In The Arms Of An Angel (ON HOLD)

CHAPTER 36

"Hello, lola?! Napatawag po kayo? May problema po ba?" RJ was surprised to receive a phone call from his grandmother when he just visited them the day before. He has just come back from the gym and was just planning to catch up on his readings for the rest of the weekend.

RJ's grandparents are the only family he has left after what happened five years ago. And after he had that accident, his grandparents were always worried about him living alone in the city so he made it a point to visit them as often as he could even just for a day or two or as his busy schedule permits.

"RJ, apo. Kumusta ka? I'm sorry, iho. Naistorbo ba kita?" His grandmother sounded worried.

"Okay naman po ako. Di ba kahapon lang po magkasama tayo? At lola never kang magiging istorbo sa akin. Kayo po ni lolo kumusta?" He laughingly answered as he slowly stood up from his bed and walked towards the window of his room to look out onto the busy streets below.

"Okay naman din kami ng lolo mo. Namimiss ka talaga namin lagi kasi madalang ka na dumalaw. Dito ka na lang kasi tumira uli sa atin para maalagaan kita at ng di na ko lagi nag-aalala sayo." Lola Linda answered still with a hint of concern.

"Lola, matanda na ko para magpaalaga sa inyo! Ako nga dapat ang gumagawa nun. Sorry po na hindi ako nakakauwi regularly alam nyo naman na di fixed ang oras ng duty ko kaya di kayang mag-uwian kagaya dati. Bakit nga po ba kayo napatawag bigla?" He asked again. He knew there is another reason for this call.

"Ay, naku iho! Nakalimutan ko palang sabihin sa iyo na may nagrenta ng buong resort ngayong weekend. Padating na sila mamayang hapon at hanggang Linggo sila." His lola said.

"May problema po ba sa resort? Nandyan naman po si Mama Ten, di ba?" He asked.

Mama Ten is their long time resort manager and an old family friend whom they trust immensely so he does not really need to be at the resort all the time to oversee operations.

"Naku, apo. Nagkaemergency si Mama Ten mo at kinailangang umuwi sa probinsya nila kanina. Sa Lunes pa ang balik nya. Pinayagan ko na kasi nga emergency sa pamilya. Baka pwede kang umuwi muna dito ngayon para makausap mo yung kliyente para sa kailangan nila? May shooting yata silang gagawin dito sa resort natin kaya kailangang may makausap sila. Di ko naman naiintidihan ang mga bagay na yan. Pwede ka bang sumaglit dito uli mamaya? Pasensya ka na, iho at ikaw lang maasahan ko ngayon..." His grandmother explained.

"No worries, lola. Wala naman po akong masyadong gagawin this weekend, okay lang po. Sige po mag-aayos lang ako ng gamit ko then babyahe na po ako pauwi dyan." He answered as he walk towards his closet to get some clothes.

"Hay, salamat apo. Ipaghahanda kita ng paborito mong pagkain pagdating mo dito. Kumakain ka ba ng maayos dyan?" His Lola Linda asked.

"Don't worry too much about me, lola. Malaki na ko at kaya kong alagaan sarili ko." He answered with a smile.

"Nag-aalala lang naman ako dahil mag-isa ka dyan. Kung ikaw ba naman ay nag-aasawa na para may katuwang ka na sa buhay eh di sana kampante na kami ng lolo mo na may mag-aalaga sa iyo..." His lola argued.

"Lola, asawa agad?! Wala pa nga akong girlfriend! Saka masaya naman po ako na ganito at tahimik po ang buhay ko ngayon. Wala pa po sa immediate plans ko yang mga bagay na yan. Priority ko for now ang ienjoy ang second life ko at palaguin ang mga iniwan sa akin nina Daddy na kabuhayan..." He said emphatically while shaking his head at what his grandmother said.

"Hay naku, RJ! Bahala ka na nga sa buhay mong bata ka! Basta lagi kang mag-iingat. Baka atakihin na kaming tuluyan sa lungkot at nerbiyos kapag may nagyari na naman sa iyo. Ingatan mo naman ang sarili mo." Lola Linda reprimanded him softly.

"Yes, lola. Mas mag-iingat po ako. I'm really sorry na pinag-alala ko kayo ng sobra sa accident ko. I promise I will be more careful..." He promised.

"And promise mo din apo na bibigyan mo na rin kami ng apo sa tuhod soon bago man lang kami mawala ng lolo mo." Lola Linda added which made him almost choke.

"Lola! Para ka lang umoorder sa fastfood kung humiling ng apo sa tuhod! Grabe sya! Hinay hinay lang po, di pa ready ang kalaban!" He answered,chuckling.

He was still smiling as he end his phone conversation with his lola but the smile on his lips turned into a frown when the image of the doe-eyed woman in red last night flashed in his mind at being reminded about his grandmother's request for apo sa tuhod. He felt the tingling sensation again like what he experienced last night when they touched.

"Bakit sya na naman ang biglang pumasok sa isip ko? Porke't sexy at makinis? Kelan ka pa naging manyakis, RJ?!" He shook his head as he strode purposefully to his closet again to get a towel so he can take a bath.

"Bakit ba lagi kong naiisip ang babaeng yun? Di kaya nakilala ko na sya talaga dati...pero imposible. Ano ba talaga nangyayari sa akin? Kung anu-ano na naiisip ko!" He was talking to himself as he took a quick shower.

"RJ! That weird girl is trouble personified! You stay clear of her. Problema lang ang dadalhin nyan sa buhay mo. Besides may boyfriend na yata sya! Baka nga hindi lang isa! Di ba quota ka na sa ganyang klaseng mga babae. Umayos ka nga!" He reprimanded himself as he wrap his towel around his torso.

"Just forget weird girl, RJ...she will just ruin your perfectly laid out plans for your life...just like what Anne did."