Ink and Prints

Chapter 33: Dawn of Different Lands

Mornings come to illuminate the long night
From these chapters form to the behest of life
Every dawn may be a new world
Every morning may be a new land

-

Flying does make you lose your sense of time, eh? Imagine the jet lag later, this is gonna be terrible. "We have just arrived at the state of Massachusetts. Welcome to Logan International Airport," I heard from the cabin. For sure, there will be other things that would be said, I'm too weary to even listen to them - the ride was very tiring.

After all the general procedures after landing, we got out of the plane and my body feels so bad right now. I have lost all sense of time and rationality because of that tedious travel. I received a phone call from an unknown number, "Good morning, Dr. Del Pilar. Have you arrived at the airport?" the caller asked. "Yes, Dr. Smith. I just got off the plane, I will just do the proceedings. After that, I will wait for my checked-in luggage," I said as I was walking through the airport dragging my hand carry baggage. "MIT has already sent someone to fetch you, please proceed to the office of the president once you have arrived," he ordered in a professional tone. "Thank you for the reminder, Dr. Smith," I calmly said while waiting in line for the immigration. "I'll get out of your hair, Dr. Del Pilar. Stay safe." As he finished his greeting, he hanged the call up. I can't get how he pronounce Del Pilar out of my head, another reminder to me that I am in a different country, and I'll stay here for six months.

Weirdly, this isn't my first time on another country, I have attended countless seminars when I was a student, some at Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, etc. This is the longest out of my trip though, 6 months can be a long time, so I should br prepared for what's to come.

As immigration finished, I went out and about into the airport, observing everything in my path. You could really tell the difference between this airport and the one at Clark. This is the United States after all. Please be good to me.

I received a messenger call and of course it's Lumi. "Hey, Luna. Kumusta? Nakarating ka na ba diyan? You okay? Kumain ka na ba? Are you safe? Please tell me you're Luna and not someone who will report her death to me," he said while flustered. I can only imagine his panicked look right now, and that brought a smile to my face. "I'm sorry, this is the US Coast Guard, Luna Selena Del Pilar has been a victim of a plane crash. We would like to talk to you in a profound detail later," I said while i mimicked a different woman's voice.  "Hindi magandang biro 'yan, Luna," he said in an annoyed matter. I laughed at his reaction. "You're so cute, darling," I said to him in a humorous manner while I walked. "Bahala ka diyan, Luna." I arrived at the luggage area when he said that.

"Did you safely arrive, moonlight?" he asked me with a concerned tone. "Yeah, I'm currently waiting for my luggage," I said to him while I was waiting. "Hmm, anong oras na pala diyan?" he asked me, and let out a yawn. It's probably night there. "Past 11am, o diyan ba anong oras?" I asked him. "It's past 12am, moonlight," he said to me with a sleepy tone. "Inaantok ka na, e. Get some rest for now, okay? Let's talk in the morning when you're not sleepy na, ha?" I said to him. He's probably tired because of his birthday, I wonder. "Okay, love you, Luna." He dropped the call after that. He must've been extremely tired.

The luggage is taking forever and I received another phone call. I looked at the caller and I didn't answer it, I don't want to deal with Carmela and Sol right now, I'm pretty sure that they'll just make fun of me.

The airport once again reminded me on where I really am. To be honest, I'm quite anxious but I'm excited at the same time.

The luggage eventually arrived and I took it from the conveyer belt and began walking out. The people here are different - obviously.