Tú Eres Mi Sol

XVII

Dei and Richard were not talking to each other in the car. Dei was annoyed at Richard at the moment. They were now going back to the city from the meeting with Henry. The ride was quiet.

Johnny said that in 30 minutes, they would now reach the city proper. It was almost 8 in the evening.

Richard started coughing. It was soft at first, several minutes a part. Now it was almost every two minutes. This alarmed Dei.

"Are you alright? Is this an asthma attack?"

Richard was coughing and now his cough accompanied by a wheezing sound.

"Where's your inhaler?"

Richard pointed at the bag.

Dei rummaged the bag and found the inhaler.

Richard pumped a few times. And pumped another but it seemed the inhaler was now empty.

Richard was coughing.

"D..e..i," Richard handed Dei the inhaler and she shook it, realising it's empty.

Richard still coughing.

"Johnny, sa hospital tayo. Inatake ng Asthma attack si Richard."

"Ma'am, may asthma kit po siya dyan sa isang small bag sa likod. Yung orange na bag po"

Dei rushed and found an orange bag, rummaged quickly through it and found the inhaler.

She gave it to RJ.

They have arrived at the hospital. As RJ was being taken out of the car, he lost consciousness which caused Dei to panic.

Dei was asked to wait outside of the ER. Dei was now crying, shivering and hugging her knees. That's how Rose and Ricardo Faulkerson found her.

"Hija, hija," Dei wouldn't look up.

Rose shook her lightly. Dei looked up and immediately hugged Rose. "Auntie, Auntie, RJ," and Dei sobbed some more. Rose hugged her tightly.

After 10 minutes, Dei asked. "Auntie, how did you get here?"

"Johnny called us. We also own the hospital, so the moment they recognised Richard, they called us, too."

"Is RJ going to be fine?"

"I just spoke with Albert and he said, they are working on him. He'll let us know. Hija, here drink some water." Ricardo said as he handed Dei a bottle of water

"Uncle, Auntie, I'm so sorry. I was there, I should've taken care of RJ more."

"Hija, you're not to be blamed and we are not blaming you at all. We haven't figured out what triggers Richard's asthma attacks. It's not like you could have prevented it"

After what seemed like eternity for Dei, Albert came out of the emergency room.

"Auntie, Uncle, Dei, Richard is going to be alright. It was just an LAR, late allergic response. His asthma was triggered, we still don't know by what. The most important thing at the moment is he's breathing normally now. I know it isn't really needed but I know all of you and you would want to take precaution. We're admitting him for an overnight. I'll let you know once he is in his room and ready to receive visitors."

It was like a huge burden was lifted up from Dei. She finally stopped crying.

Rose hugged her and said,"He's going to be alright, Dei. He's going to be alright"

Dei nodded and hugged the older woman back.

***

The 3 of them, along with Richard's friends, Rodjun, Sam, Jerald and Mark were now following Albert to see Richard.

Albert opened the door. Richard was wearing a hospital gown and was talking and laughing with another guy who was in a doctor's jacket.

"Buti naman Faulkerson, buhay ka pa! Nahimatay ka nga daw e!,"Jerald jokingly told Richard

"Hoy Napoles, Sira ulo ka talaga!"

Everyone gave Richard a hug. Rose was kissing his son's forehead several times.

"You scared us, hijo especially Dei. She wasn't talking when we found her earlier. She was crying and shivering," Ricardo told his son.

"Nasaan si Dei, Dad?"

Everyone looked around. Dei wasn't there.

Sam went to the door and opened it, there Dei was standing and sobbing.

"Dei. Dei!" Richard called her and he opened his arms as if asking her to come

Dei walked to Richard slowly. Richard moved to make space for Dei. He patted on the empty space. He helped her up the bed and Dei snuggled up to him.

Richard hugged her and said, "Dei, I'm okay look. I'm fine di ba? Don't you worry. Malakas to!"

"ANONG MALAKAS, YOU WERE COUGHING AND WHEEZING EARLIER! YOU SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME! I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO DIE! YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DIE ON ME! YOU UNDERSTAND?" Dei said while slapping RJ's chest several times

Richard laughed.

"WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING?"

"I'm not sure I can do that Dei, but I'll try not to die! AND JUST LIKE THAT, THE DEI I KNOW IS BACK, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!"

Everyone laughed!

RJ was immediately discharged of the hospital the next day. The doctors diagnosed it as a late asthmatic response, perhaps from pollens or the change in the weather.

***

A lady in her 50's knocked and opened the door.

"Sir, galing po kay RJ to."

"Ano daw to?"

"Eto daw po yung latest acquisition niya."

Ricardo opened the documents.

It was a transfer title of a land and other documents related to it.

This must be the land that his youngest son was talking about. He wanted to build a renewable self-sustaining organic farm near the metro. It could provide a good buffer in their production especially during typhoon season when there could be issues in transporting the goods. It's easier to make this a prototype in their quest to convert all their farms into farms with renewable energy and easy to supervise as it's near the metro. Everyone in the family discussed it and agreed that it all made sense.

The land belonged to one of the youngest Faulkerson's friend's relative, so negotiations were easy.

"Dude, sabi ni Uncle okay na daw. Nakuha na din niya yung pera. He says sorry na hindi daw siya nakauwi. Magkita na lang daw kayo sa States. Buti na lang talaga tinawagan mo ako noong nakarating ka sa farm at hindi pa si Uncle naka-sign doon sa lease offer"

"Rodjun, okay lang, andito na nga sa office yung documents and napadala ko yung copy kay Dad. Oo nga e! Maraming salamat!"

Richard was looking through the documents and seem to be pleased with it. The name on the original land document, "Venancio Cruz"