Day 1, 7:25 AM – NAIA Terminal 3
My stomach made another churning sound and it was too loud. The cute guy with a large eagle tattoo on his right arm sitting across the terminal turned his head just in time and I was afraid that he heard the growling sound in my stomach. I smiled shyly. He nodded, then he flashed his perfect pearly white teeth at me. Somehow, I was relieved. I was trying to get through the sick feeling in my stomach for the last couple of hours while impatiently waiting for the boarding call. I was about to take off for my first solo trip abroad and call me crazy, but I had no idea what I was really getting myself into. I didn’t even have a place to stay. I convinced myself that I had nothing to worry about. I was just going to roll with the punches and let my two feet take me to where I needed to be. Sounds like a good plan, or maybe not, I thought for a second.
The airline staff started calling out passengers to board the plane. I checked my boarding pass again for the nth time to make sure. I stared at the piece of thermal paper in my hand and let my thoughts take me somewhere else briefly. For some crazy reason, the only person who knew about the trip was Luis, my gay best friend for all seasons. I didn’t even tell my mother about it because I didn’t want her to panic. You see, I have this habit of running away from any life-threatening situation, including a heart break. I didn’t want her to think that I was running away again like I had been for the past decade or so, even if it was true.
For a while I debated the idea of calling her. She should be in her class already and it was the perfect time to call. I was thinking that maybe I can still save her from all the gory details of how the trip actually came up, and maybe save myself as well in the process. I knew that she needed to know, but I didn’t feel like explaining the situation at hand. After quickly weighing the pros and cons, I finally decided to pick up the phone and dial her number.
Starship’s Nothing Can Stop Us Now started playing as her ring back. My head was beginning to hurt and momentarily I regretted the idea. “Hello?” A high pitched woman finally answered the phone. I was relieved that she picked it up before I could disconnect the call.
“Ma, morning. Johanna po.” I greeted back, not really sure how to start.
“O, kumusta ‘nak? Unsay balita?” She spoke in a thick Cebuano accent.
“Ma…” I cleared my throat before saying another word.
“Unsa man?” She asked in her usual jolly tone.
“Naa ko diri sa NAIA. Padulong ko Singapore in a few minutes. I’m actually about to board the plane now.” I finally said, hoping she would not get mad at me for the last minute announcement.
“Ha? Mag-unsa man ka sa Singapore?” She replied in a pitch higher than the usual one and I could sense panic and worry in it.
“Don’t worry Ma, Dali ra ko ditto, just for a few days. Some sort of birthday gift to myself.” I said in between chuckles, trying not to make a big deal of it. I paused momentarily, then continued defensively to explain how it was a spur of the moment decision and that I wasn’t sure if my vacation leave was going to get approved. I was kind of feeling guilty for not running it by her. Quite honestly, I have not done so in years. Not asking for her permission would be something that she had eventually had gotten used to since I have moved out of the house. But still, I scolded myself in my head quickly.
She was mumbling a few things, sort of last minute reminders, but there was too much static on the line that I could only make out a few of the words. The staff started calling rows 16 to 30 to board the plane. I listened to a few more reminders about not partying too much or taking offers from strangers before cutting her off. “Ma, I know that already. This is not the first time I am traveling abroad.” I reminded her and checked my boarding pass again and impatiently said. “Ma, I really have to go. I’ll text you when I get there, okay?”
