I knew from the start that the whole abdomen ultrasound included urinary bladder scan. Since I was absent-minded, after I’ve seen the number of people which numbered around twenty, waiting at the Ultrasound Department Lounge, I thought naku matagal pang intayan ito so I went to the toilet. baka kaso matagal akong maghihintay, maka weewee na nga.
When it was already my turn, the doctor said, “nagwee-wee ka ano? Drink plenty of water, then come back”. Hay, why did I pee? I was so makakalimutin. Dapat kasi wiwing-weewee na 4 before they could effectively scan the ureter.
I went to the canteen and drank two glasses of water which was a very difficult thing to do for someone like me who could drown in a half-glass of water. I wished they didn’t run out of buko juice. Basta buko juice, I could drink a pitcher, easy.
After one hour, I was still not feeling pee. I bought another bottle of water and stayed at the lounge. This time the patients had thinned, siguro mga pito na lang.
I sat beside a woman I would hide under codename Thelma. I didn’t actually ask her name. I noticed she was sniffling. Then wiping her tears and blowing her nose. She would stop, then do it all over again. sniffles, tears, blow nose. After a while, medyo inis na ako. I moved my bag closer to her, on the seat between us.
Hindi na ako nakapigil. I glanced at her a few times till she caught me looking at her with mapungay eyes. I had no intention to know what’s making her cry, I just wanted to stop her from making those awful sounds kasi medyo not pleaseing to my ears. Sniffles, hikbi-hikbi, then blow nose. The sound of blowing nose was the one I didn’t want to hear.
Omb——–“Hi, are you okay?” (Umiiyak nga ano, ibig sabihin hindi sya okay. Pero pick-up line ko lang yun.)
She didn’t say a word. She blew her nose again. Waah, ayaw ko nga marinig yun.
Omb——–“Sorry ha, are you sick?”
She nodded.
Omb——–“Are you alone? In times like this, you need a companion. Do you have a husband? Where is he?”
She didn’t answer. She continued wiping her tears.
My God I am so pakialamera. I just wanted to make her stop blowing her nose.
I didn’t give up. I didn’t feel pee yet. I still have half hour to go.
Omb——–“Did you have an ultrasound na? Is it bad?”
Thelma—–“Breast, merong cyst”.
Omb——–“Cyst lang pala, my doctor said cysts are most likely benign. Try to be strong. Call your husband, tell him”.
Thelma——“Wala yung pakialam”.
Omb———“Ow”. “Asan daw sya”.
She started sniffling again, wiping tears and blowing her nose.
I will stop talking na para she would stop crying.
I zipped my mouth. After about three few minutes, she was the one who started talking.
Thelma——“Nabuntis nya secretary sa office nila”.
Omb———“Oh my God”. “Bwisit naman husband mo”.
Thelma——“Bwisit nga, kaya nagka sakit ako”
Thelma——“Mister ko ang nagpasok dun sa babae sa company nila”.
Omb———‘Na stress ka. Kahit sino mai-stress”.
Omb———“ibig sabihin dati na silang nag-aano, bago pa nya ipinasok sa office”.
(Inudyukan ko pa)
Thelma——“Hindi bago lang daw, nabigla lang daw sya.
Omb———“nay ku, maniwala ka dun”. (Intrigera pa ako)
Thelma——“San na yung babae?”
Omb———“Nadun sa asawa nya. Second cousin ng husband ko”.
Omb——– “What?” “nai-stress ako sa kwento mo, Oh my God, teka, nai-ihi na ako”.
—————–
She was no longer there after my scan. I sincerely wish her cyst is benign and would forever stay that way. I wish her happiness so she would stop crying and blowing her nose. To her husband, I have nothing good to say so I might as well not say anything.
