Excited ako umalis ng bansa.

Ngayon lang kasi ako nagka-roon talaga ng opportunity para umalis ng Pilipinas. Kapag kasi foreign investors, and they want a collaboration with me, sila ang mag-a-adjust para sa akin.

Months ago, my schedules were super hectic. Umaga hanggang gabi mayroon akong ginagawa, at wala na akong panahon pa para kumain o 'di kaya matulog. Kaya nga pumayat din ako e. Ikaw ba naman walang kain o tulog 'di papayat?

While I was packing, I realized that I am going to Japan again... At spring ulit doon. Which means I am going to see my favorite sakura trees again. But kasama noong excitement ko ay 'yong lungkot. In two days, it will be exactly a year since I have met Kaito.

At kaunti na lang din ay makakalipas na ang isang taon na wala siya sa buhay ko.

It's going to be better off that way. Kailangan ko na kasi siya kalimutan, and seeing him again won't help. Besides, I don't want to hear those shitty explanations kung bakit siya nawala. Gano'n naman kasi lagi 'di ba?

Kapag may nag-hiwalay, magkikita ulit pagka-lipas ng ilang buwan o taon, saka makikipag-balikan kapag na-explain na noong taong may kasalanan ang rason kung bakit niya nagawa iyon. Pagkatapos noon ay makikipag-balikan na. Ayaw ko noon!

Wow. As if may babalikan naman kami. There was never an us, right? Lahat kasinungalingan lang.

"Kasama ba 'yong fiance mo?" tanong ko kay Claire habang tinutupi 'yong damit ko para kumasya sa loob ng aking maleta. I was bringing clothes that would be enough for more than two weeks kasi kapag naisipan kong mag-stay ng mas matagal, magagawa ko.

"Oo. Susunod nga lang siya dahil may kailangan pa siyang tapusin na trabaho rito. Ikaw ba? Magkikita kayo ni Kaito sa Japan?" she teased me by wiggling her eyebrows kaya inirapan ko siya bago batuhin ng isang unan.

"Tantanan mo na nga 'ko, Mendreah Clairette! Masasapok na kita mamaya e," inis na bigkas ko at tinawanan lang niya ako bago ilabas ang isang carry-on luggage ko.

Bukas na kasi ang flight namin papunta roon, and it would be early in the morning. Nagulat pa nga ako dahil business class pa ang flight namin kahit puwede namang economy lang para tipid. Pero sila naman ang gumastos nito kaya okay lang sa akin.

"Pero tapatin mo nga ako. You still like him 'no?" she raised one of her eyebrows, and I looked hesitant in answering her question. Kasi kung sasabihin ko 'yong totoo sa kaniya, aasarin niya ako at nakaka-inis na ang mga pang-aasar niya sa akin!

"Ninety percent na 'kong naka-move on kaya," pag-yayabang ko sa kaniya, but it looked like she didn't believe me. Tumayo naman siya at umupo sa kama ko kung saan katabi ko siya.

"Alam mo, Rienne... Sayang talaga kayo ni Kaito ano? Nakita ko talaga kung paano ka niya tratuhin—"

"Nakita mo rin ako kung paano lokohin," putol ko sa kaniya.

Nilagay niya ang kaniyang kamay sa akin balikat, "Pero paano kung lahat may rason?" pilit niya pa rin kaya tinaboy ko na siya.

"Umalis ka na nga rito at nang matapos na ako," I said but she didn't even budge. "Paano kung wala, Claire? Mukha namang totoo ang sinabi ng kaniyang ama dahil alam ko na walang preno ang bibig no'n at puro masasakit na katotohanan ang lumalabas."

"Pero what if—"

"Tumigil ka na, Claire. Don't mess with my mind just like how he messed with it. Kaya puwede ba? Iwan mo na muna ako at baka hindi kita ma-tantsa," seryosong usal ko sa kaniya kaya napilitan na siyang lumabas ng aking kuwarto.

Kinuha ko naman 'yong cellphone ko para tingnan ang account ni Kaito gamit ang dummy account na ginawa ko para ma-stalk siya.

I saw one of his IG highlights. Nakita ko kung paano siya ngumiti... He looked very different. He didn't wear that kind of smile when we were both in a situationship. That made me realize that everything was different.

From the way he looked at me back then with his drop-dead gorgeous... Killer smile was all just really a show.

Mas masaya siya ngayon.

The next morning, the flight to Japan went very smoothly. Noong naramdaman ko na ulit ang hampas ng hangin sa aking mukha, it felt like it was my first time being here.

"Kapag ba umalis ka rito, babalikan mo 'ko?"

Kaito was sitting on my bed while I was finishing the paper report that I have to email to Mrs. Ren by the end of the day. I glanced at the boy who was playing with the stuffed toy he got me yesterday.

"That depends nga, Kaito. Ilang beses mo na 'yan tinatanong sa akin. Hindi ka ba nakukuntento sa sagot na binibigay ko sa iyo?" I said with a soft chuckle. Nagulat naman ako bigla noong lumapit siya sa akin. He bent his knees so that our faces were a few inches apart.

"Would my cuteness be enough for you to come back?" he pouted. I shook my head before pushing him away from my face.

"Asa ka naman!" I said while typing. "Kapag bumalik ako roon sa Pilipinas at wala akong nakita opportunity para sa akin ay babalik ako rito. There. Binago ko na sagot ko."

Nagulat na naman ako noong kinuha niya 'yong kamay ko at hinila sa kama. We both flopped together in bed while laughing. I would surely miss this part of Japan though.

Him.

He has already been part of my Japan, and if ever I do come back here... He would be part of my itinerary.

"Huy, Fleurienne! Kailangan na natin dalhin itong mga gamit natin doon sa hotel dahil 'yong meeting mamayang 11:30 AM na. Ikaw ang nakaka-alam sa lugar na ito, hindi ba?" Binatukan ko naman si Claire at sinimangutan niya ako.

"Tanga, hindi ito ang kabisado ko. Sa ibang parte ng Japan 'yon. Get your facts straight," I flipped my hair saka nag-lakad pa-labas sa arrivals exit.

Ang una naming pinuntahan ay ang Sapporo. We are going to a coffee shop that Mr. Kobayashi owns for us to have the meeting.

"May update ka ba kina Jaid, Ali, and the others?"

I looked at Claire before going through my emails sa cellphone. Kasulukuyang nasa kotse na kami papunta sa hotel. "Pati ba naman dito nagtatrabaho ka?"

"Bobo, trabaho naman talaga pinunta ko rito," inirapan ko ulit siya.

"Rienne, alam kong ikaw ang CEO sa ating dalawa pero kaunti na lang dudukutin ko na mata mo sa kaka-irap."

"Sorry na."

We arrived at the hotel, and I unpacked all of the things I immediately needed like my makeup pouch, business attire clothes, and hair blower. Kailangan ko muna siyempre maligo at magpa-ganda dahil hindi puwedeng 'di ako mag-mukhang CEO mamaya sa meeting.

After almost an hour of preparing, naka-basta na rin si Claire kaya umalis na kami papunta roon sa coffee shop kung saan magaganap ang contract signing.

"Miss Fleurienne Keller," rinig kong may tumawag sa akin noong nakapasok na kami ng cafe. He was tall, dark, and handsome. I was shocked by his appearance. Siya ba si Mr. Kobayashi?

"Hello, sir. You must be...?"

Ngumiti siya sa akin at putangina no'ng ngiti!

"Kobayashi Menderu. Pleasure to meet you," he lend his hand, at siyempre nakipag-kamay ako sa kaniya.

I smiled, "The pleasure's mine. Let's start?"

"Of course," he assisted me in sitting down. I heard him speak in Japanese. He ordered the best seller item that they had for Claire and I.

"I read the email of your detailed feedback about the project Blossom Blooms and Yashi Corp. Those would be considered, and implemented. Do you have further questions about it so that I can entertain it while we are here?"

"Do I also need to go to Osaka and Nagoya?"

"What do you mean, Miss Keller?"

"I think that it would be a hassle to travel to three different cities in a span of two more days. So I'm asking if it would be necessary? If it isn't I'll send Claire there for her to represent me."

His confused face turned in a joyful expression again, "Sure. All the implortant documents like the contract and agreement would be signed here with me. The only papers that need to be signed in those following cities are permits, and such. None of it is as important as these." Tinuro niya ang mga papeles sa harapan ko.

Pagkatapos namin mag-pirmahan ay bumalik na kami sa hotel.

"Kaya mo ba mag-isa rito? I'll send my fiance to Nagoya for him to represent us para mabilis matapos lahat. Would that be fine?" I nodded before going into the bathroom to take off all my makeup.

"Halika na rito, Rienne! I'm going to take off your makeup so that it won't irritate your skin."

I felt so exhausted today.

"Huwag na. Gusto ko na lang matulog, Kaito. Iwanan mo na 'ko!" I shouted, pero mapilit siya dahil hinila niya ako sa paa. I glared at him, but that didn't scare him because he carried me like I was a sack of rice.

"Put me down, kaya ko mag-lakad mag isa. Hindi na 'ko bata."

"Then act like one," he joked.

I shook those thoughts out of my head. It was all irrelevant para sa akin kaya walang saysay para mag-reminisce ngayon.

"Oh, by the way. Let's go shopping tomorrow, okay? Siguro naman okay lang sa 'yo na lumabas tayo dahil ikaw na mismo nag-sabi sa akin na sigurado kang wala siya rito."

"Wala nga siya kaya sige. Mag-uubos tayo ng pera." I said and she just shook her head.

"Yabang, porket malaki ang magiging pera na makukuha rito sa bagong project?"

Tinawanan ko na lang siya bago humiga sa aking kama, praying I won't really see him.