Chapter 22 - Departure

1 2 0
                                    

>> • LAUREN • <<

"Are you sure you're really going to be okay?"

He has said it countless times that I almost felt like there's a déjà vu going on. Kanina pa siya hindi mapakali habang kinakatok ang luggage na dala ni Jamila.

Jamila replied with a reassuring smile, "Oo."

"Negative naman 'di ba? Walang nakatanim na kahit ano?" tanong pa ni West at inalog-alog ito. "Buksan natin para makasiguro."

Hinila naman ni East ang patilya nito dahilan upang mapasigaw ito.

"Bakit ba?" singhal nito.

"Nakaayos na yung luggage tapos bubuksan mo pa. Wala namang kayamanan d'yan." saway ni East. "Pagpasensiyahan mo na talaga, Jamila. Hindi ko siya napainom ng gamot kanina bago kami umalis."

"Oh, I have one here if you like. Bibigay ko sana kay Papa pero nawala sa loob ko." wika ni Wendy at inilabas ang mga tableta ng Ibuprofen. "Baka puwedeng ibudbod sa bibig niya nang matahimik."

Nawalan naman ng imik si West nang makita ang gamot. Wendy sure knows how West hated bitter medicines. Due to that, West always tries his best not to get sick para hindi niya kailanganing uminom. Samantala, kapag naman hindi naiwasan na nagkasakit siya, sinusubukan niyang haluan ng asukal ang bibig niya bago niya lunukin ang tableta.

It's only an hour away before Jamila finally leaves. We went to see her off in the airport upon the twins' request. Unfortunately, Baldo, Aero and Tohru couldn't make it. Their reason? Baldo and Aero has midterm exams later. Tohru, on the other hand, is still busy making sure that his brother's marriage will go off without a hitch since it will be next week.

Napahikab na lamang ako at sumandal sa railings malapit sa waiting area ng airport. Slapping myself to remain awake the whole time wasn't enough. I'll jog a little after this to shake off my weariness.

I trailed off from the conversation when my phone vibrated. I checked it and saw that it's still four in the morning. It's followed up with Baldo's name flashing in along with any other notifications in the notification panel.

Baldo:
Nand'yan na kayo?

I typed 'yes' and took a photo of me here in the airport to send to him.

You:
Alas kwatro pa lang, ah?
Bakit gising ka na?

He sent a photo of his study table with lots of crumpled papers, scribbled inks on the notes, and some doodles on a separate notebook near his arm.

Baldo:
Nagrereview ako.

You:
You're kidding.
Mas marami pa yung
doodles kaysa pointers.

Baldo:
Shut up.
Not my fault that I'm
not in the mood to study.

"Nakangiti ka na naman, Inday."

Muntik ko nang mabitawan ang phone ko nang marinig si Wendy na nakikisilip pala sa convo namin ni Baldo.

"No peeking." sagot ko at itinago sa likuran ang phone ko.

Aurora BorealisTahanan ng mga kuwento. Tumuklas ngayon