Tayo Sana

One | 일

"All the time in the world can't erase my memories. A person you bury in your heart, you can never forget."

- Winter Sonata

✈️| N O W- 2018 |✈️

"Ano, napukol mo ba?"

"What?" I asked, confused.

"You told me you'd be hitting two birds with one stone— makakapunta ka na sa Korea, magkikita pa kayo ni Seth. So ano, nagkita na ba kayo?"

My bestfriend, Felix, sounded very amused, mocking and sympathetic at the same time as his voice reverberated inside the bathroom from my phone's loudspeaker.

"Whatever," I muttered defensively and slid lower into the warm water of the bathtub.

"Alam mo, Ariadne, the moment when you keep something a secret from your dearest friend, doon pa lang eh, alam mo na na mali ang ginagawa mo."

"I didn't keep it a secret, it's just that— Wait! There's a message from him!" I clicked the notification quickly.

"O ano'ng sabi? Na masaya na siya sa buhay niya at pabayaan mo na siya?" my bestfriend inquired in a provokingly polite tone.

"Sorry I just saw your message, Andy," I read the message to Felix.

"Asus! Read between the lines. Hindi ka lang talaga niya sinipot," komento ng kaibigan ko.

"Tss! Teka, may karugtong pa," saway ko sa kanya bago nagpatuloy sa pagbabasa. "I can't make it tonight or tomorrow but I'll see you on Saturday. I'll make it up to you."

"Hay, aasa na naman ang kaibigan ko!" madramang saad ni Felix na may kapares pang buntong-hininga.

" 'Wag ka ngang KJ! Tingnan mo, pagbalik ko riyan sa Iloilo, kami na ulit ni Seth," matapang na pahayag ko.

"I'll believe it when I see it. O sige na, bumili ka ng maraming key chain at nail cutter ha. Mag-uwi ka na rin ng Oppa kung puwede," he said in goodbye before I ended the call.

I typed out a reply to Seth, carefully considering my words. I don't wanna seem too eager, neither do I wanna make Seth feel like I was hurt or something because he didn't show up.

"Okay lang. See you on Saturday, then." There. That was cool and casual.

Coming to South Korea isn't a bad idea, right?

✈️

The tour I had booked on Klook for ₱1,651 includes going to Petite France and Nami Island, which isn't too expensive if you want a hassle-free trip.

Petite France is a French-themed park that has loads of Little Prince designs too. It's a cute place to visit if you're into French-inspired houses as its main design is French architecture. I was interested in coming since this is the location of where Do Min Joon first kissed Cheon Song Yi in the kdrama My Love from the Star.

'Yon nga lang ay madali rin akong na-bore at sa huli ay naupo na lang ako sa labas ng isang food stall na nagbebenta ng tteokbokki o stir-fried rice cakes.

Thankfully, Nami or Naminara was more exciting.

We had to take a ferry ride from Gapyeong Wharf to the island itself. Puwede rin namang mag zip-line papunta roon pero siyempre, hindi ko naman kailangan ipaglandakan na solo-flight ako 'di ba? Parang ang corny kung mag-isa akong mag zi-zip line eh.

Sikat ang Nami Island bilang shooting location ng isa sa mga pinaka-iconic scene sa kdrama na Winter Sonata. Kaya naman matatagpuan sa isla ang estatwa ng dalawang bida na sina Janice at Jun. There was also a table near the river that had replicas of the snowmen that those lovers made in the drama.

Ang KJ ko naman kung wala talaga akong ipapakitang photo kaya nag-selfie nga ako at pinadala 'yun sa GC namin nina Felix at Mimay. Nag-react naman agad si Felix ng haha na emoticon. Nang-aasar talaga.

I took a long stroll on the three most popular and featured paths in Instagram: The Central Korean Pine Tree Lane, Ginkgo Tree Lane and Metasequoia Lane. I think the island must be glorious in autumn but unfortunately, I can't go on vacation at that time of the year.

I checked my phone but there wasn't a message from Seth. I know I shouldn't let that fact put a damper on my mood though. I deserve to enjoy this trip so I should. I just need to find a way to stop thinking about my ex-boyfriend.

✈️| T H E N- 2010 |✈️

"Siguro ayaw mong magpakita kasi pangit ka, 'no?"

"Andy, I'm really sorry. Na-traffic lang ako pero malapit na 'ko," he explained patiently on the phone.

"Bahala ka sa buhay mo!" I retorted angrily before ending the call.

"Hoy, bruha ka talaga. Ba't mo naman sinupladahan!" tawang-tawa na tanong ni Mimay.

"Oo nga! Ang harsh mo, girl!" dagdag pa ni Felix pagkatapos makabawi sa sariling halakhak.

"Hay nako, kanina pa ako naghihintay! Ang mabuti pa, hahayo na ako at baka ma-late pa 'ko sa class ko. Nakakainis! Hindi na ako magre-reply sa lalaking 'yon!"

"O, ang presyon mo, girl. Relax lang. Kami na lang ni Mimay ang maghihintay sa kaniya ha," Felix offered still laughing at me.

"Ano raw ba ang suot no'n para maabangan namin?" tanong ni Mimay.

"Ay ewan. Naka-cap daw siya at sabi ni Tricia, medyo mahaba ang buhok. Bahala na kayo riyan! Basta sa tingin ko poseur talaga 'yon and honestly, I don't care," pagtataray ko bago tuluyang tinakbo ang papunta sa building kung saan ang klase ko.

Lagot sakin si Tricia kapag nagkita kami ulit!

Unfortunately, I was already ten minutes late and that earned the ire of my professor.

"Saan ka ba kasi galing?" tanong ni Ruby Rose. Hindi ko alam kung paano niya nagagawang magsalita na hindi masyadong gumagalaw ang bibig. She'd make a good ventriloquist if you ask me.

"Saan pa kundi sa tapat ng Old Va-"

"Ms. Lucero, late ka na nga, nakikipagdaldalan ka pa! Stop disrupting the class!"

Umalingawngaw ang mataray na boses ng Prof namin kaya hindi na ako nagsalita. Kasalanan 'to ni Seth eh!

By the time my class ended, I was ready to go home. I feel tired and sweaty already. Sana ay nandoon pa sina Felix at Mimay sa Half-Moon drive para may kasabay akong umuwi kahit hanggang Jaro plaza lang.

"Bye Andy, see you tomorrow!" Ruby Rose waved and headed towards the gate closest to the Mary Thomas Building. Buti pa si Ruby, nagbo-board lang malapit sa school kaya hindi na siya ba-byahe pauwi. Eh ako na sa Villa pa, mata-traffic pa ako sigurado.

I stopped on my tracks when I noticed the stranger that was sitting with my friends on one of the benches in front of the Old Valentine Building. My jaw dropped and I only recovered my ability to move when Mimay excitedly called me.

"Andy! Andito kami." As if naman hindi ko sila nakita.

I walked slowly but steadily, not quite able to take my eyes off the tall guy who stood up when he saw me.

He was wearing a black cap and a simple white tshirt that emphasized his nice body. Medyo pero hindi talaga chinito ang mga mata, maganda ang hubog ng ilong at tipid ngunit kaakit-akit ang ngiti.

Kilig na humagikhik ang dalawang kaibigan ko. Itong dalawang 'to parang ngayon lang nakakita ng gwapo. Not that I blame them though...

"Andy, this is your textmate, Seth. Kanina ka pa niya hinihintay," malanding pagpapakilala ni Felix.

"Seth, this is Andy. Mabait talaga 'yan, masungit lang minsan," dagdag naman ni Mimay na parang gusto talagang ipahiwatig na masama ang ugali ko.

I suddenly remembered the way I spoke to Seth earlier. Shit! Nakakahiya; minalditahan ko 'yong tao at tinawag na pangit!

"Hi."

"Hi."

We both said it at the same time so all four of us ended up laughing.