Borrowed Time (completed)

6. hire

Aside from having a happy and light atmosphere in Meng's van, Meng made sure that she stocked her mini honesty store well. She had snacks, drinks and candy in a container behind the driver's seat and her passengers got what they wanted and dropped their money in a little box beside the container of food. She constantly reminded her friends to treat the van as their own so she also provided a trashbin for rubbish.

This little gesture spread positivity amongst the passengers that some would slip in extra snacks or drinks in the container aside from adding a little extra 'payment' to their purchases. The money Meng gained from this was put in savings. She would give a portion of her earnings from driving to her Tatay as well as setting aside some for her education. Meng was happy with her frugal lifestyle.

"Nay, kelan nga ulit uuwi si Ate Nicole?" Meng asked. Ate Nicole was her cousin who lived a few doors away at the same apartment complex where Meng's family lived. Ate Nicole was the daughter Mama Olive, Nanay Marian's sister.

"Sa susunod na linggo ata..."

"Hmm..." Meng said as she scrolled through her phone then continued cutting the vegetables she was helping Nanay prepare.

"Bakit?" Nanay asked.

"Ah..wala naman po. Saan kaya sya naka-assign?"

"DIba sa international na sya?"

"Opo. Ang sabi nya dati sa Middle East ata sya..."

"Oh..."

---

"O, Rj, how's your first week of work?" Ninong Sam asked Rj over breakfast the next morning. "Hey, are you okay? Mukhang maputla ka ah..."

"I'm fine."

"Don't you need to go to the doctor or something? Sinasabi ko sa yo, kung may mangyari sa yo, ihahatid kita agad sa hacienda!"

"Don't worry, I'm fine. Work has been fine. Thank you po for introducing me to Sir Gordon."

"Gordon and I started together at the Residences. Dun sya sa managerial area, ako naman sa food and beverage..."

"I see."

"...are you doing anything today?" Ninong Sam after a while.

"Wala naman po..." Rj replied, looking out the window. He thought he saw a familiar face outside in one of the row of apartments near the condo. The bedroom window where he stayed overlooked the community of low-rise buildings which were mostly residential.

"I usually go grocery shopping on weekends. On Saturdays, I spend the day at the mall, on Sundays, I go to the weekend market. Do you want to come along? I'm meeting Gordon..."