Borrowed Time (completed)

11. spark

"...Sir, your blood pressure is still at 130/80 like the last time. Are you feeling anything out of the ordinary?" Nurse Gina asked. This was the second time Rj visited the clinic to have his blood pressure checked after his vomiting episodes.

"...wala naman...just checking...thanks" Rj said as he left the clinic. It was only Meng and Sam whom he knew that knew of his episodes.

---

Mami Nelle immediately recognized Meng as they entered the medical supply store.

"Good afternoon Meng! Long time no see ah..."

"Hello po. Good afternoon. Mami Nelle, si Rj po. Rj, si Mami Nelle. Siya yung naghahanap nung heart rate monitor."

"Good afternoon. Hali kayo. Dun tayo sa office sa likod. Naka-ready na yung mga products namin..."

Mami Nelle lead them to the back office where, on the table, were different gadgets of different sizes. Mami Nelle carefully explained the functions of each. "...para kanino ba? Sino ang gagamit?" Mama Nelle asked.

"Para ata sa..." Meng began.

"...para po sa akin..." Rj interrupted.

"Ahh..nag-e-exercise ka ba? Tumatakbo? Nag-b-bike?" Mami Nelle asked.

"Hindi po..." Rj replied. Meng just sat quietly. Mami Nelle looked at him.

"...na-diagnose po akong may Arrhythmia since bata pa ako...na-co-control naman ng medication yung heart rate ko. Nung nakatira pa ako sa...sa bahay, laging chine-check yung BP ko...di ko nadala yung sphygmomanometer kaya naghahanap ako ng alternative..."

"I see. Well, sa mga products namin, ang ma-r-recommend ko e etong may chest strap. Mas accurate daw ito kasi nga mas malapit sa puso ang monitor nya. Pero, meron din naman mas gusto itong may wrist strap. Okay din naman sya kasi nga mukhang naka-suot ka lang ng relo. Meron din na pang check ng BP sa finger o sa wrist. Portable sya pero mas bulky."

"...excuse me, washroom lang ako..." Meng said as she excused herself from the office. In the months that she has gotten to know Rj, this was the first major 'revelation' she had about him. It was also the first time she's actually been more interested about her passengers and friends. "Di naman sya nagsasabi kung gusto nya ako. Bakit ako concerned na concerned sa kanya e kakakilala ko lang naman sa kanya? Wala namang iba syang ginagawa except for the occasional libre pag nagkakayayaan kumain sa labas. Ginagawa din naman yun ng barkada ko ah?" Meng thought to herself.

A few minutes later, Rj calls out to Meng when he sees her walking back to the office. He and Mami Nelle are back inside the store. "...nag-aantay lang ako ng sukli ko..." Rj said when Meng approached.

"Ah okay..."

"O, eto na yung resibo at sukli mo. Kung may problema or kailangan mo ng ibang products, tawag o text ka lang, nasa resibo yung number ko. Alam din ni Meng yung number dito." Mami Nelle said.