Borrowed Time (completed)

25. emergency

"...O anak, sino yun?" Sam asked when Rj ended the call and immediately stood up from the table. They had just finished eating and Sam was clearing away the used plates and food.

"Ninong...sorry, I have to go..." Rj said, worried.

"Huh? Bakit?"

"....hospital yun...nandun daw si Meng..."

"Huh? Anong nangyari? Hindi ba kayo magkasama pauwi? I mean, didn't you ride the shuttle home?"

"...sumakay...pero kay Mang Demi kami sumakay today kasi Meng had papers to submit for school..."

"Ah..o sige..ako na bahala dito. Let me know what happened. Text me right away. Mag-ingat ka." Sam said, also slightly flustered.

"Bye Ninong" Rj said as he kissed Sam goodbye.

---

The elevator pinged and Rj was surprised to see Nico inside. "Pare!"

"Nico!" Rj said as he got inside the lift.

"...si Meng? Kasama mo ba?"

"Hindi...hindi ko sya kasama...."

"...pinapahanap kasi ni Tatay...nagreklamo kasi si Meng na parang mahina na daw yung kapit ng preno. Ipapa-check sana ni Tatay sa akin kaso wala din yung van nya sa terminal o sa garahe...teka, di ba kayo magkasama umuwi?"

"Hindi...kay Mang Demi ako sumabay...may inasikaso si Meng sa school nya..."

"Ahh...teka...bakit para kang namumutla? Okay ba puso mo?"

"O...okay...teka, samahan mo muna ako sa unit ko para makapagbihis ako..." The elevator reaches the 12th floor and Rj steps out of the lift as Nico follows him.

"...wala akong balak maki-third wheel sa inyo ng kapatid ko..." Nico replies as they enter the unit and Rj points him to the sofa in the living room.

"Anong third-wheel ang pinagsasasabi mo?" Rj says as he pulls on a shirt and walks out of the bedroom to get his shoes which are by the door.

"Hindi ba kayo mag-d-date ni Menggay? Friday night ngayon o"

"Hindi. Kaninang umaga ko pa sya last nakasama..."

"Eh san ka pupunta? Bakit ka nagbihis?"

"Dahil pupunta ako ng ospital...tara na!" Rj says as he grabs his wallet, phone and keys.

"Ospital? Sigurado kang okay yang puso mo ha?"

"Oo...wala akong nararamdaman sa puso ko except kaba..."