Borrowed Time (completed)

26. allergy

"Have you had an allergy like that before?" Rj asked as he and Meng sat beside each other on a bench outside her house.

"Napaisip din ako e. Parang ito lang ata yung pangalawang beses na na-allergy ako sa pagkain. Pero first time na ganun yung allergy ko. Yung makati lahat pati sa loob..."

"Oh...mag-ingat ka nalang next time. Better yet, avoid nalang tayo kumain ng seafood muna..."

"Hmm..."

"So, what have you been doing since kanina?"

"Ayun, nakatulog naman ako ng mahimbing. I think effect pa rin yun nung gamot na binigay ni Doc..."

"Well, anti-histamines really make you sleepy..."

"Ayoko lang nung effect pag-gising kasi para akong groggy na ewan...yung kahit naligo na ako, parang ang kapal pa rin ng feeling ng balat ko..."

"I guess kasi kumalat yung allergy sa katawan mo e...sabi nga ni doc, medyo namamaga na daw yung skin mo pagdating mo sa ER..."

"...may mga pantal na nga ako sa arms...ang kati-kati..."

Rj rubbed Meng's arm where there were still some red marks as well as a bandage where she had scraped her elbow when she jumped out of the van in her rush to get inside the ER.

Meng had begun feeling the itchiness on her arms and neck a few hours after having shrimps and squid for lunch. She initially needed to use the bathroom almost after lunch which she found odd because she rarely had to majorly go to the toilet in the middle of the day. She started developing hives (sneezing and watery eyes) after she submitted her paper at her professor's desk in the teacher's lounge. In the van on the way home, she felt as if the weird feelings she had were getting stronger. She kept her mind alert by blasting the radio loud with the window open. She grabbed a bottle of juice from her little store but ended having to spit it out as she felt nauseated. She saw the emergency doors of the hospital and just wanted to find out what was happening to her that's why she immediately jumped out as soon as she switched off the engine. The guard approached to say that she had parked illegally but saw her holding on to the front of the van, trying to steady herself and walk toward the entrance. The guard immediately got a wheelchair and brought her inside. They found her wallet with her ID which, fortunately, she had written down Rj's details as her emergency contact, just that week.

"...nga pala, I bought you some strawberry yogurt and yakult. There are also some fruits...and yung request mong malalapad na plasters..." Rj said.

"...salamat...pero nakakahiya naman..."

"Sus! Don't be." Rj said as he lifted their hands which he was holding and kissed Meng's hand.

"Ikaw na nga nagbayad nung na-ER ako tapos yung mga gamot at food pa..."

"No worries, Boo, no worries..." Rj put his arm over her shoulder and pulled her in for a side hug.