Forewords | Chapter 1

Tinakpan ko ang tenga ko ng dalawang kamay. Kahit kailan talaga ang sakit sa tenga ng tunog ng basketball shoes kapag gumigitgit sa court. Parang naipit na daga ang tunog. Napapikit ako. Sa dalawang taon kong pagiging volunteer medic sa sports events, hindi pa rin ako nasasanay.

I checked around me to make sure that all supplies are within reach. Mahirap na baka may tumawag ng medic. Hindi pwedeng papatay-patay. On right side nakapatong ang Coleman container where I put the cold compress. Sa left side ko naman nakalagay ang first aid kits. May wheelchair katabi ng first aid table kung saan ako nakaupo. And sitting beside me was my duty buddy for the day and forever best friend Karl.

Second quarter na ng game. No one has been injured so far. Alam na nila kung paano diskartehan ang muscle cramps habang nagsisimula pa lang. And besides, they didn’t train daily for months just to drop in pain in the middle of the court.

I reached for my bag na nasa ilalim ng first aid table and took out my lecture notes. I had to study for a long quiz on Monday.

Tinapik ko si Karl sa balikat. “Keep an eye out. Magbabasa lang muna ako,” I said.

He looked at me and then to my lecture notebook. He shook his head, “Aral ka na naman. I-enjoy mo rin itong moment. Championship ito Dan!”

Eh yayaman ba ako kung manonood ako? Tataas ba ang grades ko kung ie-enjoy ko ang moment?

“May long quiz ako sa Monday,” I justified.

He shrugged. “Bahala ka hindi ka rin naman makakaaral sa sobrang ingay dito.”

And ingay nga ng mga fans. Todo support sa kanya-kanyang team. Naka shoot ng 3 points yung number 29, yung team captain ng school namin. Lumaki ang gap ng 12 points. Last 1 minute remained before the end of the second quarter.

Na steal ulit ni number 29 yung overhead pass nung player nung other school. Nakakabingi ang sigawan ng mga tao. Pati si Karl nakalimutan na yatang medic siya. Then, ang bilis ng mga pangyayari. Blinock siya nung isang player, but he out-maneuvered him. He jumped and attempted a complicated lay-up since ang daming humarang sa kanya and then all of the sudden, bumagsak siya sa court. I heard a collective gasp.

“Medic!”

Without thinking, I grabbed the kit and the ice box and brisk walked towards the injured man in the middle of all the commotion. We had to get him out of the court because we’re in the middle of a game. Nakasunod si Karl sa likod ko with the wheelchair.

When I reached number 29, I kneeled beside him and said, “Sir I’m Danielle Lois Mendoza. Standby medic. Saan pong parte ang masakit?”

The guy was perspiring so much and was breathing with pursed lips.

“Sir. Saan pong parte and masakit? Paki turo po,” I repeated.

Hindi pa rin siya sumagot.

“Miss paa niya ang masakit. Hindi ba halata? Hawak hawak niya ang kanang paa niya!” I heard one of his team mates said. Biglang nag init ang bumbunan ko.

“Sir, please give us some space po. We need to do what we are trained to do,” I said. Nakakainit ng ulo. Sa panahon ngayon, lahat marunong. Lahat gustong ipakitang may alam sila lalo na sa mga ganitong bagay. Lahat feeling expert!

While I put on a pair of gloves, Karl was ushering the crowd away to give us some space.I tapped number 29 gently on his shoulders to get his attention.

“Sir, we need you to cooperate so that we can help you,” I said to him. I touched his foot gently and he yelped in pain. “Get off me, stupid!” he yelled.

What the heck? Ang baba ng pain tolerance!

He looked looked at me with dark eyes and said, “I don’t need your help! Get away from me!”

He attempted to stand up, his face contorted with determination. Their coach forced his way towards us and tried to calm him down, “Kirby. Rest now! I told you to focus during the training but you didn’t. This is where your hard head lead you. Jonas will take over.”

Nakitang kong biglang namula and mukha ni number 29. He took three deep breathes, and swatted his coach’s hands off like some annoying fly. Three steps and he hissed out in pain.

Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili ko. I went over to his side and tried to talk sense into him, “Sir. Kung magpupumilit kang bumalik sa court baka hindi lang yan ang abutin mo. Baka mas lumala pa yan. Sorry but I insist.” He still didn’t look at me. He kept his eyes on the floor.

Karl maneuvered the wheelchair toward us and helped number 29 sit. I gave up asking him questions because he wouldn’t even answer. When I tried to put ice on his rapidly swelling foot, he jerked the ice pack rather aggressively from my hand and put it over his foot instead. Kung hindi lang ako medic, sinapak ko na tong walang modong to!

“We’re gonna bring you to the school clinic and let the doctor see you,” I informed him. Without waiting for his reply, we wheeled him to the clinic.

The basketball court is in the fourth floor of the gym building. While waiting for the elevator, I noticed that the other team is gaining points. Limang points na lang ang lamang. Siguro naiinis tong si number 29 sa sarili niya kasi siya ang team captain tapos siya pa ang na injure.

“Sir. I know what happened is not okay. Winning may be important to you but you should also put equal importance on your health,” I said.

He snorted. Tapos bumulong siya sa sarili niya, “Ano ba’ng alam mo?”

Aba may alam ako! Kayo ba alam niyo ang mangyayari sa inyo pag nagka injury kayo at di na makarecover. Patay ang career niyo! Concerned lang naman ako.

Siniko ako ni Karl. I looked at him, looking puzzled. Sinenyasan niya ako na wag nang magsalita. I rolled my eyes at him.

Pagdating namin sa clinic, agad tiningnan ni Doc ang bago niyang pasyente. After writing in his record, history taking, and some physical assessment, the doctor put a splint on his left and foot to immobilize it temporarily.

“Kailangan natin mag run ng series of laboratory tests to rule out fracture, dislocation and strain. Don’t worry. You don’t have to pay anything. Covered na ng insurance niyo ang medical costs,” sabi ni Doc sa ungrateful kong pasyente. Tumango naman si Mr. Grump.

Then he turned to Karl and I. “Just let him write an incident report about what happened and sign the necessary papers. I have already contacted the school ambulance,” sabi ni Doc.

“Yes doc. Thank you po,” I said.

Habang ginagawa ng school nurse at ni Karl ang papers, I went to the clinic pantry and helped myself with a glass of water to calm myself. Si Mr. Grump ay nakatingin pa rin sa sahig at parang nilamon na ng  kanyang self-conjured miserable world. I snorted. He’s such a spoiled brat. He acts like a baby! Ano ba ang problema niya at ang sama ng ugali niya? Mayaman siya, matalino, may talent, matangkad, gwapo, maraming fans! Wala siyang karapatang magmaktol dahil busog na busog na siya sa blessings ni Lord!

Buti na lang nakakakalma ang amoy ng air freshener at lamig ng A/C nitong clinic. Sa sobrang yaman ng school na ito, kahit hindi emergency kailangan isakay sa ambulansya. Speaking of ambulance, mukhang super tagal naman nilang dumating. Sana dumating na sila ng mawala na sa paningin ko itong number 29 na ito. Nakakasira ng araw!

“Itago mo nga yang nguso mo! Ang haba na. Pabayaan mo na yung tao. May masakit eh,” sabi sa’kin ni Karl.

“Natural contact sports yun. Malamang may chance na magka injury siya,” I said.

Umiling si Karl, “You’re clueless when it comes to boys and basketball. And hindi biro ang nangyari kay Kirby. Siya ang team captain at current MVP. Kung hindi ka lang kasi lutang sa pagde-daydream mo kanina edi sana napansin mo na siya ang naka-score ng kalahati sa team nila.”

I rolled my eyes at him and averted my eyes. Kung sabagay may pinagdadaanan nga naman pala talaga tong si Number 29.

“Danielle! Ambulance is here,” narinig kong sabi ni Miss Faye, ang school nurse namin. “Buti na lang masipag ang Red Cross volunteers dito sa school. Thank you for your dedication,” she said to us. Nagsmile naman ako. “You’re welcome po! Happy to help po,” sabi ko sa kanya sabay tingin kay number 29. Sana naman nagpenetrate ang sinabi ko sa kanya.

The ambulance crew finally arrived and assisted our patient inside the ambulance. As they close the door, my eyes met his eyes. Number 29. And I could swear that his stare was filled with daggers.