Serina

"All Passengers are now allowed to bored flight JXY-7628 Manila to Heathrow Airport. Please proceed now to Gate 43."

Seat 13A

I received a text from my assistant that everything is ready there. I will stay in an apartment at Duvallae Residents. My friend gave that apartment to me for my birthday last year because they own Duvallae in London. I made a to-do list so when I land I get to do things I wanted since I'm all alone and free.

1. Sing in a café

I always watched what I do because I know my father watches me. All I wanted is to be free from my controlling father. My father is a known business man in all of Asia and all he wanted is to be powerful. I can't do anything that can tarnish my families reputation.

2. Find Friends

Well I already have a lot of friends back home but all thru social media. I only have a handful of real friends. All throughout high school I was a bit of a bully but know I wanted to change.

3. Say a british slang

Well that one was a bit weird I know. It's just for fun. I wanted it to be normal. I watched a lot of british movies because of my mom.

4. Sight seeing

"I want to visit the Big ben obviously. It is famous and that is a fact. I wanted to go around London and not get lost. I want to be a townie.

5. Go on a date

That's all a have in my to-do list. While I was busy settling in my seat, the captain spoke thought the speakers.

"Welcome! This is your captain speaking and welcoming you to flight JXY-7628. The estimated time of arrival in Heathrow Airport is 12: 25pm, September 27. The flight will last for 11H. Please stay seated until the seatbelt sign goes off and enjoy the flight."

The crew demonstrated the instructions on how to use the seatbelt and oxygen mask in case of emergency. After the demonstration, I reclined my seat so I can relax and watch on the tablet. I wore my earphones and clicked on a movie. A flight stewardess came up to me and offer sleep mask and a blanket.

I don't know when I went to sleep but when a crew member woke me up we were already in Singapore for a layover. We will stay here for 3 hours because of refilling of gas.

I went to the airport lounge here as advised by the crew but I wanted to roam around. I went to the nearest mall which is just beside the airport for I think is convenient to tourist. The mall was big and had lots of stores. I got hungry roaming around so I went inside a Korean Restaurant.

"Gimchiga deul-eogan sogogi bulgogiwa seupeulaiteuleul wonhabnida. Gamsa!" As I told the waiter, I wanted beef bulgogi with extra kimchi on the side with sprite. I learned to speak Korean because I watch a ton of K-dramas in my life. The actors are very good looking and neat. When the food arrived, I immediately thanked the server. I ate, paid, and then left.

I strolled more around the mall. I bought coats because it's mid-fall in London and it's cold. I looked in awe when I saw the clean environment here in Singapore. Mid-shopping the airline alerted me that my flight is already calling all the passengers and is ready for take-off. I hurried over there because I don't want to miss this flight. It is only my only chance to escape my controlling father. Growing up with Dad as a father was most crucial than anything. All I hear is do this, do that, don't go there, and many more. But now I finally escaped from his grasped I feel so happy.

I build an international clothing line from scratch. I covered anything that would expose my identity because I know he wouldn't agree in what I was doing. I hid in the name Lucil Calinsky. The clothing line was successful and is known from everywhere in this world.

Heathers

That was the name of my clothing line. It was named after my late mother Heart Gurrero-Sy. She died when I was very young and a lot changed since she died. I think that was the reason my father changed as well.

Luckily, I made it through the gate in time. I sat on my seat and waited for the plane to take-off. A woman mid-40s I think approached me and tapped on my shoulder.

"Have we met?" she said. She examined my face down to my toes. I looked up to see how she was. She looked so familiar but I can't put a finger on it. Maybe I met her in a family gathering.

"Serina right? It's your Aunt Bon, a friend of your mom." She informed me. I remembered her now because of her name. Her son and I were once playmates and I would go to their house because they had an inflatable bounce house. She often goes to our house to so that she and Mom would chat and catch up. I last saw her on the day of my mother's funeral.

"How are you Auntie?" I asked politely. She looks younger than I imagined. There were signs of aging but not too noticeable. She was wearing a scarf and coat.

"I'm good. You looked beautiful just like your mother." She said. I begged to disagree. Many people told me I looked a lot like my father and I also thought that. Hearing how she thought I looked like my mother is heart-warming. I loved my mother very much.

"How's your brother?" she asked. My brother moved away when he was 20 I think and I was 16 at that time. We still kept communication up until now. He regretted that he didn't asked me to join him. He was just so tired of our father's attitude that he couldn't take it anymore and left. He is now married to the wonderful Fiona and have a little girl named Steff. I attend his wedding 2 years ago as for my father, he wouldn't let himself see my brother without getting angry.

"He's fine." I answered. She wanted to catch up with me so we stayed talking about our lives. Her son was now a surgeon and is planning to build a hospital in our home country. I figured he would be an amazing doctor when I was little. The way he took care of me when I scraped my knee I just know he would be good. Auntie Bon was so nice and warm. I haven't felt so happy hearing stories about her and my mother when they were teens.

We ordered champagne and talked for about 3 hours and then called it quits. We decided to hit the hay and that we would eat together when we land in Heathrow.

"Good afternoon folks! We have arrived in our destination. Please wait until the seatbelt sign is off. When exiting the plane please line up in a single file to the nearest exit where our crew is waiting. Thank you for riding Callaghan Airlines!"

I woke up when I heard the announcement. This is it! I am in London. I woke Auntie Bon up that is still sleeping soundly. I fixed my hair in a messy bun and fixed my clothes. I stood up to get my carry on from the cabinet above me. I waited for Auntie Bon to get ready before leaving the plane. When she finished we got out of the plane and when to the baggage claiming area. I got 3 suitcases and 1 carry on while Auntie Bon has only 1. She is only staying for a week here in London because of a business meeting.

I asked her if she wanted to stay in my apartment since it is only for one week but she declined so I offered her a ride to her hotel. My friend from college who moved here not too long ago will pick me up and I know she wouldn't mind id Auntie Bon will join use. We decide to eat at the nearest store which was the 'The Pound'. The burgers there was mouth watering and she craved for burgers.

Cristy Calling......................................

"Babe, I'm here near Starbs." Cristy said. She was the friend I was talking about. I grabbed the check and payed for it. Aunt Bon insisted to pay but it didn't bother me to pay since I was the one who asked her to join me so that I can listen to her stories with Mom.

"On the way. Do you want anything from the Mall?" I asked.

"Just bring me a Frappuccino from Starbs." She replied. I thought she wanted face mask from a store. I ended the call and went to Starbs to buy her drink. Aunt Bon waited by the bench outside with our bags. Once I received the drink, I went outside to met Christy and Aunt Bon.

I noticed a dark blue sedan outside of Starbs. I knew it belongs to Christy because she loves sedans and her plate number is CHRSTY. She personalized her plate number according to her name. I waved at the car and waited until she rolled down her window. I thought she'll just rolled down her window but she went outside her car and hugged me.

"I missed you!" she said. I couldn't breathe when she hugged me. I vigorously tapped her shoulder to make her stop suffocating me. When she was done hugging me, she noticed Aunt Bon in the trunk of her car. She opened the back of her car and we helped Aunt Bon put our luggage in the car. Once we were done, we all entered the car and drove away.

"So where are you staying?" Christy asked Aunt Bon.

"Le France Hotel." She said. Christy made a right turn and the intersection in front of the mall. We continued to drive straight.

"So, Aunt Bon. Do you have kids?" Christy asked her. I know that look. She wants to date one of her sons.

"I have 2 sons and 1 daughter. Would you like to date one of them?" Aunt Bon joked. Christy took it seriously and asked if she could. I was shocked at Aunt Bon response. As I think about it his son and Christy would not interact well at first glance. Christy looks like a punk rock type of girl while Schen, Aunt Bon's son, is more of a serious type of person. I would like to see their interaction and development towards each other.

"If ever I go back to our country be sure you fix me up with your son." She laughed. We all enjoyed her jokes. We didn't notice that we already arrived at Aunt Bon's hotel. I helped her bring out the luggages.

"Call me if ever you're in town so I can set you up." Aunt Bon said to Christy. We exchanged greetings and separate ways after. I waved at her before we were out of her sight. We went straight to my residence. She just dropped me off because her night duty will start. She works as a bartender in a private pub not far away from here. She's paying for her law school by herself.

When I entered the room and saw my furniture all fixed. I wanted it to be fixed before I got here so less hassle for me. I unpacked by luggage and decide to go outside and go around the neighborhood. When I finally reached my walking peak, I rested in the breams of the bridge. I noticed a sharp rock beside my foot and picked it up. I thought of an idea in what to do with the rock. I craved something in the bream and went back to my home.

I finally reached my dream. I'm............

New in Town