Sailing through our Whirlwind Romance

Chapter 28

We checked in and wait for our flight to be announced for departure.

There weren't many people at this moment, but French Riviera has been one of the places tourists would spend their vacation. A lot of things could happen in this place and I guess we witnessed those for ourselves.

I wouldn't say French Riviera was bad, unlike the other trips we've had before because this place still brought us to some new things and realizations. And I think, if we weren't here, we wouldn't be able to know Limer's condition as soon as possible and that as result, his condition is still treatable and has a high chance to be cancer free—and that's the best news for us.

It'll take us an hour and a half hour before we land back in Paris. Mas mahaba iyon kumpara sa distance kapag lumipad papuntang Boracay. Pagdating naman naming sa Paris, we would wait for another two hours for our departure back to the Philippines which will take fifteen hours.

"Do you still remember the time we met back in the airport and all those plans we had changed just to go to Tuvalu?" I asked Cholo.

He chuckled nodding his head. "Hinding-hindi ko naman makalilimutan 'yon. I think that was the best plan we've ever had."

"Would it top the first road trip we had?"

"Well, wala pa ring makapapantay ro'n, but we've made every travel special. But I still do remember, mag-TNT ka sa Singapore no'n, 'no?"

Hinampas ko siya sa balikat nya. "Hoy! Ang kapal naman ng mukha mo. Hindi naman 'no..."

"Iyong totoo?" pang-aasar pa nito sa akin.

"Ewan ko sa 'yo."

"Kung hindi lang na-cancelled ang flight natin no'n, iyon siguro ang nangyari."

Napairap ako sa kanya. "And you were supposed to leave Limer, 'di ba? Umamin ka."

"Bakit ako aamin? Hindi ka pa nga umaamin sa kin, e."

"Wala naman akong aaminin."

"Meron 'yan, papa," biglang sagot at lingon ni Limer sa amin.

"Oy, usap 'to ng matatanda," depensa ko pa.

Napahagikgik na lang din naman si Limer.

"Ano 'yon, 'nak?" I felt relieved when Limer didn't respond to his question at nginitian na lang ito. Binalik naman niya ang tingin niya sa akin. "Pagbalik ng Pinas tayo matutuos."

"Well, let's see about that..."

An hour later, our flight has been called for departure. Most of the people who are waiting at the boarding area are going to Paris which is the central city for tourists. Pagkalagpas naming ng boarding gate ay dumiretsyo na kami sa plane. It wasn't a big plane as we thought it would be, but we really don't mind as long as the pilots get us to our destination safely.

We arrived to French Riviera on an eight-hour ride train and it was the best thing we do there kahit nakakabagot at para ka na ring nagtrabaho ng isang araw sa haba ng biyahe. But it was worth it. Hindi lang namin inulit pabalik dahil it would cost us more time and we wouldn't want to miss our flight kaya hindi siya wise decision for us.

Nahiwalay lang ako ng upuan sa mag-ama, but I'm sitting on the window side, so it was still best for me. The flight was easy and smooth for me. Hindi rin katagalan nang makalapag kami sa airport ng Paris at doon ay maghihintay ulit kami.

Pagkababa naming ng plane at makuha ang mga gamit naming ay nag-check in na rin naman kami agad kahit two hours pa naman ang boarding namin.

"May gusto ba kayong bilhin?" tanong ni Cholo.

Umiling naman ako. "Wala naman... mag-cr lang ako...kayo ba?"

"Hindi ako naiihi," aniya. "Ikaw ba, nak?" Iling naman ang isinagot ni Limer dahil busy sa kayang iPad.

Tumayo ako at tumungo papunta sa comfort room. I carefully watched where I go dahil the last time I did this, I bumped into someone—and that's Cholo and I wouldn't want to bump into someone else again.

I just made quick stop to the comfort room and check myself in the mirror. Hindi rin naman ako nagtagal sa loob dahil ang daming tao.

This airport is one of the busiest airports dahil karamihan ng mga pumupunta rito ay mga turista galing sa iba't ibang bansa. As I went back to where they are, I walked slowly and tried not to come in many people's way.

Once we land back in Manila, everything will change by then. Ngayon pa lang na naiisip ko pagkabalik naming do'n, Cholo would punish himself for Limer's condition. I anticipate that to happen, but I don't want it to happen. We did this trip so we could find time to relax and have some fun and not to go home overthinking about a lot of things.

I just hope things will go well.

As I joined them once again, I asked Cholo what he was thinking earlier back in the hospital. He never got the chance to tell it to me dahil ayaw niya lang or he's thinking of something else and he doesn't want to tell to me.

"Was it about...?" I asked, pointing Limer with my lips. Nilingon niya ako lang habang nakahalukipkip siya. Kibit balikat naman ang isinagot nito sa akin. "Was it about them?" I mouthed those words.

Napangisi siya at umiling.

"Iyon 'yon 'no?" panghuhula ko pa. Hindi niya ako sinagot. I patted his shoulder. "'Wag mong isipin 'yon. I remember what Mrs. Monet told me, let him figure things out... just be there for him and in whatever choices he made."

Humugot na lamang siya nang malalim na hininga.

"And you think na hindi ko pa malalaman 'yang iniisip mo, ha?"

He chuckled. "You are always good at it... well, just not at confessing."

I rolled my eyes at him and mahina ko siyang sinuntok sa balikat niya. He laughed at it and there he goes again, until our boarding, Cholo didn't stop messing with me.

After two hours, we're boarding the plane for a fifteen-hour flight back to the Philippines and which would be the last destination for this trip and that's heading back home.