***

HINDI ko na mabilang kung ilang beses akong huminga nang malalim. I was mindlessly staring at my phone, but I was not looking at it. Lampasan lang ang tingin ko kahit na kanina ko pa nabasa ang email ni Rome. 

I was half sleepy and half lost in thought. Would someone blame me for that? It was three in the morning, and I was cold at the airport.

Contrary to my expectations, hindi ganoon ka-busy sa arrivals. Baka dahil weekday? Hindi ko sigurado. Pero batid ko na maraming OFW ang dumadating. I believe OFW was the term for the Filipinos working overseas.

Ah, Overseas Filipino Workers. Letizia . . . Estúpida.

Puwede ko nang tampalin ang sarili kong noo. That was how absent-minded I was.

I blinked again and looked at the arrivals doors, then back to the monitor. Wala pa rin ang flight ni David. Sana hindi late ang lipad niya. Late kasi ang akin nang unang beses kong dumating. Ang pinagkaiba nga lang, walang naghihintay at sasalubong sa akin.

Samantala, narito ako nang ganito kaaga at naghihintay sa pagdating ng kababata ko. Sana talaga hindi ma-late ang flight ni

I brought my attention back to Rome's email.

***

From: Rome
Subject: Project CommuniKATE 1

It is really a small world.

Thanks for being so nice to me, Juliette. I guess it was really a good decision I took this weird project.

Talk to you again tomorrow?

Rome :)

***

But it didn't make sense to me to respond right now. I was sure that Rome would be fast asleep. It was crazy early.

Nagtungo ako sa bakanteng upuan na katapat ng bakal na fence. Hindi ako gumawa ng sign at hindi pa rin ako matatawagan ni David dahil wala pa siyang sim card or internet dito. Mas mabuti na nasa harap ako upang makita niya ako agad o 'di kaya ay makita ko siya.

Inayos ko ang zipper ng jacket ko dahil nakaramdam na ako ng lamig. Magdadala sana ako ng kumot pero naisip ko na baka naman on time ang dating ni David.

Again, that was my wishful thinking.

I closed my eyes in the hopes of taking a quick nap. But like last night, the moment I closed my eyes, the memory of bumping into my mother would replay back and how she left. I felt that I was a step closer, then took a step back. I was a chess piece that remained unmoved.

I wanted it to be a dream or a nightmare, sadly, it was the reality.

"Mi princesa." Natigilan ako nang may magsalita. That familiar, deep voice caught me off guard.

Tumingala ako at napangiti. Before me stood my Spanish best friend, David Juan Carlos. 

David was wearing blue long sleeves paired with dark grey trousers. He had a briefcase strapped on his shoulder and was pulling a medium-sized suitcase.

"David!" Agad akong napatayo at lumapit sa kaniya.

"The one and only," he smiled genuinely as he opened his arms.

Kahit na may bakal na harang sa aming kinatatayuan, tumingkayad ako upang bigyan siya ng isang mahigpit na yakap. He returned my hug and pulled me over the metal fence, supporting my legs.

"I missed you!"

"¡Yo también te extrañé! ¿Cómo estás?" Marahan akong inalalayan ni David na makababa.

"I've been good! I missed you, too!"

David held my cheeks and turned right and left. "It looks like you lost a lot of weight, mi princesa. What have you been eating?" I rolled my eyes as I removed his hands from my face.

"I've been eating just fine, David. Also, stop calling me that here." I glanced around to ensure no one was around starting at us. "Just call me Letizia!" I pouted at him.

"How can I do that to—" Before he could continue talking, I placed my hands on his mouth. I saw how surprised he was before grinning from ear to ear.

"¡Basta o te dejaré aquí!" I complained before crossing my arms.

David grinned before patting my head. "Alright. Alright. Let's go?"

I finally smiled as he grabbed his luggage, and we exited the airport as more passengers were coming in and out with us. David placed his arm behind me, bringing us closer as a wave of passengers and their relatives passed us.

Hindi naman na ako nagulat sa pag-alalay niya sa akin. Kahit naman noon nasa Espanya ako, hindi nagbago ang pagiging gentleman ni David. He never treated me like I was an outsider even though he had so many chances. He wasn't going to profit anything with befriending me but he stayed.

We went to the taxi stand, and I told them the hotel I was staying at. Nauna na akong sumakay sa taxi habang nilalagay ni David and gamit niya. Tinutulungan din siya ng drayber. Kinuha ko na ang pagkakataon na iyon upang mag-reply kay Rome.  Baka hindi pa siya gising pero paniguradong magiging busy rin ako maghapon kasama si David.

***

To: Rome <[email protected]>
Subject: Project CommuniKATE 1

Morning Rome!

Sorry hindi na 'ko naka-respond kagabi. Some stuff happened lang. But I hope you have a great day! May pasok ka ba today?

Juliette

***

Nabigla ako nang may matanggap na sagot ilang minuto pa lang ang nakalilipas. Agad kong binasa ang kaniyang email habang nagkukuwento si David tungkol sa pamilya niya. Tuluyang nablangko ang utak ko sa nabasa ko.

***

From: Rome
Subject: Project CommuniKATE 1

No worries.

Morning, too. I just woke up. I have no classes today and no shift at work. I'll probably hang around somewhere. Do you want to meet? Just kidding. I'm not a weirdo.

What are you up to today?

Rome :)

***

That struck me. Gusto niyang magkita na kami? I felt a lump in my throat that I wanted to gulp down hard. I wanted to crush it hard. Parang nasasakal ako. Parang nagyeyelo rin ang aking mga kamay.

Halos mapatalon ako sa aking kinauupuan nang may humawak sa aking braso.

"Letizia?" Lumingon ako sa direksiyon ni David at napakaseryoso ng kaniyang ekspresyon. "Are you okay?"

I gave him a faint smile before nodding. There was no need for David to know about Rome. My gut told me he wouldn't be pleased to know I was conversing with a stranger.

***

To: Rome <[email protected]>
Subject: Project CommuniKATE 1

Hey, sorry for the silence this morning. Things aren't going well with me at the moment. It would be nice to meet you but not now. I'm afraid I might end up disappointing you.

Hay... I'm feeling so down today. :(

Juliette

***

I didn't hide that I was feeling down from him. I was really feeling that way. Now that David was here, we're back to the board to look for my mother.

***

From: Rome
Subject: Project CommuniKATE 1

Hey, it's alright. There will be more chances to come. No rush at baka ma-disappoint ka lang din sa akin.

What happened? Care to tell? I'm all ears. (well kind of even though we're just on emails)

Rome :)

***

When we arrived at the hotel, an hour had already passed. Binuksan ni David ang kaniyang maleta at binigyan ako ng Ruffles at conguitos, my favorite snacks. He then went to the bathroom to freshen up before sleeping. He had a long flight and deserved sleep. I took the time to respond.

***

To: Rome <[email protected]>
Subject: Project CommuniKATE 1

Why would I be disppointed with you? Mukha naman na mabait kang tao. Hindi mo pa naman ako hinihingan ng pera HAHAHA jk!

Well . . . I'm actually looking for my mom. Iniwan niya kasi ako sa tatay ko noong baby pa lang ako. Akala ko may balita na today pero wala pa rin pala. Wala naman ako makuha na sagot mula kay Papa kaya I'm back to square one.

~ Juliette

***

From: Rome
Subject: Project CommuniKATE 1

Oh, I hope you will find your mom. But if you were back at square one, you were doing something to it so don't lose hope.

Thanks for sharing it with a stranger though.

Rome :)

***

To: Rome <[email protected]>
Subject: Project CommuniKATE 1

I know you don't ask, but because you already share a little story of yours. . . I thought I should share mine.

I am a repeater in College, have been kicked out twice in my previous colleges, and this is my third time being a freshman. What happened to those years, it's a long story, but to make it short. I was a mess.

Please don't share it with other people.

Rome :)

***

I was unsure of how to respond to him by then. Sakto naman na natapos na si David sa pagligo. He slept on the wide couch while I used the bed. Mabuti na lang at sakto siya sa couch. Pipilitin ko pa sana siya na sa kama na lang dahil matangkad siya.

Dahil sobrang aga pa, pinili na namin na matulog. I brought him to the lovely places where I had tried fantastic food. By then, I forgot to reply to Rome until I woke up.

***

To: Rome <[email protected]>
Subject: Project CommuniKATE 1

Thanks, Rome! Sana nga. Ang tagal ko na rin kasi na hinahanap si Mom. Parang gusto ko na lang mag-give up at times.

I don't see anything wrong with being a repeater. Everyone has their own story. I'm glad to know na bumalik ka sa pag-aaral. Not everyone would return if they could.

I hope you're enjoying it :)

~ Juliette

***

I immediately responded to him. I was glad that someone was encouraging me, and I hope my words will always be helpful to him.

"Letizia."

Napaangat ang tingin ko kay David. He had his arms crossed as he stared at me.

"Hm?" I instinctively lowered my smartphone face-down to hide my email exchanges with Rome.

"Who's this Rome?" kunot noo niyang tanong.

Hindi ko namalayan na nabitiwan ko ang aking smartphone sa kama. My heart was beating so fast . . . as if it was participating in a horse race. I gulped that lump in my throat as I stared at my best friend. Parang masusuka ako sa sobrang kaba.

***

Thank you for reading! Also, check out《 Solemate: Rome 》by Imcrazyyouknow for Rome's POV!

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JO ELLE