CHAPTER 34

Kuya Drei's face showed he couldn't fully understand what was happening to me. He was used to seeing me as a colleague who never showed any signs of difficult situation. So, when he saw me like this, he was surprised. I calmed down before deciding to share a part of my past that I had kept hidden from him. After I finished telling my story, we sat silently for a minute.

I accompanied him to Hector's "suite," and we peeked through the window's door. He spoke to me as a fellow expert, which is how we usually communicate. However, it was clear from his expression that he was still processing everything I had told him.

"Maybe the general anesthesia had something to do with what happened to him," he said, a hint of concern in his eyes as we walked away at Hector's room.

"We should probably let Dr. Veloso know that I'm not familiar with the anesthesiologist who worked with the surgery team," I said.

"No, Ara. It's better not to; this will become a scandal in our hospital," he said. I did not respond because I thought he was right. "Remember, they are the best team of surgeons here. They might feel that we are ruining their reputation." In our profession, credibility is significant. They might consider my actions judgmental, even though it was just a simple correction.

"Was it possible that he could recognize me early? He had retrograde amnesia for seven years."

I looked at Kuya Drei, and he took a deep breath. We were both walking in the hallway and stopped near the elevator lobby. In front of us was a floor-to-ceiling fixed glass window. We both admired the view from the outside.

"Cognitive impairment is a common occurrence after surgery," Kuya Drei said, his eyes remaining focused outside the large window. "Let's just say there may have been some disabled or enabled memory receptors in him."

"I can't accept that he can recognize me again," I said. I could almost break down from the sound of my voice.

I told him about Marco de Leon and how our paths had crossed. Kuya Drei was upset because I had only revealed this to him now. He had treated me like a younger sister, and he wished he had known earlier so he could have helped me overcome my struggles.

Throughout my life, I had never intended to disclose all of this. But now, I needed people who would listen to me wholeheartedly and understand. I remembered that this was what I often advised my clients back then, and I felt foolish for not being able to do it for myself.

"Was this the reason why you quit the radio?" Kuya Drei asked. I nodded, feeling the urge to burst into tears again.

"Ara, you can't hold on to something like this," Kuya Drei added. For the first time, he spoke to me like a true friend, more like a brother. "Even if he remembers you, you have nothing to return to him with. I know it's hard to let go, but you have to. In the end, everything will be okay. You have to get used to it."

"I am always trying to move on, day by day. I have been training myself. I need to stay strong when he undergoes treatment, but it's all coming back. I guess I still love him. Why did this have to happen to me... to us?"

"And now you're playing the blame game with a nonexistent suspect. What a coincidence! The skilled radio DJ, who used to give great advice to her listeners, is struggling to help herself in real life. Don't expect life to be fair, Ara. You know deep down that you don't deserve to suffer, so you know how to cope with it."

"That's what hurts, Kuya. The challenge I have been going through is also at an expert level," I exclaimed. "Do I have to cry all day again? I don't know how to start with his treatment; I don't know how I will work because I'm too scared and too cautious. I'd like to know if he wants me to remember him. What if his wife finds out about our past? What if Eric finds out about him? Those 'what ifs' are beyond my knowledge."

Kuya Drei took a deep breath. His hands were in his pockets while he was wearing his laboratory gown. "Go on with the basics; do it the way you work. Act normal, even if they know the truth about you—at least, that's the right thing to do. There's nothing wrong with the truth—soon, everyone else will accept it and move on. Relax, Ara! You won't die from what you're about to do," he said, tapping me on the shoulder.

I never answered back, yet I agreed. Kuya Drei was right; I won't die. But the hurt kept coming so often that I felt like I was slowly dying from it. Why did fate challenge us even more when we were weak? As I always advised my clients, I needed to go through all this until the end.

Before we parted ways, Kuya Drei told me to have Hector undergo another CT scan. He would help me determine whether he had another case of amnesia. I thanked him for his suggestions and gathered the courage to continue my plans.

***

I met Kuya Drei the next day in the radiology department's control room. The two of us stood while the radiologist showed the image of Hector's second CT scan result.

"If you look at this portion of his bilateral medial temporal lobes," Kuya Drei said while pointing at the CT scan image, "It has abnormalities, a sign of anterograde amnesia."

I took a deep breath. Hector now suffered from two types of amnesia.

"Please speak with his family and let them know that we need him to undergo multiple tests again. This is to determine if his condition still affects things," Kuya Drei added.

I quietly nodded while thoughts about his sudden recognition of me continued to play in my mind.

"Ara," Kuya Drei said, snapping me back to reality as he tapped my shoulder. "I'm here. Call me if you need anything," he smiled at me. Even with just a glance from Kuya, I could feel he understood what I was going through.

Hector stayed longer in the hospital because he had to undergo more tests. I explained this to Mommy Gloria, and she immediately cooperated with me. I didn't mention anything about his anterograde amnesia to her until we had the final results of all the tests.

I noticed that Maya's anxiety disorder was constantly attacking her, and maybe the reason was that Hector no longer recognized her. She was slowly losing weight, and the excessive stress was evident on her face.

I was preparing treatment programs that Hector could undergo. I needed many experts to assess him. Kuya Drei and I decided to keep Hector's case private in the hospital.

I didn't want any controversy to arise here. I needed to protect Hector. I promised myself to focus on his well-being, but I continued working. I could not believe that his condition would end up like this. But his surgery turned out well, which gave me a little relief. He said his headaches rarely occurred now, and I was thankful for that.

I also spoke with Ma'am Yolly and invited her to the hospital. I showed her the information and results regarding Hector's surgery, including his newly acquired amnesia. Ma'am Yolly was convinced not to pursue the case against Hector and promised to help me.

I learned the results of Hector's tests and was delighted by them. Everything turned out to be an optimistic outcome because it didn't affect most of his well-being. He could still have a regular, daily life. The hospital discharged him, yet he had to return for his rehabilitation therapy. Meanwhile, I was starting to prepare the treatment program I had planned for him.