The Rank V

Chapter 3

I arrived in London, England after a long 17 hours. Direct flight, walang lay over. Dahil mas nakakapagod kung maghihintay ako sa airport.

Pero nawala agad ang pagod at antok ko pag labas ko ng Heathrow Airport —  hangin pa lang gumaang na agad ang pakiramdam ko.

But anyway, tinawagan ko narin si Amanda. Solana's friend na tutuluyan ko dito for two weeks. 

I'm looking around for her. Maraming tao, kaya hindi ko sya makita.

"Leslie Mercado?"

Napalingon ako sa tumawag sa pangalan ko and there is a pretty blonde girl. I immediately recognize her because she sent me a picture before my flight. "Amanda!" 

Amanda smile so big to me. "Hey girl!" At tumakbo sya palapit sakin. Ang gaang agad ng pakiramdam ko sa kanya, mukhang mabait. 

To my not so surprise. Amanda hug me tight. "Welcome to London Leslie."

Actually, this isn't my first time coming in United Kingdom — i was always with my family. Ngayon, mag-isa lang ako. 

Kaya si Mama Reese super worried. Well I'm still her baby. But i can take care of myself.

"You came." Nakangiti ko na sabi kay Amanda.

And her eye brow raise at me. "I will not ditch you, Solana would kill me." 

Natawa ako. "Thank you Amanda for accommodating me in your house."

She shrug. "Well we are Pinays so.."

"What, wait — are you?" Because she never mentioned. Besides she look foreign to me.

"My father is English, mother is Filipina." Proud na sagot ni Amanda. 

Now I'm curious. "But can you speak Tagalog?" 

"Konte." Amanda answered it so slang. 

She's cute. 

Well at least, hindi ako masyado manonosebleed kay Amanda. Pwede mag break at mag Tagalog. 

Tinulungan nya akong isakay ang mga dala ko na bagahe sa sasakyan. 

"For two weeks you brought a lot of things."

Natawa ako habang sinasakay ang maleta sa compartment. "My moms, they want me to bring food — like a lot of food."

"Moms? You have two moms?" Amanda asked curiously. 

And I'm always proud of my mothers, I wouldn't trade them for anything or anyone. "Yes, i have."

Amanda smiles. There's no judgement in her face. "Like Solana." Tumango tango sya sakin. "I think it's cool. Para dalawa magsermon sayo."

I chuckle. "Oh girl, you have no idea." 

At sumakay na kami sa sasakyan ni Amanda. 

"So you are going to interview the Duke?" Of course alam nya ang totoong pakay ko dito ss London. 

Sumandal ako sa upuan, medyo nakakaramdam ako ng pagod at antok. "Yes, on Wednesday. 2pm." 

"That's sick." I know she meant it's cool. "You are going to meet British Royal. That sounds fun."

"I'm nervous." Sabi ko. "But it's for school." 

"Your school must be really rich to set up a meeting with Duke of Edinburgh."

"That's right." As i agree.

Habang bumabyahe ay hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog ako dahil sa pagod sa flight kanina.