Zoe suddenly snaps back to the present, finding herself seated inside the plane by the window. There's an empty seat beside her, granting her some personal space. Leaning her chin on her palm, she gazes out, observing the people strolling along the aisle. Most of the passengers, sporting sunburns and tan lines, are evidently Japanese, returning home from a beach vacation. A few individuals even proudly don "I Love Boracay" shirts.
The memory of Ma crying keeps on slipping into her mind, and it breaks her heart. She takes a deep breath.
In truth, she isn't as callous as she appears to be, but it was a choice she had to make to save herself.
Zoe attempts to listen to the passengers' conversations as they pass her seat to distract herself. To her frustration, she barely understands anything. Japanese grammar and verb conjugations are way different from both Tagalog and English.
I'm screwed.
The captain's voice resonates through the cabin as he addresses the passengers over the radio. Following suit, the flight attendants commence the customary safety demonstrations. A few minutes later, the plane gracefully lifts off into the sky.
The flight is smooth, yet she can't fall asleep. Her appetite has vanished, leaving her untouched meal abandoned on the tray table. Frequent visits to the lavatory provide temporary relief, but the underlying anxiety persists. She recognizes that this journey could be her greatest adventure or her gravest mistake, and she fervently prays for the former to be true. She decides to watch a movie to speed up time. The television in front of her has so many choices, but she ends up choosing a romance film starring Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore.
Three and a half hours later, the plane lands at Haneda Airport. Her fears and excitement explode simultaneously as she peers out the window, and blood rushes through her veins as it hits her that she's in Tokyo.
It's a beautiful day, the golden sun coating the earth. She disembarks with the rest of the passengers.
As she steps into the pick-up zone, a wave of dizziness washes over her. With her head swiveling from left to right, her heart races in her chest. The airport gleams with cleanliness and modernity, while the mass waiting area in front of the terminal is filled with hundreds of people. Instantly catching her attention, a money changer and a convenience store stand prominently nearby.
Her knees trembling slightly, Zoe maneuvers her cart with care, mindful not to obstruct the bustling throng of passengers and airport personnel. People of diverse ethnicities brush past her, their conversations in foreign tongues blending into a cacophony of sound.
Zoe gulps incessantly, her heart thumping loudly, the truth sinking in that she's going to live in this country that's miles away from home.
This is my home now. At least, temporarily.
Zoe blows out of her cheeks.
I'll be okay. You can do this, Zoe.
She sidesteps and settles on a nearby bench next to Mizuho, promptly connecting to the available Wi-Fi network. True to her word, she swiftly sends a message to her parents, followed by messages to Seth and Elle. Without waiting for their responses, she proceeds to exchange her US dollars for Japanese Yen, relieved to find that the attendant is fluent in English. Afterward, she heads towards the washroom.
Zoe ponders how she can safely bring her suitcase inside, recalling the lessons she learned from living in the Philippines about keeping her valuables within reach.
Ah, whatever!
She leaves her things outside the washroom.
I'll be quick. Please don't let anything happen to my stuff.
YOU ARE READING
The Spring I Met You
Romance"Things that are special, though temporary, tend to last longer in our memories," Kaito says. Zoe recalls the Hanami party that they had and everything that has happened since she arrived. She remembers every detail perfectly. She nods slowly. "You'...
