INTERNAL CRIES

Kabanata 17

Kabanata 17
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I spent days and months fulfilling my jobs. Photoshoots were side by side. After one shoot was followed by another. My father went back to the Philippines two months ago, and so far, he’s doing well there. He called every now and then, pero nitong mga nakaraang araw ay naging busy ito sa kabi-kabilang meetings. I just really wish I was there to help him, sadly, I still can’t follow him. Not for now.

“Hmm… she likes you,” saad ko kay Andie. Pareho kaming nakatingin sa babaeng kanina pa tingin nang tingin sa mesa namin.

“Of course she does—I mean, what’s not to like?” buong kompiyansang saad nito kaya nilingon ito ni Asher at sinamaan ng tingin.

“Ang kayabangan mo. Iyan ang hindi kagusto-gusto sa ‘yo!” singhal ni Asher kaya tumawa ako. “Gosh, you’re ridiculous!” Asher added that earned a hard laugh from me even more.

“Ang hirap mo namang pasayahin, Ash!” Mugtok ang mukha ni Andie.

“Ang hirap mo rin namang patinuin, Andie, ano?” Asher counterfired kaya napailing na lang ako.

Isang linggo na lang ang natitira bago ako bumalik ng Pilipinas kaya sobrang busy ko na rin. I often do overtime to get my job done, kaya ngayong may dalawang photoshoots na lang ako na gagawin ay medyo nakapagpahinga na kami. Most of my time I spent with Asher and Andie, kung hindi man ay ang pag-iimpake ang inaatupag ko. Sa linggo na ang biyahe ko pabalik ng Pinas. I’m excited about it, but there’s also something I can’t fully pinpoint about my feelings.

“Okay, let’s pack up.”

This is the last day of my photoshoots and tomorrow will be my last day here in Finland. My friends are planning for my farewell party tonight kaya matapos kong mag-ayos ay agad na akong bumaba sa hotel para dumiretso sa bar kung saan gaganapin ang party na hinanda nina Asher sa akin.

Pagpasok ko ay nandoon na halos lahat ng mga kaibigan namin. I spotted Andie in the stool near the bar counter with a girl he’s laughing with. Asher was on the sofa with some of our friends, pero nang namataan ako ay agad itong tumayo at sumalubong sa akin.

“Hey!” I kissed his cheek and waved with my friends.

“Good that you’re here already… kanina pa sila naghihintay sa ‘yo.” He motions our group at agad na kaing lumapit doon. Andie, on the other hand, walked towards my direction when he spotted me. Agad din naman akong yumakap at nakipagbeso rito.

“What took you so long? We waited for an hour here,” reklamo nito kaya ginulo ko ang buhok niya dahilan para ngumuso ito sa akin. I gestured to the woman he’s with in the bar counter kaya nilingon iyon ni Andie.

“Another past time.” Sabay kibit nito ng balikat.

“Obviously,” I said at nakihalo na sa mga kaibigan. Sumunod din si Andie at kalaunan ay bumalik rin ito sa bar counter at itinuloy angg pakikipag-usap sa babaeng kasama.

We spent the whole night drinking, talking, and dancing. Some of my friends play body shots, na kung hindi lang nila alam na nag-iingat ako sa kalusugan ko ay pinilit na nila akong makisali. Thankfully, Asher was always there for me. We dance at the dance floor like there’s no tomorrow—well, definitely there’s no tomorrow with us dahil uuwi na ako ng Pinas.

I don’t know what time it is when I got home last night. All I know now was I’m dealing with the hangover I earned from last night’s farewell party. Mabuti na lang talaga at mamaya pang hapon ang biyahe ko, kung hindi ay baka na-late na ako sa flight.

I already fixed my things. Everything is ready; I’m just waiting for the right time for my flight. I also texted my father about my time departing so he can fetch me at the airport.

I yawn for the hundredth time now while settling myself in my seat at the plane. I’m lacking sleep because of last night’s farewell party, but the flights take 29 hours so somehow I can get enough sleep. After the plane took off, I dozed off.

It was already noon the other day when I got off at the airport. Bitbit ang luggages ay dumiretso na ako sa labas para hanapin si Daddy, but to my surprise, he’s not the one who’s going to fetch me.

My smile got wide when I saw a man standing at the airport’s lobby, holding a placard with my name written on it. Nakangiti akong lumapit dito habang hila-hila ko ang dalawang luggage sa magkabilang kamay.