Mister Villain

CHAPTER SEVENTY

RJ would remember it for the rest of his life – the fear and mind-numbing pain he felt when he received that fateful phone call from his sister.

"Papunta na sa air strip si Daddy where our plane waits for him. He will directly head to London na para makahabol siya in time for the contract signing. There is nothing else you have to think about now. Only coming home" Gab told him.

"Hindi pa rin tapos ang operation?" he asked again – after having asked it for five times already.

"I am not sure Kuya pero magdasal tayo. Doc Jay-Jay is already inside and he won't fail us. He has never failed us" his sister updated him. She understood his hopelessness. She understood his dread.

"When it's over, promise me you will call me. If I can't answer because I am already on the plane, message me. I will respond as soon as I can."

"I promise Kuya. Take care of yourself. Kris will pick you up from Clark so you can immediately get here."

"Gab..." hindi niya magawang maibaba ang phone. It was his only line to her. It was his only –

"Kuya, I will stay on the line hanggang inaayos pa ang flight mo."

Nakahinga siya nang malalim doon and forced himself to look up or else e iiyak na siya.

Ramdam na ramdam niya ang pagsikip nang dibdib niya.

"Nasaan ang truck driver na nakabunggo sa kanila?" he finally thought of asking.

"He's in police custody. Atty. Fortun has headed over there to take care of things. Apparently Marx Limited owns the truck."

His mind was distracted for a while. "Shipping Line. Gil ang pangalan nang mga owners, tama ba ako?"

"Yes" Gab confirmed "Sabi ni Atty. Fortun, he will make sure na pananagutan nila lahat. We have reliable people with us Kuya. You do not need to worry about those things."

Hindi niya masabi sa kapatid na he wanted to think of other things for a minute because if he continued to dwell on Maine, his head will just explode.

"Rammed by a truck..."

"Both legs daw are broken..."

"The injury to her head is still undetermined..."

"A punctured lung..."

"Quite a lot of blood loss..."

It felt as though Abu Dhabi Airport's ceiling had fallen all over him when he was informed of the news. He stood stock still in the middle of people bustling about, rushing on their way to their next flight, and his assistant – Mommy Ten, and their EVP – Jake Ejercito – looked at him in worry as color drained out of his face.

They immediately understood the severity of the reason for the phone call and guided him towards one of the lounge chairs so he can sit before his legs gave way.

Apparently, it was two hours after the accident when Gab found out.

She has been trying to call Maine about their lunch for thirty minutes and when someone finally answered, isa sa mga kasama nila sa bahay ang nagsabi na itinakbo ito sa ospital.

Gab was told that Maine had been involved in a car accident because a truck had rammed her car.

Immediately, RJ's family was on the move.

His Dad decided to take his place in the contract signing event with the VODAFONE group and called for their chartered plane so he can directly fly to London and catch up with the rest of the Faulkerson contingent headed to Heathrow. His Mommy immediately contacted one of their family doctors and asked whether he could head out to the hospital in Bulacan, where Maine has been taken. Gab contacted her assistant so they can immediately arrange for a chartered flight for RJ back to Manila from their stop-over point, Abu Dhabi. Ruru talked to Atty. Fortun to arrange everything and assist Maine and her family in every way in the case of the truck driver.