The Tarpaulin, Removed

Flash back.

More or less a month ago. October 14th if I'm not mistaken.

I was with my classmates at EVRMC Family Medicine Out-patient Department waiting for Dr. Riel-Espina's Pharmacology class. The clock striked past three thirty, post meridian--obviously. We were about five in the lobby, others went to the downtown area since we still had thirty minutes before the class was supposed to start.

I was sitting on the third wooden bench--undeniably withered by more or less than fifty butts, perhaps hundreds, rubbing it everyday--third distal to the entrance. Kuya Joel, Kristel, and Jerome were seated adjacent to the right of the bench in front of me. The bench on my right side was occupied by Robert and three patients-on-queue. They were discussing about something of which I wasn't able to overhear. I was almost wiping my face off due to the beads of perspiration dramatically running from my forehead towards my cheeks and from my temples to my neck like mountaineers rapelling slowly down a steep canyon. I was melting. It was like I was just a few seconds away off a pool. And it was nothing new.

After about fifteen minutes, the remaining nine of the fourteen came. As usual, they came without being noticed by everyone in the lobby. They behaved reservely, more like dignitaries from the international community doing occular inspection of a scenery deserving to drop their jaws into amazed silence. No, they weren't laughing their throats out. No, they didn't walk dragging and stamping their feet on the floor. No, they didn't get any attention.

Leading the pack were Ate Karen--a.k.a. Bossing Karen, Mana Karen for Ching--and Grasya in her usual artista look. The tip-toeing, unexcited, and so-silent peloton was headed by Ruthchel (Ching) and Alne, closely followed by Teri Rose, Kwenmae, Ate Mel, Madam (Charito), and Cresta. They were comparing the prices of what they bought.

Cresta, Kristel, Grasya, and Ching (from L-R).

They all said hello to the five of us. After that they settled themselves on the remaining unoccupied benches. While they were arranging themselves on the benches, peace was once again felt in the OPD. But, not with more than five heartbeats.

Everyone was emptying their shopping bags and some were checking on their newly sewn uniforms--yes, I almost forgot, it was the day before our first clinics class at the Department of Medicine. Cresta and Alne were comparing how their uniforms were sewn. Madam was busy calculating her expenses and caressing her newly purchased Littman Lightweight stethoscope. Ate Karen, Ate Mel, and Gracie were talking about their tiresome shopping during that afternoon.Teri was asked by the group to check if Dr. Riel-Espina was available, she went to the main building. Kwen was discussing something with Tel, Kuya Joel, Jerome, and Robert about something that would've caused my brain to explode if I attempted to listen to them.

I sat on the bench. Silently, without any attempt of drawing attention. I was thinking if how I will I be able to purchase the things that I need for the next day's first clinics class. I didn't have a stethoscope yet, and I didn't want to ask from my parents--I've asked too much already, untimely. The stipend we were promised to receive on time--as stated on the contract's chapter two, section two--was still half-existing, borderline between to be given or not.

Alne was not impressed at her uniform, she sat infront of me and looked at me intently. She forgot about her uniform. She was silent. She looked demented. After a few moments, she burst into asking thw whole group to lend their ears to her. "I know who has a new billboard!", this statement reverberated on the walls of the OPD. Everyone flashed faces of what-are-you-talking-about, including me. She was still looking at me, eyes fixed . Without further questions, she answered the wondering group with my name. Everyone burst into laughter.

And the next to happen were exchanges of her insisting her claims and my denies. The group arrived at a consensus, to see the billboard. Teri came back, she announced good news. There was no class, for Dr. Riel-Espina was attending a meeting. Then, off the group went to the downtown area to validate Alne's revelation.

Then, everything was history. I was also shocked. Their dreams of having their own billboards first, shattered into pieces when I had mine before they'll ever have, if they'll have. Peace MD13!!!

Some of the silent-type and refined people I am with everyday.

All of this flashed when I saw just this afternoon that it was gone.