My Perfect 10 Hours

Chapter Two - Take Off

Our flight was delayed for a certain reason, but we couldn't tell why. It was kind of fine with me at least I get to use my data before leaving Manila.

I was getting bored and I saw the lady beside me turned on the backseat tv in front of her. So I turned mine as well and searched for some movies I could watch. I took the headphones and plugged it in the holes and wore it to my head. Then went on for the A Modern Life is Rubbish. Josh Whitehouse is super hot in this movie!

I was just starting to love the movie and even searched for the cast. Josh's name in the movie is Liam and Freya played as Natalie. I also love the playlist of the movie or the soundtrack, so I tried to search it on google. When I got the titles, I went to my Spotify and downloaded all the songs that I love in the soundtrack.

Here is the list:
1. The Loneliness and the Scream by Frightened Rabbit
2. Don't Look Back Into The Sun by The Libertines
3. Dakota by Stereophonics
4. Ladies and Gentleman We Are Floating In Space by Spiritualized
5. Heaven or Las Vegas by Cocteau Twins
6. If You Wanna by The Vaccines
7. Give It Till You've Lost It by Head Cleaner
8. Broken Dreams by Head Cleaner
9. Uncontrollable by Head Cleaner
10. She Moves In Her Own Way by The Kooks
11. Bulletproof... I Wish I Was by Radiohead
12. Mystery by Head Cleaner
13. Liquorice Allsort Girl by Head Cleaner
14. Death by White Lies

I continued watching the movie, and I'm already on the half of it but the plane still hasn't taken off. So I just went through my phone and tried to message some of my friends.

Me: Gaaaaaayle!!!!!
Gayle: Kaaaaaath!!!!
Are you still in Manila???
Me: Yes, but in the plane
Gayle: aw huhu, I miss youu!
There's wi-fi sa plane?
Me: No, I'm using data lang. The plane hasn't taken off yet kaya I can still use my data.
Gayle: Ohh, asa house ngayon sila Nikka and Noelle eh. I really hope that you're here right now.
Me: Oh? What are they doing there?
Gayle: Just hanging around. Daniel and Rei's coming din eh. We're complete na sana oh :((
Me: huhu sana. Wag ka ganyan friend :(( Sobrang nakakalungkot that I can't be with you guys.

I realized that the movie's still on going, so I clicked the pause button and continued talking to Gayle.
Gayle Dizon is my bestest best best friend. I knew him during my senior high and he's one of the reasons why I was encouraged to continue my passion in Fashion Design.
During January 2017, when I got the Benilde results I was so sure of going to that school but when our parents left us, I had second thoughts. Gayle helped me with my scholarship and I was so glad that I was able to pass it.

I was just chitchatting with Gayle when another message popped up on my notifications.

Rei: Kath, when are you coming back?
Me: I don't know, it depends
Rei: what do you mean it depends??
Me: It depends if I get a good opportunity in Paris, I might stay there for good but if not, I don't know maybe I'd go back there.

Reign Kalli or we call him Rei, a BS Psychology graduate from De La Salle University. He's a year higher than me but we've finished in the same year because my course was only taken for three years and his is for four years. However, he's still waiting for the results of his board exam. Once he gets it, I think he'll continue to take his masters degree in the same school.
I met Rei at Tokyo Tokyo on my first day. It was after school when I went out to wait for Gayle. I was waiting for him outside for almost an hour, 48 minutes to be exact but I was getting impatient already. So I went inside to buy myself a drink and a meal. When I got my drink, I didn't know someone was behind me so I carelessly turned around and spilled my red iced tea on his clear white uniform. I felt so bad I wanted to hide myself in a cave and not be seen by anyone forever. Okay, that's exaggerated but it's kind of what we feel when we do something stupid in front of other people. Right? Tell me I'm not the only one.

"I'm sorry! I'm so so sorry!" I kept on repeating it as I hardly tried to wipe off the stain.
Rei held me on my shoulders "it's okay." He looked at me.
"It's okay, hindi rin naman matanggal yan sa ganyan." He said. I knew that, but I still tried but when he asked me to stop. I stopped.
"Uh, what's going on?" Gayle asked.
"Oh, uh, I accidentally spilled iced tea on his uniform." I said to Gayle. I turned to Rei, "I'm sorry po talaga." I told him sounding guilty. "Okay lang, may extra uniform naman ako sa locker. Pwede naman ako magpalit." he smiled. I was just amazed that he keeps an extra uniform inside his locker. "That's very boy scout-ty." I said, sounding weird. "Yeah," he half laughed at it. For a second, an awkwardness was starting to form and of course Gayle's there to break it. "So, uhm, what's your name? I'm Gayle Dizon and this is Kath Mendoza and you are?" Gayle spoke fast.
"Uh, I'm Rei- gn Kalli or Rei for short. Are you from DLSU or from Benilde?" Rei asked.
"We're from Benilde, we're both freshmen and taking BA Fashion Design." Gayle speaks it all for me and he gives informations in advance.

There's a girl behind us and I think she's going to order so I just took the confidence to ask him if he wants to go sit with us and have a little chitchat. I'm glad he said yes, I couldn't take the embarrassment if he put me down. We wouldn't be best friends either if he did.

Rei: so meaning, you're staying there for good na?
Me: I think so, I guess?

Then the pilot announced that we're going to take off already so I had to say goodbye to him.

Me: anyway, I have to say bye now. There'll be no wi-fi and I have to turn off my phone. I'll message all of you once I get to Paris.
Rei: oh okay, I'll tell them. I just hope I was able to make paalam sayo before you left. I'm going to miss you, Kath.

Rei has been my ultimate crush ever since. I guess until now. I just used to tell everyone, even Gayle that my feelings were gone. That I just see him as my friend and nothing else. I wasn't just lying to them, but I was lying to myself too. I just didn't want our friendship to be ruined just because of it so I stayed contented of what we have of what we are.

I reached for the headphone and played the movie again. The PA keeps coming in, announcing we're going to take off. Passengers stay on their seats and have our seatbelts on.

As it stops, the movie goes on. When it was almost done, the lady beside me asked me if she could pass. I just stood up to make it easier for the both of us. The lady passed by and went to the restroom. I went back to my seat and grabbed for the headphones again. The guy that was seated beside the window kind of stood up, I thought he was going to the restroom. I was going to stand up when he told me not to. He stayed seated where the lady was. I didn't what he wanted so I just went back to watching. Then I sensed him just staring, it started bothering me so I faced him and as I look at him I start to notice his eyes. His light brown eyes. He stared back at me and his smile got wider. I looked away. "What do you want?" I asked. "I just want to be friends that's all, if that's okay with you." he said as his light brown eyes staring at me, trying to get me. I never thought that could ever be possible. It's like hypnotizing me with his eyes. Is he some kind of a vampire or something? How can he be doing this to me? I thought.
"O..kay?" I said.
"What are you watching?" he asked.
"A Modern Life is Rubbish" I said. I know it was getting a little bit awkward so I just continued the conversation with him. "How 'bout you, what were you watching?" I asked.
"I was watching Mission Impossible." he answered. I nod as an agreement with his answer.
"So what are you going for a vacation in Paris?" he asked.
"Uh, no. I actually.." I wasn't able to finish what I was going to say when the lady came. So I tried to move so she could pass and the guy moved back to his seat. I wasn't even able to ask his name and I couldn't ask. I don't know why but I couldn't make myself ask.

The movie ended and I saw him lean on the seat in front of him which I lean on my own seat. After a few minutes we've looked at each other like we're communicating in our heads which I honestly have no idea what he's trying to tell me. I suddenly wanted to talk to him, I wanted to be friends with him but I couldn't. I just reached for my phone and removed my headphones. I placed in the pocket in front of me and started scrolling through my 'no wi-fi instagram'. Then this guy talked to the lady, asking if she could change seats with me. He was trying to persuade this lady to say yes.
"You know madam, it'll be easier for you to go to the restroom when you're in the aisle or maybe you want to be in the window seat, I can give it to you." he asked the lady, hopeful. The lady looked at me and I don't know why but I was hoping that she'd say yes.