One Day In Your Life

Chapter 2: Haaaay Buhay...

The plane lands and I grab my carry on and head for the taxi line outside the arrival area.

I want to surprise my mom by not calling for the driver to come and pick me up.

I'm very proud of myself that I did not cry on the airplane when that damn song came on.

Really? Are the Fates messing with me?

This vacation is going to be my find myself and fix myself time. I need to get my old self back. Quick!

I stare out the taxi window and marvel at all the new buildings that have been constructed since I last came home for Christmas. Both my parents have been prodding me to take some time off after I graduated college so I could relax and take a breather. Ever since I started college more than five years ago in Manila I only went home a few times during the year; mostly for Christmas, sometimes Holy Week and a little bit over the summer.

Being the hard headed, yet driven daughter that I am, I only took off two weeks after graduation to rest up before I went back to Manila. When I got back to Manila I started my internship at the legal department of a real estate corporation and also started reviewing for the Philippine Board Exam.

Yes, I am a lawyer. I enrolled in a pilot program at Everest University that enabled students to take undergrad classes and a law degree at the same time with an extra year for the other law subjects. I was very fortunate that I was given a sports scholarship for college. My scholarship paid for everything, except for housing, although I had to also commit to volleyball since It was sports scholarship after all! Hey man, if they are paying for it, might as well get the most out of it.

Like I said, I'm pretty driven. What was supposed to take five years even with the law degree, I managed to finish in the normal four years. How did I do it? I took summer classes every year because I did not want to stay an extra year without my friends. You must be asking yourself, what kind of a reason is that? I'm not sure but at that time I had a perfectly logical explanation for my decisions. I just can't remember what the heck I was thinking back then!

All that hard work did pay off, but my body and mind are also paying for it now. I am burned out! It did not help that my heart had to get into the game as well. One thing that I found out these past few months is that you can plan your life down to the last detail, but the moment your heart and emotions play a role, all hell breaks loose!

Well, all hell broke loose alright and I got my ass kicked...hard! Haaaayyyy buhay....

The taxi drops me off at home and I ring the doorbell.

"Dai, your home!" my Nanay Adele excitedly screams as she opens the door. She is my yaya but I call her Nanay and I love her.

"Why didn't you call from the airport? Manong Rex could have picked you up?" she admonishes me.

I swear I feel like I'm ten year old kid again.

"Maricris, how come you didn't call to say you were coming home?" as my mom rushes over and gives me a hug and a kiss.

"Ummmm...Surprise mom!"

"Your finally taking a vacation? How long are you here for? What do you want to eat for dinner? Did your friends come home too?" She fires off all these questions as we walk to the sala.

"Whoa mom! Slow down, mahinang kalaban!"

"Yes, I'm here on vacation for maybe 10 days. I want ginisang monggo and grilled liempo for dinner and no, my friends did not come with me." Whew...

"Well, what made you finally go on vacation? This must be the first time that you are home for more than 5 days straight!" she says.

"I just need a break mom." She gets a concerned look on her face after I say that.