Borrowed Time (completed)

7. pit stop

"Ninang? Uncle? Tao po..."

"Ate Nicole!" Meng greeted her Ate Nicole at the door. "Pasok ka...Nay! Si Ate Nicole! Ate, upo ka. Gusto mo ng juice?"

"Okay. Salamat."

"O Nicole" Nanay Marian said as she appeared from the back of the house. "Meng, wala kang pasok?"

"Nagpa-early dismissal. May meeting daw yung mga professor..." Meng replied as she served Nicole a glass of fresh cantaloupe juice.

"Uy! Melon! Salamat! Ah Ninang, andito na po yung pinabili ninyong perfume. May t-shirt ako para kay Kuya Nico at polo para kay Uncle..."

"Eh Ate yung tinext ko sa yo..."

"Eto...nahiwalay ko sa ibang pasalubong kasi nakuha ko nalang sya sa eroplano na...aanhin mo ba yan? Sigurado ka ba dyan? Ayaw mo ng perfume o make-up?"

"Naku! Wag na yang make-up para kay Meng. Di naman gumagamit yan e..." Nanay Marian said as she opened the package given by Nicole and checked its contents.

"Nay, nagppowder naman ako at lip tint e..."

"O sige, sa susunod na balik ko, yun naman ang dadalhin ko..."

"Eh Ate, pwede pong padagdag na rin nito?" Meng said as she put her hand on the still sealed package on her lap.

"Walang problema...pero para saan ba kasi talaga yan?"

---

Earlier that morning, Rj woke up late so he got to the shuttle line just before Meng left. He had no choice but to occupy the last space available which was at the back of the van.

"Good morning mga Ate at Kuya!" Meng greeted as she adjusted her seatbelt and rearview mirror. "O, mukhang na-late si Rj...okay lang yan, promise na dadating tayo sa mga office ninyo bago pa ang oras ng trabaho. Ang alam ko, nauuna pa nga sina Ate Tricia at Ate Janna sa mga manang sa office nila e...Ah, nga pala, nagdagdag na rin ako ng snacks dyan para sa pinakalikod. Paalala lang, honesty system. And since Monday today, si Ate Janna ang pipili ng radio station natin. Ate?"

"Pwedeng sa 107.5?"

"Pwedeng-pwede! Wish radio..." Meng said as she pressed the button on the radio. As music filled the van's cabin, Meng exited the parking lot and proceeded to move on to the main road. The passengers quietly settled in their seats. In about 40 minutes, they arrived at another parking lot. "Mga Ate at Kuya, andito na po tayo. Paki-check nalang ng mga upuan nyo. Baka may maiwan kayong importante." Meng said as she parked the van.

"Salamat Meng..."

"You're welcome! Have a nice day!" Meng said as she waved at her passengers. "See you po mamayang hapon..."

---

Later that afternoon, it was Rj and Biboy who were the last passengers left again in the van as Meng drove back to the terminal. Biboy was seated on the second row by the window so he leaned against it while he slept.

"Uhm...M...Meng..."

"Hmm?" Meng replied as she looked at the rearview mirror, at Rj who was seated in the middle of the first row.

"...pwedeng mag-pit stop sa gas station?"

"Ah sige...kailangan ko na rin mag-CR e..." Meng replied. She pulled over at the next gas station. They woke Biboy so he could stretch his legs for a while before going to the restroom. Meng noticed how Rj rushed to the toilets as soon as Meng locked the van. "...baka sira ang tiyan..." she thought.