Special Chapter: Crossing paths, locking fates
Tokyo, Japan. 2 years later.
Zamir Jade Ilaya Lopez
To be honest, I never thought I would be visiting Tokyo for 3 days on my own just 2 weeks after my graduation in college. I am on my own. I had no accompaniment.
I can't believe I did it.
It was still unbelievable how I have been staying here for two days already, actually three now. Everything happened so fast when Tita surprised me with only one plane ticket... I was so delighted that I would be coming to Tokyo, but it also means that na hindi siya sasama.
"Hindi ba talaga kayo sasama Tita? Mag-isa lang ako ro'n." I actually begged already for a lot of times, and this time, it's uncountable.
Don't get me wrong, oo, gusto kong pumunta sa Japan at ayokong sayangin yung effort ni Tita, pero hindi ba talaga siya pwedeng sumama? I would be all alone! Mag-isa akong mamamasyal and this is my first out of the country! Ayoko namang wala akong kasama to enjoy Tokyo..
Baka ang lungkot ko lang doon habang naglilibot-libot ako sa buong lugar.
"Jade, 'di'ba napag-usapan na natin 'to? Grad gift ko 'to sa'yo! Siyempre, I want you to enjoy Japan all by yourself! Alam kong mahirap dahil mag-isa ka lang ro'n, but you'll like it there...I promise.." She assured me.
Nah, this is just so frightening. I am going to a country knowing no one and I only know their basic phrases. What if may magtanong bigla in Japanese? Tatanguan ko? Would I just point somewhere and run? Oh kaya aaminin ko na hindi ako nagsasalita ng lengguwahe nila?
"Tita...." Pinagdikit ko pa ang mga palad ko para gumawa ng please at magmakaawa pa rin na sumama siya.
Natawa lang siya at bumuntong hininga. Hindi siya sumagot at tumulong lang maglagay nung mga damit ko sa maleta na nakapatong sa kama. Nanlumo naman agad ako.
"It's time to face something different alone again, Jade. 'Di'ba nung sa Manila nga dati, you made it on your own? Oh eto, 3 days lang 'to!" She was still convincing me.
"Pero tita, Pilipinas pa rin naman 'yon! Hindi naman ibang bansa!" Napakamot ako sa ulo.
"Still. It's time." Tinapik niya pa ang balikat ko.
Bumagsak iyon. Wala na rin naman akong laban kahit pilitin ko siya. She already fixed everything. Plus, nagulat pa nga ako nang sabihin niya sa akin na nagtanong siya sa dati niyang ka-blockmate noon na nakatira na ngayon sa Japan kung ano yung mga place na pwedeng i-rekomenda sa akin na puntahan. Can't believe that she still has connections. Limot ko na yung iba sa department namin.
Magiging masaya naman 'tong trip alone 'di'ba? It's been a while. Kung aalis naman kasi ako mag-isa, sa school lang o kaya dito lang sa palibot ng San Francisco at Santa Solana. I don't even go too far now. Mas gusto ko na lang sa bahay at magbasa nang magbasa ng mga libro.
BINABASA MO ANG
01 | Ikaw Ang Aking Musika
Romance"Ikaw ang paborito kong tinig, aking musika." Clubs, parties, alcohol, bars, smoke, and what stood out the most that night was the band "Sinagtala" with their famous vocalist, Aziel Ace Lee. Jade knows how that party was a blast, from those drinking...
