Multiverse

One.

"In a parallel universe, would you be mine?" – Bella Park

~*~

"Good afternoon, passengers. This is the pre-boarding announcement for flight 406 to South Korea. We are now inviting those passengers with small children, and any passengers requiring special assistance, to begin boarding at this time. Please have your boarding pass and identification ready. Regular boarding will begin in approximately ten minutes time. Thank you."

I looked at my wristwatch. In just a short while, I'll be leaving the Philippines. I checked my purse, baka may nakalimutan ako.

"Do you need anything?" tanong ni Denver. I gave him a small smile and shrugged.

Ten minutes passed by like a blur. Narinig kong tinawag na ulit ang flight naming para sa final boarding. Pumunta na kami ni Denver sa Gate 3 pero before I went in, I looked back and sighed.

Did you really think na hahabulin ka n'ya, Bella? Asa ka pa. Kaya ka nga aalis para mag-move on tapos hihintayin mong magpakita siya? That's nice.

Weeks ago, I bumped into Denver. Dun ko nalaman na nag-bakasyon siya dito for several weeks. Lumabas kami paminsan-minsan, kaya ayun, nag-away kami ni Ethan. Ayaw n'ya kasing lumalapit ako kay Denver. Ni hindi ko nga alam kung bakit e childhood friend ko naman 'to. So ayun nga, hindi kami nagpansinan ni Ethan. Tapos nun ko naisip na baka nga it's time for me to let go. Medyo nagkakamabutihan na din naman sila ni Nichola. Wala nang lugar para sa'kin dito.

Pinauna ako ni Denver at sumakay na kami sa plane. Goodbye, Philippines.

Goodbye, feelings. I hope.

***

Naramdaman kong may tumutusok sa pisngi ko. "자기야? 우리는 여기있다. [Jagiya? We're here.]"

I slowly opened my eyes. Tumingin ako sa bintana. Wow, I'm back. Tagal ko ring hindi nakabalik dito. I stretched a bit saka nag-ayos ng sarili. "I look wasted, don't I?" sabi ko kay Denver.

He laughed before answering, "No, you look beautiful."

"Sira. Haha," hinampas ko siya nang mahina. Bolero.

Pagkababa namin sa plane, sinalubong kami nina Mommy at Daddy pati ng parents n'ya. Nag-hug lang kami tapos umalis na kami para mag-dinner.

Dang, I miss him already.

Masaya silang nagkukwentuhan tungkol sa kung anu-ano habang ako, nakatingin lang sa labas. Punyeta naman eh. Kakaalis ko pa lang, miss ko na agad siya.

"You're spacing out again," Denver waved his hand in front of me to get my attention. "Are you okay? Baka pagod ka na. Sasabihin ko kay Mama na uuna na tayo."

Tumango na lang ako while flashing an apologetic smile. He then turned to his folks. "Ma, Pa, una na po kami. Ihahatid ko lang si Bella. She's tired." Nagpaalam na kami saka lumabas sa restaurant.

"괜찮아? [Are you okay?]" he asked.

I nodded. "Yeah. I'm sorry, medyo napagod lang siguro ako sa byahe."

"You miss him, don't you?" Napasinghap ako sa sinabi niya pero nagpanggap akong hindi ko alam kung sino ang tinutukoy n'ya.

"Who?"

"Ethan, of course."

"W-why would I?"

"You like him," he chuckled. Shit. Ganun ba kahalata?