Remembering Ice Abueva

Kabanata IV

"Oh, Doc Daryll. You're still here?"

Daryll smiles at her friend, Rianne, the girl is also her co-doctor at the hospital where she is currently taking her residency. Rianne waved at her with her free hand, bago siya nilapitan sa may waiting longue ng hospital. Mukhang katatapos lang din nito ng shift katulad n'ya.

"Coffee tayo Doc," alok pa nito at pagod na binagsak ang sarili sa may couch na katapat ng kinauupuan nya. She watched Rianne with a little amusement; the girl mumbled some complaints in the air and scowled after. She couldn't help but chuckle at the girl. Mukhang kasing hapong hapo sa pagod ng nagdaang gabi nila sa hospital si Rianne, nakailang ulit pa 'tong naghihikab.

"I'm fine, thanks tho." sagot niya dito saka mabining ngumit'. "You look tired." pansin mo pa sakanya dahil marahan pa nitong hinihilot ang sintido nito na parang sumasakit iyon.

"Sinabi mo pa. We had a rough night, last night due to the accident near our place." butong hininga nito at ngumusong tumingin sakanya. "Pero look at you, parang di ka galing sa straight duty, you look fresh, Ryll!" biro pa nito kaya bahagya tumawa na lang siya sa pambobol nito.

Totoo ang sinabi nito, the hospital really got a lot of incoming patients last night, pero di naman masyadong busy ang cardio because some of the patients only got minor injuries, and you thank God na hindi naman malala yung aksidenteng nangyari, only a few serious casualties, but the other doctors handled it well.

"Kinaya mo naman ang hamon ng ER, and you are still beautiful, Rian, kahit na ang hagard nyo sa ER last night," she replied, remembering how busy the ER was last night.

Tumawa si Rianne, shaking her head, looked at her with a little grin on her lips. "That's what I like about you, Ryll marunong kang mambola!"

"Sira, hindi ako nambobola no! Totoo yon." Nanlalaking mata nyang sagot dito, marahil ay akala nito at binobola lang niya to, but it was really true. If everyone could see the latter, they would think the same, dahil maganda naman talaga ang kaibigan, friendly pa sa lahat kaya malakas ang impact nito sa mga male nurses, even girls din ay may hakot to.

"Ay sus! Crush na talaga kita, bolang bola mo na ko, Doc!"

Halos mapahagalpak siya ng tawa sa biro nito because Rian often jokes about having a huge crush on Daryll. Daryll just doesn't take it seriously, kasi alam naman niyang biro lamang iyon ng dalaga. Although she knew the girl was bisexual, she was cool with it, dahil harmless jokes lang naman yon between her and Rianne.

"Anyways, di kaba susunduin nung pogi mong pinsan?" pagkaraan ay tanong nito sakanya, nahihiya pa tong napakamot ng noo while looking at her na nabahagyang ikinakumot ng noo niya.