I Brought My Heart To Hong Kong

Chapter Eight: Youth

Chapter Eight
Youth

Jayden offered me water to drink while we were waiting for luggage. Tinanggap ko iyon at uminom kaagad para magising ang diwa ko. From my sight of him, I immediately noticed he was circling his shoulders. Napasarap ata ang tulog ko at nangawit siya.

"Sana ginising mo ako para hindi nangawit ang braso mo," puna ko.

"It's fine." He shrugged.

Napansin ni Jayden ang isa sa mga bagahe namin kaya lumapit siya sa may claiming area para abutin 'yon.

"That's mine," I heard Chloe on the other side.

Kinuha rin ni Won iyong bagahe niya. Lumabas kami ng airport pagkatapos mahanap iyong sa akin. I immediately turned to my phone at naki-connect sa Wi-fi ng airport para ma-contact ang Tita ko.

Nagkanda hirap pa ako sa pag-type at paghila ng bagahe kaya inagaw ni Jayden 'yun sa akin. I only mouthed him thanks dahil sumagot na si Tita Erine.

Before I could greet her in the line, I noticed a placard being raised from afar. My name was indicated on it.

"I'm in the car, Hailey. Nahilo kasi ako sa dami ng tao." Itinuro ko kila Won iyong placard. "Kuya Gerard is there, the man in blue. He'll pick you up. Sumama kayo sa kaniya."

I caught a glance of the man in blue, Kuya Gerard, who was holding the placard. Nang makita niya kami ay agad umalis sa kaniyang puwesto para salubungin kami sa paglabas. Tinulungan kami sa mga gamit hanggang sa kung saan naka-park ang sasakyan nila.

Tita Erine waved one of her hands when she spotted me walking towards her. Her other was holding onto her tummy as she gave me the most welcoming smile.

Tita Erine is about a decade younger than my Dad but I can the similarities in their features was palpable. Dad has a pale skin, chinky eyes, and round face just like her. Lumapit siya sa akin at binigyan ako ng mainit na yakap.

Siya lang kaya mag-isa? Nasaan ang Lola?

"It's good to see you here, Hailey!" I smiled between the hug. Nang umatras siya ay humarap siya sa mga kaibigan ko. "Is this your friends?"

I nodded. "Tita, I wanted you to meet Won, Chloe and Jayden." Itinuro ko sila isa-isa. "This is my Tita Erine."

Bumeso si Chloe. Sila Jayden at Won ay nagmano sa kaniya. Sa hindi ko malamang kadahilanan ay tumagal ang titig ni Tita Erine kay Won. Kinabahan ako nang ngumiti pa siya sa kaibigan ko.

"So, this is Won," she started. Pakiramdam ko ay nag-init ang pisngi ko sa atensyon niya kay Zywon. "Nai-kukwento siya sa akin ni Ate Lucille."

God. Ano naman kayang sinabi niya?

"You must be exhausted and hungry. Sige na, naghihintay ang Lola Hilda sa mansion. Paniguradong gustong-gusto na kayong makita."

Excitement rush through me. We hopped inside their family car. Nalaman kong si Tito Gerard ang family driver na OFW mula sa Pinas. Aside from him, mayroon pa daw tatlong maid sa bahay para sa mga gawaing bahay. Marami palang tao sa mansyon kung tutuusin.

I looked at the window to see the unfamiliar highway we're driving through. Even with the window heavily tinted, the sun gave dim light inside the car.

Napakagandang simulan ng araw. People are walking on streets, the cars are driving smoothly, and the surroundings are just foreign to my sight.

We passed by big buildings. Dahil malapit pa kami sa airport, I can see hotels standing side by side. Nagpapataasan. Nagpapagandahan. Until a familiar big hotel greeted. It was the biggest among the hotels we passed by. Kumunot ang noo ko habang binabasa ang malaking pangalan ng hotel na iyon. Parang familiar sa akin.