DEREK ARKE: In Dark, I Saw Light [Arke & Serenity]

Simula

Simula
Serenity Nuñez

“Ladies and gentlemen, please remain seated as we taxi to our gate. Thank you for flying with us today and we welcome you to Lapu-Lapu City, Mactan Island.”

I let out a deep sigh and prepared myself for the landing. Sa totoo lang ay hindi ko na maipaliwanag pa ‘yong matinding kalabog ng aking dibdib, sobrang kabado sa naghihintay sa akin sa pagbabalik ko rito sa Cebu—my used to be lovely hometown that I left several years ago.

Ugh, pupuwede bang huwag na lang bumaba at magpa-book ulit ng flight pabalik sa Manila?

I let out another sigh. Kung hindi lang talaga dahil sa bestfriend ko ay hindi ako babalik dito. There was no reason for me to come back here, anyway.

With the plane finally landing, passengers began to rise from their seats and pulled their luggages out of the overhead compartments. Gayundin ang ginawa ko at bumaba na ng eroplano.

Pagkalapag na pagkalapag ng mga paa ko sa sahig ng paliparan ay agad kong dinukot ang aking cellphone sa slingbag na suot, me following the signs to the baggage claim.

With my one hand on the handle of my carry-on and the other holding my phone, I dialled my bestfriend’s number.

Ibinaba ko sa sahig ang aking bitbit. Habang naghihintay na sagutin niya ang tawag ko ay napapunas ako sa aking noo. Using the back of my palm, I wiped the beads of sweat that immediately formed there, even though I just landed!

Ano pa nga ba ang dapat na ipagtaka mo? Ilang taon ka lang na hindi nakauwi rito ay nakalimutan mo na agad kung gaano kainit ang buwan ng Mayo rito sa Cebu, huh, Tating? At para namang hindi rin ganito kainit sa pinagmulan mo, ano! Manila’s weather was still the worst ever!

Oh, here I was, making excuses again.

“Come on, Millie, answer your phone,” mahinang sambit ko, hindi na mapakali pa habang palinga-linga sa paligid ko.

Where was she now? She promised to fetch me here at the airport! Hindi ko na rin kinakaya pa ang init ng panahon!

I called her number again but she was not picking my calls.

“Millie, where on the goddamn earth are you? Sagutin mo ang tawag ko!” I hissed, saka dinutdot ang screen para tawagan muli siya.

Nagpabalik-balik ako ng lakad habang nakadikit sa tainga ang cellphone ko, inip at inis na sa kaibigan kong tanging dahilan kung bakit ako naririto.

“Finally!” buntonghininga ko nang sa wakas ay sagutin niya ang tawag.

“Tating? Did you arrive na ba? Are you at the airport already?” she asked on the other line.