Silas looked upwards then faced his mom, “So this was the hospital you’re talking about. I can say this is quite small compared to the ones in the city” he said while looking around.
“It’s normal to have this kind of hospital here in the countryside. But guess what, they can
accommodate hundreds of patients here. And one fun fact, your godmother Frances is working here as a doctor” she said; excitement filled her eyes.
“Are we here to get me admitted or are we here to make you have chit-chats with your friend?” he asked.
His mom smacked his arm, “You’re still foolish in asking questions. Let’s get inside” she said and started walking to the entrance.
Silas sat down calmly on the hospital bed while his godmother is preparing to insert the needle of his dextrose in his hand. Clarina uttered, “Be careful, he’s scared of needles” she said. Silas looked away because of shame; no wonder, his mom is the number one gossiper to expose his hidden facts about himself.
“Don’t worry Silas, I’ll get it done in no time” she said and immediately inserted the thick needle in Silas’ hand vein. Silas twitched in pain but it was done before he could expect. He breathed heavily; for the first time in a while, he had something connected to him again but this
time, it is medical.
Frances sanitized her hands and started having a talk with Silas’ mom. “Time flew fast, your kid is now taller than you!” she said. Clarina replied, “You’re right. Last time I checked, he’s just about my waist and loves to hide behind my back”. The two chuckled, Frances is out of duty at that hour and they managed to get ahold of each other.
“By the way, where is my goddaughter? I think she’s not too much younger than Silas” Clarina asked; referring to Frances’ daughter. “Oh, my second born, Kristen is on her first year college. While Kristan is already graduating from college” she replied.
“That’s good to hear. Silas here just got out of the seminary. We noticed that he can’t still manage his studies. His aviation plan is quite dangerous so we pulled him out from it. If he recovers, we’ll know what he wants to do” Clarina answered and continued having a quality
time with her friend.
Meanwhile, Silas leaned back at his hospital bed and sneaked out the phone in his pocket. He’s only allowed to use it for half a day. He started scrolling through his messaging apps and noticed Xavier’s name on top of his logs. He opened the chat box and read multiple messages from him. “Don’t come back here anymore. Stella already forgot about you and she decided to cut ties with you permanently”
“She already has plans set for her future so try not to ruin it” the message concluded. Silas felt a pinch in his heart and started thinking. He really wanted to go back to that place not just for Stella, but for his vocation also.
He opened his phone’s gallery. It is empty and it left him imagining the photos deleted there.
He turned off his phone and brought out the journal he always brought when he was still in the seminary. Those four months of service in the ministry felt like detoxifying and escaping from the real world.
He opened and saw what the first page contains. The words he penned was mirroring his indecisiveness and worry. He’s still unsure about the course he took; it’s too far from his first
choice and this was vocational.
He turned to the second page and read the questions he had in his mind. To his surprise, he already knew the answer to those. Those questions who get asked often to God. “Why did You bring me here?” the words asked Silas. The question he always asks already has an answer. The answer ran in his mind, “He brought me here to learn how to take things carefully”.
He wasn’t careful with having a relationship with Stella. He knew about the consequences but he’s blinded. He made sure that they’re keeping it a secret but it spilled. The four months of staying in His place taught him to be careful of who he will trust; even those who are faithful in the eye can speak betrayal in their mouths.
He sighed; Xavier didn’t treat him like a brother. Instead, he made things sure that he and Stella will be ripped in his eyes and in the other people’s eyes. He stared at the sun who’s shining brightly. Not too hot, and not too cold season; it’s a perfect time to wander around. He stood up and grabbed the stand beside the table containing the dextrose. He pulled it and walked with it. He glanced at the hospital’s vicinity map and found that the rooftop is actually a garden. He got interested and went inside the elevator while wearing his usual clothes and a surgical mask.
Starting that day, he can’t be exposed with other people and he can’t get anything that can harm his immunity.
The elevator tinged and slowly opened the door. He saw a lot of patients talking and having a wonderful bond under the sun’s warm heat. A little girl ran past him; she dropped a bear with the hospital’s logo in it. He bent down, picked up the bear and started dusting it off. The girl who’s looking up at him got her butt on the floor.
He lifted the girl to stand and handed her the clean bear. He knelt down to make their heights match. Silas ruffled her hair, “Hey there little girl. Slow down, you might trip again” he said.
“Ge, are you new here?” (Ge – older brother). Silas smirked, “Yes, I am new here. I think you
always play here” he answered.
“Yes, but my playmate is already discharged so I’m playing with the other patients” she said while pointing the others; they are quite older than her. “Where are you supposed to go? Why are you rushing?” he asked. The girl answered, “They said Sister Kristen is on the lobby. She loves playing with me even though she’s not always
here”.
“Kristen… is she a patient here?” Silas asked and sat down on the bench. “No, Sister Kristen is always visiting in the pediatric ward where I am staying” she answered.
“What is your name? You’re so adorable” he said and started pinching the girl’s cheeks. “Ni Hao, I’m Qiao Ji An. I’m staying here since I was born because they said my lungs are weak. I am just six” she answered.
“You’re so young. By the way, I’m Silas Tiueco and I’m nineteen. I thought I already survived this leukemia thing but guess what, it relapsed” he said back. Ji An sat beside him while hugging her bear.
“I know you’re new because you’re not wearing the same clothes like the ones we’re wearing. My friend with leukemia was shaved in the head so she had no hair. Will they do the same to
you?” she asked.
Silas started thinking, “Hmmm… It still depends on the case. Mine is quite mild; just some kind of treatment will be used” he answered. He grabbed his wallet from his pants’ pocket and brought out a picture. Ji An looked at it, “Who is this kid?” she asked. Silas smirked, “This was me when I was in third grade, I guess? You see that beanie I’m wearing? I still have it. I got it prepared so once they decided to shave my hair, I have something to wear” he answered.
Ji An answered, “I’m sure they won’t do that!”. They both chuckled; the two started walking to the rooftop’s edge. “Can you see what’s below?” asked Silas. Ji An said no and said she wanted to see it. Silas lifted her up but she felt someone hit the back of his head.
He cursed, “What the hell?!” and started bringing down Ji An who’s still holding her bear. Silas looked who’s behind him. A thin, long-haired woman appeared on his sight while holding a sling bag – it must be the thing that hit him.
“Sister Kristen!” Ji An said but her face was still in shock. “Ji An, are you hurt? What did this guy do to you?” Kristen asked.
“He is Brother Silas; he’s new here so he’s wearing like that and he has a mask on because he has leukemia” Ji An answered. Kristen can’t look at him in the eye. Silas tsked, “What a weird wicked woman” he said and started leaving the rooftop while caressing the back of his head.
“That must’ve hurt” Kristen said and got her palm sticked on her face.