Tadhana (Destiny)

Chapter 1: "Mabuhay!"

This chapter is an intro. I'm just introducing a few secondary characters, describing the situation. Elara doesn't meet her love interest here. 

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"Thank you for flying Philippine Airlines - Mabuhay!" I heard as I slowly opened my eyes. 

"We're home!" my mom said beside me. I smiled until I remembered why we were here in the first place. My amang (Grandfather) was sick. 

I got up and started to take our luggage. It was 7PM and my uncle Dan was picking us up.

It was my first time back in the Philippines since I left thirteen years ago. I still knew how to speak tagalog, but I apparently developed an accent according to my filipino friends back in Canada. 

We got out and reached the arrivals area. I suddenly felt claustrophobic with the heat and amount of people surrounding us. "Ma, you have water?" I asked, thirsty. 

"In my bag," she said while trying to spot our relatives. 

When I reached the water bottle, my mom exclaimed, "They're there!" 

I jumped, startled and touched my ear. Man, didn't she remember I had "fragile" ears? 

When we reached my uncle and godfather, I hugged them and I slowly began to tear up, but I managed to hold back my tears. 

"Kumusta ka na, dalaga ka na talaga ah" (How are you, you're so grown up now!) uncle Dan said as he wrapped his arms around me. 

"Okay lang naman" (I'm okay) I said with a smile. 

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We were on our way to the hospital when my uncle Dan tried to change the topic. We were getting all sad talking about amang and I was thankful uncle Dan stepped up, if not I'd be crying before we even get there. 

"El, may erereto ako sayo," (I have someone to recommend to you) he said. In other words, he was trying to set me up. 

That caught my interest, but I tried to calm down almost immediately. I didn't want a boyfriend here. I didn't believe in long distance relationships and arranged marriages. 

Ok, calm down Ela, you haven't even met the guy and you're already thinking of marriage. 

"Oh, yeah? Sino?" (Who?) I asked, trying to be curious. 

"You remember the ring bearer at my wedding fourteen years ago? The one who walked down the aisle with you?" he said while looking at the road. Does he really think I remember?  

"Uhhh... I was seven? I don't remember anything at all besides being the flower girl" 

He and my mom laughed at this. My uncle ignored what I just said and kept going in tagalog, "He's a nice guy, his mom was strict to him and his siblings. He's disciplined and works hard, he doesn't drink alcohol--"

"But I drink..." I confessed, looking out the window with a smirk. When I was a kid, I told myself I was never going to drink, now I learned to never say never. 

"Ah, dibale, mamemeet mo sya mamaya o kaya bukas" (it's okay, you'll meet him later or tomorrow) he said. 

Oh boy. But that wasn't my concern. I was here for my family, not love.

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I hope you like it. I can't wait to develop this story. Feel free to leave some feedback. 

kisses, 

Rochelle