Chapter: Outreach program
TOM POV:
"Hi babe! how are you today? "Tom asked through a video call
He went to bed and lie down
"I'm good, I miss you so much!" She answered
" I miss you too, by the way, I have read your interview on fashion Paris, I bought the magazine"; he's excited to tell her
He took a selfie holding the magazine and sent it to her
"Really? Aww you're so sweet babe "she replied, after seeing the picture " you know how much I am proud of it"
"Me too, It's your dream, finally has come true, "he said
"Yeah!" and I can't do that without you, "Mildred said "I love you, baby "
"I love you too, please come home soon, and let's celebrate that "
Mildred looked back
"Ah wait, looks like my lunch is ready," she said and left her phone on the table "Just wait a minute "she shouted
"What is it?" Tom asked but Mildred didn't hear him
After a couple of minutes, Mildred came back
"I'm so sorry," she said and took her phone "Tada...my lunch, steak fries " while showing her food
"Hmm yummy"; Tom smiled; "Oh by the way Anna and I had a coffee this morning, "he said
"Did you guys meet?" She wondered
"Accidentally met her this morning "She paid for the magazine and I bought drinks for her,"
"You're so sweet" Mildred teased him "How is she? "She asked
"She's fine, seems she's nice "Tom smirked
Mildred laughed" I told you she's nice .."
"Mmm yeah you're right, " he replied "but that's not the issue here, Chairman Yang wanted me to come back to the company "
"Then?" Mildred was intrigued "Did you accept it"
"No not yet, I'm still thinking" he responded quickly
"I think.. you should grab it" she replied
"I'm not ready" Tom replied to her "I'm not ready to work with him, in fact, I'm still mad at him"
Mildred sighed
"It's up to you babe, "she responded "if you still don't want to work with him, that it's fine, but he's still your grandfather though" she explained
Tom remained silent
"Hey, are you okay? "She asked
Tom nodded," Please smile for me babe "She pleased him
Tom smirked And suddenly smiled at her
"Goodbye babe," she said "Have a goodnight and sweet dreams "
"Enjoy your lunch," he said " I will call you tomorrow morning," he said
"Alright, babe!" She kissed her mobile screen " I love you very much!"She said
"I love you too" he smiled and kissed her through "Always take care of yourself"
They both clicked the end call
Tom put his phone on the table beside his bed, turned off the lampshade, and fell asleep
The next morning, Anna went to University, and she checked her schedule for their community duty.
Anna was assigned to the slum area, She and her friend Nikki were included in the group, while Frej and Shania were the other group members,
They need to work as a health practitioner and teach the communities about basic nursing, how to improve their healthcare system, and to lessen the morbidity and mortality rates in the communities.
A day after, their group went to that community with their clinical professor.
"Anna " Nikki called
Anna looked back
"Isn't she cute?" She asked while holding a 9-month-old baby
"Aww She's cute," she replied
"What was the complaint?"
" Nothing, she's for MMR vaccine " Nikki responded
"Is it done?"
"Yes ma'am " the baby's mother answered
"She's cute Mommy," she said while holding the fingers of the baby
"Thank you?"
"Full breastfeeding?"
"Yes ma'am, " she replied
"That's good !"
"She's heavy," Nikki said
They both giggled
"I wanted to have a baby someday... " Anna said
Nikki cleared her throat
"Have a boyfriend first before the baby " Nikki teased her and laughed
The baby cried, She gave the baby to her mother. The mother sat down on a chair, and she breastfed her baby.
Anna and Nikki walked away, They entertained some of the patients, and they took their vital signs, such as blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate.
Meanwhile, a white van came and stopped in front of the health center, most of the people were glad when they saw that car... they were whispering and the excitement in their hearts was reflected in their faces.
A lady came outside from the van, Anna knew that lady from afar, The head and other staff of the health center went outside and greeted her but her classmates continued their work.
" Finally she's here," an old granny told her
"Who?"
The granny smiled and "She's the angel, she and her family helped us"
Anna looked at them from afar
"She looked familiar... is she the politician or what?" She murmured
"She's not a politician darling, you don't need to be a politician, for you to help the country's people especially us," she said
Anna agreed
"Once a month or twice sometimes, they give supplies for us, "she added
"Really?" Wow " she amazed
Anna was intrigued by that woman, she wanted to know who it was because it looked familiar to her.
The lady came inside after she greeted all the patients seated inside the tent.
All of them are grateful and thankful. The supplies were put on the table,
Anna saw Ms. Janeth, she came forward to greet but she was ashamed so she turned back.
She called the next patient and took the vital signs, she kept herself busy and never looked at them.
After taking their vital signs she sat on the corner. A teenage pregnant mother came with her 3 years old toddler
"Hi, " she greeted her "How are you?"
" I'm fine, seem my baby is sick," she said
"What happened?" She asked
"She had a high-grade fever last two nights, I don't know what to do..." she told her
"Alright, I need to take her vital signs first"
The toddler cried when Anna attempted to put the thermometer under her arms
"Ohh no no don't cry, it's a toy," she said
She put the thermometer on her uniform, and took it after a second "Ta-da...look there is a chocolate here " Anna said, "You wanted a chocolate?" She asked the toddler
The toddler nodded
" so we need to put this for you to have a chocolate," she said, " you want to try?"
The toddler nodded again, Anna put on the thermometer, a few seconds the thermometer was alarmed, she took it and checked the temperature. Slightly feverish
"Where's your chocolate?" She asked
The toddler looked around, and she began to cry.
"Oh here!" Anna said while showing the chocolate on her palm " Because you're very good, I'll give you these two " she added
The toddler took it. She sends them to the doctor on duty. The doctor assesses them.
Anna left and went back to her post, busy filing the patient's name on the box
Suddenly a guy sat on a patient chair
"Nurse can you check my BP," he asked
She looked at him "hi " he said
"Tom" she replied
"What are you waiting for, your patient is here"
"You're teasing me," she said
"No, I'm not, I just want to know my latest BP"
Tom rested his arms on the table
Anna stood up in front of him closely.
Her heartbeat was racing, she didn't know what was the reason but she felt uneasy with him, she leisurely leaned forward and cuffed his bicep,
Tom looked at her and caught his gaze
" What?" Anna asked and
"Your hand is cold" he smiled
"Tsk!" She smirks as she puts the diaphragm of the stethoscope below the inflatable cuff
" I saw what you did to that child," he said
" pssst " Anna interrupted him "I can't hear your pulse " she explained
Anna can hear his breathing, and she was able to smell his body scent, she wanted to lean closely but she moved backward and looked away
After that, she uncuffed the BP and put it aside,
"110/70," she said
"Is that normal right?" He asked
Anna nodded
"What are you doing here? " she asked
"Did you greet my mother? "
"I am supposed to, but I was ashamed," she said
Tom laughed "come!"
"No!" She responded quickly
"Don't be," he stood up and suddenly a young girl pulled his shirt from behind
Tom looked at her, a young girl holding a flower and gave it to him
They both laughed
"Thank you" Tom bend "Where's my kiss," he said and the girl kissed him on the cheek " I have something to tell you"
"Okay, "
"I need to whisper in your ears, you see that lady?" He said and they both looked on Anna
"What?" Anna asked
He whispered on her ears and later on the girl laughed while walking toward her, She gave the flowers to Anna and said " Kuya Tom said, this flower belongs to you because you will get jealous if I gave this to him"
Anna raised her eyebrows and
"Tsk tsk tsk," she said and took the flowers from the young girl.
The young girl ran toward her granny while talking to Janeth
Anna and Janeth looked and smiled at each other from afar.
After the distribution of their goods and supplies, Janeth seated on the chair, wiped her face. She seems tired but she's happy to serve those people.
Anna walked toward her. "Hi Ms. Janeth " she greeted her
" I didn't know you are here?" She said " come and sit beside me"
Anna seated beside her
"Call me Tita," she's correcting her
(Tita means aunt)
"Alright tita" she responded "
"you know, we've been doing this since the company was started, once or twice a month especially when Mildred is here, she's the one who organized this before, they both love doing this," she said
Anna smiled "I think the people love them so much"
"Yes! Indeed, They've miss them luckily Tom came with me this morning and I can't wait to see them marry... one day"
Anna remained silent and nodded
" Hopefully you'll be there "
Anna smiled "of course Tita, I'll be there," she said "Excuse me Tita, I think I need to go back on my post, maybe my clinical Instructor is looking for me"
"Yes go ahead!" she replied
Anna stood up and walked away
" Do you know her?" Nikki asked
"Yes, " she answered
"Ohhhh! how ?"
Anna sighed " it's a long story " she smiled
Anna and her classmate were seated in an empty room and her clinical instructor discussed a short topic regarding community nursing before they ended their community duty.
Anna packed her things, she wiped her BP apparatus, thermometer, and stethoscope, before she put it inside of her Paraphernalia bag.
She was walking with her friends when Tom pulled her back bag from behind
"Hey!" Anna shocked
Her friends looked back when they heard Anna
"And where do you think you're going?" he asked while holding her bag up "Go ahead girls!, " he said and winked to them
her classmates kilig to him and continued walking through the highway.
Anna struggling her from Tom,
"Stop bullying her Tom," Janeth said from inside of the van and she smiled at them
"Get in," Tom said
"Tsk !" she murmured while getting in the van and seated next to Janeth
Tom Got inside the car and sat next to her
"Please understand my son, Anna," she said
"That's okay Tita" she replied
"Don't worry Ma, I'm her older brother, That is okay for her " he explained
"Really?" Janeth asked and anna nodded
"See?" Tom said
The driver drove off and they went to the Manila Hotel, They went to Red Jade restaurant, a traditional Cantonese cuisine, restaurant serves fresh seafood and handcrafted Dim Sum etc.,
They sat on the corner of the restaurant, and later after, Marvin came
"Pa!" Tom hugged him and he sat beside Janeth,
"Hi! Anna, how are you please sit down " he requested
she sat beside Tom " I'm alright Mr. Yang!"
"Call me Tito, hopefully, is that okay" he commanded
Anna nodded
Their food was served and a bottle of white wine
"Enjoy your meal !" he said to her
" You want duck?" Tom asked Anna
Anna shook her head "Try it?" he said and he put a piece of duck on her plate
Anna tried to stop him but it's too late
"You should try that, it's the delicious and delicate menu ...their dim sum also are known here, if you've tasted them, hmmm feels like you're in Hong Kong" he explained
Marvin sit back on the chair and smiled " you both seem close" he noticed
" yes they are" she responded
" what, I'm helping her...she seems look like a malnourished " Tom teased her
"what?" Anna interrupted him
Marvin and Janeth laughed
"Alright, that's enough son !" Marvin stop him
"I told you, Tom, stop bullying Anna " Janeth said and she drink her water
"I'm not bullying her mama, I don't want her to be super thin," he replied and he looked to Anna " doesn't look good on you," he explained and he wink at her
Anna smirked and she suddenly kicked him under the table
Tom secretly caressed his leg where Anna kicked her
"You want wine?" He offered Anna
"No, Tito, Thank you" she declined him
"Um... she likes that Pa," he said while wiping his mouth, he put the table napkin on his lap, he took Anna's glass, and " Give me " he added
Marvin pours the wine into Anna glass
"Have a drink, don't worry I'm your driver later, and I'll send you home"
"Tom, That's enough" Janeth interrupted him
"Alright!" he said "If you didn't drink that, You're the one who will pay for this " he added
"Huh?" she said
and they chuckled
"Don't believe him, Anna finished your meal?" Janeth said
"Yes Tita, thank you " she responded and smiled at her she looked to Tom, and "Bleh" she said to him
Tom smiled at him
After having dinner, they went outside, it was past 7 o'clock in the evening. Marvin gave his car key to Tom and they hugged
"Take care," he said and he waved to Anna " Good night! Anna" he continued
"Drive safe son!" Janeth said and kissed him, Tom hugged her " Get in, " she said " Bye Anna," she said and hugged her also " Get in, Take care" and smiled at her
Anna got inside the car, she sat in front of the Driver's seat. Tom closed the door and he went inside, he started the button, they waved to his parents.
Tom drove off and sent Anna home
*******************************************************************
stay tuned to Chapter 9: The first day of work is coming!