Know Me, Hate Me

Chapter 1: Plane Ride

I'm a stewardess in Philippine Airlines for two years. And due to my failed relationship with my Canadian boyfriend, I decided to not renew my contract in PAL. Simply because, I wanted a new life after my heart was broken into pieces. That includes quitting my dollar-making job.

Hindi pa alam ng mga magulang ko na titigil na ako sa pagiging stewardess. Hindi ko rin kasi masabi ang dahilan kung bakit. They loved John so much, even thought we're going to make it till death do us part. But then, worst thing happened and then, we're off. Sasabihin ko naman sa kanila, pero sa tamang panahon.

My flight was bound to Philippines in three connecting flights. At sa oras na lumapag ang eroplano sa bansang sinilangan ko, magiging panatag na ang loob ko. At bakit hindi? Aalis na ako sa aking trabaho at wala na akong rason upang bumalik pa ulit sa Canada. Hindi ko na makikita si John. And with a new life, new environment, I wanted to slowly forget about him. About us. Simple, right? Ugh, I wished that was true.

"Sofie," I lost my train of thoughts when my fellow stewardess, Kirsten, called my name in a hushed manner. Napalingon ako sa cabin ng eroplano at nakita ko siyang tinuturo ang kanyang wristwatch. Her lips mouthed a phrase, "It's time."

Oh yeah. Muntikan ko ng makaligtaan ang oras. Narinig ko na lang ang boses ng aming piloto sa ere, at ang tunog ng pagbukas ng pintuan sa aming sinasakyang air bus. Kirsten clapped her hands and all of us quickened our pace towards the entrance. I stood by the right side of the door, just next to Kirsten. Alright. This is it.

Breast out, chin up. Clear your thoughts and sharpen your eyes. And then, before the passengers start entering the air bus, do not forget to clip a generous smile! Of course, that's our every day task. Simula ng maging stewardess ako, natutunan ko ng ngumiti kahit wala namang rason. Smiling had become my routine. And most of the time, they're not genuine. Well, who would care, anyway?

Ang importante, sa loob ng dalawang taon ay ginawa ko ang lahat para sa aking trabaho. I was one of the best stewardesses in our airlines, you know. Kaya naman hindi pa masyadong tanggap ng nakakataas ang biglaan kong pag-alis sa kompanya. Pero hindi na ako mapipigilan pa.

"Welcome to Philippine Airlines! Have a joyful ride." Sabay-sabay naming bati sa mga pasaherong nag-uunahan ng pumasok sa air bus. Hanggang ngayon hindi ko pa rin maintindihan kung bakit nag-uunahan ang mga pasahero na pumasok. Eh, kung tutuusin ay hindi naman sila mauubusan ng plane seats. May seat number naman silang lahat, you know. But then again, it's a matter that I shouldn't care about.

Nang makapasok na ang lahat sa economy class, pinuntahan ko ang first class passengers para icheck. Of course, dahil nasa first class sila, nauna silang pumasok kumpara sa mga pasaherong kumuha ng economy seats. Usually ang mga taong nasa first at business class ay mga VIP persons. O di kaya ay mga artista o anak ng politiko. Well, as if it mattered.

Nagsasalita ulit ang piloto tungkol sa flight, at ilang minuto mula ngayon ay magte-take off na kami. Bago mangyari yun, kailangan munang icheck at pagsabihan ang mga pasahero sa mga "do's and don'ts" sa loob ng eroplano.

Anim na tao lang ang nasa first class, at lima sa kanila ay mga foreigners. And well, sino ba naman ang hindi makakakila sa sariling kalahi? Isang Pinoy na lalake ang nakaupo sa bandang dulo ng first class seat. Napansin kong hindi siya komportable sa kanyang upuan. I wondered why. Kaya naman ng matapos kong kausapin ang ibang VIP passengers, pinuntahan ko ang Pinoy.

"Excuse me, sir, is there something I might help you with?" Tanong ko sa salitang English, marami kasing Pilipino na nanggaling sa labas ng bansa ang hindi na marunong magsalita ng Tagalog.

I blinked my eyes when he turned up to me. Nagulat kasi ako sa maiitim niyang mga mata. By default, maiitim ang mga mata ng mga Pinoy, kung hindi naman ay kulay brown, like mine. Pero ang isang ito ay kakaiba. His eyes were so black and so deep, so mysterious to a point that it's getting on my nerves. In a minute he was so focused, and then in a second he was suddenly distracted. He's odd.

"Uh," I gasped, trying to get some words. "Do you speak Tagalog, sir?"

"Oh, yes I do." Thankfully, he finally said some words. Para kasi siyang wala sa sarili. Ano kaya ang problema ng isang 'to? He added, "Pilipino ako. You speak Tagalog?"

I hinted a smile. "Pinoy din po ako, sir."

He phrased a big "oh" word.

"Well, I'm sorry. You don't look like one. Oh wait, I said that as a compliment." Napakamot siya sa ulo at bigla na lang tumawa. Hindi naman malakas. Slight lang. Napansin ko tuloy ang dimple niya sa kaliwang pisngi. Well, he's cute-my other way of saying handsome.

Hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ba ako sa sinabi niya or not, pero hindi ko mapigilang ngumiti. And for the first time since my breakup with John, I smiled genuinely. At hindi yung smile na ginagawa naming routine sa loob ng eroplano.

I straightened my pose. "Thanks, sir. Well then, kapag may kailangan ka o katanungan, lapitan mo lang ako doon sa dulo. I won't hesitate to assist you."

Aalis na sana ako nang bigla niyang hinawakan ang aking kamay. My right wrist, specifically. "Wait," he said.

I looked at his hand on my wrist, and well, wasn't he so warm? Pero siya ang unang bumitiw, and I should thank him for that. It had a weird feeling on me.

"Sorry," was what he said. He was now looking anywhere except my eyes. Suddenly shy, huh? I didn't want to imagine that he's hitting on me. Gah. He looked so innocent for that kind of move! It doesn't fit his angelic face. I could even tell that he's a virgin just by the way he stares at me. So unusual for a man his age.

"It's my first time in a first class." Pag-aamin niya at hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit sinabi niya sa akin yun. "I just wanted to ask if may libreng pagkain ba kapag nasa first class?"

Kroo, kroo, kroo~

I was sure I heard that comical sound in my head.

Tama ba ang narinig ko? Nagtatanong ang lalakeng to kung may libreng pagkain sa loob ng first class? Gusto kong matawa pero pinipigilan ko lang. Seriously, he's funny. He sounded so serious when he asked that. That's even more hilarious.

I composed myself. "There's actually a meal for you, sir. Later. Pero hindi naman yun libre. You paid for it."

"Ah, ganun ba? Still nice." Komento niya at mukhang malalim ang kanyang iniisip. Just when I thought he wasn't saying anything anymore, I found him looking at my nameplate.

"Sofie?" He asked and I nodded, even though he wasn't looking at me anymore. "Well, I'm Peter. Thanks for accommodating me and, uh, God bless."

I caught myself in awe. For two years in servicing as a flight stewardess, this was the first time that a passenger blessed me in a trip. I was about to tell him thanks, but he already turned his face towards the small window. And just like that, I stood as if I didn't exist in his planet anymore.

What a weirdo.