Chapter 31

"Sir... I think I'm the one who's supposed to be sitting there." Turo ko sa designated seat ko na inuupuan ng isang lalaking—I think just around my age, he's very fashionable in his style. Naka-deep shades pa ito so wala akong ideya kung nakatingin ba siya sa akin o sinusuri na niya ako ulo hanggang paa. Naka-de cuatro pa ito. His look so dominant and on his wool brown trench coat.

"Are you sure?" malalim ang tono ng pananalita nito nang tanungin ako.

Napalunok ako ng laway saka ako tumango. He then shifted his away from me at tiningnan niya ang hawak niyang boarding ticket. He even removed his shades so he won't misread it again.

Upon seeing his side view profile, masisigurado kong rich kid ang lalaking ito at may ikakabog talaga pagdating sa pinas.

"Alright," he finally said, removing from his seat saka siya lumipat sa tabi nito kung saan siya talaga nakapwesto.

Mahinhin naman akong lumusot para makadaan at makaupo sa dulo. Hindi niya pa nga nilukot ang binti niya. Ako pa talaga ang nag-adjust ng bongga. Nang maapakan ko pa ang sapatos, he immediately checked it at pinapagan niya nang bongga saka umiling.

"I'm sorry..." Ngiwi kong tugon. "But thank you..."

Agad kong inilipat ang tingin ko sa bintana at hindi na ako lumingon sa pwesto niya. I'm trying to avoid any kind of communication with him again since that felt so awkward pero kung isa ako sa crew ng flight na 'to and someone would come at me telling me that someone seated on their designated seat, I would still freak out, but that's the job—they will follow what I said, but at this moment I have no power. I'm just a passenger same as him.

But the good thing here, we never engaged with each other again as the plane took off. Iyon nga lang, pipigilan ko na lang ang umihi at dumaan sa harap niya. I would just take it back to Manila kaysa istorbohin pa itong lalaking ito.

The flight was good and safe, it was also quiet for me since when I got to board with Caro, she's gonna make a scene all the time that would embarrass ourselves, and maybe I was lucky she's not around or she'll be putting me up to this man beside because hell no I'll be doing a damn thing to this man.

I don't even know who he is, but he's gorgeous—I just have to say that.

Hours later as we were closely bound to Manila, I started preparing myself, and then the guy beside me looked at me... suspiciously. Ako naman na todo iwas ng tingin dahil ang awkward lang na makipagtitigan sa kanya. I don't think he has an interest in me.

Hindi naman ako mabaho o may dumi sa mukha. Maybe he's just judging me and he's keeping his opinion to himself and I guess that's a good thing... maybe. But I'm still not gonna make any conversation with this man.

And finally, as soon as the aircraft landed safely, I was already so adamant about leaving my seat and getting off this aircraft and just get back to my dorm and get some sleep. When we were told we can get off our seats and leave, I noticed that the person next to me isn't moving—and it feels like he's not going anywhere.

Napalunok ako ng laway. I'm trying not to make any conversation with him, but I'm taking deep breaths now as this is gonna be another thing I have to deal with.

"Uh... I think it's time to go," I told the guy next to me.

"I know," he said, turning his head to me. "You really look familiar to me," he said out of nowhere.

Hindi ko alam kung paano ko tatanggapin iyong sinabi niya sa akin. My reaction is blank, but I'm sure he sees pretty shocked in my face right now.

"No, never mind," aniya. "But I just have to say, you look gorgeous. Can I get your number?"

My eyes widened to what he asked of me. "Wait? Are you serious? Maybe you're just remembering someone and I'm pretty sure that's not me. I'm sorry... I have to go now."

"Okay," he said, getting up from his seat and giving the way for me to move from our area. Habang kinukuha ko naman ang gamit ko sa overhead cabin, ang dami namang pumapasok sa isipan ko and I think I'm just confused of what's happening.

But as I finally take the bag off the cabin, I looked at him who was watching me all this time.

"Okay," I started. "I'll give you my number and then what?"

He shrugged off. "I'm not sure, but we'll see how that will go."

We exchange numbers before we left the aircraft. That was a really weird thing I've been on and I don't think he's serious enough to talk to me once again. I know he knows that's I've got no interest in it. I've just been in a situation where I thought there was something there, but I ended up hoping that there was something in it. That just made me feel so broken and I don't feel like putting myself back in that kind of situation.

Para bang... tama na muna. If it's not the right time, maybe the time will come for that. I just don't think I'm ready for that moment again.

As I got inside the airport and waiting for my luggage to come out, I texted Caro if she would be meeting me here at the airport. She hasn't been replying to any of my calls and messages since she left Thailand and that was already a few weeks. I'm not sure if she's mad or not, but I think not.

When I got my stuff, as I'm walking out of the airport, I met Caro halfway. And I thought she noticed me pero nilagpasan niya lang ako. I paused for a second to process what happened. Agad ko siyang hinabol which surprised her.

Her eyes widened upon seeing me, might be shocked and surprised na nasa harapan na niya ako ngayon.

"Andrew?!" she called my name. Niyakap naman niya ako at tinapik ang likod ko. "Nandito ka na pala, e! Hindi mo man lang sinabi sa akin!"

Hinampas ko siya sa balikat niya. "Ay, gaga ka! Ilang beses na kitang tinawagan at minessage pero ikaw 'tong nag-iignore sa akin. Baliw ka lang, girl? You've been ignoring me for whole three weeks. I wasn't really expecting nga to see you here, but here you go! Mukhang na-seen mo naman ang message ko."

But then Caro still acted like I'm saying nonsense. Tinitingnan niya ako na para bang may mali sa sinabi ko. She's examining me from head to toe, shaking her head, and crossed her arms like she knows what's going on.

"Okay, welcome back, girl!" Biglang pagbabago nito ng mood.

She just went on hugging me back. Mahigpit iyon. Hindi naman ako nakagalaw since I'm confused of what's happening. Kanina pa sa eroplano at hanggang ngayon, hindi ko alam kung anong meron.

"Let's get you home na, girl." Kinuha ni Caro ang isang maleta ko at hinatak niya iyon papalabas ng airport. "Mabuti na lang at day-off ko ngayon kung hindi walang mag-aabang sa 'yo."

"Really? Saan lipad mo bukas?"

"Ah, sa HongKong lang," aniya. "I wasn't really expecting you to be back home early, ha? A week early on your supposed stay in Bangkok? I need to know all the details, girl. I'm sure a lot of things happened, tama ba ako?"

"Like I wasn't updating you, ha? I messaged you all the time so you know what's happening."

"I know." Ngisi pa nito. "But it's good to hear it directly from you. Tara na. 'Wag ka na magpakabebe, hindi bagaya sa 'yo."

"Leche ka talaga."

As we went out of the airport and get a booked car to go to our condo together. Iba naman ang ngiti ni Caro sa akin all the way back home. Caro helped me as we carried my luggage up and finally we're back in our unit.

I just sat straight on the couch and rest my body. Dinambahan naman ako ni Caro sa kinauupuan ko na para bang ang gaan-gaan niya lang. I pushed her away from me at muntik na siyang malaglag sa couch.

"Gaga ka, ready na nga ako makinig ng mga chismis mo, e."

"Kahit alam mo na naman iyong mga nangyari?" Ngiwi ko pang tanong sa kanya.

She let out a sharp sigh. "Okay, okay. Ganito kasi 'yon..." Umayos siya sa kanyang pagkauupo at hinarap ako. "Hindi ko sinasagot 'yong mga text or tawag mo just to let you enjoy your own vacation there. Or maybe, I was a little mad on you dahil nagplano ka sa sarili mo and then you just let me leave. But that time I was happy you'll be able to take your time with Heikenz... but I was wrong."

"Yup, you were wrong... it wasn't the best I must say." Napabuntonghininga na lamang ako. And it's true that I still have a week left, but I decided to leave early since things aren't really going well there."

"Was it that bad?" She winced.

Napangisi na lamang ako sa tanong niya. "It wasn't bad... but it wasn't great."

"Habang binabasa ko 'yong mga message mo sa akin, well, I intend to left you seen and missed your calls—kasi ano... trip ko lang, and I'm sorry for doing that, but I guess, you've learned the hard way there. So, no Heikenz na?"

Umiling ako. "Nope. I think that even in the first place, he really had no intention of being or coming into a relationship with me. Maybe he was just fascinated by the fact of liking me. I'm not sure... I really don't know how it went from good to bad. It's just that one day, he started acting strange. We barely talk. We rarely see each other's eyes, and the fact that he's keep on meeting his ex-boyfriend opened up my eyes that he's clearly not moving on from him. Alam mo 'wag na lang natin pag-usapan 'yon."

"Your three weeks in Bangkok is much interesting than our week alone." Ngisi pa nito. "But it's fine, we can talk about it some other time. Mag-move on ka na lang muna. So, babalik ka na rin sa work mo next week?"

Tumango ako. "Yes, magre-report na ako. Kailangan ko na ng pera. Naubos ako sa Thailand."

"Well, hindi lang naman pera ang naubos mo ro'n."

I chuckled. "You've got a point there. Pero let's move on sa nangyari sa Bangkok, it's not something I would keep in mind. Marami pang bagay ang dapat kong isipin."

Caro laughed. "So, no boys for you anymore?"

I rolled my eyes. "Ewan ko sa 'yo. Ito na lang ang ichi-chika ko sa 'yo. Kanina sa plane, may nakatabi akong gwapo and he just asked for my number."

"Binigay mo naman?"

"Hindi niya kasi ako inalisan ng tingin hangga't sa hindi ko binigay sa kanya. I don't know if he's really serious about it. Super awkward nga ng flight kanina dahil sa kanya. I'm not sure if he'll hit me up or not, but I won't be the first one to do it. Bahala siya sa buhay niya. Manigas siya. Ayoko muna ng jowa—ayoko muna makipag-date, if he wanted to date me, ba-bye, girl."

Caro chuckled, shaking her head. "I might not really know what happened in Bangkok at iyong mga message mo lang sa akin ang mga nalalaman mo, but don't close your heart, Andrew. Hindi lang naman si Heikenz ang lalaki sa mundo. Don't do this as you did it back with Omar. Maybe this guy would change your perspective... just give him a chance..."

Wala akong naisagot kay Caro. Hindi ko sigurado kung paano 'yon sasagutin. When I left Bangkok, sinabi ko sa sarili ko na hindi muna ako papasok sa isang relasyon o makikipag-date. It's not my priority. I've been dealing with boys for the past few years and they ended up breaking my heart so I guess it's not bad to step back and find myself first.

Maybe I should've done a dare in the first place and not fell in love with a tour guide.

***

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy this chapter! Let me know your thoughts! I would appreciate it so much

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