housemates (completed)

housemates 27 -- fears

"Papa!" M said as she saw her grandfather walk down the hallway of the pediatric floor.

"Menggay ko!" Papa replied as he tried to walk a little faster, hobbling with his cane. M took bigger strides and reached him in no time, hugging him tightly and kissing him on the cheek.

"What brings you here?"

"I had a check up with Dr. Martinez.  I brought you your favorite spaghetti" Papa said as he held up the paper bag he was carrying.

"Wow! Thank you!" M took the bag and held Papa's elbow as they slowly walked to the conference room beside the nurses' station. "Pa, initin ko lang to ha? Gusto mo ng juice?"

"Okay..." Papa said as he took a seat, smiling at M.

"Mmm! Sarap!"

"O, dahan-dahan naman apo...bibilhan pa kita ng spaghetti kung gusto mo pa..." Papa said as he watched how M devoured the pasta like it was her last meal. "Teka...bakit ba parang gutom na gutom ka?" It was just after 2pm.

"...ngayon pa lang po ako nakapag-break...lunch break...mahaba kasi shifts ko..."

"Ahh...sigurado kang hindi ka ginugutom ng nobyo mong si...ano nga ulit pangalan nun?"

"Richard po...Rj...hindi po...lagi nga po kaming nag-s-snack e..."

"Eh baka naman puro snack lang ang pinapakain sa iyo ni Reynold..."

"Richard, Pa..."

"Yun nga, kulang sa sustansya yung snack-snack lang..."

"Mga ganitong snack din naman ang kinakain namin...spaghetti, pansit, sandwich..."

"Hmm...umuwi ka nga sa bahay nang makakain ka ng mas masusustansya na pagkain. Sasabihan ko si Marian na lutuan ka nung may maraming gulay. Isama mo na si Arnold mo..."

"Rj po...hmm, iniisip ko nga pong umuwi sa bahay..."

"Uuwi ka?"

"Opo. Sa bahay natin."

"Bakit? Nag-away kayo ni Argel?"

"Hindi po. Hindi po kami nag-aaway. Ano naman po ang pag-aawayan namin?"

"Eh bakit ka uuwi sa bahay?"

"Kailangan po kasing ayusin yung banyo sa apartment. Tatawag po sana ako mamaya sa inyo ni Mama para sabihin na sa weekend ako uuwi sa atin."

"Ah. Eh paano si Redmond?"

"Richard po...Pa, yun nga, ipapaalam ko sana sa inyo ni Mama na sa atin din tutuloy si Rj sa weekend lang habang ginagawa yung banyo ng apartment."

"Ah. Bakit may sira sa banyo nyo? Hindi ba kayang ayusin ni Reynante yung sira?"

"Pa, Doctor po si Richard, si Rj. Kailangan namin ng tubero at karpintero para maayos ang trabaho."

"Ahh"

---

J was first to enter the apartment almost running as he needed to use the toilet. They had just returned from dinner out after work. They also decided to drop by the store for some supplies they needed. J carried in the heavier bag and dumped it on the dining table and ran into the bathroom, slamming the door behind him. M followed a few minutes later with a smaller bag.

M was busy arranging the things they bought when she suddenly heard a thud. She looked at the direction where the sound was coming from, the hallway leading to the rooms and bathroom. However, after that loud, muffled sound, everything was quiet once again. M finished putting away the things and went to her bedroom to bring in her personal belongings. With her room door closest to the bathroom door, M could almost always hear the activities done in the bathroom. She had just kicked off her shoes and was removing her socks when she heard more sounds coming from the bathroom. There were some clinking sounds which were followed by muffled speech.