Chapter 1: A New Start
Announcement alarm chimes.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain from EG Airlines. We’ve just arrived at Kalibo International Airport, where the local time is 9:45 am. It’s a beautiful morning in Aklan, with warm and sunny weather.
Thank you for choosing EG Airlines today. We hope you had a pleasant flight. Welcome to Kalibo, and we wish you a wonderful day ahead!”
I heaved a heavy sigh as I took my luggage out of the compartment bin. With my other hand clutched inside my pocket, I took each heavy step down the stairs.
"Ahh, Aklan," I inwardly said as my eyes wandered below. I was carefully carrying my silver luggage, anxious that it would get scratched when, all of a sudden, a screeching voice of a young woman behind me filled my ears, despite my AirPods blasting at full volume.
"Hala ta ang bag nahueog!" the woman yelled.
Curious about the language she had suddenly spoken, I turned to look behind me. But my stupid foot landed on the wrong step when her backpack that fell hit my legs.
"Holy mother of God," I muttered as I felt my soul leaving my body. I was about to fall, and the only thing I could do was open my eyes wide as I imagined landing on the flat concrete floor.
Thud.
Loud Bang.
Thud.
And Crash.
1, 2, 3—just three steps before my feet could feel the ground, and I fell! What a very nice way to start my first day!
“OMG! I’m so sorry!” the girl cried, rushing over to help me, but all I could see was her cap with a big letter “C” on it, her face obscured by a facemask.
“Seriously?” I shot back, my irritation bubbling over. “Do you not know how to watch where you’re going?”
“I’m really sorry!” she insisted, her voice rising in pitch, which only made my annoyance deepen. “Please accept this!” She thrust a KitKat bar into my hands as if it were some kind of peace offering.
I opened my mouth to confront her about her carelessness, but then I heard her voice tremble, and I noticed the hint of tears. “Please, I didn’t mean to! I’m really sorry!”
I felt a wave of frustration wash over me. The last thing I wanted was to deal with someone who was upset over a mistake. Rather than engage, I simply turned away, feeling a mix of irritation and pity. Why was I letting this ruin my day?
As I walked into Kalibo International Airport, the noise hit me hard. People were laughing, families were hugging, and kids were shouting. I gripped my new Rimowa silver luggage trolley tightly, my irritation already bubbling up.
I pushed through the crowd, trying to ignore the tourists taking selfies in front of the “Welcome to Aklan” sign. All I wanted was to get to my grandfather’s house without any more problems. But just as I turned a corner, everything went wrong.
“Hey! Watch where you’re going!” I yelled as I bumped into someone.
The girl in a cap with a big letter "C" on it stumbled back, looking surprised. Oh you again.
“I’m so sorry!” she said, her voice rising above the noise.
“Maybe you should pay attention" I snapped, feeling my annoyance boil over.
She crouched down to pick up her stuff—a pack of gum and her AirPods. “I thought I dropped one of yours,” she said, sounding flustered as she handed me one of her AirPods.
I shot her a look. “Why would I want yours? That’s not mine,” I replied, my tone cold.
“Oh! Right, sorry,” she mumbled, her cheeks turning red.
YOU ARE READING
Honey Wildfire
RomanceHe was honey, she was wildfire. Leandro Mikhael soughts to live his life in accordance to her father's dying wish. Leaving his lavish and extravagant life in the metro; will he, a manila boy, know how to survive his life living in the province? With...
