Every Flight Counts

Kabanata 26

Please

"Passport? Maleta? Pano yung mga 'yun? Dapat pala dati pa lang nag-asikaso na tayo ng mga ganyan mo Ellie!" aligagang sabi ni Uncle.

"Jacket! Tsaka mga trench coat, Ellie! Malamig ata dun!" singit din ni Sienna.

"Ellie hanap mo kong chicks gusto ko tisay," tinulak lang ni Uncle si Nash paalis sa screen.

"Kalma lang kayo, Uncle." putol ko sa kanila. "School na namin nag-asikaso ng mga kailangang papeles kaya wala naman nang problema,"

Ngayon lang kami maayos na nakapag-video call matapos kong maihatid ang balita nung nakaraan pa. Sa message ko pa lang iyon unang nasabi at agad silang napuno ng excitement para sa akin. Hindi nagdalawang isip si Lola at Uncle na payagan ako.

Tumagal pa nang ilang saglit ang pag-uusap namin dahil marami rin silang tanong at gustong malaman. Kung hindi ko pa kailangan nang pumasok ay baka hindi na natapos ang pag-uusap.

"O sige ha, basta susubukan naming lahat na makaluwas bukas para masamahan ka sa Airport!" buong suporta na sabi ni Uncle.

Nagpaalam na sila para daw hindi naman ako mahuli sa klase.

"Bigay mo facebook ko sa mestiza Ellie ha! Chat kame," habol pa ni Nash bago naibaba ang tawag.

Matapos iyon ay wala na kong sinayang na oras at pumasok na sa school. Medyo napahaba talaga kasi ang kwentuhan kaya't inabot ako ng ganitong oras.

Pero sa totoo lang ay pabor sa akin iyon. I've been avoiding interaction with someone lately. And that someone goes to school extra early these days. So my only resort is to arrive just on time.

Pagpasok ko pa lang sa pinto ng classroom ay strikto ko lang na itinuon ang mata sa may bandang upuan ko. Not wanting it to gaze on the other side.

But just like the past few days, my peripheral vision tells me that he was stiffening on his seat as soon as I entered. He was straightening his back. Halos mahirapan na kong huminga sa kabog ng dibdib ko nang makita ang pagtayo niya. He was about to take a step. He was about to start walking. But then the bell rang. And the professor came.

Saka lang ako nakahinga nang maluwag.

Hindi na ko nag-abala pang pansinin ang naging reaksyon niya. I know my heart will only twitch if I see his frail expression. It would only pain me to witness him fail to do anything else but just to weakly seat down.

It would only make me question my decision once again, as if I'm not doing that yet everyday.

I know a part of me chose to go because this would be a really great opportunity. A chance that no one can mindlessly afford to miss. But I know I would be a liar if I try to deny that a greater part of me wants to go just so I can finally have that time to think by myself and ascertain my emotions.

I was spacing out the whole day. I've been like this since the announcement regarding the exchange student - program. Ni hindi ko na nga namalayang tapos na pala ang klase.

"Pasalubong, Ellie ah. Ingat ka dun," Yael gave me a side hug.

I returned it and it made me suddenly feel the heaviness on my chest as I come to realize that this is really happening. I'm leaving tomorrow and won't be back until a whole month passes by.

Pati ang ilan kong kaklase ay nagpaalam bago nagsilabasan. I don't know why I suddenly feel like tearing up. I'm glad I was able to stop it though.