by Sieni A. M.
“They did extremely well, Tiana,” Alana said smiling. “I’m telling you, it’s all those good luck vibes you’re sending their way.”
With five minutes to spare, she and Lisi made their way to the main fale to eagerly await their highly anticipated guest. The fale was a colossal structure of workmanship with heavy wooden posts and afa weaving articulate patterns that crawled up to the ceiling. Braided coconut fronds wrapped around the posts and red teuila flowers dangled from them limply. Large fans hung low and whipped around wildly, doing little to ease the stifling heat that rose steadily outside compared to the cool air-conditioning in some of the main office buildings. The girls spotted Manu when he waved to them to join him on the floor. Together they sat on woven mats in their appropriate places near the back.
Like clockwork, a dark SUV pulled into the car park and paused. Quietness abruptly descended in the fale as all attention shifted to the vehicle. The back seat door opened, and Alana’s eyes widened as she watched a tall man emerge and walk towards the line of doctors waiting to greet him. His button down shirt stretched over a broad set of shoulders when he bent his head low for an ula of moso’oi to be placed around his neck. His large hand firmly shook the doctor’s before proceeding along the welcoming line. His gaze was composed: dark brows furrowed and squinted in the sunlight, brown hair blowing in the wind. Alana guessed he was a few years older than she was.
“Okay, this old bag is a really good looking one,” Lisi whispered next to her.
Alana watched intently as the doctors led the mysterious man inside the fale. After they were seated in a circular pattern, the head of the hospital cleared her throat and loudly proclaimed, “Ladies and gentlemen, it is with great honor and my deepest pleasure that I welcome to our hospital Mr. Chase Malek.”
Chapter Four
Alana looked at the tall man and noted the way he sat cross-legged on the floor. Chase sat regally with his hands on his knees, head bowed. There appeared to be no discomfort or awkwardness on his part despite his long legs, and she was instantly impressed.
“We are extremely humbled by your act of kindness and generosity that you have bestowed on our hospital. On behalf of the staff members, patients, and the people of Samoa, I would like to thank you for you generous donation once again. Fa’afetai, fa’afetai lava,” the spokesperson continued. “To welcome you properly in the Samoan way, we have prepared the ‘ava ceremony.”
The ‘ava ceremony took place on the most important of occasions, from the bestowing of chiefly titles to the welcoming and farewell of visitors. The formality conferred honor from the host to the visitor in a remarkable show of praised words and drinking of the kava. Prominent to the ceremony was the presence of the ‘ava mixer who sat behind a tanoa bowl with several assistants sitting beside him or her to create the drink. Alana tried it once and didn’t like its bitter taste.
The chief orator loudly acknowledged the beginning of the ceremony in honor of their visiting guest. The assembled party clapped loudly and slowly to initiate the ritual. The ‘ava server carried a cup made from coconut shell across the fale and swooped his arm down low to Chase. Chase took the cup in his right hand, and after a pause, spilled a few drops on the floor to his right side. Alana was taken aback. This guy knows about the ‘ava custom, she thought to herself. Someone obviously briefed him on the way over. Let’s see if he knows what comes next, she challenged.
Chase then proceeded to speak in flawless Samoan.
“Lau ava lea Le Atua, ua E faia mea silisili mo ou tagata. Sa e puipui ma malusia matou uma i le malu o Ou aao. Lea ua tini pa’o ai le uto a Tapalega. Lea ua moli laau i Foga’a ua aulia mai lenei aso sa taupoina. Ia uli ma sao lo tatou aso! Ia Manuia!”
Here’s to you God! Thou hast created the utmost of blessings for your people. Thou hast protected and sheltered us all underneath the canopy of Your arms. Our goal has been reached, like that at Tapalega. Gratitude and praise like those done at Foga’a. We have arrived at this special day. Let this day sail smoothly! Be blessed!
As he spoke the words, his voice held a deep timber quality and easily demanded the attention he was already receiving in the fale. Without a hint of a foreign accent, the room stilled at his speech, stunned in its silence. Alana gaped as Chase raised the cup to his lips and drank a small quantity before tossing the remainder over his shoulder. He handed it back to the server with assured confidence as the server retreated and returned it to the bowl.
“Is he for real?” Lisi whispered. “He’s either Mormon or got seriously schooled on the way over here.”
It was expected that foreigners would only learn the two-worded Ia Manuia—not sprout some impressive monologue that included polite language and an innate knowledge of their culture.
Alana scoffed to hide her amusement. “The man’s loaded. He probably hired the best Samoan-language teacher around.”
Chase looked up at that moment and took in the scene around him, turning his head before coming to rest his eyes on her. He halted and held her gaze, as if he was reaching into the depths of her soul with just one look. The way his lips lifted into a knowing smile made her feel like he could see how she really felt despite the uninterested facade she had put up. She inhaled sharply and quickly turned her attention to something, anything else in the fale. Feeling unsettled, she focused her eyes on the wilting coconut fronds around the posts. When several minutes passed, she dared a curious peek over at him again. He was concentrating on the conversation that was taking place around him. She examined his face for the first time and noted his strong jaw line, full mouth, and straight nose. It was difficult to discern from this distance the color of his eyes. Brown? Grey? She couldn’t tell but was instantly intrigued. Alana allowed her gaze to roam down the column of his neck to his masculine shoulders before resting on his forearms. They were thick and looked incredibly strong; she had a forearm fetish and admired his immediately. He had an athletic build, and she observed how well dressed he was: white button down, sleeves rolled to his elbows, grey pants. She couldn’t place his ethnicity; his skin color a deep tan and hair a dark brown, she was instantly curious about him. Alana flicked her eyes back up to his face and was horrified when she saw that he was looking directly at her, one corner of his mouth lifting in the faintest hint of a smile. Embarrassed, she lowered her head and placed a hand over her forehead. She knew her cheeks were probably flushed beetroot at that moment, and she wanted nothing more than to be swallowed up by the earth.
“I caught that.” Lisi chuckled quietly. “Mr. Donor God just scored himself fans from the entire female population in this country. I wouldn’t be surprised if one of us secretly breaks into his jet to fly back with him. Myself included.”
“Shhh,” Manu admonished beside them. He observed Alana’s flushed cheeks and frowned, his lips pressed tight.
“I want to meet him,” Lisi admitted dreamily.
Following the formal proceedings, the group was led to a main hall where lunch was served. Long tables covered in tropical blue tablecloths were placed along the rear of the room, holding plates of fried chicken, baked fish, potato salad, and coleslaw. Smaller tables with chairs were scattered throughout the room and donned with red teuila and hibiscus flowers.
“Let’s grab a plate. I’m starving,” Manu said and led the girls to the buffet table.
“I don’t think I have time to eat, Manu. I have to get back to my patients,” Alana protested. Just then her phone pinged with a message. “See? I got to take off.” She started to move away quickly.
“Hey, are we still on for lunch tomorrow?” Manu called as she dashed to the front door.
Alana whipped around and replied, “Yup! Text me. Your treat, right?” He scoffed, and she smiled in response. “Hey, I’m not the hot-shot doctor around here. You’re the one making the big bucks.”
“Right. Not on these government salaries. But I’m sure I can manage buying you a sausage roll? Or maybe a keke saiga?”
Smiling, she turned towar
ds the exit and ran head first into a broad chest. “Omph, I’m so sorry, I didn’t see—” Alana’s speech was cut off as she peered up into the dark blue eyes of Mr. Chase Malek. So they’re blue. A deep ocean blue that could only be found beyond the reef.
His eyes widened in surprise before he warmly smiled down at her. Her heart thudded against her chest at the close proximity, and she moved to step away, returning a hesitant smile back.
“Oh, Mr. Malek. I see you have met one of our most recent nursing graduates,” an older nurse whose name Alana couldn’t remember spoke.
“Not yet,” he answered with a tone of amusement. He stuck out his hand to her. “I’m Chase.”
Alana swallowed and extended her own. His large hand engulfed hers in a firm handshake, and the sensation shot a tingle up her arm. She glanced self-consciously to her left and saw heads of department and prominent doctors glaring in her direction and could imagine their exact thoughts. Why is he wasting his time talking to this nurse? He should be over here with us. Chase looked over to where her attention was diverted. Momentarily distracted, she took the opportunity to slip past him but he blocked her movement.
“You didn’t tell me yours,” he said in a low voice.
Clearing her throat, she urged herself to relax. “Alana. My name is Alana Vilo.” She gave a small smile and tilted her head upwards to meet his eyes. He was easily the tallest man in the room, and she felt miniscule against him.
He smiled brilliantly in return, flashing straight, white teeth. “I didn’t mean to startle you, Alana. While I’m here, I’m interested in acquainting myself with the hospital and meeting its staff.”
A second message came through on her phone, and she fidgeted uncomfortably. Time to go, she thought.
“It was lovely to meet you, Mr. Malek. I hope your visit to Samoa and to this hospital is a pleasant one. If you’ll excuse me, I have to tend to my patients now.” She smiled politely but cringed on the inside. God, she sounded like a robot.
“Of course.” He grinned slowly, his eyes lighting up and crinkling at the sides. “It was wonderful to meet you too, Alana.”
Stepping aside to allow her to pass, she finally let go of the deep breath she was holding as she turned into the hallway. A third beep came through, and when she checked the message her heart sank.
Terrified, she bolted down the long corridor to the intensive care unit, pushing through the doors and racing over to the drawn curtains surrounding a familiar bed. She slipped through the curtain and saw a doctor and nurse working frantically over Mr. Filipo’s body.
Dr. Fetu was pounding on his chest when he looked up and barked, “Alana, God damn it, where have you been?”
Alana sucked in a breath and immediately stepped into her professional shoes. Following his instructions, she stood back as he placed paddles from the defibrillator on the old man’s chest.
“Clear!” he shouted.
She watched as his body was shocked. Over and over again the shocks shook him and the bed. Alana’s heart quickened as she frantically looked to the machines for any sign of progress, of life…anything promising. This could not be happening, she thought. They were just chatting mere hours ago.
The room was silent save for the shocks and the shuffling of feet but Alana’s ears were roaring with her heavy breathing.
Several minutes passed when the doctor finally stopped and stepped away. His face had a sheen of sweat on it, and he was breathing harshly. Wiping his forehead with his shirt sleeve he said three words that brought an end to it all. “Somebody call it.”
No. No. No! Her mind shrilled and protested. It could not have just come to an end like that. One moment they were joking in the morning, and the next he was dead. Alana could not accept that his life could be so fleeting, so fragile. Did she have no control over it? Feelings of powerlessness flooded her mind—her young cousin who died of dengue fever, her father in the car accident, and now her patient.
“No! We have to keep trying! There’s still time!” she cried, pushing herself forward so she was situated over Mr. Filipo’s chest.
She began to pound down in an effort to revive him. Two breaths, thirty compressions, over and over again. She could not just give up now. She had to try. It was happening too fast for her, and she was not ready to let him go.
“Alana, stop! It’s over now. He’s gone. We did everything we could.” Dr. Fetu came behind her and grabbed her shoulders.
“I can still do this, please,” she pleaded, a sob escaping from her throat.
“Alana, enough!” Dr. Fetu demanded.
“You have to let me try!” she shot back as she continued her ministrations. She couldn’t believe she was talking that way to her superior, but she was not ready to let this patient go. Hot tears welled in her eyes, and she blinked hard to keep them from falling. Perhaps she should never have become so attached to him. To any of them. But she had a soft spot for Mr. Filipo. He reminded her of her father, and if she couldn’t save her father, she would damn well try her hardest to save Mr. Filipo. It was too much if she just had to let him go. Doubts flooded her mind and she began to question her credibility. Could she really do this job? Maybe she wasn’t cut out for this after all. She was too emotional, and this was too personal.
“Alana,” Dr. Fetu spoke calmly but firmly. “It’s finished. Let this go.”
Alana let out a ragged breath and stopped. Her arms were sore from pumping his chest and sweat gathered in the middle of her shoulder blades. Head hanging low, she heard the other nurse call the time of death. Dr. Fetu ripped off his gloves and threw them down on the floor and headed out the doors. The nurse covered Mr. Filipo’s body with the sheet and shook her head.
“Such a sweet old man,” she said before walking away.
Alone, Alana raised her hands and shielded her mouth. This was the first death she experienced as a nurse at the hospital, and the shock of it made her body tremble. Not even her training could have prepared her for this. Taking a few steps back, she slipped out of the curtain and walked towards the doors that led to the nurse’s station. Taking a drink of water from the fountain, she swallowed hard and the liquid went down painfully. She tried to catch her breath.
Lisi approached and asked, “Are you okay?”
Alana’s throat tightened and she nodded. “I’m fine,” she said shakily.
Lisi frowned. “You are not fine. What happened?”
Alana expelled a breath and relayed the incident with Mr. Filipo while Lisi listened and nodded in understanding.
“I’m sorry to say this, Lana, but you get used to it. Death is a part of our job, and one day it won’t affect you so much. It’ll become another mechanical part of our work. It’s sad, but true.”
Alana shook her head. “I was checking up on him this morning. We were just talking and he made a comment about this silly flower in my ear and now he’s….” she trailed off when her throat tightened again, and Lisi reached out and rubbed her arm.
“Look, it might make you feel better if you went and kept him company until the guys from morgue take him away. Is his family around?”
Alana frowned and shrugged distractedly. “I don’t know where they are. I think Dr. Fetu went to find them. His daughter was just there this morning.”
Lisi held up her hand. “Go and be there when the family gets to see him,” she instructed. “Offer what support you can to them. It’ll help you and it’ll help them. They will most likely accompany the body to the morgue.” Alana bit her lip and nodded. Lisi gave her a small smile and walked away.
Taking tentative steps back to Mr. Filipo’s room, nerves descended on her as she thought about his family. She never had to comfort strangers before, and the act made her apprehensive. How did one go about it? What were the universal signs of consoling another person? A pat on the back, grim face, apologetic eyes? These options seemed distant coming from someone they didn’t know. This is why you became a nurse, she reminded herself. For moments like this. Now suck it up
! Pausing at the curtain, she hesitated before going in, mulling the words over in her head to encourage herself when something caught her attention. A strange glow emanated from the cracks through the curtains, and Alana’s forehead creased at its appearance. The light was odd and out of place, and she immediately pulled the material aside to inspect the source. She gasped out loud at what she saw.
Standing over Mr. Filipo’s head was Chase Malek, his head bowed and eyes closed. A white glow pulsed from his forearms snaking its way down to his large hands. His fingers were splayed open and spreading light over Mr. Filipo’s scalp.
Alana panicked and stepped inside. “What are you doing? What is that?” she hissed. “Get your hands off him!”
She rushed forward to pry Chase’s arms away. Chase ignored her. He was much stronger than she was and did not budge. Alana clawed at him to put an end to his ministrations and stopped suddenly. His body was warm, too warm for human comfort. She retreated in shock. What was happening? Chase’s eyes flew open and the blue in them burned fiercely. Alana sucked in a breath and stepped back with frightening force.
The brightness illuminated intensely and encircled Mr. Filipo’s head as if it had a life of its own. Moving deliberately, it found its way towards his chest. The intense white light became a blue flame and swirled downwards to settle over the area where his still heart lay. The light heightened and intensified, clutching at his chest, drawing its source and energy from Chase.
Alana stood still, astounded out of her voice and mesmerized by the brilliance emanating from Chase’s body. It reflected off his face and intensified the blue in his eyes. Was this really happening? Her mind raced trying frantically to fathom what her eyes were revealing to her. After a few moments the glow slowly retreated to his hands before dissipating altogether and returning the room to its natural light.
At once a sharp beep resounded in the room. Alana gasped and looked at the machines. A faint heartbeat. Two. Three. More followed. Impossible! Moving quickly, she went to bag her patient. Shocked, she looked up at Chase. Her hands quivered and her knees shook. He was watching her intently, and she stepped back shakily. What did he just do? How did he bring Mr. Filipo back? Where did that light come from? She opened her mouth to speak but didn’t get the chance to ask him.