"Now that I'm alone it gives me time
To think about the years that you were mine
Time can erase the love we shared
But it gives me time to realize just how much you cared..." – I Won't Hold You Back, Toto
After a few days in Costa Rica...
Chairmaine: Isse, grabe jetlag! (Jetlag is crazy.)
Marisse: Jetlag o yung kasama mo? (Jetlag or your companion?)
Chairmaine: Who?
Marisse: Who else?
Chairmaine: Ah. Si Law? Wala pa siya, bukas pa dating niya (Law? He's not yet here. He will arrive tomorrow).
Marisse: Are you excited?
Chairmaine: Isse, I haven't seen him in 20 years! I'm very very nervous!
Marisse: Cha, relax. I have a feeling you're going to have a great time with him there.
Chairmaine: Isse, I don't want to get hurt and for my heart to be left in shambles again.
Marisse: Cha don't overthink just go with the flow and enjoy. #
The morning of Lawrence's arrival...
Chairmaine (telling the taxi driver): Por favor llévame al aeropuerto internacional Juan Santamaría (Please take me to Juan Santamaria International Airport).
Por favor espere a que recoja a mi amigo y nos lleve de regreso a Ciudad Colón (Please wait for me to pick up my friend and drive us back to Ciudad Colon).
Driver: Si, senorita. I can speak English you now.
Chairmaine: Muchas gracias. Oh what a relief. My Spanish is rusty. I haven't had practice for a long time!
At the airport
(Hearing Lawrence's flight details being called out...)
Chairmaine: This is it! Haven't seen him for 20 years.
Lawrence: (eyes scanning the room upon reaching the airport) I see her. (heart beats faster)
Chairmaine: I see him. (heart beats faster, too)
Lawrence: Cha! (calls out to her)
Chairmaine: Law! (calls out to him)
(both of them: not sure whether to hug or beso, beso- a standard Filipino greeting for close friends)
(Lawrence hugs her tightly first and Chairmaine is spellbound. Lawrence feels the sparks and they hug for about two minutes.)
Chairmaine: Law! you look like Ben Affleck!
Lawrence: *blushing* You're just saying that because I'm your best friend. (Smiles secretly)
Chairmaine: No really. (Links her arms in his and they walk towards the exit with arms interlocked with smiles on their faces).
Lawrence: Cha you look like Jennifer Connelly.
Chairmaine: Really now? Bola! (Flattery)
Lawrence: No really!
Chairmaine: I'm so glad you're here! My classes begin on Monday so I still have the weekend off. What do you want to do? Where do you want to go?
Lawrence: Slow down Cha, we'll be here for awhile!
Chairmaine: But we don't have a minute to waste!
Lawrence: Where do you want to go and what do you want to do?
Chairmaine: Well, I'd like to go to Manuel Antonio National Park if it's alright with you? Maybe stay there overnight? But the clincher is the travel time is almost 3 hours.
Lawrence: No problem! I'm all yours for this vacation. I mean I'll be your driver and you'll be my guide.
Chairmaine: It's all set then! #
YOU ARE READING
What if? (2020 version)
ChickLitWho can forget one's high school love? I haven't. Almost two decades after maybe because of the pandemic he has been in my dreams. This is the continuation of the short story I wrote while I was working for a newspaper a decade ago (can't print the...
