So Into You

SC # 1: Homecoming

October 8, 2028

"Di kita masusundo pero may pinapunta na ako para sunduin ka," bungad ni Jamie nang tawagan ko siya para i-follow up sana kung nasaan na ba siya.

"Sino ba susundo sa'kin? Sana lang nandito na siya dahil gusto ko nang umuwi agad."

Hindi naman sa nagmamadali ako, pero gusto ko lang maligo, mahiga na sa kama at matulog. Nararamdaman ko na yung jet lag at pagod galing sa halos 24 hours na biyahe. Well, 16 hours sana kung hindi na-delay ang connecting flight mula Singapore pabalik ng Manila.

"You'll know at once pag nakita mo siya," makahulugang sabi ng kaibigan ko. "Sige na, I have to go. Malapit na ako bugahan ng apoy ng boss ko."

"Fine. I'll see you soon. Ikaw na magsabi kay Abby na nandito na ako sa Pilipinas."

When the call ended, binilisan ko na ang paglakad papunta sa baggage claim. Hindi naman ako nahirapan hanapin ang mga bagahe ko. Pero dahil marami ay kinailangan ko ang tulong ng porter para itulak iyon hanggang palabas ng arrival area.

My eyes scanned the waiting area to check if my sundo's here already.

Of course, I have a guess kung sino ang sinugo ni Jamie para sunduin ako. Out of all our friends, si Jamie ang pinakafrustrated sa love life ko. Kaya whenever she's able, panay matchmake niya sa amin dalawa kahit ilang beses ko nang sinabi noon na tapos na ang kwento namin ni Vincent.

Even when I was still together with Luca, panay ang buyo niya sa'kin kay Vin. Luca eventually got tired of being constantly compared with Vincent. Kaya naman when he got the chance to bail out, he did it the worst way possible. He two-timed me with his ex-girlfriend. Saka ko lang din nalaman na hindi naman pala talaga niya ako sineryoso. Nagtagal din naman kami ni Luca ng two years kaya dinamdam ko rin ang break-up namin na iyon.

After two failed relationships, I told myself na tama na muna. If magkakaroon ako ng sunod na boyfriend, gusto ko last na. I wanted to settle down and have my own family already. Hindi na rin naman ako bumabata. Plus, nakakainggit na si Abby and Miles with their babies.

I wanted to have Little Chie and---

"Chie!" A familiar baritone voice called out.

Agad kong hinanap ang pinanggalingan ng boses. And when I did, my lips broke out into a beautiful smile.

Engr. Aiden Vincent Tiongson, my dear husband, was standing a few meters ahead of me.

I raised my brow as I checked him out. He was wearing a navy blue cap. At kahit simpleng puting t-shirt at maong pants lang ang suot niya ay ang gwapo-gwapo niya tignan. Of course, if he heard me say that, he'd gloat all day.

His eyes were twinkling in delight. Ngiting-ngiti ang gago.

Umamba siyang lalapit para yakapin ako, pero inunahan ko na siya. I rushed towards his open arms. He then wrapped me in his embrace at once.

It was just a month ago when we last saw each other, but I couldn't contain the excitement of seeing him again.

Fuck, my whole body was tingling with joy!

"I missed you, mahal," he whispered against my ear. Para akong kinikiliti sa tiyan dahil sa lambing ng boses niya.

Mas lalong lumawak ang pagkakangiti ko. I placed a kiss on his neck, then buried my face on his chest.

"Na-miss mo nga ako," natatawang sabi niya. Mas lalong humigpit ang pagkakayakap niya.

"Akala ko ba busy ka kaya si Jamie ang susundo sa'kin?" May himig ng pagtatampo ang boses ko.