Maine found out that they had rushed Rj to the hospital while at work. Though she wanted to be by him, she also needed to take care of herself. She had work to finish so she only communicated with him via messaging.
"Are you okay?
"....how about you?"
".... If you want to sleep, go ahead. You need it."
"I miss you..."
"Sus! We were just together last night and earlier...."
Rj didn't reply anymore. Maine, although antsy for him to send her a message, understood. Besides, she was working also.
Maine arrived later in the day after work. Rj was sleeping so she quietly slipped into his room and sat on the couch by his bedside next to his dad.
"Kamusta sya, Tito?"
"Ok naman....na tonsillectomy sya kaninang umaga.....kakabalik lang din nya dito sa room....."
"Ahh....kawawa naman...."
"Eh ikaw? Kamusta pakiramdam mo? Rinig ko nagka-sinat ka rin...."
"Opo....okay na po ako....konting ubo nalang......naulanan din kasi kami sa taping e....."
"Oo nga....malat na si J nung Tuesday....napanood ko sa TV....."
"Opo....tapos nung gabi, trabaho pa rin kami kahit na lumuluha na sya sa lagnat...."
"Haay....sobra-sobra naman kasi magtrabaho yan e...."
"....kayod kwarenta anyos..." Maine shook her head while looking at Rj.
"Mga anak....wag ganun.....kailangan din magpahinga....."
"Oo nga po.....lagi ko pong sinasabi kay J yan....."
Daddy Richard stood up. "Iwan muna kita dito, okay? May tatanong lang ako sa nurse....kung gusto mo kumain, may pagkain dyan sa ref....dala ni April...."
"Sige po....dito lang po ako....thank you, Tito...."
A long while later, Rj slowly started to stir. Maine stood up from the couch and approached the bed, gently stroking his hair.
"Hi..." Maine said sweetly and smiled. She kissed him on the cheek.
Rj smiled and opened his mouth. He tried to speak but closed his mouth and winced at the discomfort he was feeling.
"Don't force it...." Maine said. "....you just got out from surgery.....rest....."
Rj forced a smile then asked for his phone. He typed, "Hi Miss Maine....thank you for being here....I love you...."
"I love you too...."
"Masakit...."
"I know....your throat is still sore....pero sabi ng doctor, mamaya-maya, okay ka na....."
"I'm hungry...."
"Ahh...wait...let me ask if you can eat...."
Just then, a nurse came in to check on Rj. "Ah good, gising na po kayo, Sir..." she checked on his vitals.
"....nagugutom na daw sya...." Maine told the nurse.
"....ah ganun po ba? Ang alam ko po, pwede na....pero confirm ko lang....sandali lang po..." the nurse stepped out of the room for a few minutes. "....pwede na po....ice chips and gelatin lang muna....sir, soft diet muna kayo....nakalagay po kasi sa chart nyo na namamaga pa rin po yung throat nyo e...."
Rj nodded and Maine smiled, "....salamat...." he mouthed.
Maine fed Rj some gelatin which he had a few spoonfuls of then a sip of water. A few minutes later, she rubbed ice chips on his lips to let it melt and let the cool water flow to his throat. He took her hand away from his mouth and puckered up for a kiss. She complied and kissed him tenderly.
".....ikaw talaga....maga pa yang lalamunan mo, diba?" Maine said, chuckling, as she resumed giving him ice to suck on.
Maine noticed that his eyes were getting droopy so she nodded. "Sige...sleep na...."
Maine heard a commotion outside Rj's room. She came out to find a group of people, pleading with the Rogelio who was standing at the door, to let them visit. The door side panel already had a "strictly no visitors allowed" sign so the Rogelio just stood his ground, unmoving.
When the group saw Maine, there was a slight commotion so she motioned for them to follow her to the lounge. At the chapel, she prayed for Rj's well-being and recovery and for the fans to understand their situation.
weary
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