Know Me, Hate Me

Prologue

I'm supposed to be drinking a canned coffee while sitting in my economy seat. I should have leaned my head against the comfy headrest, while closing my eyes as I listen to my Hillsong playlist. Presumably, makakarating ako sa Pinas pagkatapos ng labing-pitong oras na byahe sa eroplano, at iyon ay kung hindi kami babagyuhin sa airway.

Sa wakas, makikita ko na ang mga ngiti ng aking mga magulang, ng aking kapatid, and then finally, after two years, masusulyapan ko muli si Naomi. Alam kong sa mga sandaling ito ay hindi niya ako iniisip, o naaalala. But it doesn't matter. Dahil walang araw na hindi ko siya naaalala.

Naomi. I always remember her. She's one of the reasons why I desired to mature in Christ. Her strong faith inspired me to mature. Hindi nga lang niya alam yun.

Okay na sana ang lahat. I could imagine in my thoughts what I'm going to do the moment I step my feet on the Philippine Islands. In fact, I'm already praising the Lord nonstop deep inside my heart. Because finally, I'm going home.

But then...

"Mr. Peter Pier Gonzaga, right?" Tanong sa akin ng magandang babae sa check-in counter. She's an Irish, and that's only my assumption according to her pale green eyes. Tiningnan ko siya at hindi ko maiwasang kabahan sa porma ng kanyang mga kilay. Is something wrong about my flight details?

"Yes, that's right." Sabi ko. Of course, no. Nothing's wrong with my flight. Sinigurado ko two days ago na kompleto ako sa dokumento, passport, at travel details. Bayad ko na rin ang lahat.

Nag-angat ng mukha ang babae at tiningnan ako na para bang nagtataka. Pero hindi rin naman nagtagal dahil pinalitan niya ito ng isang matamis na ngiti. "Alright, sir. So you have a flight to Philippines in economy class at 8:00pm, however, it says here that you changed the flight details yesterday."

"Change, what? Can you please elaborate? I'm sure I got the flight at 8:00pm. Can you check it again?" Nagtataka kong sabi at binigay sa kanya ang printed ticket ko, pati na rin ang isa ko pang identification card, dahil baka nagkamali lang sa spelling ng aking pangalan ang babae.

She doubled-check my name on her computer screen, and her facial expression hasn't changed. "Still the same, sir. You changed the date yesterday using your credit card via online. And your seat has been changed to a business class. Your flight is tomorrow at 6:00am, seat number 43. Do you want me to print a copy?"

Halos malaglag ang panga ko sa sinabi ng babae. There's no way I gonna change it! Excited na nga akong umuwi, eh. Tapos idedelay pa ng ilang oras? And wait, what? Kumuha ako ng business class? No way! Ang mahal kaya nun!

"Sir?"

"I'm sorry, I'm just confused. But yes, please, if that's how it is then can I change it again? I want a travel tonight. Is there any available seat?" Tanong ko sabay hablot sa aking pitaka. I haven't used my credit card since last week, pero ayokong makipagtalo as much as possible. Especially with a woman. I wasn't raised that way. Kung ano mang glitch meron ang credit card ko, sa bangko na lang ako magrereklamo pagdating sa Pilipinas. Ang importante ngayon ay makauwi ako. Period.

Ilang segundo muna ang ginugol ng babae sa kanyang computer screen bago muling nagsalita. Napapansin ko na rin ang kahabaan ng pila sa aking likuran. Oh well, hindi ko naman sinasadya na matagalan sa counter. Sadly, the woman says, "I'm sorry sir, but all airlines are packed. I'm afraid I can't reschedule you tonight. There is a 3:00am flight tomorrow though. How about it?"

I breathe out a sigh, iyong tipong naririnig ko mismo ang aking paghinga ng malalim. Oh Lord, help me to accept this unexpected event. Right then, narealize ko na ang sobrang pagmamadali ay hindi rin tama. You have to keep the balance, sabi nga ng pastor kong ama.

I put back my wallet inside my pants pocket, and replies, "Well, there's no need. I think I'd settle for 6:00am tomorrow. Business class, right?"

"Right." Ngiti niyang sabi at mapuputi talaga ang kanyang mga ngipin. May pinipindot-pindot siya sa screen. "Then we're settled, sir. Thank you."

Tumango ako at kinuha mula sa kanya ang aking ID at printed ticket. Then I push my travel bag forward to leave the counter, and start pushing myself against the crowd. Sa tingin ko dito na ako matutulog sa loob ng Calgary International Airport. Buti na lang at boy scout ako.

I look around to check for any bench where I can stay, hindi naman siguro ako sisitahin ng gwardiya di ba? Di bale na nga. Nang makakita na ako ng bakanteng upuan sa waiting area, biglang tumunog ang cellphone ko.

Great. I'm stuck in a Canadian airport and my Dad is calling me. It's way better than sitting alone while talking to no one, though.

"Hey, Paps. Mayaman ka ba sa load ngayon?" Natatawa kong sabi nang sagutin ko ang tawag niya. My eyes spark when I finally found a vacant seat.

"Sponsored by your mom, yes. Nasa airport ka na?"

"Yep. Until tomorrow, that is." Sabi ko habang tinatanggal ang backpack kong dala, at nilagay ko sa ibabaw ng aking travel bag bago umupo.

"Tomorrow? Akala ko ba ngayon ang flight mo."

"Believe me, akala ko rin yun, Pa." I can feel my own disappointment in my voice. "I guess the Lord doesn't want me to go home...yet. Malay mo may makatabi ako rito tapos mashare-ran ko pa ng Gospel."

"Well, that will be a good thing, son. Pero bakit, anong nangyari sa flight mo? Masama ba ang panahon dyan sa Canada?"

I look up outside the colossal glass wall and twitch my lips. Sana nga ganoon lang. Pero maayos naman ang panahon at walang bahid ng bagyo. "Not really. Nagkaproblema lang sa credit card ko. Someone's trying to hack it, I guess. Nag-reflect sa airline na ginamit ang card ko upang ibahin ang flight details. But I didn't do it."

"Seriously?" Gulat na gulat ang boses ni Papa. Hindi ko siya masisisi dahil hindi naman good news ang sinabi ko. "Someone's hacking your account and you're still calm?"

Tumawa ako. "Pa, boses lang ang kalmado sa akin. Pero pagdating ko dyan sa Pilipinas, susugurin ko talaga ang bangko-in a nice way. This is the first time na nangyari sa akin 'to."

"Nireklamo mo ba sa airline?"

"Paps, wala silang magagawa dahil hindi naman nila sakop ang issue ng credit card company."

"Oo nga naman." Tapos bigla siyang natahimik. "Uh, Peter?"

"Yeah?" I gasp, now closing my eyes.

"I miss you, son."

I smile. "Likewise, Pa. See you soon."

Seconds later after a few more talks, I ended the call. Excited si Papa na makauwi ako. Excited na din talaga akong umuwi sa Pilipinas, specifically, in Davao. Two years akong nawala dahil nag-aral ako ng pastoral dito sa Canada. Not my money. Pero pinag-aral ako ng kaibigan ni Dad na isang Canadian missionary, isa ring born again Christian.

Now that I completed my two-year Bible school, I'm coming back home...to a place where I really belong.

At sana sa pag-uwi ko ay madadatnan ko pa rin ang babaeng kay tagal ko ng pinagdadasal. I pray hope that she's not taken...yet.

Is she?