CHAPTER 30

On Friday morning, I accompanied Hector and his wife, Maya, to Dr. Jeric's office for Hector's CT scan results. The air was thick with anticipation as we waited.

"I found some inflammation in your occipital nerve," Dr. Jeric said, pointing to the images on the screen. "Based on the constant pain at the back of your head, you have occipital neuralgia."

He turned to me, his eyes serious. "Clara, if you look here, there's gray matter in his hippocampus. It's clear he has retrograde amnesia."

I nodded, a mix of relief and concern washing over me. My theory was correct—Hector didn't recognize me because his amnesia had affected his retrograde memory. I wondered how extensive his memory loss was.

Hector scratched his head, tension creasing his brow. "Um, Doctor, what is occipital neuralgia?" I asked, glancing at Hector. "Sorry, they might not understand. The term is too scientific."

Dr. Jeric laughed lightly. "I'm sorry. Occipital neuralgia is when the nerves at the back of your head get irritated, causing much pain."

Hector rubbed his face, trying to mask his frustration. "Did you have an accident, Mr. De Leon? Your CT scan shows you experienced trauma."

Hector held his head, pushing his hair back in unease. Maya, her anxiety palpable, asked, "Doctor, what should we do? Is there a solution?"

"There are many treatments, but the best one is surgery. Hector should undergo decompression surgery," Dr. Jeric replied.

"Will that make me better?" Hector asked, his voice tinged with hope.

"Yes, it's the most effective solution. You won't need various therapies, and your severe headache will completely disappear," Dr. Jeric assured him.

A wave of relief washed over me as I saw Hector's worried expression soften. But Maya's concern deepened. "How much will the surgery cost?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Dr. Jeric took a deep breath. "It's a costly procedure. You'll need over a million pesos, but it's the best treatment."

Maya clutched her temple, her face drawn with worry.

"Alright, Doctor. I agree to the surgery," Hector said firmly. I couldn't find the words to express my concerns. Maya's eyes mirrored my unease. "We'll find a way to pay for it," he added.

The weight of the financial burden hit me, too. If only I could help them, but I couldn't dip into my savings, especially with my doctorate plans abroad looming.

Dr. Jeric continued, "Well, you'll need to pre–"

"Will my memory come back when the pain is gone?" Hector interrupted again, desperation creeping into his voice.

"I'll leave that to Dr. Clara," Dr. Jeric said, adjusting his chair. "Honestly, there's no specific treatment for amnesia. Dr. Clara knows that. You might recover naturally, but since you'll have surgery, it's advisable to monitor it and have a treatment program. We need to treat your severe headache first. So, prepare yourself."

Hector nodded, his eyes meeting mine. I gave him a thin but reassuring smile, trying to convey hope. His face brightened slightly, but the new challenge ahead was undeniable.

***

When I returned to my clinic at seven p.m., I had already sent Rachel home. I was surprised to find Eric sitting alone on the bench in the reception area. I had completely forgotten he was supposed to pick me up today. I had been talking to Dr. Jeric about Hector's case for so long.

"Have you been waiting long? I'm sorry," I said, closing the door behind me.

"I've been here for almost two hours, but it's okay. I understand," Eric said, standing up and stepping closer.

He hugged me and kissed my forehead. "I miss you," he whispered.

"I had a meeting earlier." I placed my left hand on his cheek. "I need a group of specialists for a treatment program for my new patient."

I had to lie about who I was referring to. Hector's financial situation weighed heavily on my mind. I wanted to help but couldn't think of a beneficial way.

Eric drove me home in his newly bought black Ford Ranger. During the trip, I stayed quiet, my thoughts consumed with worry about Hector.

"Is there a problem? You're not talking," Eric asked, pulling me back to the present.

I forced a smile. "I'm okay, baby. Don't worry, I'm just tired."

"Have you informed your parents about the motif for our wedding?" he asked.

We were starting to plan our wedding. "Not yet; I'll inform my parents through Messenger tomorrow."

Suddenly, I thought of Hector's parents, Mommy Gloria and Daddy Ben.

"Where do you want to have dinner?" Eric asked again.

"Nowhere; just take me home. I'll eat in my unit. I want to rest early."

Eric followed my request. When we arrived at the building's driveway, I kissed him quickly and hurried out of the car. I entered the lobby without looking back. Eric must have understood why I declined; my face showed how tired I was.

When I entered my unit and turned on the light, I went to the living room to find my tablet. I remembered that Mommy Gloria still had her Facebook account. My eagerness to tell them that Hector was alive soared. His parents could help him with the surgery costs.

When I turned on the WiFi, I immediately opened the Messenger app. But then I hesitated. Maya would find out about my connection to Hector. She might ask why I knew his parents. I had promised myself not to interfere in his life, which would be a considerable obstacle. I held my temple.

It was almost midnight, and I couldn't sleep. I kept thinking of ways to reunite Hector with his parents without making it seem like I was involved.

Unable to stop thinking about it, I went to the living room and sat on the sofa. I looked at my bookshelves, searching for a book to read. I was too lazy to browse the internet, and reading usually made me sleepy.

My eyes fell on a photo album on the low table I used as a base for my decor. I picked it up and placed it on my lap. As I flipped through it, I couldn't help but smile. It had been years since I last looked at these photos—maybe about seven years. I quickly found pictures from my college days.

What surprised me more was finding a photo with Hector in it. But it made sense; he was a big part of my college days. Then sadness began to overtake me. I took the picture off the page and examined it closely. I shook my head as my lips curved into a bittersweet smile.

The photo was from my second year of college. Hector and I were side by side on our university's Foundation Day. It was supposed to be a group picture of our class. Still, he had unexpectedly joined with two of his fraternity brothers. I felt a pang of longing but didn't cry this time. I closed the photo album, and an idea came to mind. I knew now how I would carry out my plan.