Borrowed Time (completed)

28. curiosity

"O here, binilhan kita ng bagong briefs...kasya naman siguro sa yo ang medium?"

"...salamat" Rj replies.

"...show me pag nasuot mo na ha? I want to see..."

"Huh? Ah...sige..." Rj replies, hesitantly.

Meng hears this conversation as she enters Rj's room in the hacienda. Carmel walks past Meng, giving her a small nod and a smile as she leaves the room, making Meng freeze in her spot. She follows her gaze at Carmel who walks down the hall and disappears as she turns the corner and walks down the steps to the main living area.

Meng turns her head back toward Rj's room and finds him holding one of the briefs against his crotch. He sighs then walks to his cabinet where he stuffs the briefs toward the back.

"Bub..." Meng says as she enters the room.

"B..Booboo!" Rj says. He is startled so he immediately closes the cabinet door, holding on to his chest. "...andito ka na..."

"Hmm..." Meng said as she approaches and hugs Rj. He's in loose basketball shorts so she slowly moves her hand from his back to his backside.

"...did you bring your stuff?" Rj was slghtly surprised by Meng's actions but shrugged it off. For her part, Meng walked toward the bed and sat down. Rj pulled out his own backpack and started putting some clothes into it.

"Oo...nagpaalam na rin ako kina Nanay. Ang sabi ko, mag-oovernight tayo dito sa hacienda. Binida ko nga sa kanila na maganda yung lugar kung saan yung may ilog. Nainggit si Kuya, gusto sana sumama. Buti nalang napaalala ko sa kanya na may date sya kay Dr. Cris..."

"Oh...so nililigawan na ba nya?" Rj said. He walked toward the door and locked it.

"Ewan. Pero wala na ibang kinukwento kung hindi Cris...Cris..." Meng giggled and shrugged her shoulders.

"Hmm...let's go?" Rj said as he swung the backpack over his shoulder and offered his hand to Meng. He pulled her toward the window.

Meng looked slightly confused.

"...dito tayo sa window dadaan...naka-ready na yung scooter..."

"Huh?"

"Dun tayo mag-l-lunch sa kubo...pero this time, tayong dalawa lang."

"Eh pano Mama mo?"

"Busy yon..." Rj said. "...paalis pa lang sila..." he continued after he listened to the goings on outside the room. "...dadalhin nila si Ate Carmel sa city. Dun sila mag-llunch kasama si Ninong at Uncle Gordon. Sa hotel din nag-s-stay si Ate Carmel e. Nag-overnight lang sya dito kasi na-miss na daw nya yung hacienda..."