Borrowed Time (completed)

3. move

"...sorry po mga Ate at Kuya, kay Kuya Nico muna kayo sasabay ngayong araw. May exam po kasi ako. Pero promise, pagnatapos na po ang exam ko, babalik po ako. Mami-miss ko po kayo." Meng announced as the shuttle filled with passengers. She noticed a fair and rather tall man join her regular riders. He just observed the goings-on in the shuttle as the other passengers gave a collective sigh after Meng's announcement. "...have a nice day po!"

"Good luck, Meng..." Kuya Ding and some of the other passengers wished her luck.

"Thank you po!" Meng replied and waved as she alighted the vehicle so that her Kuya Nico got in the driver's seat.

"Good morning po...kung ready na po lahat, ikabit na po ang sinturon pangkaligtasan at itaas ang mga lamesa..."

"Nico..." Amy groaned.

"...nag-iimagine lang...malay nyo, maging flight attendant ako balang araw..."

"...sabi mo e..."

Nico was Meng's older brother. Because of financial difficulties, he had to quit school. He drove the 2nd of 2 shuttles that their family owned. While Meng went to school while driving the shuttle at least twice a day, Nico opted to keep the business going by driving around the metro the whole day. They almost had similar routes though Nico's route was a little farther than his sister's. Her passengers knew about him from Meng who would regale her passengers with stories about her life while in transit.

---

"...Ariel, itutuloy ko na..." Rj spoke to one of his close friends, Ariel, about his plan to venture into the big city. Ariel was the son of one of the farm workers in the hacienda. He, Boboy, and some of the hacienda "children" worked for Rj's farm office. Boboy and Ariel were Rj's closest friends. Boboy was his bestfriend.

"Kaya mo?"

"...kakayanin..."

"Saan ka tutuloy?"

"Hindi ko pa alam. Siguro sa Ninong ko..."

"Ninong? Si Sir Sam? Diba matagal na kayong di nagkikita? Nagkaaway sila ng Mama mo sa hatian ng hacienda..."

"Hmm...bahala na..."

"Eh paano yung puso mo?"

"Ilang buwan na akong walang masyadong nararamdaman...sabi ni Doc, okay naman ako...wag lang magpagod...ganun..."

"...eh paano sina Senyor at Senyora, yung Mama at Papa mo?"

"...expect nyo nang magddrama si Mama...artista yun e...basta Ariel, wag mong ikwento sa kanila please...promise mo sa akin..."