AMACon 3: Oikos (30 Day Drabble Challenge)

Day 16 - Paalam

"What are we going to do?"

"We have no choice, Menggay," RJ said softly, rubbing a hand over his eyes. "Valeen can't do it because she's very upset."

"Bakit ba kasi ngayon pa?" Frustrated, Maine wrung her hands before shaking her head. "Hindi naman tayo nagkulang 'di ba? Lagi naman natin siyang sinasabihan na itigil na iyung ginagawa niya 'di ba?"

RJ nodded silently.

"Nastre-stress lang ako, RJ. Paano kung hindi okay kay 'Je iyung gagawin natin? Paano kung bigla niya tayong sugurin?"

"Menggay," RJ said in a broken voice. "Wala na namang magagawa si Je. Pasaway kasi siya. Marupok na nga, torpe pa."

"We better start working on it then," Maine sighed. "May nasimulan ka na ba?"

RJ hesitated for a few moments before putting a piece of paper in her hands.

"I did the best I could. Let me know what you think."

"RJ, bakit basa iyung papel? Saan mo ba nilagay ito?"

"Sorry, Menggay. Ang hirap lang kasi talaga. Close na close ako sa kanya tapos..."

"I understand. Pero pigilin mo muna ang luha mo ha? Kailangan mong maging matatag."

"Susubukan ko, Baby Girl," RJ said with a teasing smile.

"Tse! Nang-aano ka na naman eh!" Maine laughed. "Mamaya na iyan. Tapusin muna natin ito para mapadala na natin."

"Sabi mo iyan ha? Mag-aano tayo mamaya!"

"Huy! Tama na iyan! Mahiya naman tayo."

RJ's expression grew sad.

"Okay, babasahin ko na," Maine took a deep breath.

"Jerald Napoles, a handsome comedian, television host, and theater actor passed away on 03 September 2016 at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan, Metro Manila due to cardiac arrest. He was thirty-three years old..."

"Iyung gusto kasi ni Je, actor daw na pwedeng nakakatawa, kumanta, at puwedeng sumayaw," RJ murmured, fighting back tears. "Ang saklap lang talaga..."

"Teka lang ha. May mali eh. Bakit parang joke ito?"

"Ha? Bakit naman? Pinag-isipan ko iyan uy!"

"RJ, simula pa lang oh! Ilabas mo ang handsome! Asan? Hindi ko makita."

RJ burst into laughter before turning somber. "Grabe siya oh. Pogi naman si Jerald! Hindi lang halata."

"Fine! Itutuloy ko na lang pagbabasa ko."

"Sabihin mo kung may kulang at dapat tanggalin ha?"

Maine nodded.

"Jerald had always been a selfless person who tried so hard to live life to the fullest. He worked hard not only to establish himself as a good actor but also to help his family. In the final days of his life, he even devoted time to help with the preparations for the wedding of the century. Unfortunately, Jerald met his end before he could stand next to his best friend on his wedding day. Hmm. Blah. Blah. Blah. Maybe we can add something about his achievements?"

"Pwede. Patulong na rin tayo sa parents niya siguro? Hindi ko pa rin kasi sila nakakausap."

"Good idea! Tawagan natin sila mamaya."

"Hoy, mga lapastangan kayo!" a voice suddenly interrupted them, making them jump in shock. Both Maine and RJ turned to see Jerald propped up on his hospital bed.

"Thank God we're sitting on a couch on the other side of the room," Maine muttered to herself. "Mukhang asar na asar si Je."

"Je! Gising ka na..." RJ trailed off.

"Iba rin kayong dalawa! Gusto niyo ba talagang mamatay ako? 'Ni hindi pa nga kami nagkakatuluyan ni Val!"

"Ano ka ba, Je," Maine interjected with a bright smile. "Gusto lang naman namin maging ready!"

"Tama si Meng! Baka kasi matuluyan ka na lalo na kapag nalaman mo na we're having twins...ay!" RJ's eyes widened and he frantically looked at his fiancée.

"Sabi ko 'wag mo munang sabihin eh," Maine protested, slapping his left arm weakly. "Baka lumala kondisyon ni Je!"

"Sorry, Menggay. Hindi ko talaga napigilan," RJ said sheepishly. "Babawi na lang ako mamaya. Gagawin ko iyung ano."

"Ehhhhh. Inaano ka ba?"

Jerald cleared his throat. "Teka. Teka lang. Anong sabi mo, Papi Alden? Twins? As in kambal ang magiging anak niyo?"

"Oo! Kaya kapit lang ha? Hintayin mo muna sila."

"Ha? Oo naman!" Jerald snorted. "Ako pa ba? Handa naman akong maghintay."

"Naks naman!" Maine smiled broadly. "Sabi ko sa iyo, RJ eh. Kaya iyan ni Je."

"Delikado," RJ muttered under his breath. "Mahihimatay iyang si Je."

"Hindi nga?" Maine whispered. "Mukha namang okay siya ah! Manalig ka, Baby Boy! Manalig ka."

"Ikaw ha," RJ said with a smirk. "Sigurado ako. Tingnan mo siya o."

They both looked at Jerald who was quietly gazing at the window. He seemed like he was lost in thought.

After a few moments, Jerald turned to look at them.

"Ano? Bakit kayo nakatigin? May pasabog..." His voice trailed off as his eyes rolled back, losing his consciousness in a matter of seconds. Again.

"Tara na nga, Menggay," RJ sighed with exasperation.

"Ha? Bakit? Anong gagawin natin? Saan tayo pupunta?"

"Tapusin na nating obituary ni Je para makaalis na tayo. Mukhang hindi na talaga siya tatagal."

***

A/N: Thank you for reading! I'm writing a #SquadGoals chapter regarding what happened before this! :)