March 12, 2017, Tokyo

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Tokyo Narita Airport. Local time is 12:15 in the afternoon, and the temperature is 18 degrees Celsius.

For your safety and comfort, please remain seated with your seat belt fastened until the Captain turns off the Fasten Seat Belt sign. This will indicate that we have parked at the gate and that it is safe for you to move about.

Please check around your seat for any personal belongings you may have brought on board, and please use caution when opening the overhead bins, as heavy articles may have shifted around during the flight.

If you require deplaning assistance, please remain in your seat until all other passengers have deplaned. One of our crew members will then be pleased to assist you. Thank you for flying Pilpap Airlines." I opened my eyes the moment I felt the plain come to a complete stop. I've always hated the feeling of getting dizzy because of the take-off and landing of a flight. Kahit na ilang beses na akong sumasakay ng eroplano, I couldn't seem to make myself relaxed during those times. Idagdag mo pa ngayon yung inis ko kay Sir Mark at sa lecheng FA na tingin nang tingin sa akin, ewan ko na lang kung kakayanin ko pa talagang mag-relax.

Nagsimula nang kunin ng mga pasahero yung mga gamit hila sa overhead cabins. Actually, kahit hindi pa nga nag-announce na pwede nang kumuha ng gamit, nagtayuan na yung iba. Imbis na makigaya, I've waited 'til almost everyone walked out of the elevator bago ako tumayo. Hindi ko kasi gets kung bakit kailangang makipag-unahan sa paglabas ng eroplano. Pare-pareho lang naman kayo ng prosesong pagdaraanan. May pa-free accommodation ba 'pag nauna ka? Wala naman, 'di ba? So why the rush?

Aabutin ko na sana yung bag ko when the FA who kept on staring at me beat me to it. Being taller than I am, nakuha niya agad yung gamit ko.

"Here you go, Ma'am," sabi niya sabay abot ng bag ko. When I looked up at him, he was smiling at me. That's when I noticed that he's more attractive when he smiles.

Ay. Shit. Ano ba 'tong naiisip ko? I mentally slapped myself because of that. I then mumbled my thanks and just when I was about to leave the plane, he called me.

"I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable during the flight. If there is any way for me to make it up to you, just tell me... Ma'am," aniya pero halatang may pag-aalangan ang pagdugtong niya ng ma'am sa dulo ng sentence niya. Napailing na lang ako dahil sa sinabi niya.

"Apology accepted, and there's really no need for that," sagot ko naman sa kanya just to end the conversation. 

"I insist," pagpupumilit naman niya. My patience was already wearing thin kaya kahit na cute nga siya, I have to end this now.

"Look, if hindi ka talaga pinapatahimik ng konsensya mo, just let me go for now. I'll just let Dan know kapag may naisip na akong way para maging quits na tayo. Okay?" Hindi ko alam kung ano ang sumapi sa akin para sabihin 'yon but I did what I had to do. Gusto ko na talagang makapag-check in sa hotel para makapagpahinga. Naghahalo na ang antok, pagod, at inis sa katawan ko. I didn't need more stress in my life kahit na cute pa ang cause nito.

"Did anyone mention my name?" biglang sabat ni Dan.

"Speaking of the devil," mahinang sabi ng cute na FA sabay iling. I had to stop myself from laughing because of that. Feeling ko kasi para siyang nagseselos na ewan kay Dan.

Wait, what? Saan nanggaling 'yon???

"Hmm. Wala. Huwag mo nang pansinin. Message na lang kita for the dinner, ha?" sagot ko naman kay Dan. 

"Yes, Ate. See you!" Dan answered with a smile tapos sinamaan naman siya ng tingin ni cute FA. Maglalakad na sana ako paalis nung sumingit pa ulit siya.

"I know you're not asking, but I'm Jeremy!" Napailing na lang ulit ako then I continued walking palabas ng eroplano. Bahala nga siya! Masyado na talaga siyang papansin!

The immigration and customs process was almost smooth, kung hindi lang sana ako naharang dahil masyado raw marami yung dala ko for a week long stay. I had to go and explain pa tuloy kung bakit ang dami kong dala. Bilang isang ginawin na tao, I literally brought several clothes just so I could layer them all. The weather forecast said it will be cold all throughout the week. It's better to be safe than sorry, right? Saka pinagdala rin kasi ako ng kung ano-anong snacks ng parents ko. Baka raw magutom ako. Hello? As if naman walang convenience store dito!

Right after I passed the immigration and customs process, kinuha ko na yung ni-rent kong pocket wifi pati na rin yung bus ticket ko papunta sa hotel ko. Mabuti na lang talaga at tumitigil sa mismong tapat ng hotel ko yung airport bus. If not, magpapatiwakal na siguro ako dahil sa dami ng dala ko tapos hindi pa ako sigurado if sa tamang train station pa ang baba ko.

Pagkatapos kong mag-check in sa hotel, doon ko na naramdaman ang kaba. Will I really be able to survive this trip alone? Honestly, I was kind of looking forward to Dan's invitation now. Having dinner with someone I know would definitely ease the nervousness away.

Just when I was about to send a message to Dan, saka ko naalala na in-uninstall ko nga pala yung Messenger ko. As much as I hated to do it, napilitan din akong i-install ulit 'yon. I just had to. Paano kami makakapag-usap kung wala akong Messenger, 'di ba?

Pagka-install ko nung app, nagpasukan lahat ng messages nina Sir Mark at Jenny. I ignored Sir Mark's messages and even set him on mute. Ayaw ko muna talaga kasi siyang makausap muna. Meanwhile, nag-reply naman ako kay Jenny.

Thea:
I made it out alive.
Just in case you're wondering.

Jenny:
Buti naman at naisipan mong magparamdam.
Gaga ka talaga!
Ako ang pinepeste buong araw ni Sir Mark.
What am I supposed to tell him?
Nanlamig ka lang bigla tulad ng weather sa Japan?
Girl, ayon sa nasagap kong chismis kay Sir Dexter, nagbabalak nang sumunod diyan ang koya mo.
Ayusin mo na nga 'yan!

Thea:
Wait. What?!
Stop him.
Please!
I'm begging you.
Kailangan kong i-clear yung thoughts ko.
Paano ko naman gagawin 'yon kung nandito rin siya?

Jenny:
Chill.
Wala siyang Japan Visa.
Hahahahaha.
😂😂😂

Thea:
Nyeta ka!
I hate you so much!
Wala ka nang pasalubong!

Hindi ko na hinintay pang mag-reply ulit si Jenny. I immediately looked for Dan's account and tried to compose a message. Kaso shet. Bakit biglang na-blangko yung utak ko?

Bago pa ako makapag-isip ng sasabihin, I noticed that Dan was calling me already.

"Hello, Ate?" Dan hesitantly said. Para bang hindi pa siya sure kung tama bang tumawag siya sa akin o hindi. Lalo naman akong na-tense dahil do'n. Magba-back out na ba siya bigla? 'Wag naman sana!

"Uy, Dan! Magse-send pa lang sana ako ng message sa 'yo!" I said almost too enthusiastically. Dyahe naman, o. Baka akalain bigla nito, clingy ako.

"Ay, talaga ba? Yayayain ka na sana namin ngayon for lunch. Balak kasi nung iba naming mga kasama na mag-inuman mamayang gabi. Alam ko namang hindi ka umiinom and baka ma-overwhelm ka sa dami namin, so I thought, lunch would be a better option. Saang area ka ba nagse-stay?" Dan asked at hindi ko maiwasang ma-touch dahil doon. Buti pa siya, na-consider yung situation ko. Hindi katulad nung isa diyan. Hay nako talaga.

"I'm staying sa Shinjuku area. I can meet you halfway naman. I'll just Google or something," I told him, but at the back of my mind, I was silently hoping na puntahan na lang talaga niya ako sa hotel. Kinakabahan pa rin talaga ako if magna-navigate na agad akong mag-isa rito. Sabi naman ng mga nabasa ko sa blogs at mga napanood kong vlogs, reliable naman daw yung Google Maps dito pero ewan ko ba. I couldn't help but feel scared talaga. Siguro dahil first time kong mag-travel alone?

"Okay na, Ate. Kami na lang ang pupunta diyan. May alam kaming okay na restaurants near your area."

"Huh? Sino ba'ng kasama mo?" hindi ko naiwasang itanong sa kanya. May hinala naman na ako kung sino ang sasama sa kanya. Gusto ko lang i-confirm. But to be honest, I really thought kaming dalawa lang kasi ngayon. For catching up sana, gano'n. 

"Si Jeremy lang, Ate. Okay lang ba? Ang kulit kasi nito, e. Isama ko raw siya kahit na ano'ng mangyari." Napailing na lang ako dahil sa sinabi ni Dan. Sobrang predictable nga talaga nitong si Jeremy. Ramdam ko nang ipipilit niyang makasama sa amin ni Dan. Hindi nga ako nagkamali. Pasalamat talaga siya at cute siya!

Ay, shet. Ito na naman 'tong random thoughts ko! Shush now, brain. Now is not the right time to appreciate the cuteness of other guys!

"Do I even have a choice?" naiiling tanong ko kay Dan.

"Wala! See you later Thea!" rinig kong sigaw ni Jeremy.

I hate to admit it but I have a feeling that things are going to be interesting now. I guess I'll just have to go with the flow and enjoy whatever happens, right?

***

Sinend ko na lang kay Dan yung pangalan ng hotel kung saan ako nagse-stay. Ayaw ko mang gawin, nagbihis at nag-ayos na lang din ako para magmukha naman akong presentable sa harap nina Dan. I didn't want to look like a maid kapag itinabi ako sa kanila so I tried to fix myself para makapag-blend in din sa crowd.

Just as I was about to apply my lipstick, I heard my phone ring. When I checked who was calling me, it was Dan.

Shit naman! Bakit ang bilis nilang makarating dito?

Bago ko sagutin 'yong tawag niya, tinapos ko na muna yung pagli-lipstick ko.

"Hello, Dan?" I awkwardly answered the call.

"Ate, nandito na kami sa ground floor ng hotel sa may tapat ng Family Mart. Sa may front office ka na lang ba namin hintayin o dito na lang?" Dan asked. I actually heard Jeremy saying na susunduin na nila ako sa kwarto ko pero buti na lang pinatahimik agad siya ni Dan. I had to stop myself from laughing because of that. Ang kapal talaga ng mukha nito. Feeling close agad!

"Baba na lang ako diyan. Give me a few minutes, okay?" sagot ko sa kanya. I then combed my hair, sprayed some perfume, and took one last look in the mirror to check if I looked okay. When I was finally satisfied with what I saw, I grabbed my bag and off I go.

Bahala na talaga kung ano'ng mangyayari! Sana 'di na muna ako ma-stress sa kay Jeremy!