Ikaw akong Pahiyom

Fifteen

"Boarding nako."

Chat nako kay K og giguyod na ang akong trolley bag. Pauli nako og Davao. Kabalo ko na dili ko welcome pero dili nila ko mapugngan to pay respect to my grandpa and grandma. Dili bitaw sila akong giadto didto.

My grandparents died a year ago. Halos magkasunod lang sila nawala. Nauna akong lola na nagsakit og stroke. Wala ray 1 month nisunod pud ang akong lolo. Hantod karon makahilak gihapon ko sa ilang pagkawala. They treated me so well.

Both of them raised me. Sila akong giila na parents kaysa sa akong mommy. Tong bata pako wala ko kasabot why I had to be alone while my relatives were complete. Every occasion and every reunion, I was always casted away. Akong mga kauban kay ang mga helpers sa balay. I even slept beside them. And I didn't understand why most of my relatives treated me more like an outsider than a family member. I grew up feeling deprived of love.

Pagka-anak sa ako, naglayo si mommy to work. Maski asa siya naabot para mangita og trabaho. Tong nabilin ko ila lolo, napasa-pasa ko sa akong mga aunties and uncles. Then I became a yaya to all my young cousins, became a helper to my relatives and a caretaker of my grandparents when they started to become ill.

A bump brought me back from my reverie. Naa na diay ko sulod sa aircraft. I checked my boarding pass.

14F.

Guyod ang akong trolley gitultol nako akong seat. Dayon gibutang na nako sa compartment ang trolley. Paglingkod nako sa window seat kay naay nanguhit sa akong abaga.

Ato nalang akong pagkakurat pagkita sa nakagray sweatshirt na si Gibson. Nakahipos iyang buhok in a bun. He looked so clean. Shocked was an understatement.

What the fuck?

He smirked. Dayon niduol siya sa akong katapad na lalake.

"Can we switch seats? My girlfriend sits next to you."

Nitando pud ang lalake og napapiyong nalang ko pagkalingkod niya sa akong tapad. He was smiling ear to ear like he couldn't believe what was happening.

"Headed to Davao?" Ana siya. He was pursing his lips. They glistened. And I was yet reminded of the kiss.

Urgh.

Niiwas ko og tan-aw. "Obviously.."

"Asa ka sa Davao?"

"I'm not telling.."

Gipiyong nako akong mata og nitan-aw sa window. Of all people? Nganu si Gibson pa? I breathed out and tried to block the presence of the guy beside me. Dali lang ang one hour na flight.

My eyes remained shut as I heard the bustle of my surroundings. Thanks to Gibson anyway, I would be distracted from thinking of what awaits me when I come home.

God. Damn you Gibson! You are such a perfect distraction to my troubled mind. But you are not a good bafflement to my heart.

I didn't want to admit but at the remote part of my being, there was a tinge of elation upon seeing him. I couldn't help sigh heavily.

Just endure it, Brynn.

I opened my eyes when I heard the voice of the flight crew. Everyone was getting ready for take off.

"We ask that you please fasten your seatbelts at this time and secure all baggage underneath your seat or in the overhead compartments. We also ask that your seats and table trays are in the upright position for take-off."

I fastened my seatbelt and held on to the armrest. After awhile the plane started running. I looked down and then to the window. Eversince I didn't feel comfortable during take offs. My tummy would be in knots.