Borrowed Time (completed)

42. yearning

The numbers on the heart monitor were higher than what was considered normal but Rj's heart rate had never been 'normal' compared to his peers. This time however, it seemed to be fluctuating at a higher range than usual.

Meng stood at Rj's bedside, gently caressing his head and chest as she tried to console him. Rj had been crying for a good 10-minutes.

"Shhh....tahan na...shhhh..."

"But...but..." Rj sobbed.

"...may masakit ba?" Meng gently caressed his chest.

Rj suddenly closed his eyes and scrunched up his face as he farted long and loud. Meng was startled and slightly jerked back when she heard the sound but continued to massage Rj's tummy as he let out more gas.

"...I want...I want...to..."

"Ano? Kailangan mong mag-poop?"

Rj looked at Meng and nodded. Yaya Beth immediately positioned the commode chair next to the bed and she and Meng helped Rj sit on it. This was the only way Rj could go to the toilet 'normally' for now since the wires to the heart monitor were attached to his chest. Besides, Mama Rose insisted that Rj had almost every medical aid available to him so that he would not get more tired or stressed.

---

"Tita, after two days, uuwi na si Ricky. He can do whatever he wants again. Besides, I already told him and Meng to avoid stressful situations that may trigger palpitations. And so far, we didn't find any blockage that would cause him any more problems." Dr. Migs tried to reason out with Mama Rose when Dr. Migs came to check on Rj after he was transferred from his overnight stay in the ICU. Dr. Migs was 'slightly' surprised to see Rj's hospital room full of various equipment like a wheel chair and a commode.

"...I guess you'll have to go home to the hacienda first for the next few weeks to a month, so that your body can heal itself." Dr. Migs told Rj after he was transferred to his regular room.

"Meng?"

"...eh di uuwi pa rin ako sa bahay...masyado namang hassle kung uuwi pa ako sa hacienda araw-araw diba?" Meng said thoughtfully. "...kawawa din si Jomar..." she added. "...may text naman at facetime e...ganito, pupunta ako dito sa hacienda pag-Friday tapos ihatid ulit ako ni Jomar sa office pag-Monday..."

Rj could only nod. If he really had his way, he'd want Meng to come home to the hacienda every day but he also knew how much of a hassle it was to commute from the city to the hacienda every day.

---

"Pa..." Rj begged Papa one morning a few days after he left the hospital.