breaking free (completed)

17. autopilot

RING.

Maine picks up her phone and sees that it's Rj calling. She's about to answer the phone when the ringing stops. A few minutes later, her phone rings again. It stops just as she is about to pick it up. It happens for a third time. It's still Rj who's been "calling". Finally, she returns the call but he doesn't pick up. She tries again; he still does not pick up. She decides to call his landline. It takes a while for Ate Virgie to pick up.

"...hello...." Ate Virgie says. Her voice sounds a bit distant, like the mouthpiece is far from her mouth.

"Good afternoon, Ate....si Maine po ito......si Rj po?"

"Maine! Maine!"

"Po? Ate! Bakit po?"

"....si Rj...."

"Ano pong nangyayari?"

".....shhhh Angel....get ka ng towel....oo....yan....sige....go na....ay susko Rj!"

"Ate? Ate Virgie! Anong pong nangyayari?"

"Maine! Si Rj!.....ayan na...sumuka na....susme kang bata ka!"

"Ano po?"

".....dito ka sumuka....."

".....Ate Virgie....papunta na ako dyan...."

"Yaya....pupuntahan ko lang si Rj.....may nangyayari sa kanila e...."

"Huh?"

"Wala Daddy nya, nasa Singapore....si Riza may out-of-town para sa school....si Angel at si Rj ang naiwan sa house nila kasama si Ate Virgie...."

"Ah sige.....samahan ka ni Sally....?"

"...hindi na Ya....naglilinis si Ate Sally sa taas e...."

"...sure ka?"

"Yes.....text ako mamaya...." Maine said as Yaya closed the gate.

Maine rushed to Rj's house and was greeted by a wide-eyed Angel.

"Ate Maine!" Angel said as she opened the gate.

"Angel....wala kang school?"

"....kakauwi ko lang po...."

"Si Ate Virgie? Ang Kuya Rj mo?"

"....nasa room nya po....may sakit sya e...."

"Huh?"

"Opo....paghatid po sa akin ng school bus, sabi ni Ate Virgie, may fever daw si Kuya...."

"Ahh ok...."

They approach Rj's room and hear sounds from behind the closed door.

"Angel....may homework ka?"

"Opo...."

"....gawin mo na muna yung homework mo ha....."

"Opo..." Angel leaves and enters her room across the hallway.

Maine opens the door and finds Rj splayed out on his very messy bed and Ate Virgie cleaning up vomit on the floor.

"....Ate?"

"Ay Maine! Susme! Etong si Rj...kanina pa nagsususuka....ang taas ng lagnat...."

"....J? Love?" Maine approached Rj and cradled his head as she sat on his bed. She ran her fingers through his hair to fix it a little. She felt his forehead, he was burning with fever.