CAPTAIN
We were given a day of free time. Bukas ang balik sa Pinas kaya susulitin ko na rin muna ang mga oras na nandito ako sa Chicago. Actually, first time ko rito kaya hindi pa rin ako gaano nakakapaglibot. Pero pangako ko, hindi ako ulit babalik ng mag-isa, next time may kasama na ako. Sana... Mamimili lang naman ako ng mga souvenirs tapos uuwi na ako pabalik sa hotel.
Nakakalungkot din pala kapag mag-isa 'no? Wala kang kasama gumawa ng mga memorya. Wala kang kasama makita ang mga bagay na hindi mo pa nakikita. But somehow, okay na rin, natutunan ko naman na maghintay sa mga bagay bagay. Katulad kay Dennise...
Tila nabalik ang kaluluwa ko nang maramdaman ang mainit na likidong tumapon sa aking trench coat. Langya naman, o! Kung kailan naman naisipan kong pumorma ngayong araw tsaka naman mangyayari ito.
"Oh my God, my bad! I am deeply sorry, sir. I was outspacing. I didn't notice you..." A woman who looks like as same age as I am continously wipes my coat using her handkerchief.
"It's okay." I mumbled. She has a brunnette colored hair, she also wears coat. I couldn't see much of her face because it was covered by a mask and a glasses.
"What can I do to make-" she asks but I cut her off.
"No, no. I am okay. It's just a coat. Nothing to worry about," I replied, slightly smiling at her. Her eyes squinted.
"Joaquin? Joaquin?!"
Nagtama ang mga kilay ko dahil sa pagtawag niya sa pangalan ko. Kilala niya ako? Hindi ko talaga siya mamukhaan dahil sa mask niya. Kung tanggalin kaya niya ang suot, eh 'di mas napadali niya ang buhay.
"Right! It's you!" she chortled, the woman slowly removes her mask sunglasses and masks. I still couldn't recognize her--Ynel?! Si Ynel ba ito?
"Ynel," tawag ko. She then nods her head multiple times. Oh my god, what a small world. She's none other than Jessica Ynel Torres. My long time best friend. I remember she migrated here in Chicago almost a decade already. Nagtaka nga ako dahil wala man lang akong naging balita sa kaniya simula noong umalis siya ng Pinas.
"Joaquin! Freaking frog, what the hell are you doing here?! Namiss kita, ah!" Ynel pulled me into a hug and then drags me somewhere. Parang may sariling buhay ang mga paa ko dahil kusa nalang din itong sumasama sa kaniya.
"Maka-english ka pa sa akin kanina. Ikaw lang pala 'yan," I joked. Ynel laughed and took a sip on her coffee. Buti may natira pa, akala ko kasi natapon na lahat sa coat ko.
"Loko. Anong ginagawa mo rito? Business?"
I shook my head, "No. I am now a Pilot, Ynel. Remember? I told you before that I wanna be a pilot?"
Her mouth formed an O, acting a little bit surprise. As if I didn't tell her what I wanna be when she was still in the Philippines. "Oh shat. Yes, I do remember pala. Eh kasi naman, I left PH nag-aaral ka pa." she reasoned out.
"What happened? Bakit nawalan ako ng balita sa'yo? Kung 'di pa pala ako nadako rito, hindi pa kita makikita."
We saw a bench near us. Decided to sit and talk about things that happened to our lives in the past decade. Feels a little bit sad and happy because at last, I saw her. But sad for I do not know when we will be seeing each other again.
