Lipad-Alapaap (Girlhood Series #3)

4

"Ibugaw kaya natin si Ethisse sa mga Koreano rito?" I said my thought out loud to Zianne when we arrived at Incheon International Airport.

My body was on its adjusting period, since the last time I stepped on a land, the weather was hot that I felt like I was being baked in an oven. Now, I felt like I am being solidified inside a freezer.

"Hello? Baka nakakalimutan mo?" Zianne pointed my brother through her lips.

I gazed at my brother who was admiring Ethisse from afar, then I rolled my eyes. "I mean, nothing's going on between Ethisse and him. So what's with the gatekeep?" I hissed.

Bago kami pumunta sa hotel, nag-picture muna kami para pang-post sa Instagram. Sobrang nag-enjoy ako sa lighting ng South Korea kasi isa ito sa mga pangit na  mayro'n ang Pilipinas. Noong kinukuhanan ko ng litrato ang sarili ko, pakiramdam ko kahit anong anggulo ang ganda-ganda ko.

"Nag-aapply ka ba ng sunscreen?" tanong ni Zianne nang makapasok kami sa suite.

It was covered with white walls, and it was spacious enough for the three of us. Ethisse, Zianne, and I would share the same room. The whole suite screamed luxury; it's something that would pass the vibe of IG feed goals.

"Pag nag-sswimming," sagot ko kay Zianne.

Isinalampak lang ni Ethisse 'yung maleta sa gilid at rektang humiga sa kama para matulog.

"Fun fact lang, 'yung sunscreen kasi binoblock niya 'yung UVA and UVB na dumirekta sa skin cells natin. Those things I've mentioned cause skin aging. So if you wanna look young, start investing on sunscreens," she explained. "Arrasseo?"

"De," I replied. We were both shocked about how we just exchanged words in Korean. "Oh my, God!"

"We are Koreans!"

We squealed as we jumped out of our overflowing emotions. But our excitement ended when Ethisse threw a pillow to us, which was our sign to stay silent.

"Tangina mo, pagkagising mo, may naghihintay ng lalake sa'yo."

Nag-download ulit ako ng Bumble. Dinelete ko kasi 'yon noong tumagal na kami ni Esteban ng dalawang linggo. Mapait naman akong napangiti dahil naalala ko naman na iniwan niya na lang ako nang walang pasabi.

Ang sakit lang kasi akala ko pareho kaming nag-eestablish ng magandang relasyon. It turned out those things were just only inside my head. They were nothing but a concept my brain made.

"Instead of making a profile for Ethisse, why don't you make it for yourself?" Zianne asked as she watched me put Ethisse's pictures on the app and described her in the best way possible.

She was making sense. I have an option to put myself in the Korean market, go on a date, and forget about the sudden conclusion of Esteban and I. But at the same time, I also have an option not to do it and despise men as long as I want to. And I chose the latter part.

"Ayoko. Putangina ng mga lalaki," inis na wika ko bago ituloy ang pagbubugaw kay Ethisse.

I clearly put in the description about her that she's a Filipino and couldn't speak Hanggul. So I assume it would be understood by Koreans who knew how to understand and speak in English, which would lead us to setting up a date that could communicate with Ethisse very well.

"Gago, ang guguwapo!" panay swipe right ako.

"Ano nagsisisi ka na ba na sana sarili mo na lang nilagay mo?" Zianne smirked.

I stopped from swiping when I remembered that I chose this fate. "Nah, I despise men."

Zianne and I covered our mouths when we finally got a match. Nagkatinginan pa kaming dalawa at sabay na hinampas ang isa't isa gawa ng kilig. Sa loob ng screen ay nakilala namin si YJ, 16 years old, 6'0, at Virgo. Although the age after his bumble name indicated that he's 18.