Chapter 20: Carrie's Anatomy (Part 1).

/
0 Comments






My thought bubble formula was right. Me watching the Saw film, or any horror movie for that matter, is a terrible idea. Kung anu-ano ang lumalabas sa bibig ko as a result. I made a mental note to myself never to watch horror movies again even if it’s the last movie genre left.


Beside me, Gerard has already faced the big screen and continued to watch the movie. I, on the other hand, still couldn’t forget the humiliating experience. Even though my eyes were looking at the big screen, in my head I was simply trying to focus on keeping my brain in control so as not to repeat any form of embarrassment again.


But he then did the most surprising thing… he held my hand. I shot him a look as he smiled at me. “So you wouldn’t get scared,” he whispered.


I could feel my cheeks burning up. Holy Mother of God… kinikilig ako.




“But it’s mortifying,” she whimpered and I could imagine her pouting on the other line.


I chuckled. “Oh, God, you’re impossible, Wendy. Para ‘yun lang?”


“What do you mean para ‘yun lang? I’ve just suspended my mug shot photo on the wall of shame!”


“Hello? What about me? Do I have to remind you how many times I’ve embarrassed myself in front of a boy?”


“Well, you’re different. You’ve always been audacious, Carina.”


“Well, maybe that’s what you need once in a while, don’t you think? Who wants to live a boring life anyway?”


I heard her gasp. “Are you saying I’m boring?”


“Jeez,” I sighed. “It was an allegorical statement in general, okay? I mean, come on, everybody needs to do something daring with their life from time to time. Isn’t that what Syd told you?”


“Yeah, but I don’t think that includes saying your thoughts aloud. Gahd, he must be thinking I’m the maddest person alive right now.”


I snorted, “What are you talking about?! He held your hand for Christ’s sake! Surely, he’s not thinking it that way.”


“He only did that because―”


“If I know, you were shaken from your very core when your fingers were intertwined with his,” I cut her off.


“Of course not,” she reacted defensively. “We held hands before, remember?” 


“Oh, you wouldn’t be making a big fuss out of this if you don’t like him in the first place,” I teased.


“Now where the hell did that conclusion came from? I don’t like him just to make it clear.” 


I grunted, “Whatever, I rest my case. Anyway, I’ll call you back later, you worrywart, because I have a boring class to attend.” I ended the call before she could even protest and went inside the classroom. Jeez, another sad day with McDreamy (because his lectures makes me sleepy).




Quote
Color Label:
Franco dela Paz
Xyrene Recto


“The VIP’s here. Late again,” I heard one of my colleagues said when I walked past her.


“What’s new? Her father’s is one of the school’s benefactors, that’s why she doesn’t have to worry about anything,” added the guy beside her.


These brainless, jealous, insignificant people. What do they know about my life anyway?


I ignored their remark and took a seat in between Franco and Xyrene, the only trustworthy pals I have in this green-eyed class.


“Don’t listen to them, Carrie. They just don’t have anything better to do with their lives,” Xy consoled me. I smiled at her appreciatively. She’s always been the most open-minded one among us three; our chemical buffer since Franco and I always get into an argument out of petty things.


“You want me to teach them a lesson?” Franco said, balling his hands into a tight fist like he’s about to launch anytime.


He’s always been overprotective in nature because he’s basically looking after (allow me to brag) the two most sought-after girls in the campus. “Just say the word and I’ll beat them up for you, dude.”


“Franco, stop it,” she warned him. As expected, Franco slowly relaxed his muscles and went back on reading our book in Pathophysiology. If there’s one person in this universe who could tame Franco, it’s definitely Xyrene, given the fact that he’s been in love with her for as long as I can remember.


Xyrene’s really good at MS (Medical-Surgical), but she’s probably the dimmest person I know when it comes to noticing the obvious. Frustrating, I know.


“Hey, don’t you dare nap during our class today. Our exams are approaching so listening to lectures are very much vital,” Xyrene said, just to change the course of our conversation. “And you’re lucky our professor hasn’t arrived yet.”


“Not to worry, Xy, because I’d already construed what time our professors come in,” I answered with utmost conviction. And right on cue, McDreamy arrived. “Told you so,” I whispered with a sheepish green. Xyrene just sighed and rolled her eyes.




“Cai, I’ll just do my rounds at the Neurology Ward, okay? Feel free to wait for me in the office,” Ate Phoebe told me over the phone.


“But my head’s already throbbing because of hunger,” I bleated.


“Well, you can always ask Dad to join you for lunch. I know how much you miss him after you’ve ignored him for months,” she taunted while chuckling.


“Oh, very funny, P. I didn’t realize you have plans on being a stand-up comedian,” I scowled.


“Well, I’m just saying, the last time you talked to Daddy was when you said you’d moved out, right?”


“And your point being?” I snarled.


She giggled. “Come on, Cars. What ever happened to your sense of humor?”


“Just get over with your freakin’ rounds, okay?” I snapped. “I’m about to die of starvation here.”


“Okay, okay. No need to be crabby,” she mocked. “I’ll be quick, I promise.”


“Yeah, you should be,” I retorted. “I’ll just nibble something from your fridge in your office,” I said before I clicked off.


I was standing outside my sister’s office and on its glass door her full name and job title was embedded in bold, capital letters.

Phoebe Choana P. San Isidro
Head, Department of Neurology


It was my grandparents’ idea to baptize us, their grandchildren, with second names after anatomical parts and medical terms. And that’s how my siblings and I ended up having names as: Henry Calyx, Phoebe Choana, and Maria Carina.


The list goes on, I tell you. Some of my cousins were even named after drugs, medical diagnoses, and even from a virus, i.e. Varicella.


Well, it wasn’t a surprising gesture I guess, since every one in the family is a medical doctor or is about to be one. Still, it was weird. Plus a bit obsessive, I think.




MEDICAL DEFINITIONS:

Calyx, pronounced as kay-liks, is a cup-shaped structure in the kidneys that encases each renal pelvis.

Choana, pronounced as koh-ah-nah, are the openings into the pharynx located distal to the nasal conchae.

Carina, pronounced as kah-ry-nah (but is pronounced as kah-ree-nah in the story), is the cartilage at the junction of the trachea into the two main bronchi in the lungs.




Kuya Henry and Ate Phoebe both have ‘normal’ first names that they can use nonchalantly, unlike me who has winded up with a very aged, generic one… Maria. Who would want to use that nowadays, right? Not unless I want to play a part on a Noli Me Tangere remake. Ugh.


Luckily, Mom has decided to change my name’s pronunciation to save my ego from being humiliated in the world of medicine. But some of my parents’ friends and colleagues who are also doctors still commit the common mistake of saying my name ‘medically’.


I opened the glass door and set foot in the office lounge hoping that I would see Jenna, her secretary, sitting behind her desk in the corner. Surprisingly, she wasn’t there. Her lunch time was over thirty minutes ago and she’s supposed to be here by now. Lagot s’ya kay Ate, I thought mischievously.


I walked past the office lounge and headed for my sister’s main office and went straight to the fridge on my right. I was surprised with what I saw. Everything inside her fridge was arranged according to color. Good grief, could anyone be more O.C. (obsessive-compulsive) than her?


I was munching on some chips and Coke when the phone rang. I answered it against my will because her reliable secretary wasn’t around.


“Dr. San Isidro’s office. How may I help you?” Sheesh, I’m like a trained call center agent. Haha.


“Jenna, can I please speak to Phoeobe?” a man on the other line answered.


Excuse me?! Do I sound like her? I don’t think so.


“No, sir, this is not Jenna,” I hissed, making sure my annoyance over the mistaken identity was obvious.“And Dr. San Isidro is currently doing her rounds right now.”


“Then who is―,” the caller paused. “Carrie, is that you?”


He knows me? Wait, is this…?















































“Dad?”


to be continued…


Disclaimer

All events and characters in this story are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real events or real people, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The persons depicted in this story are actors and actresses and are only used for illustrative purposes.

Unauthorized reproduction and/or distribution of text, pictures, or any other information which appears in this site, in any form or by any means, without the permission of the Author is strictly prohibited.