[MESSENGER]

WALKIE TALKIES 📞 (keep out!)

10:03

Rigo
mamimiss ka namin @Mila

Jachin
Wala pa nga paalis ka pa lang dyan

Rigo
advance lang bakit ba

Rigo
ingat ka dun lagi mong alalahanin pwede ka namang bumalik dito

Fatima 👿
Hindi pa natin kasama si Mila may umiiyak na.

Fatima 👿
Nakakatakot maging pasahero ni Rigo
Jachin reacted 😆

Jachin
Go, sabihin mo lang pwede naman ako na mag maneho

Rigo
may gusto ka lang isakay sa passenger seat eh

Jachin
Corny

Jachin
Bilisan mo na, baka ma-late si Mila sa flight niya. Ikaw magbabayad ng rebook sige ka.

Rigo
to na 🫡

Mila
Evie's here na sa bahay kaya hindi na need daanan later.

Rigo
wow inggit na inggit na si—
Jachin reacted 😡

Mila
🤪

Mila
She gave me a lot of baked bread that I could bring sa plane huhu the sweetest

Jachin
Haha gutom rin ako pakisabi

Mila
For me and mom lang daw eh
Jachin reacted 👍🏻

Jachin
Ah sige
Mila reacted 😭

Mila
Si tampo 😭

Jachin
De okay lang kakain na lang kami ni Abe dito sa bahay habang wala pa si Rigo okay lang

Abe
It's not okay. Nakasimangot siya. Tita asked if he didn't like the ulam she cooked. Ang arte raw ni Jachin.
Mila reacted 😭

Mila
There, there. You'll live, Jach.

Jachin
Mamamatay muna sa gutom 👍🏻

Jachin
Thanks, Mama J, para sa pagkain di na magugutom anak mo

Mila
Jachin 😭

* * *

[DIALOGUE]

< AIRPORT. AFTERNOON. >

Rigo could not park for long so he hugged Mila as much as he could, committing to memory what he could.

Mila also hugged Fatima and Abe.

Mila
You two, keep these two in line. Baka 'pag wala ako mapariwara.

Fatima
Ang laki namang responsibilidad niyan.

Rigo
Grabe ka, ah. Matino na kami.

Mila
Good.

Mila turned to Evie and smiled. She owed her a lot, but this would have to do for now.

Evie opened her arms to hug her and Mila felt the burden from her shoulders shifted. Not gone, but different now.

Mila clutched Evie tightly and turned her head closer to her ear.

Mila
Take care of him for me, Evie.

Evie nodded, even though there was hestitation. She didn't know if she could do that.

Mila
Promise me you'll try?

Evie
I promise.

When Mila let go of her, she dread to see the next person she'd have to say good bye to.

Jachin's eyes were glazed with unshed tears that mirrored Mila's own. He didn't need to hide it from her, because he was always that kind of person.

Unafraid to be vulnerable.

Jachin
Tumawag ka 'pag nakarating na kayo sa layover at 'pag nasa US na kayo.

Jachin
Kahit pa gabi na sa Pilipinas.

Mila nodded and took a step closer to him to wrap her arms around him.

Jachin rested his chin on top of Mila's head and rubbed her back when he felt her shoulders shake.

Mila
I'm really sorry.

Jachin
Shh. . . wala na 'yon, Mila. Kung hinihintay mo na patawarin kita, 'wag na. Napatawad na kita bago pa tayo mag-usap.

Jachin
Napatawad na kita nung gabi ding 'yon.

Mila shifted and held him tighter.

Mila
I'll miss you. All of you.

Jachin
Kami rin. Pero 'di naman kami mawawala. Dito pa rin kami hanggang sa bumalik ka. . . kung babalik ka pa.

Mila
Of course, I will.

Jachin
Then okay na ako sa pangako mo na 'yan.

Jachin let go of her, but not before tucking her hair back and wiping her face with his own handkerchief, making sure her face wasn't wet with tears.

With one last smile, Mila grabbed the cart's handle to push their bags while her mom was being assisted by an airport staff.

She didn't look back once she turned her back at them.

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[INSTAGRAM]

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a/n: happy 10k atswhi! <3 here's litol evie in a cat hat as a treat 🥹

by @milkimiway on x

#ATSWHIwp