Hey Mister, It's a Love Letter!

Mr. Gentleman Part 2

Wala pa sa kalahati ng araw ng pag-gagala namin sa Japan, and I must say, I'm really fascinated kung gaano kaganda ang bansang to, how disciplined the people are, how dedicated this people to their work as they wear their best office attire and held their leather hand bags while rushing and walking kung san man sila papunta. Those students who were excitedly chatting with their friends, at grabe, ang linis ng daan na malalakaran mo.

I am wearing Ate Raian's jacket, kahit na summer mejo malamig sa kanila, iba pa din ang hangin na meron sa Japan, hindi naman sa minamaliit ko ang Pilipinas, pero men, how I wish our country is as lovely and clean as this. We have lovely towns and city though, but those are far away from Metro Manila, and the other towns near it like Cavite and other– meeh. I remember when we went to Batanes and how that province feels like a different country from the Philippines, people are lovely and friendly, as they say, the most honest people you will ever met—yet.

We were walking on the streets of Shibuya as we all agreed to go to Shibuya Station and to walk in to the biggest intersection in the world. We want to experience everything here in Japan, and to make it legit, Ate Raian's recording everything while I'm obliged to snap our 3 day memories. Everytime I get the chance to glance at Ian, I can see he's enjoying as well, mejo nawala kasi yung masungit na side niya, he's even participating well sa pag vlog or video whatever ni Ate Raian, he's contributing facts and infos, and indeed the slip-of-the-tongue earlier nung sinabi niyang biggest dream niya ang tumira sa Japan. It was like we were TROPA since 1980s, we've even had our first groupfie together na walang sapilitang nangyari hanggang sa nasundan ng isa pang groupfie, dalawa, tatlo hanggang sa di mabilang na pictures, and everything was raw, authentic and pure, that's when I saw Ian's other side or maybe the real him.

The day and our stay here in Japan will never be complete without our pasalubong! We went to the nearest market at bumili ako ng mga damit, shawl, kimono, at kung anu-ano pa para kay Momsie, Popsie, kuya, Lacey, Jerome at kay EIC, sa sobrang enjoy ko ng pamimili, hindi ko na maaninag ang anino ni Ate Raian or even Ian, sa sobrang kaba ko, nakabangga ako, based on his look he's not from here, tinitigan niya ako ng masama at tinignan yung natabig kong dala-dala niya, as I looked down nakita ko yung nalaglag niya, it was a red hand bag mukhang mamahalin, napaisip ako, a guy with a red hand bag? Then I realized that he's a robber, walang patumpik-tumpik pa ay tinulak niya ako dahil nakaharang ako sa kaniya at siya namang karipas niya ng takbo dahil hinahabol siya ng pinagnakawan niya. Sa takot ko, hindi muna ako gumalaw o tumayo, pinanuod ko muna at tinignan kung mahahabol yung magnanakaw, hanggang sa natabunan na ang paningin ko ng mga taong naki-osyoso at tsaka tumayo.

Pinagpag ko ang braso at binti ko na nadumihan, hay, isang araw pa lang ako dito lagi na ako nadudumihan at nasasaktan pisikal! Kundi natapunan ng kape, eto makakabangga ng magnanakaw tapos hahawiin na parang kurtina lang, wow-amazing isn't it? Splendid indeed. Pero first thing's first, I need to find Ate Raian and Ian, di ko kabisado to, I was about to open my data and message them when a warm hand hold my left arm, so much trauma, I panicked and distanced my self from that someone and placed my arms like I was Jackie Chan. Nagulat siya at nanlaki ang mata niya sa ginawa ko at nag cross arms siya at tinitigan ako, but instead na mapahiya sa aking ginawa, niyakap ko siya, hindi ko din alam kung bakit, yun kasi sabi ng katawan ko, ng isip ko, ng natatakot kong ako, at ng puso kong ubod ng tuwa sa nakita kong pamilyar na mukha. "Ian!" that's all what came out from my mouth, loud and clear.

I told him what happened, para akong bata na inagawan ng candy, and he was listening, he looked at my right arm, sinundan ko yung tingin niya that's when I realized may slight damage yung siko ko, gasgas lang naman, binuksan niya yung hawak niyang bottled water na hindi ko alam kung anong pangalan kasi japanese yung naka encrypt, then kinuha niya yung braso ko at binuhusan niya ng tubig.