moment your internship program starts after this briefing.”

“Of course you very well know that this post-graduate training program of MC Hospital is a 12 month full time disciplinary internship which includes rotations in various clinical specialties. This is your second year of technical training before you take the board exams. If you survived your first year of technical training during your clerkship, there should be no reason for you not to survive this one.”

“So, good luck interns and welcome to MC Hospital. I will leave you now and give the floor to Dr. Jennifer Cassandra, our Director of the Internship Training Program.”

Just like the other interns, Maya was left speechless with mixed emotions within her. She looked at Dr. Cassandra and felt comforted when the lady doctor smiled before she opened her mouth. “Good morning interns. Remember this face, remember my name. Why? My position as Director of the Internship Program says it all.”

Dr. Cassandra continued with her briefing. “Unlike in other hospitals that accept more than 100 interns, you know that in this hospital, we only accept a maximum of fifty for the program. We meticulously screen and choose from the many applicants based on the panel interviews and academic performances in your respective medschools. No one gets accepted because of affiliation or connections, and this is only one of the reasons why the internship program of this hospital is so prestigious. But for this batch, only forty five applicants met our standards. You’re the elite 45.”

The interns felt elated with the last statement of Dr. Cassandra. Each felt proud that they belong to that elite group of forty five. Then the lady doctor warned them. “Beware though interns. This hospital is not a teaching institution for you. You are on your own. We have monthly reviews and mock board exams after but the continued learning is all up to you. Well, I can assure you that our residents and consultants will assist and help if you ask. Unli-tanungan naman yun. Magtuturo naman sila if needed and asked. So, you should also familiarize yourself with their names and faces.” She gestured her hand to the other doctors in the room.

“There’s Dr. Regina Buenaflor – OB Gyne consultant, Dr. Tim Gonzaga –Pediatricts consultant, parating pa lang yung iba eh. Oh here’s Dr. Katrina Ruiz and Dr. Martin Dabes, two of our residents and Dr. Celeste Madrigal, senior resident. Marami pa sila and you’ll all meet them during your rotations.”

Katniss leaned forward a little and discreetly warned Emmanuel. “Eman, mukhang maldita yung Madrigal, ingat ka.”

“Oo nga pero mas makapal ang kilay ko sa kanya!” Emmanuel retorted.

“After the training program, a certificate of completion shall be given to all those who garnered at least a satisfactory performance rating, duly signed by me, Dr. Garcia, and the President/Chief Executive Officer of this hospital.” Dr. Cassandra then pointed to the white board. “Those are the list of your names with corresponding first rotation assignments. Go find your name and group together to get acquainted with each other. You’ll have enough time to get to know each other later. For now, limit it within your group. Okay, go find your names now.”

Instantly, the interns stood up and walked towards the white board. While the interns are still busy, Dr. Cassandra remembered something she missed out. “Oh by the way, the call room at the 8^th floor is for your use exclusively so the responsibility is yours alone too. It will be your second home. You’ll have your acquaintance party there later and you will elect your officers there too.”

After finding their names and assignments, one by one, the interns walked to the designated areas for each specialty. Maya was glad that her first rotation assignment is in Obstetrics and Gynecology. The bonus part is, Eman has the same assignment. Jam and Katniss were assigned together in Pediatrics. As there are 9 specialty areas, each group has 5 interns. The Pediatrics and OB-Gyne groups were standing next to each other, busy getting to know each member within their group.

“Hi! I’m Czerina Tamayo, from UST.”

“Rolyn Labor. Call me Luli, UST rin.”

“Hello, Czerina and Luli. Ako naman si Maya dela Rosa, from De La Salle-EAC.”

“Emmanuel Castro, classmates kami ni Maya.”

“From UERM naman ako, Rocsan Borillo”

“Buti na lang dito ako na assign, parang ang bait ni Dr. Buenaflor eh.” Luli said.

“Luli, pareho tayo ng naisip.” Maya revealed.

“Pero yung sa Pediatrics, mukhang okay din kasi parang komiko eh.” Czerina shared her observation.

“Good morning doctors! So, you are the first group for Obstetrics and Gynecology.” Dr. Buenaflor greeted the group in a sweet and calm voice. She asked each of the members for their names and some little information. Dr. Buenaflor was in the middle of her briefing, when a number of consultants and residents entered the room and passed by her side.

“Marra?” Maya was surprised to hear someone calling her by that name but instinctively responded and looked up. She was even more surprised to see the face of the person.

“R-richard?” Maya’s face turned pale and shivered upon seeing Richard.

“You know each other, Dr. Lim, Dr. Dela Rosa,?” Dr. Buenflor asked.

“Yes!” Richard answered quickly, and continued. “She’s my girlfriend.”

“Girlfriend?” Eman echoed. In a much controlled voice, Eman asked Maya. “Kelan at paano? And Marra?”

Dr. Buenaflor looked at Maya to confirm. So Maya was forced to give an answer. “Ah, Dr. Buenaflor, ex-girlfriend na po Ma’am.”

PS: First, I am a lawyer and while I enjoy the smell of hospitals, I have issues with injuries and blood so it was never my dream to be a doctor, and I can never be one. My orientation of medical internship came from countless chit chats I had with my closest relative who went to medschool, underwent internship program but never pursued the medical career she thought she always wanted. She’s now a teacher in another country and she might find it weird and annoying if I will ask her to explain to me the intricate world of medical internship when it has nothing to do with me.

So, I am writing this story in the simplest way I can, which means, it may not be as accurate as it should be just as how it is in actual life. Consequently, medical terms and organizational structure of hospital and internship program in this story might not even be close to reality.

What the heck. This is fanfic in the first place and that is the beauty of it because after all, we look for positive vibes and kilig moments of Richard and Maya.

If you find anything wrong, please feel free to get my attention so I can adjust and correct the errors to make the story better. Thank you!