Us

Crash

Ring!

"Oh God! Please...please pick up!!"

Ring!

"RJ! Please!!"

Frustration and guilt are written all over Maine's face. She just got news that an accident had occured at the Skyway. She was just on the phone with RJ about an hour prior. Now, there was a frenzy of activity and confusion amongst the people in the hosts room.

"Si Mama Ten, kasama nya, diba?"

"Eh si Kuya?"

"Sinong nagmamaneho?"

"Eh alam nyo naman yon, ayaw ng may magmamaneho para sa kanya..."

"Meng, okay ka lang?"

Maine was pacing back and forth, try to call RJ on his phones. No answer...

For a split second, the room became silent as Ruby's phone rang.

"Hello....uhmmm...."

She turned her back at the people who were around to properly hear the person on the other end.

"...uh-huh....uhmmm...okay....pero, okay sila?...uhmm...okay...salamat...salamat!"

"Ta Rubs, si...RJ?" Maine asked immediately, tears welling up in her eyes

"Si Richard yun...si Daddy Bae....nasa St. Luke's na daw sila...uhmmm, Meng...." she motioned to Pauleen who was standing next to Maine with a nod.

Pauleen gently hugged Maine and assisted her to sit on the couch.

Maine's expression changed...her eyes glazed as she heard the words, "St. Luke's..."

Ruby approached Maine and slowly said, "Naaksidente sila RJ at Mama Ten. Kasama din nila si April...si RJ yung nagmamaneho..."

Everyone in the hosts room fell silent and were now looking at Maine and Ruby.

"...head on collision...bigla atang nagmenor yung sasakyang nasa unahan nila...."

All this while, Vic was also on the telephone talking to someone.

"Eto....kausapin mo si April..." hands the phone to Maine...

"Hello..."

"Maine...yes.....we're here at St. Luke's..."

"What happened....where's RJ?" her voice breaking. She was trying not to cry but her difficulty in breathing gave her away.

"Shhh....don't cry.....he's stable now....we're just waiting for a room...."

"What?.....stable?......what happened?" With the phone to her ear, Maine looked at her friends.

"The truck infront of us suddenly slowed down...we hit it...the airbags deployed but RJ got the brunt of it..."

"How....bad...is....it?"

"I was able to get out. I was seated in the back. Mama Ten's airbag opened, too. She was able to scramble out of the car..."

"R....J?" Maine looked down, her voice breaking.

"He couldn't get out...he was unconcious..."

Maine broke down. She put the phone down and hugged Ruby who was seated beside her. Pauleen took the phone and stood up to continue talking to April.

Ruby rubbed Maine's back and someone offered tissues and a glass of water.

After a few minutes, Pauleen went back to the group and retold what she gathered from April.

"So ayun nga...nagmenor yung truck bigla...nabangga nila and yung impact na kay RJ...nakalabas si April at Mama Ten pero di nila mailabas si RJ...dumating yung rescue at ambulansya kasama si Tito Richard...dinala sila sa hospital..."

Vic gently nudged Pauleen and their small group moved away from Maine and they talked some more just outside the hosts room.

"Patchy, samahan mo na si Meng. Kayo siguro ni Oreo...puntahan nyo na...si Moty na bahala..." Vic ordered Patchy as calmly as possible while looking at the crowd who were now gathering by the door.

"Meng..." Pat approached.

Maine looked up at Pat.

"Puntahan natin...."

"Kami na bahala dito....tinatawagan na ni Ma'am Jenny sina Jose at Wally....papunta na sila sa barangay..." Moty said.

Without second thoughts, Maine gathered her things and rushed out of Broadway with Pat and Oreo.