Beyond the Beat

Chapter 2

Cebu Pacific Air would like to invite passengers of Flight 5J123 from Manila to Zamboanga to proceed to Gate 12 for boarding. This is the final call for Flight 5J123.

Please have your boarding passes and valid IDs ready. We thank you for choosing Cebu Pacific and wish you a pleasant flight.”

I took a deep breath and gripped my luggage tighter.

“Lumi.”

Dad called my name. His voice was cold, like ice running down my spine.

I stopped for a moment. I wanted to shout, to tell him, “You’re a useless father.” But the words got stuck in my throat. I couldn’t say it.

“f**k this,” I whispered to myself, fighting the anger building inside.

Tang ina talaga.

“Don’t disappoint me.”

His voice was hard and sharp, as if I was already a failure in his eyes. Para saan pa?

“As if.”

I whispered back, my voice was weak but full of defiance.

I’m 19, but I’m still scared. Scared of what this new city will bring, scared of the life waiting for me in Zamboanga. But one thing is clear,I can finally taste freedom.

****

“What the hell is this?”

I cursed as I dragged my things out of the airport, feeling the weight of everything.

Zamboanga International Airport is simple but unique. It feels modern without forgetting the local culture.

The runway is long enough for big planes. The apron is small but enough for now. There’s an old plane in one of the hangars,a reminder of a past I want to forget but can’t.

For most people, it might seem ordinary. But to me, this place feels divided,modern on the outside, holding stories that are hard to let go.

As I walk through the airport, I feel the warm Mindanao air on my skin, but the cold inside my heart remains unchanged.

“Buenvinidos, Iha. Ako si Nathan, at inatasan ako ng daddy mo na maghahatid sa’yo sa apartment mo.”

Lumapit sa akin ang isang middle-aged na lalaki, may calm at friendly na ngiti sa mukha.

Tumango na lang ako sa kanya, tahimik at medyo nag-aalangan.

Kinuha niya agad ang mga gamit ko at inilagay sa compartment ng taxi niya.

Sumakay ako sa backseat, sinuot ang Earpods ko, tapos pinatugtog ang Coastline ni Liu and Woak.

I’m leaving home for the Coastline

Some place under the sun

I feel my heart for the first time

’Cause now I’m moving on, yeah,

I’m moving on.

Bahagyang ngumiti ako na may halong pait habang tinitingnan ang tanawin sa laba.

Isang tahimik na maliit na lungsod na puno ng buhay at makukulay na banderitas na sumasayaw sa hangin. Mausok ang paligid, at trapiko gaya na rin ng sa Manila. Sa malayo, makikita yung mga matatayog na gusali, maliit nga yung downtown nila pero siksik sa mga establishments at aktibidad.

And there’s a place that I’ve dreamed of

Where I can free my mind

I hear the sounds of the season

And lose all sense of time.

Pumikit ako, hinayaan ang kanta na humaplos sa pakiramdam ko,isang pangarap na unti-unting humahawak sa realidad.

I’m moving far away

To a sunny place

Where it’s just you and me

Feels like we’re in a dream

You know what I mean.

Pagmulat ko ng mata, pumasok kami sa isang private na villa na napapalibutan ng mga bahay na maayos, may malinis at berdeng paligid na parang ibang mundo ito,

What. Akala ko ba apartment.

Untag ko sa isip ko.

“Ma’am, andito na po tayo.”

I just smiled again bitterly and tinanggal ko ang Earpods ko.

This is it.

I whispered as I stepped out of the car. The wind immediately whipped my hair across my face.

Blag.

I blinked sharply as something wet suddenly splattered on the center of my face. Parang basang damit na dumapo sa mukha ko.

“Awit! Bien malas gat bo nak!”

I heard a loud curse from a distance.

Hindi ko maintindihan yung language ng lalaki, pero tang ina — nakakainis talaga.

What the f**k is this?

I grimaced in my mind.

Gritting my teeth, I reached up and grabbed whatever was stuck on my face.

“Bien swerte gat tu nak.”

Laughter echoed from a nearby man again.

I tightened my grip on the object,a green boxer shorts with a Benten design. Gross.

I stared blankly but smirked inside at how childish the owner must be.

“Ano ba, nak, puntahan mo na, parang hindi pa binata ‘tos ‘sus!”

The man teased loudly again, sabay tawa.

“Si Papang.”

A manly cute voice replied.

So this is his? The f**k.

Slowly I shook my head.

“Ehem.”

A cough interrupted right beside me.

I turned and smirked, locking my gaze on the source a guy standing there, wearing a white sando, cheeks flushing a deep shade of red, and a shy smile na mukhang kayang pagaanin kahit anong sama ng loob.

I stared at him blankly, brows furrowed in a bitchy mood, silently teasing, What the f**k is this?

“Ah, eh. Chingga bien malas gat,”

He muttered quietly in a foreign tongue, avoiding eye contact.

I surveyed him head to toe. Honestly, he’s quite handsome. But not really my type. Ateneo is full of guys like him anyway.

“What? Seriously? How childish, your boxers are Benten, and so are your sweatpants.”

I stared blankly but smirked inside, what a childish guy to own Benten sweatpants and boxers.

“Tss, what a match, isn’t it?”

Teased ko ulit.

“Pang!!”

Sigaw ng lalaki habang inagaw niya ang boxer sa kamay ko.

Parang nagulat siya, at namumula ang kanyang mukha. Hindi siya makatingin sa akin, tapos mabilis siyang tumakbo palayo papasok ng bahay nila, halatang nahihiya.

“Pang!!! Bunita era pero maldita!”

Sigaw ulit ng lalaki sa isang salita na hindi ko maintindihan.

Hindi ko siya pinapansin, tahimik akong naglakad papasok ng apartment, may malamig na ngiti sa labi at walang pakialam.

“Tss. How stupid ass.”

Tumakbo talaga siya sa loob ng bahay. What a tomato face with his Benten favorites.