After having their blood tested, they were all resting. Nindy and Vero were now taking the exam for the scholarship. Nindy was completely focused on her test. Every now and then, she let out a soft sigh whenever she came across a particularly difficult question.
"Ugh, why is number ten so freaking hard?" Vero grumbled.
"Be quiet, Vero. You're so loud," Nindy snapped.
Vero had been making noise the entire time. His mouth never stopped rambling.
"Yeah, sorry. I'm just confused. Why is this question so hard?" Vero shot back.
"If it's hard, look it up and study it instead of rambling nonsense. Do you really think talking nonstop is going to give you the answer?" Nindy said, finally making Vero fall silent.
"You have a point. Hehe," Vero replied with a goofy grin.
"So she really went to Papua, Dad? Mom?" Heni asked.
"Yes. She said she went to Papua for a volunteer assignment," Diana replied sadly.
Good. That meant she wouldn't have to feel jealous about their affection anymore, and she wouldn't be compared to Nindy anymore.
"Mom, forgive me. This is all because of me that Nindy left," Heni said, putting on an act.
"Enough, Heni. This isn't your fault. Let her try living on her own out there. It won't last long. What will she live on when all her ATM cards have already been returned?" Nugraha retorted.
"But I feel bad for her out there, Dad. What if she gets cold? What if she goes hungry?" Heni said, pretending to be sad even though she was cheering inside.
"She'll find a way to survive out there," Nugraha replied.
The truth was, Nugraha was worried about his daughter too. He was concerned about Nindy. What if she really didn't have anywhere to stay? How would she eat? All those thoughts were already weighing on Nugraha's mind.
Diana had already gone to her room because she couldn't bear to listen to her husband and eldest daughter talking. She missed Nindy terribly, her little girl who had always made her happy. Ever since Nindy's departure, Diana hadn't had her usual spirit. Sometimes she even fell ill from constantly worrying about her daughter.
"Ah! Finally, that's over," Vero said, stretching his arms.
"Hey, it's not over yet. There are still a few more tests," Nindy replied.
"Ah, you're right, Nin. Oh my God, I feel like my brain can't hold anything else," Vero complained.
"Hahaha, hang in there, Vero. I'm sorry you ended up applying for this scholarship because of me," Nindy said guiltily.
"Come on, it's fine. I wanted to become a doctor too," Vero replied.
"Thanks, Vero. You're always there for me, and you're always such a good listener. I'm really lucky to have a friend like you," Nindy said sincerely.
"I'm lucky to have a friend like you too—and you're gorgeous and adorable," Vero said, pinching Nindy's chubby cheek.
"Ow! That hurts!" Nindy complained.
"Hahaha, I told you, don't get mad. You don't look scary at all. You just look adorable," Vero said, laughing.
"Ahem, excuse me," someone said in a deep voice.
Nindy and Vero turned around at the same time and saw Rafael standing there. They had no idea how long he'd been there. They hadn't noticed him at all.
"Oh, Doctor, how long have you been standing there?" Nindy asked.
"Since you finished the exam," Rafael replied.
"Why didn't you just come in? Why stand over there? You look like you're collecting a debt," Nindy said.
"Hahaha, sorry. I didn't want to interrupt you," Rafael said.
"Oh, it's okay. By the way, did you need something, Doctor?" Nindy asked.
"I wanted to invite you both to see the test results. Wouldn't it be better if we found out together?" Rafael said.
"Ah! Sure, Doctor. Give us a second to tidy up," Nindy replied.
Nindy and Vero quickly put everything away. Then they headed toward the health post. The other volunteers were already there.
"All right, today we're going to review the blood-test results from the residents and children here. We also need to find out how dangerous the virus is so we can act quickly," Rafael said once everyone had gathered.
"You may not be familiar with this kind of medical work since you're serving here as volunteers. But I still want to involve you. You can treat this as a learning experience," Rafael continued.
"Of course, Doctor. Thank you for always including us in things like this. It makes us feel really valued," Ranti said.
"Okay, let's get started," Rafael said.
They all watched Rafael's every move. He picked up a device called a HEMATOLOGY ANALYZER. The machine was used to automatically measure and thoroughly examine blood cells based on light-beam or electrical-flow impedance. It could help diagnose illnesses that patients might be suffering from.
After examining the blood samples, they finally got the test results.
"According to the final results, the virus currently infecting the residents is the Ebola virus," Rafael said.
"What's the Ebola virus, Doctor? Is it really dangerous?" Vero asked.
"The Ebola virus is named after the Ebola River in Congo, where it first caused an outbreak in 1976. The death rate from an Ebola infection is between fifty and ninety percent, and the disease progresses very quickly. Its symptoms include headaches and a sore throat that can rapidly develop into internal and external bleeding, as well as multiple-organ failure," Rafael explained.
"Then what caused this virus to appear?" Nindy asked.
"The virus is transmitted through contact with blood tissue or other bodily fluids from infected humans or animals," Rafael replied.
"So the most likely possibility is that the virus was carried by one of the residents' infected pets. The virus spread through the animal's saliva and eventually reached the children," Rafael explained.
"God have mercy, I feel so bad for them. What should we do now, Doctor?" Ranti asked.
"There is currently no powerful medicine that can cure the Ebola virus. People infected with it are usually treated intensively in a hospital, in a separate room such as an isolation room. We can also provide oxygen therapy to keep the oxygen levels in their bodies normal," Rafael answered.
"We can also administer IV fluids and electrolytes to prevent dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. We can perform blood transfusions if a patient experiences severe bleeding, provided the donor is in good health," Rafael added.
"Do we need to take the residents to the hospital, Doctor?" Nindy asked.
"It seems so. We also need adequate equipment to provide intensive care for the patients. I'll confirm it with Commander Vito first," Rafael replied.
"Isn't there anything we can do to prevent it for now and reduce the residents' pain?" Nindy asked.
Honestly, she couldn't bear to see the residents suffering. Especially the children, who were constantly crying.
"For now, prevention means giving patients the appropriate medication and fresh fruit. Sterilize all the equipment and anything around us. Most importantly, you also need to wear complete PPE so you don't catch the virus," Rafael answered.
"Yes, Doctor. Thank you for explaining," Nindy said.
She felt relieved to know what kind of virus had infected the residents. Now she had to stay strong so the residents could keep their spirits up too.
Come on, stay strong, Nindy. Kim Taehyung is waiting for you, Nindy thought, smiling to herself.