Travel

"Hindi ba ako nabingi? Baka kasi nagbibiro ka lang." Ulit kong tanong. I was just making sure that I heard it right. Mahirap na mag-assume.

"Let's go to my condo." He change the topic.

"Wait. Say it again." I am making fun of him right now.

"You're teasing me Alexandra. I said I'm jealous of that Felix. Happy?" He looks so irritated now. I chuckled.

"I love teasing you! " I feel that my heart is beating so fast. It is kinda romantic because he never confessed that he's jealous. Looks like that I am starting to like him. "Don't, you might fall." He said.

Napawi naman ang ngiti ko sa sinabi niya.

"If you're jealous does it mean that you like me right? It means that you have feelings for me. " Tinutusok ko naman ang tagiliran niya. "You like me pala ha." Nakita ko namang namula siya kahit madilim sa kotse niya.

"Stop it. Baka mabangga tayo." I stop. Hindi niya padin inaamin. May pagka torpe din pala ang isang ito. I'm just staring at him and waiting for his answer.

"Ako nalang kaya ang manligaw sayo? Try kaya natin?" Biro ko sa kanya. He suddenly step on the brake. Mabuti nalang at may seat belt ako kaya hindi ako nauntog. "Gugulatin mo ba talaga ako nang ganito?" Sigaw ko ang lakas naman nang tibok nang puso ko dahil sa takot.

He started driving but this time its slow. "Don't joke me like that Iza. I'm driving." He stated.

"Ano naman ngayon kung nagdridrive ka. Arte mo naman." Sabat ko.

Nakarating na kami sa condo niya habang inaasar ko . Pagpasok palang namin sa loob ay dumiretso agad siya sa kwarto niya. Umupo muna ako sa sofa habang hinintay siya. Ano naman kaya ang kailangan nito. Lumabas na siya at may dalang isang white envelope. Ano naman kaya ang laman niya.

"Take this. It will make you happy." Sabay abot sakin nang envelope. Inisip ko naman na baka one million dollar ito.

"Ano to?" Tanong ko at kinuha iyon.

"You will know." Sabi niya. Binuksan ko naman yung laman noon. Napalaki ang mata ko. Tumingin ako sa kanya, he is just smiling at me. I'm already crying because of happiness. Tumalon ako sa kanya at yumakap. He gave me a plain ticket trip to Korea. Oh noooooo.........

"Thank you so much." Sabi ko habang sumisinghot. Hindi ko maexpress ang feelings ko. Sobrang saya. Hindi ko alam na matutupag ko na ang isa sa mga dream destination ko sa buhay.

"You deserved it." He whispered in my ears.

"Paano ka? Ako lang mag isa?" Tanong ko sa kanya saka kumalas nang magkayakap. May pinakita naman siya sa akin na isa pang envelope.

"So, kailan ang alis natin?" Excited kong tanong.

"Tomorrow." Napanganga naman ako. Bukas agad?

"Seriously?"

"I already set things up in your office that's why I didn't come with you in the bar. I'm preparing for the travel. Tapos pagdating ko doon, makikita ko pang kasama mo si Felix." Malungkot niyang sabi. Napatawa naman ako sa naging asta niya. He looks so cute when he is jealous. " Pambawi ko yan sa ilang araw na hindi pagpansin sayo." Dugtong niya.

"Kulang pa ito sa dinanas ko sayo para malaman mo. Alam mo ba na nilagnat ako noon dahil nabasa ako nang ulan." I stated. Napatawa naman siya sa sinabi ko. Binatukan ko naman siya.

"Masaya ka pa talaga ha." I added.

Hinimas naman niya ang buhok ko. "I'm sorry baby. I didn't mean it. I'm really sorry. I really missed you." Hinalikan niya ang noo ko. So suddenly, I'm falling for this guy. He's so sweet and charming.

"It's okay, I'm getting used to it." Mahina kong sabi.

"I'm all alone without you Iza." Then he give a smack on my lips. "You need to go to sleep. Our flight is 6 pm. You need to go back on your condo tomorrow and pack your things." Binuhat niya ako papunta sa kama niya tapos hiniga doon.

"I'm so grateful." I said when he lie me on his bed.

"I'm more grateful to be part of your life baby. You're the last reason for me who was standing at the edge of the cliff." He sigh. "I'll just call someone." Kinuha niya naman ang cellphone sa pocket niya at lumabas na. Tumingin lang ako sa kisame at pilit iniintindi ang mga nangyayari ngayon.

I am really going to Korea for real.

Maaga akong hinatid ni Jared sa condo. Kinuha ko agad yung maleta ko at nilagay ang mga kakailanganin ko doon. Mas dinamihan ko yung mga coat at sweater. Naglagay din ako nang mga dress at iba pang fashion shirts. Syempre hindi dapat mawawala ang passport.

Autumn usually starts in October so I expected that the weather is warm in the morning and cold in the night. Importante din kasing malaman ang weather at temperature doon. Mas mabuti nang alam mo ang mga damit na dadalhin. Inimagine ko nalang yung mga napapanood ko sa mga korean drama. Sana mapuntahan namin o kahit maligaw man lang.

I messaged my friends about my trip today.

Faith: Sana all. Pasalubong nang koreano ha.

Megan: Brief lang ni Lee Minho akin besh pwede din kay Park Bo Gum nalang.

Shane: Safety first. Pakiuwi na rin pala yung bebe ko. Hininhintay na nang anak ko dito.

Lorraine: Next time magkasama na tayo :)

Napasmile naman ako nang nakita ko yung message ni Lorraine. I think she is okay now. I sigh. It's really my fault. Guilty talaga ako sa nangyari sa kanya.

Naligo na ako at nagbihis. Chineck ko muna yung mga gamit ko before closing my suitcase. Wala naman atang naiwan. Nag ayos na din ako nang mga kolorete sa mukha. Pagkatapos nang ilang minuto ay nakarating na si Jared. I look at him.

He looks so fucking hot. He is wearing striped turtleneck then a coat outside, ripped black jeans, white sneakers and added by a sunglasses. Mas lalo siyang naging hot sa mini hoop earings at sa nakawayway niyang buhok. He looks like an idol.

"Your mouth." He teased.

"Mabuti naman at dumating ka na. Akala ko kasi hindi ka na sisipot. Sayang naman yung inempake ko." Sabi ko at binigay sakanya yung luggage ko. Kinuha naman niya yon.

"I never broke a promise. Never in my entire life." Nilagay naman niya yung kamay niya sa bewang niya. Napatawa naman ako.

"You act like a girl. You're so childish." Pang aasar ko. Naglakad na kaming dalawa palabas.

"I'm not." Sabi naman niya. Ang hot niya parin kahit may hawak na maleta. He looks like a tourist in his style. Maganda naman ang suot ko. A dress over blouse and a boots then I bring my favorite pouch that my sister gave me.

"I like your hair." Sabi ko sa kanya.

"Pagupit ko na kaya to?" Alok niya. Hinsi mo talaga makikita kay Jared ang ganitong ugali. He is serious when you see him in the office but he changed when he is with me. "Ikaw bahala.Kalbuhin ko?" Sumimangot naman siya.

"Bakit mo naisip na mag trip to Korea?" Natanong ko bigla.

"Lorraine mentioned that you really want to travel in Korea. I just think about it as my peace offering." Nilagay niya yung maleta sa likod nang kotse niya. Nagulat naman ako nang may lumabas sa kotse."Hiii!!!" Bati sakin ni Earl.

"Hello Earl! Hindi ko alam nandito ka pala. " Sabi ko. Napakamot naman siya nang ulo.

"Hindi ko nga din alam ditong kay Jared. Tinawagan niya ko kanina para ihatid daw kayo sa Korea. Charrr sa airport pala." Natawa naman ako sa sinabi niya. Kung titingnan mo si Earl mukha siyang suplado pero kapag nakilala mo talaga siya isa siyang lalaking na masayang kasama.

Tinaasan lang siya nang kilay ni Jared.

Pumasok na kami ni Jared sa sasakyan. Sa shotgun seat siya nag pwesto at ako naman ay nasa likod. Kinuha ko naman yung phone ko at tinext si Ate. Sinabi ko sa kanya na matutupad na ang isa sa mga bucketlist ko.

"Kahit si Lisa lang nang Blackpink ang ipasalubong mo sakin bro. Malaki talaga ang pasasalamat ko kapag nagawa mo yon." Jared gave him a grin kaya natawa nalang si Earl sa kanya.

"Hindi ko nga yan kilala kaya paano ko naman mahahanap yon. " Napairap nalang siya. He really know how to act so childish.

Nag uusap lang silang dalawa habang ako naman ay hinihintay padrin yung text nang ate ko. Mukhang busy siya ngayon siguro .Everytime kasi na magtetext ako sa kanya nagrereply siya agad. Hanggang nakarating kami sa airport ay wala pa din siyang reply.

"Safe trip Iza." Sabi ni Earl.

"Thank you. Ingat ka pabalik ha." Sagot ko naman sa kanya. Kinuha na ni Jared ang suitcase namin sa kotse niya. "Thanks bro." Sabi ni Jared sabay hawak sa balikat ni Earl. "Your not welcome bro." Asar ni Earl.

We enter inside and check in while Jared is still holding my hand. I let him hold it. After waiting an hour ,we are already flying to Korea. I'm so lucky that Jared and I are just close. We can talk to each other lightly.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome onboard Flight 4B7 with service from Philippines to South Korea. We are currently third in line for take-off and are expected to be in the air in approximately seven minutes time. We ask that you please fasten your seatbelts at this time and secure all baggage underneath your seat or in the overhead compartments. We also ask that your seats and table trays are in the upright position for take-off. Please turn off all personal electronic devices, including laptops and cell phones. Smoking is prohibited for the duration of the flight. Thank you for choosing Philippine Airlines. Enjoy your flight." The captain said.

I'm pretty excited right. I look at Jared and he just smiled to me. He is busy a person but look at him right now. Riding a plane with me. Tinapik ko siya sa balikat.

"Are you excited?" He asked me.

"Yes. Let's have fun there. I wanna meet my husbands there." Sabi ko sa kanya at nagsmile sa kanya. He rolled his eyes.

"Husband your head. Just rest for this time." Tumayo muna siya at nilagyan nang scarf ang leeg ko then he kiss me in my forehead. "Nandito lang ako sa tabi mo." Mahinahon niyang sabi.

Bumalik na siya sa upuan niya at naglagay nang airpods. Habang ako naman ay tumitingin pa din sa paligid at nagmamasid. Hindi ko makikita ang mga ulap ngayon dahil gabi. Sayang naman

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is Anton Reyes and I’m your chief flight attendant. On behalf of Captain Alorro and the entire crew, welcome aboard. Airlines flight 4B7 non-stop service from Philippines to Korea

Our flight time will be of 3 hours and 45 minutes. We will be flying at an altitude of 35000 feet at a ground speed of 350miles per hour/kilometers per hour.

At this time, make sure your seat backs and tray tables are in their full upright position and that your seat belt is correctly fastened. Also, your portable electronic devices must be set to ‘airplane’ mode until an announcement is made upon arrival. Thank you.”

Bigla akong nagulat. Captain Alorro? Tiningnan ko lang si Jared at nakapikit na ang mata niya. I'm not sure kung siya ba talaga iyon pero sana naman hindi. Hindi ata narinig ni Jared.

I sigh.

"Flight attendants/Cabin Crew, please prepare for gate departure." Sabi nang Captain.

It's really him.

It's his voice.