BANDED 2 (JUNIOR JAM!)

Chapter 10 (Hell With A Bit Of Heaven)

Monday, January 2, 1995.

The plane landed at NAIA a bit after 12 PM after a flight that took almost the whole morning. As the mother and daughter went out of the airport after getting their baggage, they suddenly felt warm and took off their jackets. The air is still cool (because it’s January) in the Philippines, but in Japan where they came from, it was COLD.

They rode a cab and immediately heard Madonna’s Take A Bow. As the cab cruised, Kim (since she’s back in the Philippines, let’s go back to ‘Kim’ hehehe…) remembered how hard it was saying goodbye to all her relatives and loved ones… much like when she left Japan for the first time two years before. Kim had cried when her father said goodbye and was in tears when she hugged all her relatives one by one… especially Mio and Koyuki, Kim’s half-brother. Also, there was a tearful farewell with her grade school best friend Maho. She promised she would visit each summer (in the Philippines).

Angie, upon boarding the plane, asked Kim to be honest and tell her if she wants to go back to Japan and stay there. Kim did think for a while, but in the end she decided… No, Mom… I’ll stay in the Philippines with you… my new life is there… my music… but like I promised our relatives… Aunt Ritsu, Mio, Dad and Koyuki… I’ll visit them yearly… starting this summer…

And so they arrived home after an hour and were so tired. After Kim changed clothes (to lighter ones, you know…) she drifted to sleep for a while then made some calls.

Tina, Nancy and Pinky were in the park an hour and a half after Kim called Tina. Tina in turn called Nancy and Pinky. Kim had changed to a tight-fitting (in the chest) pink sweater and pants because it was so cool in the park. The others are wearing almost the same.

“So… what brings us here?” asked Tina.

“C’mon…” Kim said. “You’re my best buddy! And you, Nancy and Pinky are my only girl friends here… I just want to have some girl talk before I meet JC and the boys…”

“Hehehe…” said Tina, “Thanks… and belated Happy Holidays, I guess…”

“Yes…” Pinky said. “Thanks…”

“So…” Nancy said, “How was Japan?”

And so Kim related all the things that happened there, including meeting her father, half-brother and childhood best friend.

“So…” Kim then said. “How are… they? I mean… the boys of the old gang?”

“They’re fine…” Tina said, relating what the others had already told her about how they spent their Christmases. Nancy also said that she just got home from Hong Kong the day before. She found out when she got there how broken her Chinese really is hehehe…

“How’s Kris?” Kim asked, surprising the others. It was the first time that she asked how Kris is in the open ever since their breakup.

“Oh…” Nancy said. “He just hung around and had fun the past week. I know because those boys, well except Ernie because he’s still in the US, would often stroll around the village and at times past my house. But hey, I’m surprised that you asked about him…”

“And why not?” said Kim. “He may not be my boyfriend anymore but he’s still a friend… well, okay… I may not yet find in my heart to talk to him but still… it would come… by the way, here are souvenirs! Give one to Kris too okay!!”

“Wow! Thanks Kim!!” Tina said. “We’ll distribute these among us!!”

“And they’re cute!!” said Nancy.

“Yes… very beautiful”, said Pinky, “Thanks Kim…”

“C’mon... like I said, you’re my friends”, said Kim. “By the way, let’s hang out here before JC comes… he’ll be calling before he does anyway…”