I Brought My Heart To Hong Kong

Chapter Seven: Touchdown

Chapter Seven
Touchdown

Inasikaso ko ang travel documents ko habang papalapit ang pag-alis namin. Masuwerte at kasama ko ang magulang ko sa pag-settle ng mga iyon dahil aalis din sila.

I'm somehow still nervous of adulthood na mismong pagpila para mag-renew ng passport ay kabado pa ako. All went well, thankfully.

Jayden and I hung out more than usual, too. Kapag pumupunta ako ng bahay nila Chloe ay makikita ko siya sa dining nila na nagbabasa.

Minsan manonood ako sa kaniya, pero madalas ay umaalis ako kaagad. We always end up having a topic tapos hindi na siya makakapag-review kaya mas minabuti kong umalis huwag manggulo.

As for Zywon and Chloe, I would say they're fine. The fights don't end but here is your Captain Hailey always saving the day. It goes like that for the past weeks.

Hindi ko na rin alam kung may magbabago pa doon. Si Alethia naman, nagulat siya sa balita ko. Especially when I told her I am with the three. She found it unfair dahil nasa Barcelona na siya and she wasn't able to go with our plan. Hindi ko rin in-expect 'yon, since ang plano ko naman ay ako lang.

"I can't believe he'll go!" she said in frustration. "Edi sana, sumama ako!"

I can hear the disappointment in her voice. She could have been here with me! At least, she'll make it bearable! But her family's summer plans just got in our way.

"Isipin mo na lang na nagba-Barcelona ka."

"Spain is nothing if my heart is in Hong Kong," maigi niyang sabi.

"Patay na patay ka talaga." Napanguso ako sa sinabi niya. Inalapag ko ang phone ko sa side table ko at ni-loudspeaker iyon. "Hayaan mo na, Al, babalitaan kita."

"Thanks, Hails. I need a good pasalubong, okay?"

"How good?" I joked.

"Something good enough not to disappoint me."

Tumawa ako. "Okay, mukhang ayaw mo ng ref magnets at mugs."

Kinagabihan nang dumating ang mga magulang ko ay may dala nang luggage si Mom. Mukhang dumaan pa sila sa kung saan para lang maghanap nito.

"Mom, sana pinagpabukas niyo na lang."

Pinagmasdan ko siya. The dark circles under her eyes almost yell at me, a proof of hard work. Isang rason kung bakit hindi ko ma-cancel ang booking ng ganon-ganon na lang.

I can't waste money brought by her efforts of defending someone in a court of law, by the sleepless nights she has in reviewing cases and by the fact that she's doing it to maintain me as well. I can't waste money I never even worked for.

"Hindi ipinagpapabukas ang pwedeng namang ngayon, Hailey."

"Okay, salamat po." Inakay ko ang luggage sa gilid ng kama ko saka muling bumaling sa kaniya. "Gusto mo ng kape, Mom? Si Dad, nasaan?"

"It's fine. Nag-kape na kami ng Dad mo." Tumawa siya ngunit bakas ang pagod. "Baka mag-palpitate na kami."

I laughed. "Magpahinga na po kayo."

I spent the rest of the week packing my things. Nakailang tanggal pa ako ng mga gamit ko dahil hindi ko mapagkasya ang mga ito sa luggage. I decided to watch some organizational videos on how to utilize the use of luggage bags. I brought basic clothing and undergarments, two pairs of kicks, my Polaroid camera, and my review books. I also brought a big tote bag to put my essential things.

Nang matapos ay saka lang ako nakapag-unat.

"Are you done?" Won, who was watching a movie in my room, asked me. Nakaupo siya sa carpet sa gilid ng kama ko habang nakapatong ang iPad sa kama ko mismo.