DOCTOR’S FEE (MOMMAS BOY BOOK SERIES) ENGLISH VERSION

A MONTH AND a half has passed. During those times, I took care of my patient, Laura, even though I could not visit her often. I never failed to give her the things she needed the whole time she was in my care. I also answered her other hospital bills that are no longer covered by the charitable institute at the hospital because no one assisted her that was proven to be a relative or anyone related to her. It was not favored that all of her hospital bills were worth almost 180, 000 pesos. But of course, I didn’t tell her. Her husband also arrived late. Since all her expenses have been paid, there is no point in going through the necessary documents to be free. As usual, like I often do, I paid almost half just to get her discharged because she really wanted to go home. But I didn’t tell her about it. I just sent the money to charity. She was very anxious to go back and see her husband, who said he would pick her up the day she was out. And this is that day; the day she’s been waiting for. The day-I don’t want to come. I don’t know why, I just don’t want it.

____

LAURA’S POVContent (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

I have everything fixed. I returned all the things that my kind roommates had lent me. Except for the one person who took care of me, I am grateful to all of them and wish them well. I haven’t seen him since yesterday. I asked nurse Clair, but she said that Doc Tuason is not in the hospital right now because he’s somewhere else. I would like to thank him for being so good to me. During that one month, he never tired of helping me, reaching out for something and saying hello. He took care of me and made sure everything was fine. Although it’s sad that I’m leaving, I hope I can talk to him at least at the end so that I can at least say goodbye. You would never think that there are doctors who really help their patients, even in personal matters. That’s how they value their patients, and it’s proven by him.

I can’t wait to go back and see Paul. I was so happy to see him again, even though he had only come and shown me in the last few days. I can tell that he still loves me because he arranged everything I needed here at the hospital, and he even found a way to pay the bills that were not covered by charity. I was surprised because of the large amount he paid and wondered where he got the money.

I thought he had really forgotten about me. I got dressed. I glanced at the cellphone he gave me to use as our point of contact. I checked but he still had no message. He said that we would only meet outside the hospital and that he would wait for me at the entrance. I didn’t argue with him anymore, even though it was still a bit difficult for me to move. First, I insisted that I wanted him to help me walk, but he said I could just ask a nurse for help and he would just wait outside. Anyway, it was just a short walk, and I managed to finally get there. I’ll wait for him there in the waiting area with a row of blue steel chairs. I just hope he comes soon because the sky is getting darker and it looks like it will rain. I’ll be waiting for Paul patiently. I really missed him.

_____

CLYDE’S —

I don’t know why my heart was pinched as I watched her walk out the big door of the hospital. She didn’t even use a wheelchair to take her out. I watched her from the second floor, where I was standing from the time she left her room till she came out. The nurse, whom I informed, was assisting her because I found out that she was the only one who would leave the hospital alone because her husband was outside and she said she would wait for him there. What kind of husband is that? Let your wife walk alone knowing that she just went through a major operation? What the fuck! During her stay in the hospital, I only saw her husband twice, and I can tell that he doesn’t seem to care about Laura. Her husband is a good-looking man, with a nice body shape and a clean appearance too.

When she got out, I saw her sitting in the waiting area next to the pharmacy at the main entrance. She was not carrying anything except a plastic envelope that must have contained her medical records. She left the things that I gave her. She was wearing black knee-length shorts and an old white shirt like those given out during elections, so old and worn out. I don’t know why I feel so heavy watching my patient go home, as if the condition was not really good. I took good care of her because she was my responsibility, but it was hard to see her like that. Was it really just because she was my patient so I cared about her too much? Or-

“Haaah. Be careful, Laura, please take care of yourself,” I whispered as I left where I was standing.

_____

LAURA’S POV

Darkness has overtaken me. Even though it was difficult, I tried to get out of the hospital just to get to the wide road. I thought it would be easier for Paul to see me because I could pass through the very long waiting area there with several steel chairs lined up. Fortunately, I didn’t have anything with me except this plastic envelope where my records were kept. A moment later, I felt something drop on my arm.

“Ugh! It’s going to rain,” I whispered as I looked up at the darkening sky.

I estimated that I had been waiting for Paul for almost five hours. Maybe he was just distracted because Tarlac is far from the hospital where I am, so I understand that he took a long time. My side is a bit sore from the stitched area and my stomach is rumbling with hunger, but I will wait anyway. Maybe we’ll eat together when he comes. Just a moment and..

“Ugh!”

The raindrops that fall are much bigger now. I looked at the place where I was sitting because it had no roof and there was no one nearby to take shelter if it rained heavily. A little while longer and the raindrops are increasing.

“Ugh.. How can I run so far away?” I whispered. I stood on the steel chair I was sitting on.

“Ugh! A- ouch!” I exclaimed while holding my seam. I just sat down again because it felt like the stitches were being stretched. It was painful and aching, and at the same time, my stomach was cramping, so that my knees were a little dizzy and shaking.

And a moment later,

“My God, Paul, where are you?” I whispered while looking at my cell phone. “Ugh! Why – why don’t you have even one message? Where are you?”

My stitches are hurting more and the rain is getting stronger. I can already feel its splashes on my feet which are starting to get wet little by little, as well as on my curly hair which will be wet for a while.

“Ugh! It’s far away! Too far..” I uttered.

I was planning to run to the other side of the road where there are small booth shops, but I couldn’t seem to do it because my left leg feels like it’s going numb, accompanied by pain in my stitches and hip that feels like it’s throbbing. I was trying to estimate whether or not I would be able to cross the other side. Apart from the road being wide, there were many cars passing by. I thought I might collapse in the middle. I was suddenly discouraged. I can already feel the cold rising to my feet because I’m only wearing thin rubber slippers.

A moment later, the heavy rain continued to fall.

“Ugh! My God! Paul? Where have you been? Is there-is someone coming?” I said, tearfully as I raised my head to look up at the sky. I just put the plastic envelope I had on my head to protect me from the rain. I really can’t move anymore. I’ll just wait for the rain to pass…Maybe it will just pass…

But, unexpectedly,

“Huh?” I turned around when a red umbrella suddenly opened from behind.

“You’re not well yet. Why in the rain, Laura? You might get sick again.”

“D- Doc?”

Doctor Tuason was standing behind me with his umbrella covering me from the pouring rain.

June_Thirteen