Dreams Within Us

Chapter 6

Tonight is our flight to Singapore. Maaga rin umalis sa office ang parents ko at si Tita Carol para ihatid kami sa airport.

"Hoy, 'wag kalimutan ha. Face time tayo everyday." Thalia blurted while crying.

"Sulat ka. 'Wag mong kalimutan na magdala ng gwapong Singaporean." Lu said still wiping her tears.

"Just have fun, Sam! And I'm so proud of you." Max tapped my shoulder.

Sineryoso talaga nilang tatlo ang biro ko at talagang sumama pa dito sa airport. Buti nga at nakahabol si Lu kahit na may major exam siya ngayong araw.

"Hay, oo naman! 'Wag na nga kayong umiyak." hindi ko na rin napigilan and I just let go of my tears.

"Guys, hindi naman sa New York ang punta ko. But you can visit me there. Travel na rin."

Para kaming ewan ditong apat na nag-iiyakan sa tapat ng departure area ng NAIA.

After that iyakan moment with my friends, niyakap ko na rin ang parents ko.

"Always take care of yourself, Sammy. Wala kami dun to check on you just don't forget to call us if you need help." pagpapaalala sakin ni Daddy.
"Sure, Daddy! Don't also forget to drink your medicine. Always listen to mommy ha."

My mom just keep on crying when I hugged her.
"Ma, parang ang layo naman ng pupuntahan ko. You can visit me anytime."
"I know, it's just that ngayon ka lang mawawalay samin ng matagal. 'Wag kakalimutan lahat ng pangaral ko ha. And don't forget to update me everyday. Basta kapag may time ka, tatawag ka."
I know it's hard for my mom to let me go. Since I'm the only child, natuon talaga sakin ang attention ng parents ko. Nasanay silang lagi akong kasama, but I guess there would be a time that they will let me live my life on my own. Just like this.

Medyo natawa naman ako kasi parehas na umiiyak sila Tita Carol at Mommy. Mukha na ngang nahihiya si Aly while consoling his mom.

" 'Wag ka ng umiyak, ma. Kapag nakaipon ako, doon ka na rin titira sa Singapore." Aly calmly said while hugging Tita Carol.

Hindi na rin namin masyado tinagalan ang pagda-drama since medyo matao na rin sa departure area ng Terminal 3 even though it's a weekday.
We just hugged them before we parted ways.

Papasok na sana kami sa loob ng airport ng bigla namang sumigaw itong tatlo kong kaibigan.

"Don't forget to invite us on your wedding!" sabay pa nilang sigaw.
"Lagot ka samin Sammy kapag hindi mo kami sinabihan." Max shouted.

Tinawanan na lang sila ng parents ko and we just waved our hands para tuluyan na kami makapasok sa loob. Nahihiya na rin ako dahil sa mga kaibigan ko. Parang mas sure pa ata sila na ikakasal agad kami ni Aly. Trabaho naman ang pinunta namin dun and not to get married. Besides we're still too young, and it's not our top priority.

Since we still have enough time before our flight, we decided to eat first in Cafe Mary Grace.

"Pwede no?" Aly suddenly asked while eating his sans rival cake.

"Anong pwede?" I curiously asked.

"Secret wedding." he casually said like it's not a big deal.

"What?!" halos mabuga ko naman ang iniinom kong bottled water.

"Sineryoso mo 'yun? They're just joking." I blurted.

"Why not? Okay kaya nung idea." he chuckled. He holds my right hand and put a soda can tab on my ring finger.

"Marry me?"

I was left dumbfounded, and I can't even utter a single word.
He suddenly laughs when he saw my reaction.

"Hey, bud, relax! Sinubukan ko lang naman mag-practice kung paano mag-propose. Ikaw ata ang masyadong sineryoso." he just chuckled and smirked.

"Nice try, Alyjano!" I sarcastically uttered.

Bigla na naman siyang natawa sa sinabi ko.

"What's so funny?" pagma-maldita kong tanong.

"I can't help but laugh everytime you call me that name." he just kept on laughing and pinched my cheek.

I just rolled my eyes at hindi na siya kinausap ulit. Panay naman ang pagso-sorry n'ya sakin hanggang makarating kami sa boarding gate. Inagahan na rin namin pumunta dun para sure. I just keep on browsing my phone without looking at him.
While him, maybe he's too busy playing games on his phone. Siguro napansin n'ya na rin na naiinis talaga ako. Well, hindi ko rin talaga alam kung bakit ako naasar. Pero hindi naman kasi ginagawang biro ang mga ganung bagay. It's freakin' marriage.

At dahil wala akong magawa I decided to check my Instagram when I saw Aly posted on his IG story. It's a picture of my hand wearing that pop tab he gave me along with a caption,

Soon, it will be a real ring. Ily @SamLim.

Hindi ko pa pala natatanggal 'yun.

I suddenly felt my face blushing, good thing he's too busy on his phone. Kaya hindi n'ya mapapansin. I reposted it on my story with a caption, I do! Joke practice lang.

"I'm sorry, love. Nag-maldita na naman ako." I placed my head on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry din. Pero Sammy, seryoso ako dun ha. But no pressure, I just want to let you know that I want to spend a lifetime with you." and he kissed me on my forehead.

What did I do to deserve him? Siguro bayani ako nung past life ko. O kaya ang dami kong naipon na reward points. I'm so lucky to have him. And I hope he feels the same way.

Before our boarding, I decided to text my mom to informed her na pasakay na kami ng eroplano.

To Mommy:
Boarding in a while, Ma.

Medyo late na rin so inexpect ko na hindi siya agad makakapag-reply but she suddenly replied to my message.

From Mommy:
Have a safe flight, anak. I love you and I miss you na agad.

I just smile when I read her text.

To Mommy:
Same, Ma. You should sleep na, it's almost midnight. Love you! I'll text you right away kapag nasa Singapore na po kami.

Nakakatawa lang kasi wala pang isang araw kaming magkahiwalay pero nase-sepanx na agad kami. Well, maybe because I really have a close relationship with my mom. I reminded Aly to text his mom also. And mas nauna pa daw siya sakin i-text si Tita Carol kasi panay daw ang message sa kanya.

"Tapos ko na replyan. Na-flood na nga 'yung inbox ko ng puro text n'ya." he chuckled while showing all the messages he received.

"Wow, 50 text messages! Grabe si Tita." nagtawanan na lang kami habang naglalakad.

I just feel surreal ng pagpasok namin sa loob.
This is not my first time riding an airplane though.

The flight attendants are welcoming us with a wide smile.
Nang makaupo na kami sa seat namin, ewan ko ba but I suddenly feel excited, nervous, and happy. Mixed emotions. Dahil siguro ito 'yung first time na hindi for travel ang pinunta namin kung hindi trabaho.

Ano kayang feeling na magtrabaho sa ibang bansa? Maging OFW?
Definitely mahirap, maraming challenges, kalaban mo pa 'yung lungkot kasi malayo ka sa pamilya mo. Wala pa man pero ang dami na agad worries ang tumatakbo sa isip ko.
But good thing, I have Aly with me. Mamiss ko man' yung parents ko at mga kaibigan ko at least nandyan si Aly at palagi na kaming magkasama.

This journey will surely not be easy for us, but we just have to be strong and remain positive. And we promise to hold each other's hand every step of the way.

Some cabin crew are now checking the compartments and demonstrate safety measures.

And then we heard an announcement from the pilot, welcoming us on-board and remind us some guidelines before takeoff.

"You should sleep first. May ilang oras pa naman." he tightly holds my hand.

I lay my head on his shoulder, close my eyes, and next thing I know, we're already in Singapore.