Tú Eres Mi Sol

VIII

When Dei was in Switzerland and broke up with her first boyfriend, who was in the next flight to Europe and bought a ticket at exorbitant prices? RJ Faulkerson, to the surprise of his family and friends. It was the middle of a school year. All he said was I need to be there.

"RJ, he left me", this was the first thing that Dei said, when she saw RJ, enter her room, coming off a flight from Manila. 

He immediately hugged her.

"Shhh.. Dei, Shhh.."

"There's nothing wrong with you"

Dei continued crying. She was almost wailing. "You're going to find one better"

RJ hugged her tighter.

"You know why he broke up with me?"

"Dei, I don't have to know."

"It's because ... because.... I wouldn't sleep with him."

This alarmed RJ, broke away from the hug and faced Dei.  "TELL ME, DID HE FORCE HIMSELF ON YOU?"

"No, no, RJ. He couldn't. The chauffeur was always with us when we would go out, he'd sit a few tables or chairs behind us. Opa and Oma would not allow me to go out unaccompanied"

"Good good. You can also use your Jiu Jitsu skills you know?", RJ wiped the tears with his hand "he'd be on the floor in seconds. You are strong Dei, so strong that my back still hurts" 

This made Dei smile and whacked RJ.

"RJ, that was years ago!"

***

It was in the news, about two years ago, the youngest Faulkerson was in an accident. He was in a motocross tournament when his bike accelerated and he tumbled twice, causing to fracture his leg and an arm. It happened on a sunny day, it was a scary thought that it could have been much worse if it was raining. 

On the 2nd day of confinement, the doors of the suite where RJ was confined, an enraged Dei Mendoza burst into the room. She went straight to the patient's bed without looking anywhere else.

"Hi Dei!", RJ said charmingly and winked. Waving with his left hand. His right leg and right arm have been bandaged and are in an orthopaedic cast

"HI DEI? IS THAT ALL YOU HAVE TO SAY? AND YOU THINK I WILL BE CHARMED BY YOU WINKING AT ME? YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW TO WINK FAULKERSON!"

Dei moved to his left side and found a magazine. She rolled it and started hitting RJ with it.

"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING RIDING A MOTOCROSS BIKE? YOU WERE ALWAYS A KLUTZ!"

"ARAY, DEI, ARAY. ANG SAKIT NIYAN!"

"SERVES YOU! ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND? WHY WERE YOU RIDING A BIKE AND YOU WERE IN A COMPETITION?!" and she didn't stop hitting him

"ARAY, DEI. ETO NGA NASA HOSPITAL NA DI BA?"

"UULIT KA PA BA? ANONG GUSTO MO MAMATAY KA NA?! SINO NA ANG SASAMA SA AKIN MAG-SKY DIVING? ANONG PAKULO TO FAULKERSON?"

"Ahem.. Ahem..", She heard another voice and looked behind her. There was Ricardo and Rose Faulkerson with Rob and Lia and RJ's friends Tuns, Rodjun, Mark, Jerald and Sam.

"Auntie Rose, I'm so sorry. I didn't see you", and she gave everyone a buss on the cheeks.

"SKYDIVING!  .. you two, you will do no such thing!" An irate Rose Faulkerson told the two. 

"Hija, when did you arrive?", Ricardo asked the lady.

"Uncle, I just arrived today, I went straight from the airport to see this idiot!", everyone in the room laughed 

"Oh, I'm so sorry Uncle and Auntie, I know he is your kid, but an idiot still! And sorry for hitting him. Rob, Lia, I know you love your brother"

"Au Contraire, Dearest Dei, I concur, this one right here (pointing to RJ) is an idiot. And it's so good to see you, you look great as always."

"Thanks, Lia. You look amazing."

"Are you staying iha?", Rose asked

"Yes, Auntie. I've asked the driver to pick me up later tonight. I wanted to keep an eye on this one. He might do stupid things again." Everyone laughed.

"Bro, looks like you've just been placed under surveillance", Rob tells his brother.

"URRGGHHHH!!! WHY ME!!!!"

"Because you're a klutz!", Maine rebutted.

"Honey, we'll be leaving. Will you be okay here with Dei?", Ricardo asks his wife

"Yes. Now that Dei is here, I don't think this boy right here would be as stubborn."

"Auntie, we will be leaving as well. We'll come back later", Tuns said to the Faulkerson matriarch 

"What kind of friends are you guys? You are all going to leave me with two dragons? HELP!!!"

The boys were snickering on their way out.

Right outside the patient's door, Money changed hands. Rodjun and Tuns each received cheques. They wagered that Dei would arrive immediately within 2-3 days. And there she was.

***

After 8 months, a 20 second video of Dei and RJ was posted on Facebook. Skydiving in New Zealand to the dismay of Rose Faulkerson. 

***