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"Justin, malala ka na."
A wide smile was plastered on Justin's face. Nakita niya kasi ang taong gusto niya na dumaan sa corridor na nasa labas ng classroom nila.
"Ang pogi niya talaga." ani Justin.
Napatawa lang ang kaibigan na si Stell at tinapik ang balikat ni Jah. "Can't deny that but he's not my type. Masyadong pogi at matalino, so not my standards."
Justin just bit his lower lip, "Well, tipo ko mga ganun eh."
Stell sighed and gave Justin a hug, "Okay lang yan beh. Gawin mo lang inspiration si Ken dahil tambak tayo ng gawain ngayon. Pag binigyan tayo ng dalawang case study, isipin mo lang si Ken para magmukhang pogi yung case study natin para sa'yo."
Justin rolled his eyes and laughed, "Heh! I mean oo, nakakainspire pero nakakapagod parin. Wala na tayong tulog sa dami ng gagawin. May drug study at nursing care plan pa tayong ipapasa bukas tapos mamayang hapon, may case presentation tayo. Tapos next week, return demo na naman. What if bawi nalang tayo next life?"
"What if di na tayo magnursing next life?"
"What if tama ka dyan?"
They both laughed in unison after that. Hindi nila mapagkakailang mahirap ang kurso na napili. Ganunpaman, mahal nila ang nursing course at kahit mahirap, ginagawa parin nila ang lahat upang makapagtapos.
Justin smiled again when he saw Ken Suson passed again. This time, kasama na nito ang barkada at rinig na rinig ang tawanan nila.
"Hoy gaga, matunaw na yan si Ken kakatitig mo." ani Stell. Hindi ito pinansin ni Justin at mas lalo lang napangiti.
"Crush na crush ko talaga siya, Stell."
"Halata naman." sambit ni Stell saka kinain ang burger na inorder niya kanina sa Jollibee.
"Nagkakausap lang talaga kami mostly tuwing Intramurals dahil assign ako palagi na nagbibigay gatorade sa basketball players. Ang bait nga niya kasi kahit na lapit na sila matalo nun, nakangiti parin siya habang tinatanggap niya yung gatorade galing sa akin."
"Sinong di ngingiti kung bibigyan ng mainom, Jah?"
Justin pouted, "Epal ka!"
Tumawa lang ang kaibigan, "De joke lng. Well, true naman na mabait siya. He even lend you an umbrella last time dahil sobrang lakas ng ulan, diba?"
"Oo. Di ko yun makakalimutan. Grabe. Bigla nalang niya ako inabotan ng payong tas sabay sabing, 'Hey, you can borrow my umbrella if you want.' Grabe, nagsalita lng siya pero feel ko nahimatay na ako sa sobrang kilig?"
"And what else? Diba pinahiram ka niya ng NANDA book at Drug Study na book para may maipakita ka sa mga clinical instructors nun? Di ka nabagsak nun dahil pinahiram ka niya."
Napasuntok si Justin sa hangin at kilig na kilig na sumagot, "Ay oo! Naalala ko yun, Stell. Ack, ano ba? Di tayo kikiligin for todays video."
"Di daw kiligin pero kanina pa ngumingiti parang shunga."
"Eh ano ba, sinong di kikiligin kung panay daan si Ken sa corridor? Syempre makikita ko tapos maiinspire ako tapos-"
"Beh tama na! Baka di na ikaw makapag-aral kung panay Ken ka diyan. May quiz tayo kay Ma'am Precy ngayon."
Justin chuckled and softly punched his friend on the shoulder, "Okay po. Bitter mo, beh."
He glanced again at the corridor, hoping that Ken will still be there. For a moment, Justin froze because their eyes met. Justin instantly looked away not knowing that Ken's still looking at him with a smile on his face.
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"I already mentioned last week that you will be getting the vital signs of the fourth year students as your SDL, right? Now, I will announce kung sinong 4th year student ang kukuhaan niyo ng vital signs."
Justin was busy filling up his nursing care plan. Ngayon kasi ang deadline nito at hindi niya ito nasagot kagabi dahil nakatulog siya sa sobrang pagod.
"Ajero, you will get Mr. Nase's vital signs."
Nagpatuloy si Justin sa pagsagot at di niya namalayan na ang pangalan na niya ang tinawag ng kanilang clinical instructor.
"Mr. De Dios, si Mr. Suson ang kukunan mo ng vital signs."
Ang kaninang busy na Justin ay bigla nalang napahinto sa pagsulat at napatingin sa clinical instructor na nasa harapan niya.
"Is there any problem, Mr. De Dios? Seems like you're surprise?"
"Sino po ulit yun ma'am?"
"Si Mr. Suson. Si Ken Suson, yung valedictorian sa 4th year. Bakit? May problema ka sa kanya?"
"Ay wala po! Pogi si Ken eh."
"Ha?"
"Ay wala ma'am! Joke lang hehe. Sige po continue na po sa pag announce."
Justin's classmates laughed because of what Justin said. Alam kasi nilang lahat na may gusto ito kay Ken. Punong puno ng hiyawan ang buong classroom dahil sa sinabi ni Justin. He covered his face because of the shyness he's feeling.
"Beh ikalma mo!" ani Stell sa kaibigan.
"Gagi nagulat ako! Si Ken yun shet! I mean gusto kong makasama siya ganun pero yung kuhanan siya ng vital signs? Baka ako pa yung mamawis at tumaas ang blood pressure dahil sa kanya!"
"Look at the brighter side. Makakausap mo siya, mahahawakan mo kamay niya, ayaw mo nun?" tukso ni Stell sa kaibigan habang nagpipigil ng tawa.
Justin bit his lower lip, "G-gusto pero-"
"Gusto naman pala!"
"Eh pero nakakahiya!"
"Justin wag ka na mahiya. Chance mo na yan kaya igrab mo na."
"Mr. Ajero and Mr. De Dios, am I interrupting something?"
Natahimik ang dalawa dahil bigla silang sinabihan ng kanilang clinical instructor.
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"Goodluck Justin!" "Jah, kaya mo yan!" "Uyy kilig siya." "Jah, wag ka himatayin ha? Baka tumaas heart rate mo!"
Those were the statements coming from the classmates of Justin. They were teasing him as he decided to go to Ken's room to do the "vital signs task"
"Ano ba! Wag nga kayo ganyan. Kinakabahan tuloy ako."
Everybody just smiled and gave Justin a thumbs up. Even though that they keep on teasing him, they still want him to be happy.
"Stell, dis is it!"
"Goodluck! Sana di ka mahimlay." halakhak ni Stell. Binatokan siya ni Justin sa braso pero imbis na um-aray ay mas lalo lamang itong humalakhak.
"Chika mo nalang sa akin later ano ganap?"
"Okay. Tsk."
Justin inhaled and exhaled deeply. He knew he has to do this because this is a graded activity. Alam niyang kailangan pero di niya parin maiwasang hindi kabahan. Baka kasi di niya kayanin. Baka kiligin lang siya buong oras. Baka wala siyang masabi kasi nasa harapan niya ang taong matagal na niyang hinahangaan.
Bahala na.
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"H-hello po kuya K-Ken.."
'WHAT THE FUCK JUSTIN DE DIOS' halos sigawan na ni Justin ang sarili niya. Para siyang shunga na nauutal kasi nasa harapan na niya ang lalaking hinahangaan niya. Si Ken.
"Uy hiii, you need anything?"
The older smiled at the younger and gave him a pat on the head. Justin instantly felt the electricity from Ken's hand down to all parts of his body. He was surprised of Ken's gesture. Why would he pat my head?, he said to himself.
"Uhmm kasi po may activity kami na kukunan daw namin ng vital signs ang 4th year and ikaw yung in-assign sa akin ni Ma'am Precy so uhmm are you free at the moment? And is it okay with you to you know? Kunan ng vital signs?"
Kung pwede lang na tangayin si Justin ng hangin ay matagal na niyang ginawa. Pakiramdam niya para siyang tanga sa harapan ni Ken. Hindi niya kinakaya ang presensya ng lalaking nasa harapan niya. Pano na kaya mamaya kung hahawakan na nito ang kamay at braso para makuhanan ng blood pressure?
"Oh, I'm sorry Justin but I'm still busy at the moment. May ginagawa pa kasi ako eh."
Bigla na lamang nanlumo si Justin sa narinig. Ken saw how Justin's expression changed that's why he immediately added a statement.
"But I'm free later at 6 pm. Are you free later at 6?"
"Opo.."
Ken sighed in relief, "Alright. See you later at 6?"
"See you po."
Akala ni Justin mawawala na ang kaba niya kahit papaano dahil di muna matutuloy at the moment pero nung narealize niya na kung mamayang 6pm pa sila magvavital signs, wala na masyadong tao sa school niyan at ang ending, sila nalang dalawa.
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"Hello! I am Justin De Dios, a student nurse from San Pedro College and I am here to get your vital signs. Is it okay with you po?"
"Yep and you can drop the po and opo. One year lang naman gap natin."
Justin wanted to cover his face because he feels like his face looks like a tomatoe. Pulang pula na.
"Sabi kasi ni ma'am na magintroduce pa daw kuya eh and maging magalang."
"Oh yeah, understandable. Tama pala, nursing student din pala ako hahaha."
Hearing Ken's laugh was like hearing his favorite song. It was so good to hear.
"I will get your temperature po."
Justin grabbed his thermometer, cleaned it with a cottonball with alcohol then placed it on Ken's armpit. While waiting for the thermometer to beep, he decided to get Ken's respiratory rate.
Justin knew that he need to hold Ken's hand kaya nagpaalam ito na kinakabahan, "K-kuya, can I hold your hand?"
Ken tilted his head slightly to the side, "Hmmm?"
"Kunan ko po kayo ng respiratory rate habang hinihintay yung beep."
Ken nodded. Slowly, Justin held Ken's right hand. Their fingers were not intertwined but Justin felt different emotions as he held Ken's hand. It was warm and for him, holding Ken's hand was like a dream come true.
"Lagay ko lang sa may chest niyo kuya para maramdaman ko RR mo."
"Okay."
The thermometer beeped but Justin didn't mind it. Mamaya na niya kunin after ma one minute ang pagkuha niya ng respiratory rate. Panay tingin lang si Justin sa relo niya dahil hindi niya kakayanin kung titignan niya sa mukha si Ken. Ngayon palang, alam niya na malakas ang tibok ng puso niya. Kung ivavital signs siya ni Ken, panigurado, sobrang bilis ng pulso niya.
"Your respiratory rate is 20 then your temperature is 36.5. Normal lang naman kuya." ani Justin pagkatapos ang isang minuto.
Ngumiti lang si Ken saka kusang binigay ang kamay sa kasama, "Pulse rate?"
Justin nodded and accepted Ken's hand. While checking for Ken's pulse, ramdam ni Justin na mabilis ang pintig nito.
"Kuya, ang lakas ng pintig ng pulso mo.." ani Justin.
Ken just chuckled, "Oh my, baka may sakit ako niyan?
"Hindi naman siguro. Kinakabahan ka ba?"
"Medjo? Nasa harapan kita eh."
Their eyes met the moment Ken said that. They immediately looked away afterwards.
"Ha-ha-ha." Justin faked a laugh. Sa totoo lang, na aawkward na siya kasi bakit naman bigla yun sinabi ni Ken? Anong ibig sabihin nun?
"It's true though.." Ken said but Justin didn't mind it. Ayaw niyang maniwala. Hindi kapani-paniwala.
One minute. Binaba na ni Justin ang kamay ni Ken. "100 po ang pulse rate niyo.."
Ken just nodded.
Last thing to do is the getting of blood pressure. Kinuha na ni Jah ang kanyang sphygmomanometer and stethoscope para makuhaan ng blood pressure ang kasama.
"Jah?"
"Hmmm?"
"Can you hear something?"
Sakto at natapos na ni Justin ang pagkuha ng blood pressure ni Ken. Normal naman ito at agad niya sinulat sa kanyang maliit na notebook ang result.
"Something? Wala naman?"
"Meron eh. Kunin mo stethoscope mo."
Dali dali namang kinuha ni Justin ang stet niya saka binigay kay Ken.
"No, don't give it to me. Use it then placed the stet on my chest area."
Gulong gulo man ay sinunod ni Justin ang sinabi ni Ken. He was so curious.
"May naririnig ka na ba?" tanong ni Ken.
Yumuko si Justin para malagay ang stet sa may dibdib ni Ken. Nakaupo kasi si Ken.
"Wala parin eh. What is it pala?"
"Did you hear that? That my heart murmurs, “I like you.."
Bigla na lamang nanigas si Justin sa narinig. Hindi siya makapaniwala sa narinig. Totoo ba yun? O baka namali niya lang pagrinig.
"The truth is, the reason why I always pass near your classroom's corridor is because I want to see you."
Justin moved backwards and then there, he saw Ken's face smiling genuinely infront of him.
"I realized that its my 4th year already and I'll be graduating soon so I'm taking the risk."
The younger was too stunned to speak. Hindi siya makapaniwala sa narinig. Everything happened like a speed of light. Ang biglaan na para bang hindi siya nakahanda. Gusto niyang maniwala pero parang hindi. Masyadong imposible.
"I know that this is so surprising for you but I can't control myself anymore. Atleast I'll be graduating na nasabi ko nararamamdan ko diba?" Ken chuckled. He finally stood up and faced Justin.
Both of their hearts are beating so fast.
"I like you, Jah... and the reason why Ma'am Precy assigned you to me was because I respectfully asked her to do it."