November 2, 2014 Sunday
I can no longer count how many times we’ve gone to and from the San Francisco International Airport.
Early travels saw all my family and close family friends making sundo and hatid in complete attendance.
This time around, it was only Bong who dropped us off. Aileen stayed behind because Eves, Rae, Kay and Dimple were still at their house. I am sure, magkakainan ulit yun, second and third rounds.
Our ETD was moved by an hour, the end of daylight saving time kaya instead of a 10:30 pm departure, it became 9:30 pm.
A———“Tart, mi-nove nila yung oras, finish na daw yung night saving, night something”.
A———“kasi madilim na sa gabi, kaya minove na nila, yung time saving..(my God, my kalimut has worsened from the general anesthesia.)
E——— “Daylight saving time”.
A——— “Ayun, daylight saving time, thank you sweetheart.”
We checked in 2 balikbayan boxes that were quite heavy, beyond the 50 kg. weight limit. However, there was one box where Santa Claus was, that weighed only 20 kg and my maleta was only 18 kg kaya the PAL station manager, Orly, waived whatever excess baggage we had to pay for the two heavier boxes.
Looking jet-lagged even before boarding.
Edmund wanted to wear shorts and tsinelas na lang sana on board. Kako para syang balikbayan.
We saw Nicky de Lange, CEO of Designs Ligna, and current president of the Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines. Together with Nicky, Gigi Simbulan, Joseph Pangilinan (brother of former senator Francis Pangilinan), Myrna Natividad (now based in LA), Manny Padiernos, etc., I served as director of CFIP for several years. After I’ve decided to retire Trade Development Publishing, I stopped my active participation in the export sector. I was there only to help promote our country’s products. I was not into export naman.
There was a confusion regarding our reserved seats. Middle seat, row 6.
Edmund’s seat was supposed to be row 3 and mine was row 5, eh we wouldn’t be seated together. Row was the only available na magka lapit. Ang problem, we’re in the middle with 3 chairs. That meant I would be in the middle seat, perched between Edmund and a stranger.
Although we ate a lot at Aileen’s house before going to the airport, Edmund said we should eat again, kasi baka daw maalangan kami.
Prawn sinigang for me
Prosciutto salad for him
Sea bass with delicious oriental noodles
Coffee for him
Breakfast meal, similar to my dinner.
Salmon with noodles
I didn’t watch a single movie.
In all my decades of traveling, it was the very first time I sat beside someone who couldn’t keep still for one minute. Kilos sya ng kilos. Kaya hindi ako nakatulog, kasi I was not relaxed. I didn’t even get to watch a single movie. I was so distracted by his movements. He kept on moving his head, feet, legs, arms, hands, whole body, hindi sya mapakali. I was already staring at him and looking at him every time he moved so he would at least be conscious. Abah, wala, hindi talaga sya mapakali. I wanted to ask him if there’s something wrong with him. Kung merong makati sa kanya, kasi galaw ng galaw parang gustong magkamot.
He couldn’t stay still for more than a minute. He was always moving, doing something, tatayo, uupo, he would get something from his bag which was on the floor, magkakalikot dun, then he put the bag back on the floor. He would sit down, move, then stand up and open the overhead compartment. He would get his bag there, place it on his chair, magka-kalikot, parang he was looking for something. Wala namang kinuha. Tapos tumayo uli, he placed the bag back. Umupo ulit, tapos tinawag yung purser, merong walang kawawakang itinanong, tapos tumayo. umupo, tumayo, pumunta sa toilet. Susundan ko sana at titingnan ko kung ano naman ang kakalantariin dun. Balik na naman sa upo, tapos galaw ng galaw. Gustung gusto ko na talagang tanungin kung nagtatai ba sya o nangangati.
For several hours ito, no joke. Tapos he got the magazine. Opened it somewhere in the middle. He switched on the reading light, tapos itinutok yung magazine na patagilid dun sa ilaw, facing me. Pretending to be reading but not actually reading. That motion lasted only for less than one minute. Tapos isinara yung magazine. Pinatay yung ilaw. Tapos tumayo, umupo, nagkuyakoy, nag stretch, tapos nagpatunog ng mga daliri, tapos, sumandal, tapos he sat up straight. Grabe.
A———“Sweetheart, merong makati sa kanya”.
E———“Hinde, ganyan lang talaga sya”.
A———“He’s been like that since we got here”.
A———“Baka may nangangati….baka gustong magkamot”.
E———“Hinde”.
Natahimik lang sya nung nakatulog. Tapos one time I went to the toilet, paglakdang ko sa kanya, naku, natamaan ko yung paa nya, nagising. Patay! Eto na naman, tumayo, umupo, Dyos ko po. Sit down, sit down, I’m rocking the boat…
He called the flight attendant, asked for a knife, then he changed his mind, more wine, another glass, daming hinihingi. Nag de kwatro tapos galaw ng galaw yung legs. I stared at him so he would notice me. But he was oblivious to my presence. Binabantayan ko talaga sya at baka kung ano ang kalikutin.
We’re near, I could see city lights outside.
Ebola health card
Temperature check. No Ebola please
4 am
E——-“Akina, kukunan kita”.
I looked horrible. I hardly slept during the flight.
It’s still dark at 4:20 am. I was adjusting to our van’s bumpiness.
Masakit pa tyan ko.
This box was really heavy. Ewan anong laman.
Antonia—— “Good morning mam”.
Me———– “Good morning, ano’ng niluluto mo?”
Antonia—— “Pagkain namin mam. Nakaluto na ako ng lugaw para sa inyo”.
When I saw Antonia, I confirmed my feelings for her. I didn’t miss her at all.
