"Ladies and gentlemen we just have arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Welcome to Manila! On behalf of Philippine Airlines, your flight tech and cabin crew, I would like to thank you for flying with us. It's pleasure to have you on board and we hope to see you again soon on one of your future flights. Once again from Asia's sunniest and the heart of Filipino, maraming salamat po at Mabuhay."
Finally I am back. It's been years since the last time I went home. I know my mom and sister missed me, and I do too. They might be mildly angry for declining their numerous requests for me to go home but I just can not.
Philippines is a reminder of all of my mistakes and cowardliness in life. It is a country that I called home but there were too much masks, pressure, and regrets. A place where I have to prevent my emotions to burst. A place where I was forced to be silent for too long.
"Good morning sir, welcome back!" Salubong saakin ni manong Gary. Our family driver.
As I went inside the car, I saw a city full of pretensions.
I myself was a part of it.
Now what left me are regrets.
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I never felt I was special in any aspect of my life. Everybody would say that I'm handsome, smart, and kind. They even brand me as the campus crush. Which since then, I was not in favor with. They would say I am perfect, but no I have many flaws. If I would choose, I want a normal and simple life. Not too much, just an average person. Someone who is invisible, no crowds of eyes.
I was born after 6 months of my mom's pregnancy. I am a premature baby. And yes, it was a miracle that I lived.
Growing up, books where my chance to discover the world beyond the high walls of the house. I was not allowed to go outside. I was always treated special. I have hemophilia. A kind of blood disorder where clotting or healing of wounds takes a long time. I have continues replacement therapies.
With these thing, I never had the chance to go outside and play.
Trisha is the exception. The girl literally lives next door of my house. I am a year older than her. His father and mine are family friends. The reason why we gone closed through the years.
She was the only kid I could play with. Which I never approved of. She will always let me be prince charming that I hated the most. I just lived with it rather not having a friend.
When she was 7 and I was 8, her family fled to the U.S. and on the day of their flight, my mother forced me to say yes when she shouted "I will marry you soon when I am old enough!" while waving.
I liked her. I really did, but everything changed when my parents decided that it is time for a regular school. I have already proven that I am ready for that.
You see when your home schooled socializing and finding your friends is a struggle. I grew up talking to girls. My sister and Trisha. So my confidence talking to guys was not that high. So I talked to the girl beside me. Her name was Lianne.
Lianne was a very smart kid back then, an always active student. So I knew she was somebody out of my league. I would always remember the first time I talked to her she was having chocolate all over her mouth. I was not fluent using any language except English so I said,
"You have something on your mouth." I said facing down in a low shy voice.
"Ha?" She asked.
"You have something on your mouth." I again said.
"But ka nag eenglish? EOP lang pag merong teacher." She said. Which is by the way, I did not understand back then.
BINABASA MO ANG
Too late to fall for you
Teen FictionI was no one to you before. Then suddenly fate made it's way to lead you now in my door. I want to say I hardly want to say yes but I don't know if it is right to take that risk. I want to go away and run from this fantasies of mine. But, you keep...
