Staying Strong Amidst Hardships

By Roy Jude Obedencio – Creative Staff Writer for Liz’s Filipino Desserts

Darren walks again home slowly. It has been 48 hours since he last slept. His work as a front liner nurse in a small hospital drains him out. He is thinking about why he chose this profession and course after graduating from high school.

“This is where the money is at”. “The work is easy since you would work in a small hospital”. “There are few patients here”. These were the “encouraging words that pushed him to become a nurse. He doesn’t even know if it’s his calling or not. Darren just wanted to get a course, graduate then work.

“What a joke my life has been after all these years”, he said muttering to himself. Day by day, he wakes up in the morning and wills himself to get up. He has felt a sense of tiredness ever since the pandemic.

In two years of working at the hospital, this is the first time that he got tired of working. Before the pandemic struck, the hospital was not busy. It takes in a record of 10 patients per day. He has lots of time to burn while mingling with his colleagues.

Everything changed the lockdown started. Patients kept on pouring in every day. They now needed PPE’s whenever they start working. Of course, he is also afraid that he might contract the disease from the patients.

Darren couldn’t even eat at the right time now. He is always rushing his lunch break so that he can return to his rounds. Oftentimes, he even skips lunch because of the workload. Worse, he needs to stay at the hospital for longer hours than usual.

“Should I resign already? I’m tired of all this hard work”, he said. His musings got interrupted by a friend who called his name.

“Darren, my man! How’s life treating you?” It was his friend, Johnny. Johnny was the one who influenced him to take up nursing. Darren didn’t blame Johnny for this because, at the end of the day, he decided to go on with it. For him, Johnny is still his best friend.

“Never been better, Johnny-boy. What about you?” Darren answered.

“Same old, same old, buddy. Still lots of people flocking the hospital where I work.” Johnny replied.

Johnny persuaded Darren to take up nursing because he aspired to become one as well. He also wanted to “help” Darren have a direction in life. Darren didn’t have any ambition. He wants to work but he doesn’t have the passion for anything that he does.

Also, Johnny wanted to have his best bud along with him in college. He thought that Darren might discover something by helping people. The way Darren looks right now, Johnny believes that nothing has changed.

“You’re going home now, right? Come with me for a couple of minutes”. Johnny said.

“Is it important? I am so tired. I got out of a 48-hour shift today. I miss my bed already.” Darren answered.

“Yeah, man. I know you’re tired but I have something that would wake you up even for just a while.” Johnny pressed.

“Fine, fine. I’ll go with you. But I’ll only stay for 15 minutes.” Darren said.

Not wanting to hurt his friend’s feelings, Darren allowed Johnny to take him to his house. “If this takes more than 15 minutes, I can just sleep there anyway.” Darren mused.

When they entered Johnny’s house, a familiar scent came right at Darren. It was something very familiar. It’s something that he grew up with. He inhaled more of the scent so that his thoughts would return to that day. That day was two years ago. It was a scene that he chose to forget so that he won’t feel sad.

“There you are, my friend! Check this out!” Johnny exclaimed as they went to the dining room and opened a paper bag.

“Is it what I think it is?” Darren asked while anticipating the opening of the package.

“You bet it is!” Johnny said as he took out three servings of bibingka. “This is the perfect breakfast, don’t you think?

“I haven’t eaten bibinga for years, man!” Darren’s excitement faded as quickly as it came after remembering the past.

Six years ago, he and Johnny enrolled at the local nursing college near where they live. While waiting in line, Darren spotted a girl that appears to be the same age as them. The girl was stunningly beautiful and Darren’s heart literally fell on the floor.

“Hey, hey Johnny! You see that girl?” Darren asked.

“Yeah. Bro. Why? You like her?” Johnny asked.

“Yeah, man. I want to know her name but I’m too shy.” Darren said.

“C’mon man. Man up and talk to her. That’s the only way to know her. You can do it!” Johnny exclaimed.

With all the courage that he had that time, Darren slowly approached the girl. He tried his best to act natural but fumbled at the last minute.

“Uh, hi miss. May, may I know the time?” Daren asked.

“Oh, its 8:45 am.” The girl answered then walked away.

“Uh, thanks!” Darren answered while looking at the girl.

Johnny approached Darren and said, “Really man, asking for the time? That is the oldest trick in the book!” Johnny said.

“I was too nervous, man. She’s shining in front of me.” Darren said.

“Well, if she’s here to enroll, chances are that you’ll see her again. Try to get her name next time.” Johnny said while shaking his head because of the lost opportunity.

Days passed by and classes officially started. Darren couldn’t believe his eyes upon entering the classroom. The girl he saw during enrollment is seating on the left side of the classroom. As luck would have it, he and the girl would become classmates.

Darren chose to sit at the desk beside the girl. He acted naturally; sat on his chair and waited for the professor to arrive. He tried his best not to look nor stare at the girl. The last thing he wants is to spook the girl and think that he’s a stalker.

The professor came and asked the whole class to introduce themselves. That is where Darren came to know of the girl’s name, Cathy. Cathy is a bright student. Very studious and serious about graduating.

Darren, on the other hand, wanted to know Cathy more so he studied like he never studied before. Johnny was happy because he thinks that Darren found his purpose. Cathy as an inspiration would point Darren in the right direction.

The thing is that Darren still couldn’t talk to Cathy without making a fool of himself. His admiration for Cathy was so obvious that even the girl knew it from the get-go. As fate would have it, the three of them became groupmates for a class project.

“Darren sure is late.” Cathy declared.

No worries there. He would be here later.” Johnny said.

“You know what? Darren is intelligent enough to become the top of the class without even trying. I just don’t get why he acts like a slacker.” Cathy described.

“He just needs to focus. Well, he has something; someone to focus on which is why he can study like this”. Johnny said.

“Oh please, he hasn’t even asked me out yet.” Cathy said.

“Just give him time. He’ll come around.” Johnny said.

They were talking more about Darren when he finally arrived with some piping-hot bibingka. He apologized for being late.

“Sorry guys. I just thought that we would need something to eat while doing the project.” Darren said then looked at Cathy, “Hey, here’s some for you. It’s my favorite snack.”

“Thank you, Darren. It’s been a long time since I ate one of these. I only have the chance to eat them during Christmastime.” Cathy said.

“Well, we eat them whenever we have the chance. The thing is, it’s too hard to find someone who sells these even on normal days.” Johnny said.

“After we eat, we can focus on the project.” Darren declared.

That class project brought Darren and Cathy closer. After a month of eating out as friends, Darren finally asked Cathy if she would be his girl. After knowing what Darren is really like, she accepted his love and the two became a couple.

Years went by and they graduated from college with high marks. But this also marked the beginning of an unforeseen problem. Cathy wanted to work at a hospital in the city while Darren wanted to serve at their barrio’s hospital. Not wanting to hinder his love’s dreams, Darren allowed Cathy to pursue her calling.

They made a promise that nothing will change between them. But the strain of having a long-distance relationship took its toll and they separated. Darren is now working at a hospital in their barrio but lost his direction and purpose again. He neither likes nor dislikes his monotonous life. For him, its wake up, work, go home, sleep; rinse and repeat.

Johnny got very worried so he invited his friend for some bibingka. This might bring back fond memories of the past and allow his friend to move forward. He also has some good news for Darren.

“You missed this, haven’t you?” Johnny asked.

“Yeah.” Darren replied sadly.

Johnny knows that his plan might also backfire and it is happening right now. “This is the time for the good news. It still has a sad ring to it but news nonetheless.” Johnny mused.

“Hey man, there is something I want to tell you. I did say this is important.” Johnny began.

“Yeah, you did, alright. What’s up?” Darren asked.

“Remember the hospital in the city? I know you haven’t had any sleep yet but I must ask you to go there now.” Johnny said in a serious tone.

“Why? Look, man, I’m so tired and I want to sleep. Besides, the city is a twelve-hour trip.” Darren objected.

“Just sleep while on the road. Cathy needs you. She couldn’t reach you after you changed numbers way back so she contacted me. Rather, her mom called me.” Johnny said.

“I’d rather sleep. That woman only thinks about her ambitions. I’m not her priority while she is my world. That’s why we broke up.” Darren said.

“Look, bro, swallow your pride and just go there. I won’t tell you what happened so just go there.” Johnny ordered.

“Fine, fine. I’ll bring something for her just in case. I won’t stay there for long since I have work.” Darren said.

“Forget about work. I’ll cover you just go there now.” Johnny said.

Sensing the urgency in his friend’s voice, he went to the nearest bus station and traveled to the city. “Why is Johnny so worried?” Darren asked himself. He still loves Cathy but he’s also mad at the same time.

Upon arriving at the city, he went straight to the hospital where Cathy works. He asked the attendant at the nurse station for Cathy. He was led to a room that he couldn’t enter. It’s an isolation room for quarantined patients. It turns out that Cathy got sick in the line of duty.

Darren felt sorry and angry at the same time. Sorry because he wasn’t there to take care of Cathy and angry at the virus itself. According to the doctor, Cathy is under observation and stable. Since he couldn’t talk to Cathy, he chatted with her mom instead.

“I’m so sorry about this, auntie. I never should’ve allowed her to work here.” Darren said while crying.

“It’s not your fault, Darren. Before she got sick, she went out of her way to help the patients here. She believes it’s her purpose. She loves you still but she chose to help the people in need. As a nurse, she believes that helping people is a noble task.” Cathy’s mom said.

“I can’t live without her. She is my world.” Darren said.

“She doesn’t want you to be this way. She knew that you will come and feel like this. She said that you should be strong and help people. Once you felt the sincerity in helping people and their gratitude towards you, you’ll understand.” Cathy’s mom declared.

“I will do my best, auntie. I will visit you again. Keep me posted. When she wakes up, please give her this.” Darren said while handing a package of bibingka to Cathy’s mom.

Darren went home with a determined look; now fully understanding his love’s decision. He finally found his purpose. He will continue the good work of her love who up until she got sick, was serving people. Darren believes that in time, humanity will beat the pandemic. Once all this is over, he will win Cathy back and they will eat bibingka as they did all those years before.