Once boarded and finding their seats, Rj saw that Maine would be seated on the inner part of the cabin and he'd booked for the window seat. He quickly moved to the side and let Maine scoot in, taking her carry on for stowage.
"Take the window seat na..."
"You sure?"
"Yes."
"Thanks!"
The plane is checked by the staff before the go-signal is given for the pilot to taxi on the runway. It's a clear night so their departure was rather smooth.
They are flying in PAL's newest aircraft, the B777-300ER, whose seats recline as if it were almost a bed. Rj quickly fiddles with the panel to learn about this "cool" feature. Maine, whose eyes are closed, quietly sits and silently prays for their safe journey. Rj gently takes her hand and intertwines his fingers with hers. She opens her eyes and smiles at him.
"....how are you feeling?"
"....pagod...."
"Are you still sick?"
"I hope not...I've been okay since last night...."
"Ah good...good....but tell me if you feel sick, ha?"
She nods and smiles.
"Haay Love....what happened ba?" Rj asks again. They've spoken on the phone already two nights prior to their flight. She told him that she must have eaten something bad or the heat caused her to be sick. She didn't tell him, though, that she had vomitted most of what she ate on Thursday after she worked in the Barangay.
"....I told you nga....sumakit tiyan at ulo ko.....nasuka ako...." Maine finally admitted.
"What?" Rj squeezed her hand and looked at her with concern. "Wait....I read your blog.....5 times?"
She stared at him almost teary-eyed and said "eight..." softly.
Rj gently raised their hands to his lips and kissed her hand. "Oh Love....how do you feel now?"
"Much much better....natakot din ako when I was vomitting....diba nga I said in my blog that I cried everytime I vomitted....the only time I remember doing that was when I was a kid.....natakot ako kasi lahat ng kinain ko at iniinom, sinuka ko....I....I...." she was slightly shaking recalling her ordeal.
"What?"
"I thought I would pass out....good thing after the eighth time, I really felt so much better....ang dami ko nang sinuka...."
"Oh, baby!" Rj removed his hand and put his arm around her to hug her. The armrest between them was a little in the way but he managed to hug her and kiss her on the head.
"Dean rushed me to the hospital and I was given an IV in the ER...buti nalang di ako na-confine....."
"Yes....or else wala ka dito...."
"Paano yung show?" Maine was still concerned about the show they were having abroad.
"You wouldn't be able to perform naman if you're sick. I won't allow it...."
"Oh Babe....."
"So, how do you feel now? Do you want water.....crackers?"
"Water lang muna....I was told to rehydrate more muna.....and...."
"...stay away from oily and spicy food...." Rj said.
Maine nodded. Rj called for the flight attendant and asked for some warm water which he had Maine drink. After a while, he helped her adjust her seat so it reclined and she could rest. He covered her with a blanket, tucking her in and kissing her before attending to his own seat.
A long while later, Maine readjusted her seat so she was seated upright again. She glanced over to her side and saw that Rj had fallen asleep. She chuckled, remembering that he was "masa" – masandal lang, tulog! She adjusted his blanket. As her hand brushed on his arm, he moved and held on to her. She patted him gently and he let go. Many minutes later, she woke him for meals.
"What? Do you feel sick? Are you okay? Kailangan mong sumuka?" Rj woke up startled, sitting up immediately, reaching for the barf bag on his seat pocket.
"I'm fine...I'm okay....don't panic....they're serving dinner na...." Maine gently laid her hand on his arm.
"Ah...okay...okay...." Rj settled down and readjusted his seat to a better position.
Rj ate carefully, watching Maine as she nibbled on her food. He knew that she was a picky eater and seeing her just taking nibbles of her food caused him concern.
"You don't like your food?"
"It's not that....natatakot lang ako...."
"Ahh okay....here, have some warm tea....and bread.....malamanan man lang yang tummy mo...."
"I'm okay....thanks...."
"But you barely ate...."
Maine took what Rj offered and ate it slowly. She paused to burp which caused Rj to reach for the barf bag again. She looked at him and shook her head.
"You sure?"
"Yes....thank you...." she said and kissed him on the cheek.
Once dinner service was over and the plates cleared, Maine settled back down to work on her laptop. Rj took out his tablet to play his game. When he looked to his side, he noticed that Maine had curled up in her seat. He pulled her blanket up from her waist to tuck her in again. She stirred a bit so he patted her side like how mom's put their babies to sleep with a rhythmic patting. Soon, he too, fell asleep.
