Borrowed Time (completed)

34. conference

The weekend went by and they were back in the city. Work and more training kept Meng busy, she even had to leave for an out-of-town convention. Rj was busy at the hotel, too. He had been tasked to train some of the newly-hired front desk personnel.

"...ah ganun ba? Buti naman at may nag-aasikaso sa yo dyan..." Nanay spoke as she worked. It had become routine that Nanay Marian would come by twice a week – Wednesdays to pick up the soiled clothes, and Fridays to return the clean clothes. This particular Friday, though, Nanay had come in later in the afternoon. She didn't notice that Rj had arrived and was downstairs in the kitchen. His penthouse unit had its loft-type bedroom above the kitchen and 'lounge' area.

Meng coughed. She was on speaker-mode on Nanay's phone. "...opo...pina-test na rin po nila ako..." Meng said, she sounded like she was wheezing and out of breath.

"...test? Anong test?"

"...para po daw sa baga...para ma-test kung may hika ako...buti nalang kasama ko si Ping at Bog..."

"...kinunan ka ba ng dugo?"

"...nabigyan ko nga ata ng pasa si Bog e...ni-resitahan na po ako...may check-up ulit ako bukas bago ako umuwi ng Manila..."

"...mabuti naman kung ganun...kausapin ko si Cris, baka may ma-i-rekomenda syang duktor..."

"...sige po Nay...kailangan ko na pong bumalik sa loob...hindi pa po tapos yung seminar namin e..."

"O sige, mag-ingat ka dyan..."

"Opo...love you, Nay!"

"I love you, anak!"

Rj listened intently as Meng and Nanay spoke to each other. Nanay had put Meng on speaker as she went about working. She carefully arranged the washed and ironed clothes and was about to go down when Rj met her at the stairs.

"..O, Tisoy, andito ka na pala...nagbilin si Meng na ipagluto daw kita ng sinigang...kakaakyat ko lang ng mga damit mo...magluluto na ako..."

"Good afternoon po..." Rj replied taking a look at his watch, it was just a little before 6pm.  He took Nanay's hand to bless. "...dito na rin po kayo kumain..." Rj said, smiling weakly.

"Ha? Ah, sige. Siguradong late na uuwi si Doy at si Nico at Biyernes ngayon..." Nanay said as she made her way down the stairs. Rj took the basket she was holding and brought it down as well.

They went to the kitchen and Rj tried to help Nanay prepare their dinner. Nanay showed Rj how to pluck the leaves of the kangkong from the stalks and how to properly peel and cut the radish.

"...kamusta na ang trabaho, anak?" Nanay asked as she put the last of the vegetables into the pot. Rj had moved on to setting the table for them.

"...matatapos na rin po ulit yung trainings ko para sa mga bagong front desk managers namin..."