Borrowed Time (completed)

37. mystery

With Jomar driving, Meng's family rode on the second row of Rj's SUV. Rj and Meng sat on the last row. While Meng slept, resting her head on Rj's shoulder, Rj texted Mama Rose.

"...is everything ready?"

"Yes...Manding has the van out in the driveway already."

"Okay, thanks."

"What's all the fuss ba?"

"...we'll be there in about 10minutes, we just turned off from the highway..."

"Boo, wake up na. We're here..." Rj said as he gently stroked Meng's face. She was so tired that she didn't notice that the SUV had stopped and that her family were not in the seat in front of them anymore.

"Where are we?" Meng straightened up, stretched and yawned.

"Lilipat lang tayo sa van..." Rj said as Jomar released the lock of the 2nd row seats.

"Lilipat?" Meng said as she followed Rj out of the SUV. He assisted her and held on to her hand as they walked to the van parked in front of them in the driveway.

Seated in the last row was Nico and Tatay Doy, in the middle row was Mama Rose and Nanay Marian. Beside Manding in the front seat was Papa Rico. Rj gave Meng a slight push as they rode the first row in the back.

"Good afternoon po. " Meng said as soon as she saw Mama Rose in the van.

"Good afternoon. O, let's go na...tamang-tama for merienda cena...baka gutom na sina Marian..." Mama replied as Rj sat down. The van door automatically closed.

"Saan po tayo?" Manding asked as the vehicle started to move.

"Pa-river..." Papa replied. "...sabihan kita kung iiba..." he said in a low voice.

Manding nodded and switched gears.

"...nagdala ba kayo ng pang-swimming? This is the best time to swim sa river kasi medyo mataas ang tubig...maulan kasi sa mountains..." Mama said to start a little small talk.

"...nag-text na si Padre...andun na daw sila..." Papa said after a while.

"Ah okay....Manding, iliko mo dyan sa kaliwa..." Rj said as he sat upright, leaning forward to the front seat.

Because Meng was seated by the window, she saw the road where Rj instructed Manding to go. From the main road that led to the river, the dirt road seemed to bend toward a thick forest of trees. She scanned her memory if she had seen this road before. She and Rj frequented the forest and river via scooter but Rj always drove straight.

In a few more minutes, Rj told Manding to park by a tall hedge. The wide space was also the parking lot of Rj's SUV, a white van similar to Meng's shuttle, and two cars.

Meng wondered where they were. Meng looked at the faces of their companions and everyone, except for Rj, looked surprised. Rj had a big smile on his face. He seemed to be tickled by his 'surprise' that his smile reached his eyes, making him squint.

"...follow the path po...ayun si Yaya Beth o..." Rj instructed the group and nodded toward Yaya Beth. Yaya Beth was standing by the path. She was in her white uniform.

Rj's helpers always wore uniforms but Yaya Beth would mostly wear a white t-shirt with her white pants. When they went out of the hacienda, Yaya Beth would wear a matching white blouse that looked like a nurse's uniform. To Meng, Yaya Beth was now more 'formal looking' than on regular days.

"...welcome po..." Yaya Beth smiled at the group.

A collective gasp could be heard from the group ahead. They disappeared behind a covered path that seemed to go downhill. A few seconds later, a chatter of people talking could be heard.

"Bubba? Rj, ano to?" Meng said as they walked the same path the group took. Rj had pulled out a mask from his pocket and put it over Meng's eyes.

"Boo, do you trust me?"

"Oo naman...but natatakot pa rin ako..."

"I wouldn't do anything to harm you...sabi ng Kuya mo, ipapa-kapon nya ako kung paiyakin kita...sabi ng Nanay mo, babalatan nya ako ng buhay...yung Tatay mo naman, sisilaban daw nya ako...so do you think I'd be crazy and stupid to harm the one I love the most?"

Meng couldn't help but giggle at what Rj said about her family. She clung on tightly as Rj led her down the path. The chatter of people around them was silenced by a lot of shushing.

"Don't remove the mask first ha?" Rj requested when they stopped walking. Meng could hear the breeze of the wind blowing through the trees; then strains of soft a very romantic song started to play in the background.

"Bubba?" Meng said again when she felt that Rj was no longer beside her.

Someone came close and removed the mask from Meng. As her eyes adjusted to her surroundings, she saw some familiar faces in the crowd that gathered. Before she could fully understand what was going on around her, Meng saw Rj down on one knee holding up a ring.

"...welcome to Meng's hideaway...I hope we can make this our permanent place. Will you come home with me here, Meng? Will you be my forever?"

Overwhelmed and surprised, Meng covered her mouth with her hands before nodding. Rj stood up and took her hand to put on the ring before hugging her tightly.

"I love you my Booboo!"

"I love you my Bubba!"

Rj had long planned to propose to Meng. The sparkle in her eyes and the relaxed vibe she had whenever they went to Meng's hideaway by the river made Rj decide even more. He started talks with Papa about the land where Meng's hideaway was and soon construction was underway for this forest and river retreat. Both Papa and Mama knew of these plans and the construction but stuck to their promise of not meddling or even visiting the site until completion.

When Rj 'met' with Nanay Marian at his condo where he requested to be taught how to wash the dishes, he already cemented his decision. Upon bringing Nanay home that evening, he also got to speak to Tatay about his plans. He asked Meng's parents' permission to marry their daughter.