Gravity

12

"Tama na Rj. Uwi na tayo, higit 24 oras na tayong gising." Mama Ten tapped Rj's shoulder. He was getting ready to go to Concha's QC, one of the restaurants he owns. "Pwede naman ipagpabukas na yan. Andun naman si April. Kaya na niya yun."

"Ma, gusto ko lang i-check yung resto. Ilang araw na rin akong di nakakapunta dun." He yawned, his eyes heavy lidded from the lack of sleep.

"Eh ayan tignan mo, antok na antok ka na. Hindi ka naman kailangan dun. Ang kailangan mo, magpahinga. Saka hindi ka pa naghahapunan. Biyernes din ngayon. Madaming customer ngayon dun, siguradong madudumog ka."

"Ma, okay pa ako. Kung ikaw pagod ka na, umuwi ka na. Kaya ko naman mag-drive." Rj argued, his voice raspy and broken.

"Rj, bakit ganyan yung boses mo? Minamalat ka yata?"

"Baka nabigla lang sa recording kanina. Okay ako, kaya ko pa. Sige na Ma, uwi ka na. Kaya ko na 'to."

"Nakapahinga ako habang hinihintay kita matapos. Ikaw, hindi pa. Magkakasakit ka niyan."

"Saglit lang 'to Ma. Sige na, uwi ka na. Sabay ka na lang kay Leysam."

"Ay hindi. Hindi ako papayag magmaneho ka mag-isa. Sige, halika na. Pero saglit lang tayo ha? Kailangan mo pa magpahinga. May shoot ka ulit bukas."

Rj drove to Concha's and as expected, there were a lot of customers, to the point that there is a line of people waiting outside.

The moment her entered the restaurant, people were taking photos and videos of and with him, screaming his name, touching him. It was all overwhelming. He did the best he could to accommodate his fans but it was all just too much. Next thing he knew, his vision blurred and soon turned black.

--

Rj woke up in a hospital bed with an IV line connected to his hand. His body was weak, he could barely move a muscle and his throat was throbbing. His father, sister an Mama Ten were in the room with him, watching him.

"D...Dad." Rj called out, his voice weak.

"Rj, buti naman gising ka na. Kumusta pakiramdam mo, nak?" Richard Sr. went to his side.

"Hindi ko alam, Dad. A...anong nangyari? Bakit ako nandito?"

"Nahimatay ka raw sa Concha's sabi ni Tenten. Nagulat nga ako nung tinawagan niya ako eh. Buti na lang andun din si April kaya naitakbo ka dito. Sabi ng doktor, fatigue daw sa tonsillitis." Richard worriedly said. "Dehydrated ka rin daw. Anak, masyado mo naman yatang sinasagad yung sarili mo. Hindi na maganda yan."

"D...Dad, alam mo naman po kung gaano kaimportante sa akin trabaho ko di ba?"

"Pero anak, ayoko lang na pinapabayaan mo yung sarili mo dahil sa trabaho mo."

"Para naman kasi sa atin 'to Dad, d...diba? Saka pangarap 'to ni Mama para sa akin."

"Pero kung andito si Mama mo ngayon, hindi niya gugustuhin ito. Okay na tayo anak, kaya na natin financially, matagal na. Salamay sa'yo. Hindi ko naman sinasabing tumigil ka. Gusto ko lang naman, alalahanin mo din yung sarili mo. Wag mo masyadong sagarin ang katawan mo. Bata ka pa, anak, i-enjoy mo yung kabataan mo. Wag puro trabaho."

"P...pero Dad..."

"Tama na, Rj. Baka mabinat ka pa. Magpahinga ka na muna, magpagaling, para makalabas ka na din kaagad dito."

Rj kept mum and decided to obey his dad. As soon as he closed his eyes, he drifted off to sleep.

--

"Hay, ano bang nangyayari dyan sa Kuya mo, Riza? Di ko na alam paano ko pa pagbabawalan." Richard shook his head.

"Di ko rin alam, Dad. Nung nagbreak sila ni Ate Maine noon nagsimula yan eh. Pero nung nagkabalikan sila, parang medyo okay na siya. Akala ko ayos na lahat pero biglang ganyan nanaman. Parang mas naging grabe pa nga eh."

"Sa tingin mo ba, wala nanaman sila?"

"Feeling ko, Dad. Kasi hindi naman siya magkakaganyan kung sila pa eh. Hay, sinasabi ko na nga ba, mauuwi nanaman sa ganito. Si Kuya kasi, masyadong martyr."

"Grabe ka sa Kuya mo."

"Siya naman kasi eh. Masyadong mahal si Ate Maine. Yan tuloy." Riza sighed.

"Wag mong sisihin si Maine. Hindi natin alam yung nangyari. Saka sa tingin ko nga mas kailangan niya pa si Maine ngayon." Richard stood up. "Sige nak, iwan muna kita saglit ha. Labas lang ako. Ibili ko ng pagkain si Kuya mo, saka tawagan ko lang si Lola mo."

Richard left Riza with Rj and she watched him sleep. He was totally passed out, looking pale, skinnier than before and had really dark circles under his eyes. He really looked liked he hasn't slept for days.

Riza couldn't help but ponder upon her father's words. Mas kailangan niya pa si Maine ngayon. Eventhough she thought otherwise and that her and Maine weren't exactly on good terms, she felt like Maine needed to know about Rj's state. So, she grabbed her phone and dialed Maine's number.

"Riza? Hello?"
"Hi Ate Maine."
"Kumusta? Uhm, napatawag ka yata?"
"Busy ka ba? Nagising yata kita."
"Hindi, hindi pa ko natutulog. Nakahiga lang."
"Ah okay. Ano kasi Ate Maine, ipaalam ko lang sana sa'yo...."
"Ano yun, Riza?"
"Nasa hospital ngayon si Kuya."
"Ha? Anong nangyari?"
"Di mo nabalitaan? It's all over social media."
"Nasa condo lang kasi ako all day. Haven't checked any of my social media. What happened to Rj?"
"Ayun, sa sobrang pagod at puyat hinimatay sa Concha's. Sinugod nila Ate April dito."
"Is he okay now?"
"I think so. Pahinga lang daw sabi ng doktor."
"Uhm, Riza?"
"Yes Ate?"
"Can I see him?"