Borrowed Time (completed)

38. start over

Meng was restless even if Rj's heart beat steadily under her head. She couldn't fall asleep even if they just had several rounds of great sex. They were still at Meng's hideaway; and based on the sliver of light that cut across the sky, Meng pegged the time as twilight still. The floor to ceiling picture window and glass door to the deck just outside the master's bedroom provided a spectacular view of the river and woods. Peeping through the trees were the rows of pineapple plants, products of the Faulkerson farm.

Meng gingerly got up, picked up some clothes from the floor, and went to the bathroom. "...dalawang kwarto na namin to sa bahay a..." Meng thought as she stepped into the big en suite bathroom which had a walk in closet. She discovered that one side was hers when she saw her empty bag on one of the shelves and her clothes neatly hanging on the rack above. Rj's clothes were also neatly arranged on the opposite cabinet space.

After she was done, she took one of Rj's shirts and put it on. Meng wanted to explore the rest of the house as she only caught glimpses of it during the party the afternoon before. Although they went around the property as Fr. Jeff blessed the place after the proposal, Meng was not able to fully appreciate every detail as they were a rather big group which included her family, Rj's parents, Rj's hacienda friends, Kuya Cesar and some of the other drivers of the shuttles, and Meng's friends from school. Plus there were also several people from the hacienda who took care of the food. The times when Rj would 'disappear' or tell her that he had to go home earlier than her for various reasons were the times he would come by the property to oversee construction, or to meet with significant people for this big event.

Meng stepped out on to the deck and sat on the two-seater swing, her back on the arm rest so her legs were also on the seat. She studied her hand, her fingers; the very finger that now had a sparkling gem of an engagement ring. She was never one who liked wearing jewelry. Too many stories snatching and petty crimes around her neighborhood and work made Meng a little wary about 'showing off'. If she accessorized at all, it would be the stud earrings given to her by Tatay on her 16th birthday. Kuya Nico gave her a simple plastic watch, which Meng chose, when she started college.

Meng turned her head and gazed at the dimness surrounding her. A while later, light flickered through the low branches of the tree in front of her, across the river. A small community of houses were now coming to life. Meng could not really see the people from where she was so she imagined how the husbands would probably be heading out to start the days' work. The wives would be waking the kids and ready them for school.

As dawn arrived, the surrounding area around Meng's hideaway was slowly being enveloped in sunlight which fought for its presence to be noticed through the thick foliage of the forest. Birds started chirping too. The sound of the trickling water of the river and the symphony of the chirping birds, along with the steady swaying of the swing lulled Meng to sleep.

With eyes still closed, Rj inhaled deeply, yawned, and stretched his arms and legs. Thinking that Meng was probably still asleep, he slowed down his movements as he rested his arms back on the bed. However, he felt nothing but a cold, empty space beside him. He immediately sat up as he opened his eyes, scanning the bedroom. 'Evidence' of their 'wild' night was nowhere to be found. Rj plopped down back in bed and thought of what happened after their rounds of sex. The last memory he could think of was that he was cuddling Meng whose body fit perfectly in the curve of his body as they spooned. Rj got up and went to the bathroom. When he stepped out of the bathroom, Rj went out of the bedroom to look for Meng.