Borrowed Time (completed)

22. river

Rj took Meng's hand and walked toward a gated structure across the main house. They paused by the wooden gate where Jomar was sweeping. He looked up at Rj and gave a thumbs up which earned him a nod. They continued on toward the back of the building where a scooter with two helmets on the seat was parked.

"Here...suot mo 'to..." Rj said as he gave Meng one helmet while he put on the other one. Rj rode on the scooter then said, "...sakay na...hawak ka sa waist ko..." he said and Meng embraced him at his waist.

"Saan tayo pupunta?"

"...sa special place ko..." Rj said as he started the scooter. Jomar, who was sweeping in front, was now standing nearby. Rj picked up his feet from the ground as he twisted the handle and the scooter jerked forward. Meng, whose feet were on the back foot rests, dropped her feet to the side to keep the bike balanced. Jomar was also quick to hold on to the front of the scooter.

"Marunong ka ba talaga?" Meng said after Rj gained his composure and control of the scooter.

"...wala lang practice..." Rj apologized.

After a few more minutes and a slightly wobbly start, they were off. They drove past some pineapple plantations, a lanzones orchard, and a cattle ranch. After a few more minutes, they drove on path in a wooded area. At the end of the path was a clearing with a river dividing the side they were at and a small hill that had a thick growth of wild plants. Rj parked the scooter behind a small hut which had a table and bamboo benches. A few meters away, a smaller structure was slightly hidden by a bush. In the distance, a huge tree trunk acted as bridge between the two sides of the river. The water looked clean as it flowed downstream.

"Ang ganda..." Meng said in awe. She had grown up and lived in the city all her life. She tried to recall if she had ever gone to a river.

"This is my special place...halika..." Rj said as he took their helmets and hung them on the handle bars of the scooter. He took Meng's hand and together they walked to the tree trunk. They held hands until they got to the middle of the trunk where they sat down. "Ikaw pa lang ang unang taga-labas na dinala ko dito..." Rj said as he tucked Meng's hair behind her ear after wiping away her sweat from the side of her face.

"...sabi mo hindi ka natutong mag-bike...bakit may scooter ka?" Meng asked, turning her head toward Rj.

"Nung kinuha ni Mama yung bike, secretly, binilhan ako ni Papa ng scooter para naman makaikot din ako sa hacienda kasama ng mga kaibigan ko. Si Papa at Ninong ang nagturo sa akin kung paano mag-scooter. A few months later, na-discover ni Mama yung adventures ko. Lagi na akong pumupunta dito nun. Wala pa tong punong to. Anyway, pinatayo yung hut para pwedeng magpahinga dito. Naging parang personal picnic spot na rin namin ito. Madalas kaming mag-swimming ng barkada ko dito sa river. Since medyo malayo ito sa bahay, nagtaka si Mama kung paano ako nakakarating dito o nakakuwi na hindi napapagod masyado. So, we had to tell her na."

"Eh di nagalit sya?"

"Pang-Famas acting na naman..." Rj said, shaking his head.