Borrowed Time (completed)

24. official

"...uhmm...Kuya Mike..."

"Hmm?"

"Pwedeng dun ka nalang sa likod? May space pa sa tabi ni Ate Sharon o...please..."

"Bakit? Nauna naman ako dito ah..."

"Sige na...please..." Meng said, flashing a shy smile at Mike.

"Sige na Mike, pagbigyan mo na si Meng..." Ate Beverly said. She was sitting next to Meng at the front seat. Mike was seated on the same seat next to the door.

"....Ate..." Meng said, looking at Beverly."...pwede po bang si Rj ang katabi ko?" she whispered to the older lady.

"Ano yun?" Beverly asked but at the same time, she saw Rj standing outside the van, smiling at them. "...ahh..." she said and scooted out to let Rj in.

Beverly noticed how the two smiled at each other, exchanging sweet glances every now and then as they made their way from the terminal to the parking lot where the other shuttle/uv express park at the CBD. The ladies in the group quickly sensed what was going on from the smile and twinkle in Ate Beverly's face when they alighted from the van. The men, especially Mike, were slightly clueless.

"...ako naman ang laging nakakaupo dun sa umaga ah..." Mike said as they walked to their offices. A group of them needed to cross to the road to get to their offices.

"...nagpalit ka siguro ng deodorant...or di ka naligo..." Oliver said, teasing. He pretended to 'smell' Mike.

Mike tried smelling his pits which earned laughter from the rest of the group. "...naligo naman ako ahh..."

"Hay pare...di na tayo makaka-score kay Meng..." Biboy said.

"Huh?"

"Hindi ba obvious?" Biboy asked.

"Ang alin?"

"Pambihira ka, pare! Ewan ko sa yo...nililigawan kaya ni Rj yang si Meng...at mukhang okay na okay silang dalawa..."

"Huh?" Mike said still confused.

"Ay ewan ko sa yo. Male-late na ako sa office. Dyan na kayo..." Biboy said as he broke off from the group and turned the corner to his office building. The others also soon dispersed as they got to the other side of the road.

---

Rj didn't get off the van when everyone else did. He waited for Meng to come back inside before giving her a goodbye kiss on the cheek. "Bye Boo...papasok na ako..."

"Goodbye Bubba..."

"...papasok ka sa school?"