"When are you going to Ilocos, 'Nak? I'm going to ask for the keys to our rest house natin doon," my Mom asked me as she was helping me pack my clothes.

"Monday na, Mom. Kailangan ko pang i-kondisyon ang sarili ko before I drive for fourteen hours," I told her, and she scoffed.

"Your Dad is still not happy that you want to drive all the way to Ilocos when you can just book a car, and we'll cover everything," she stated, and I gave her an assuring smile. I insisted on driving kasi gusto ko siya ma-experience. Long drives ba.

Saka twenty-three na 'ko aba! Kaya ko na sarili ko. Sinanay na rin naman ako nila Dad—I am the one who drives when we go to Bataan, Batangas or Baguio. But never to Ilocos. We always took a flight going there or rode a sleeper bus.

Almost every year kami umuuwi sa rest house namin sa Ilocos because that place is the most romantic, breath-taking place here in the Philippines. More specifically, the place where they met and fell in love in such a short time.

I wish I could also find my person there. It'd be wonderful to meet my soulmate there also. I'm a proud no-boyfriend-since-birth girly. Saka kunteto naman na ako! My parents already gave me everything, I couldn't ask for anything more na.

Pero minsan, iniisip ko lang ang mga what if. What if noong high school ako pinayagan ko 'yong crush ko since 7th grade na ligawan ako? Would it be like how it is in the movies? Would he love me like how my Father loves my Mom?

Malalaman ko lahat ng iyon sa tamang panahon.

"I will be safe, Mom. I promise. And by the way, I'm not going to Vigan first. Pagudpud muna para I won't go out of the way on the way home," I said as I looked at her. Tumango naman siya sa akin bago kunin ang kaniyang cellphone.

Nang matapos ako sa aking impake, sakto't dumating si Dad at pinuntahan kami sa kwarto ko. "Zai, mag-ingat ha. Remember to update us palagi, saka 'wag papalipas ng gutom. Kapag sa tingin mong 'di mo na kaya mag-maneho, emergency stop ka or sa mga stop-over na maraming kainan." Bilin ni Daddy. Tumango tango naman ako sa kanils habang nakangiti.

"I transferred your pocket money na sa bank account mo. Mag-widraw ka na as much as possible kasi probinsya sa Pagudpud, walang mga ATM doon."

I checked my phone at unang-una sa notification ko ang "You have received PHP 100,000.00 via bank transfer from BPI. Your current balance is PHP 177,308.80."

Nalaglag naman ang panga ko no'ng nabasa ko iyon. What the hell?? Ano naman ang gagawin ko sa gano'n kalaking pera?

"Ang laki naman yata masysdo, Mommy," sambit ko sa kaniya at umiling naman ito sa akin.

"Mahal gas at toll fee, Zai. Pagkain mo pa saka pambayad sa mga activities na gagawin mo."

Hindi naman na ako nakipag-talo at tinanggap ito.

"Hindi ka ba talaga masasamahan nila Jess at Issy? Para naman may kausap ka sa biyahe." Tanong sa akin ni Dad at umiling ako.

"They all have to do their own stuff. It's fine though. I can manage nga. So you both can leave my room so I can get some sleep. Maaga ako aalis kinabukasan bukas." When I said that, both of them gave me a kiss good night. I went straight to bed after.

I had about eleven hours of sleep at sinimulan ko ang araw ko with a heavy breakfast para hindi na ako maglulunch. I still have to buy my snacks for my trip kasi. Seven days kasi iyon. Three days sa Pagudpud, four days sa Vigan. I don't have an itinerary planned but I'm sure I am excited.

I bought a case of water, a few red bull energy drink, juice, biscuits, and junk food to keep me up. 2 am kasi bukas aalis na ako para mga 2 or 3 pm nandoon na ako sa beach.

After going to the grocery store, I went home to get my luggage and duffle bag from my room downstairs and ready it in the living room. My parents are still at work and my Mom can still probably bid me goodbye pero si Dad mukhang malabo. He still has a lot of cases to read, and other paperwork.

Pinicturan ko naman lahat ng dadalhin ko before posting it on my Instagram story with a small text at the bottom "bound to the north." Nagreply naman mga colleagues ko sa story ko like "Pasalubong naman, Zai" or "Baksyon pala si engineer." Yes, I graduate from Civil Engineering, and also work in my Mother's company.

Hindi ko sinundan ang law field dahil hindi ko kaya ang pagbasa ng pagka-raming cases tapos recitation pa!

It was currently 7 PM, and I have set up an alarm for 12 midnight so that I could arrive early at the hotel. Plano ko kasing matulog pagdating ko roon bago mag-ikot. May mga malapit kasi na stalls doon pati restaurants.

My phone rang so I stood up to look for it somewhere in my workspace mess. I'm currently in the study to finish responding to a few emails because once I get to Pagudpud, the chance of getting a signal is low.

"What's up, Mom?" I answered the phone and put it between my neck and cheeks so that I could talk to her as I do something.

[Just called to ask you if you already packed everything. Charger, snacks for the road, power bank, water, wallet, keys to the house?] Tuloy-tuloy niyang sambit at bumuntong hininga naman ako habang nakangiti.

"Don't worry, Mom. I have everything packed already. I'm just finishing a few backlogs before I hit the hay," I answered as I glanced at the wall clock. 8:23 PM.

I could probably finish one more proposal before sleeping. Okay lang na kulang tulog ko kasi marami naman na akong tinulog kanina hehe.

When my alarm rang, I went straight to the bathroom to take a quick shower, and wore a tank top under a hoodie as well as sweatpants. Pagkababa ko ay nagulat ako na nasa sala si Daddy, lumalagok ng alak.

"Ano nangyari, Dad?" I asked, still feeling a little drowsy.

"Lost a case earlier," he answered. Lumapit naman ako sa kaniya at niyakap ito bago sabihin sa kaniya na hindi niya naman kasalanan 'yon.

After a few minutes, tinulungan naman ako ni Dad mag-load ng gamit sa kotse ko. Four seater lang naman 'yon kaya sa backseat ko na lang nilagay mga important things like my gadgets, food, and water.

Pumasok na ako sa kotse at inistart ang makina. "Mag-ingat 'nak ha. Message your Mom and I when you reach your first stop over," huling paalals ni Daddy bago ako umandar.

The fourteen-hour drive awaits! Sana hindi umulan dahil takot pa naman ako magmaneho kapag naulan. I turned on my radio pero wala pang naririnig so I just connected my phone through bluetooth, and played a chill driving playlist. Nagbukas na rin ako agad ng isang energy drink at kinalahati ito.

After three hours of driving, nasa Bulacan na ako. I messaged our family group chat that I'm still alive pero wala namang nagreply dahil mag aalas quatro pa lang ng umaga. Kumain ako saglit ng sandwich and took a 10-minute power nap. Umalis na rin ako agad. The next thing I knew, I was already almost eight hours in sa journey ko at palabas na ng La Union.

Dinala ako ni waze sa isang makipot na daan for a shortcut at may sinusundan na akong kotse. Siguro rito rin siya dinaan. Hindi gawa ang kalsada, under construction pa lang gano'n.

Pero nawala ang pagka-good mood ko nang biglang huminto 'yong kotse sa aking harapan, which caused me to make an emergency stop. What the..?

Nainis naman ako. Matatagalan pa tuloy ako papunta roon. Lumabas ako ng kotse para lapitan si kuyang nagddrive para tanungin kung ano balak niya sa buhay. Lumabas din siya at nakipagtitigan sa akin.

"Kuya, bakit ka biglang huminto? Wala ka bang lisensya at hindi marunong gumamit ng kotse? Kapag nadisgrasya ako, ipapakulong ka ng Dad ko!" Galit na sabi ko, and I saw how he sucked his teeth, clesrly irritated too.

"May pangalan ba 'tong daan? Kung maka-asta ka kala mo ikaw nagpatayo e," the man scoffed.

"Just move already!" I demanded, and he was clearly also pissed. E siya naman 'tong tangang bigla-biglang humihinto. Paano kung hindi ako naka-hinto e 'di nadisgrasya kami parehas?

"My car broke down!" He shouted back. After a few seconds, he tilted his head. "Wait, I think I know you... High school.."

I was confused. Anong kilala from high school? Hindi naman ako masyadong sikat no'n.

"Zairah!" Sigaw nito at laking gulat ko nga na kilala niya ako. Pero sino siya?

"Sino ka ba muna, pucha. Hindi naman ako manghuhula," I said with a very irritated tone. Gosh, this dude is already annoying me the fuck out.

He took off his sunglasses, and my blood almost boiled. His almond shaped brown eyes, his infamous hairstyle—he still wears that hairstyle—and, his fucking mischievous smile. Unang tingin ko pa lang naalala ko na agad lahat ng pinagdaanan namin no'ng high school.

"What the fuck?"

Izro Cole fucking Estrella. Of course I'd run into him. Ang malas! Who would've thought that after seven years we will see each other?

Tangina, masaya na ako e. Kalmado na buhay ko, pero ayan na naman siya! Lord, hindi ito tama. Bakit dinamay mo ulit siya para gambalahin ako ulit?

"Hey, dipshit." He teased, and I recalled the times he always called me that. I clenched my fist, and walked towards him with my gritted teeth. I attempted to punch him straight in the face, but instead, he caught my wrists which made me fall.

Binitiwan niya naman ako kaya saktong natapilok ako at sumalampak sa maduming sahig. I looked up at him, and he was grinning. "Good old times," he shrieked, which made me roll my eyes. Tumayo naman na ako saka pinagpagan ang aking damit bago tumingin ulit sa kaniya.

"Ano na naman ba trip mo, Izro?" I raised an eyebrow at umiling naman siya.

"Wala naman," sagot nito sa akin. Bumuntong hininga naman ako. Nang-gagago kasi 'to e.

"Kung wala ka namang matinong sasabihin sa akin, aalis na ako. I'll just do a u-turn, and go a different way," I uttered, before walking towards my car at nang pasakay na ako ay bigla namang hinawakan nito ang kamay ko.

I glanced at him, and this time. His facial features became serious, genuine.

"Zai..." He called my name, and for the first time... It was soft, as if when I'm going to be trapped in a hazy trance.

"Stay... Stay here with me."

Nababaliw na ba 'to? Ang bilis naman magbago ng mood, bipolar lang ang atake? "Kuya, may ubo ka na 'ata sa utak mo. Tama na 'yan!" I almost hesitated, because I'm not sure if he's serious or not.

"Seryoso ako, Zaira Arashel."