The Game

Good-bye

Today is the day.

I lazily got up of my bed. Time was passing way too fast. Am I really ready to leave? Para sa FJ CRUISER Mica. Para sa dream car mo. That's what I would always remind myself. I am so not ready to say good bye. To Manila, to traffic, to polluted air, to Ayala Alabang, to Adamson and to my barkada. Im just not.

My thoughts were interrupted when I heard someone knocking on my door. I hurriedly lied down and pretended to sleep.

"Anak? Are you still asleep?" I did not answer

"Honey, let her sleep. Mamayang gabi pa naman din flight natin"

How many hours have I been lying down? 2?3?4? I was just staring at the ceiling.

And the award for drama queen of the year goes to... Michaella Kristine San Pedro!

I got up. I should embrace change. I mean what could be the worse thing that could happen,right? I got up of my bed and went to the kitchen.

" Good mornong dad! Mom and Nanay Letti!" They had confused expressions written all over their faces. I'm trying to be as optimistic as possible.

"Excited alaga? Akala ko ba ayaw mo?"

"Nanay, I'm just trying to look at the brighter side of things. Nagbreakfast na kayo?"

"Yes. Now go eat para makapag finalize na tayo after"

I ate my breakfast and then took a shower. After nun ay nagfinalize ng gamit. There were clothes that I packed before na hindi ko na feel gamitin. Ah shit. Guguluhin ko na naman? Instead, dadalhin ko nalang and just donate it there. I brought down my bags. They were heavy. Too heavy, actually.

"Ma, feel ko magbabayad tayo ng excess baggage. Which is cheaper ba? If ipadala nalang or what?"

"Mic, mas mahal ata if ipapadala eh. And it's okay if we have to pay. May budget tayo para dyan"

Of course we have. Parents ko pa. They're the epitome of a Boy Scout and Girl Scout.

"If you say so ma"

My parents decided to go to the airport early. Which is a blessing and a curse. A blessing dahil maaga kami sa aiport. A curse dahil maaga kami sa airport. Hay.

"Anak, bakit ayaw mong ihatid ka ng friends mo? Don't you want to see them before we head off?" My father asked.

"Dad, mas mahihirapan akong umalis. And besides, nagkita naman kami. And there's skype naman"

My dad just shrugged. Napapagod na ata syang makipag argue sa napakaganda at bait niyang anak. Hahaha.

We let my cousin drive us to the airport. Siya muna titira sa bahay since he's transferring to Zobel.

We arrived at the airport by 4:07 pm, and true enough ang daming tao. I hate crowded places. Saka ko lang naman gusto eh pag lasing na ako. We queued up to pick our seats. Mahaba ang pila. Wow. There's a lot of people going to Davao. We waited for almost 20 minutes for our turn. Yes, ganun kahaba ang linya.

"Good afternoon. These are the available seats for the first class." There were 4 window seats available and a whole lot of seats in the aisle.

"Ma, lets go for the window seats"

"window seats it is then"

We had our baggage checked-in and guess what? We had to pay 12,000 pesos for the excess baggage. Pwede na akong makabili ng ilang pairs of shoes niyan! My parents didn't seem to mind. Akala pa nga nila aabutin kami ng 20,000. Wow ah.

"Ma, pwede sa PAL Lounge tayo mag stay. I mean look at these people. Ang dami. Sige na ma"

"Of course, we're a member. Dapat doon tayo"

Marami ding tao sa lounge but it wasn't as many as the people near the gates. Kulang nalang mag extend sila ng airport sa dami. Naki avail ako sa wifi and left a message to my friends sa group chat. Nasa airport na kami. Our flight will be at 7pm. I'll miss u guys. Pinatay ko kaagad ang wifi after I sent it. Ayoko munang makita replies nila.

"Nay, excited ka ba? Alam kong gusto mong lumipat eh. Kasi diba your family lives nearby, where is it again? Tagma?" Ngumiti si Nanay Letti.

"Tagum nak, ano ka ba. Malapit lang anak. Magbubus lang ako."

I smiled. I'm sure Nanay Letti misses her family.

"Bus? Pwede kitang ohatid nay! I want to meet them too!"

"Sige nak"

Attention to all passengers of Philippine Airlines flight PR-818. We will be boarding soon. People with disabilities, with children, first class
, business class and mabuhay miles travellers can now board. Thank you.

We went out of the lounger and went to the gate. Perks of being a member. Konti pa ang nakaboard. My feet are shaking. Ano ba to. Para akong tanga. If it we're a different situation, tinatawanan ko na sarili ko.
We got to our seats. Nanay and I sat together while mom and dad did.
Soon after, the economy class boarded.

Good Evening. This is Captain James Mendoza of Philippine Airlines flight PR-818 bound to Davao. Thank you for flying with us. May I request to turn off all electronic gadgets and fastened your seat beat until the sign is turned off.

They showed some emergency things that I don't care about because my mind is so clouded. I have lived in Manila for 19 years. It may be a polluted place but I had too many memories here. Too many.

It's starting to move. What do I do? What if I pretend to have panic attacks? Natawa ako sa sarili ko. Oh my gosh. I can't believe pumasok iyon sa utak ko.

As the plane starts to fly unti unting lumuliit ang Manila sa tingin ko. Ito na talaga. Wala ng bawian.