Chapter 22:

2:30 in the morning when Ruby drove me to the airport even though she hasn't taken a bath yet. Ayaw niya raw muna maligo kasi ihahatid niya lang naman daw ako sa airport at pagkatapos noon ay uuwi na siya sa condo ko para matulog ulit.

I smiled inside. Ang sarap pakinggan... uuwi... sa condo ko.

I've never thought that combination of those words can make me feel like this. Para akong tanga sa saya na iniimagine na kaagad ang future ko kasama siya. Nakakabaliw talaga kapag alam mo na 'yung taong minamahal mo at minamahal ka ngayon ay 'yung tamang tao na para sa buhay mo.

"Hindi na ako papasok. Dito na lang ako," sabi niya nang makarating kami sa NAIA.

Umiling ako na parang bata tsaka hinawakan ang kamay niya. "Hatid mo ako hanggang loob," I said, pouting.

She burst out laughing so loud, as if I am a damn comedian! "Ang pangit mo, para kang tanga! Tara na nga!"

I smiled as I felt another victory in my life. We went out of my car, then I took my luggage out of my car's compartment as we walked hand in hand. Hindi niya ako napilit na pumasok mag-isa dahil hindi ko binibitiwan ang kamay niya. We were already inside and I already had my luggage checked in. We waited for my flight to be called.

Sinabi na kasing maaga pa, eh. Kahit nga 4:00 a.m. na kami makarating dito ay okay lang. Hindi pa rin naman ako late no'n sa flight.

"Anong gusto mong pasalubong?" I asked her as I played with her hand while we're sitting next to each other.

She shrugged. "Kiss lang."

I laughed before planting a kiss on her lips. "Ayan na 'yung kiss. Ano pa?"

She laughed. "Gusto ko 'yung kiss na fresh from London!"

I chuckled. "Kiss lang gusto mo? Ako iba."

Pabiro niya akong sinakal. "Ako ba ang magpupunta ng ibang bansa at ako ang hinihingian mo niyan?!"

I laughed again before pulling her closer to me. I sighed. "I'm sorry, our plan didn't happen."

"Okay lang. Ang dami pa namang next time," she looked at me. "Tsaka nagpupunta ka naman every weekend sa amin. Okay na ako ro'n."

Napanguso ako. "I will miss you."

She laughed as she jokingly slapped my face. "Ano ba? Parang ganoon lang din! One week ka lang naman sa London so why would you miss me?"

I scoffed. "I'm always missing you."

I saw how she concealed her smile. Kinilig na naman. "Sus. Patay na patay naman sa akin. Ang ganda ko talaga."

I laughed. Kung alam niya lang kung gaano siya kaganda sa paningin ko. 

I leaned forward to claim her lips. I didn't let go of it yet and waited for her lips to respond. Seconds later, I felt her left hand on my face as she kissed me back. Now, I can't stop kissing this little woman, damn!

It was her who lets go first. I saw how her face turned red as she looked away. "Ang daming live viewers."

I laughed before I hugged her. "I don't care." She hugged me back as she bury her face on my chest. I kissed her temple before I talked. "I will marry you someday."

She chuckled as she slapped my back. "Tumigil ka nga."

I laughed as I slightly moved away to face her. "Baby, I'm serious. I will marry you someday."

I saw her throat moved as she looked away for a second, before she looked at me again. "Are you that sure about me?"

i laughed. "Of course. I didn't date you just so I could have someone to be called as my girlfriend. I dated you because I liked you enough to think of my future with you."

Her eyes slightly watered as she cupped my face and kiss my lips. I wrapped my arms around her waist, getting ready to kiss her back, when she broke it.

Damn!

"I've never been treated like that. I've never heard that from anyone from my past."

I couldn't talk because it feels like she has a lot to say to me. It feels like there is something she's going to tell me that will give me more emotions today.

"You're going to wait for me until I graduated and have my stable job, right?"

I laughed. "Oo naman. Hindi naman na dapat itinatanong 'yan. Hindi naman ako nagmamadali. Siguradong-sigurado na ako sa 'yo."

She smiled again as her tears are already vivid on the corner of her eyes. Damn, why is my baby about to cry now?"

"Then, sigurado na rin ako sa 'yo sa lahat ng bagay kung ganoon. Kung siguradong-sigurado ka na sa akin, ako rin, sigurado na sa 'yo. Hintayin mo ako, ah? Huwag kang mapapagod..."

She looks too cute when she asked me the last thing. She looks like a cute kid, asking for a promise to be fulfilled, but it is her words that made me more determined about her.

"Hindi ako mapapagod. Mahal kita, at hinding-hindi ako mapapagod para sa 'yo."

She pursed her lips and then she smiled as she hugged me tight.

We stayed sitting beside each other, talking about the things we missed from each other, while waiting for my flight to be called.

And when it's already called, we both stood up. "Take care on your trip, baby," she said when I hugged her. "Aalagaan ko ang condo unit mo, don't worry."

We slightly swayed as we both chuckled. It's okay kahit magpa-party ka pa."

She laughed. "Gagawin ko talaga!"

I nodded, laughing. "Enjoy yourself. Feel at home because it's yours too, now."

My flight was called again so we had to break from the hug. "Sige na, umalis ka na. Para makauwi na ako at makatulog."

Tumango ako bago siya hinalikan nang ilang segundo, nang paulit-ulit, bago ko siya tuluyang pinakawalan. "Ingat sa pagdi-drive. I love you."

She smiled. "Ikaw din. I love you."

We waved our hands at each other before we both took the different directions. Ako, papunta sa loob para makasakay sa eroplano, habang siya ay palabas ng airport.

I fell in line for a short while before I could even sat on my designated seat inside. I quickly closed my eyes because this whole ride will be very, very long. I'm going to miss Ruby once more.

But I know that she'll be okay here in Manila. She's with her cousins and I already told her that she will stay in my condo and she can invite her cousins too. I wanted to make her feel comfortable in my condo and in Manila.

In time, we're going to live here. Maybe Manila is new to her even though she's coming here sometimes, but I know that she'll be comfortable and feel at home to this place I've been living all my life.

Few minutes later, the plane took off and my almost 15 hours of travelling to London has already started.

I checked my time and it's 12 minutes past 5:00 in the morning. Ibig sabihin ay 9:12 p.m. na sa London ngayon. Kung aabot ng 15 hours ang byahe ko, ibig sabihin, 8:00 p.m. ang sa Pilipinas ang pagdating ko sa London—and that's 12 in the afternoon in London.

Damn, this is what I hate about going to my father whenever I have too. Bakit ba kasi ayaw sumama sa akin ni Mommy? She and Dad is in good terms. I don't get the point of Mom declining his invitation.

Since it was a long ride, wala akong ibang ginawa sa loob ng plane kung hindi ang matulog at maglaro ng offline games sa cellphone ko. This bores me so much. Ayaw ko talagang nangingibang-bansa nang mag-isa, eh.

Ilang oras na pagtulog at paglaro pa ang ginawa ko, narinig ko na ang announcement ng captain na magla-landing na nga in few minutes. Ngayon pa lang ay ramdam na ramdam ko na ang pagod sa katawan ko at ang difference ng oras sa Pilipinas at dito sa London.

Fucking jetlag.

I looked outside the window and saw the city of London below me. The buildings are very small when you're above them. Pang mga posporo lang. Pero dahil papalapit na nga kami sa Heathrow airport ay papalaki na nang papalaki ang mga building sa paningin ko. Ilang sandali pa ay tuluyan na ngang sumayad ang gulong ng eroplano sa landing pad ng airport, dahilan para marinig namin ang ingay nito.

Nakahinga ako nang maluwag nang ilang minute pa ang nagdaan ay tumigil na nga ang eroplano at isa-isa nang lumabas ang mga pasahero sa instructions ng Fas.

Nang makalabas ng eroplano at makuha ang luggage ko ay hinanap ko na si Dad sa maraming tao na naghihintay sa mga passengers. Ilang sandali pa ay nakita ko si Macy na may dalang isang bouquet ng bulaklak habang nakangiti sa akin, habang si Dad naman ay may hawak na papel na may nakasulat na "Welcome to London, Architect Jin!"

I chuckled as I walked towards them and hugged them both. Dad slightly tapped my back as I heard his laugh.

"My own architect is here again," he proudly said. "Thank you for coming all the way here."

I smiled. "Anything for Macy."

Tumingin ako sa babae sa tabi ni Daddy na kahit bata pa talaga ay nakikita ko ang paunti-unti niyang pagma-mature. Iniabot niya sa akin ang bulaklak bago ako niyakap.

"Thank you for coming!" she said happily.

I brushed her hair as I answered her. "I won't disappoint my baby girl."

She laughed as she looked at me. "Who do you love more? Ruby or me?"

Daddy laughed as he pulled Macy away from me. "Let's go home and let your Kuya rest for now. He travelled for 15 hours. We need to go home for now."

Macy nodded but hugged my arm, making me laugh. "Okay, Daddy. You take his luggage!"

Nagtawanan na lang kami nila Daddy bago tuluyan nang lumabas ng airport.

When we arrived at their house, I saw Aunt Priscilla preparing foods for us. She greeted me with a kiss on my cheek as she invited me to wait for the food she's cooking but my jetlag is damn strong. I am so sleepy even though it's only 8:30 p.m. in the Philippines.

Siguro sa pagod na rin sa byahe. I've been sitting for fifteen hours straight. Hindi ko man lang nagawang tumayo para mag-CR dahil puro tulog, laro at kain ang ginawa ko.

Right now, all I want is to sleep.

"Priscilla, Jin's tired. Let him rest."

Aunt Priscilla pouted. "But I'm almost done."

I chuckled and then nodded. "Okay, then. I'll eat what you cooked."

She clapped her hands as I went to the kitchen to see what she's cooking. Hindi ko na nga napansin na nakasunod pala sa akin si Macy.

"I cooked your Daddy's favourite, sinigang!" I laughed with the way Aunt Priscilla said the word sinigang. "Also, I cooked Adobo a while ago."

I heard Macy laughed. "Mom's been cooking those dishes for a week straight! I'm getting fed up."

I chuckled. "Why?"

"Your aunt wants to impress you," Dad answered my question.

I saw the shy face of Aunt Priscilla after that. She came back to cooking as I followed her. "You don't need to impress me, Auntie."

She smiled while her attention is on sinigang. "I wanted you to call me Mom too, that's why."

I smiled. Aunt Priscilla is the best woman for Daddy. Too bad, they started their relationship the wrong way. I was angry but then, I couldn't change anything anymore. Mom forgave him the moment they were legally annulled and I couldn't do anything but to forgive Daddy too.

Para saan din ba kasi ang pagtatanim ng galit kung mas naging maayos naman kami? Mommy and Daddy fights a lot back when I was in high school. It stresses me out. But now, Mommy's attention is solely on business, cooking and of course, me. She never dated anyone anymore after Dad.

"But it's okay," Aunt Priscilla said. "I'm asking for too much, right?" she chuckled. "I just wanted to feel that I belong in your life too, the way Macy and your Dad belongs to you."

I smiled. "Auntie, you belong in my life too. I just can't call you Mom now because this is the least thing I can do for my Mom."

She smiled and nodded as she looked at me. "No, it's okay!" she laughed. "It's okay. I'm just being sentimental, especially now that Macy's turning 13 tomorrow."

Her eyes watered at the mention of Macy's age. At 18, she no longer has control over her only child. At 18 in London, the child needs to work on her own and be independent.

"Mom, you're at it again!" Macy shouted.

I laughed as they fight again. I sat on the vacant seat at their dining area and waited for the food that Aunt Priscilla is cooking. Damn, I am so sleepy.

Daddy sat on the seat in front of me and then minutes later, the food is finally served. We ate as Auntie and Dad asked me few questions about my work and Ruby.

"Oh, so she's good at cooking too?" Aunt Priscilla asked. "Didn't your Mom's a good cook too?"

I chuckled. "Yes, but she didn't really took a course for that."

"I hate cooking," Macy said as she drank on her glass.

"You lazy," Daddy called her out. We just laughed.

When the lunch is finally over, I went straight to the room reserved for me. Every time I went here, I would always stay in this room and no one could use it other than me. They really made me a part of their family like I lived here.

Mabait naman kasi talaga si Aunt Priscilla. Maybe her emotions took over her when she fell in love with Dad. She knew that Dad was married and she let her in her life like that. I remembered myself back in those days that I was loathing them. Mommy forgave them easily but I just couldn't.

The only thing that made me forgive them is Mom's words.

"Anger will never take you anywhere. Kung nakikita mo naman sa sarili mong hindi sila natural na masamang tao, anong pipigil sa 'yo para patawarin sila? Tao lang din sila na nagkamali; ang masakit lang, 'yung ganoong pagkakamali pa ang nagawa nila. Pero gaano man kalaki o kaliit ang pagkakamali, pagkakamali pa rin naman 'yon. Ang mahalaga naman ay okay tayo ngayon at mas okay tayo ngayon kaysa noong kasama natin ang Daddy mo."

I remembered myself failing every subject because my family is breaking apart. The only one who helped me get through high school is my friends and Grace, back when she's still our closest girl friend— back when she was Connor's girlfriend.

I sighed as I fell asleep.

Maybe, forgiving my Daddy and his new family is not a wrong decision, huh? I've never felt left alone here. I've always feel part of their family too.