Borrowed Time (completed)

5. garage

Let's backtrack a little bit to the day Rj left the hacienda...

Mama hysterically wailed as Papa nervously paced the office. Although he already knew that this would eventually happen because of Mama's constant nagging about Rj's heart condition and health, he could not still imagine his son actually pushing through with it. Boboy and Ariel, and the office staff stood around with their heads bowed down. Manding, who was standing beside Rj's friends, kept on nudging them. Ariel just looked at him innocently.

"Rico! Tawagin mo ang PNP, ang DSWD, pulis, bumbero, ang marines! Hanapin mo si Ikki-boy! Ikki-boy!" Mama continued wailing.

"Can you please calm down and be quiet. I cannot think!" Papa admonished Mama. "...I've already sent a message to the general...he said he'll try but he cannot promise anything yet."

"But...but..."

"He's already 23 years old, Rose. Siguro naman alam na nya ang ginagawa nya."

"Pero Rico...look...iniwan nya yung mga credit card nya...paano sya magssurvive na walang pera? Pati cellphone nya iniwan nya..."

"Matalino yung anak mo. I'm sure he already made proper arrangements beforehand..."

"Ikki-boy! My baby!"

"Ayan! Kaya umalis yun e. Sinakal mo e. Bine-baby mo masyado..."

"Pero you know why naman diba?"

"Oo naman. I didn't want to lose him too especially after that scare we had when he was first diagnosed. But our son is strong-willed. He survived that scare and the others that followed."

"But if he gets too stressed..."

"He already knows what to do...."

"But Papa...my...our Ikki-boy!" Mama wailed again.

Just then the telephone rang and Che-che answered the call.

"Excuse me Senyor, telephone po. Si Dr. Villa po daw."

Papa took the receiver from Che-che and motioned Mama to keep quiet. She reduced her wailing to heavy sobbing.

"Miguel?"

"Tito...good afternoon po..."

"Yes?"

"Si Ricky po?"

"Yun nga e. Umalis ng hacienda ng walang paalam..."

"Po?"