Pagpasok ko, BOOM. My soul left my body.
Open ‘yung luggage. As in, wide open. May damit sa kama. May socks on the floor. May broken dreams in the air.
"IN... next week pa ‘yung flight natin," I said, faking calm like isang Starbucks barista na naka-smile pa rin kahit may irate customer.
Nagpe-pack pa rin siya. Hindi tumigil. Like a robot programmed to destroy my self-worth.
"Na-adjust ba ‘yung flight? Mag-aayos na rin ba ako ng gamit?" I asked, trying to rationalize kahit my heart was already singing Paubaya in auto-loop.
Pero wala. Deadma. Level: NPC.
“Andrè,” I called. Still no response.
“Andrè, ano baaaa?” sabay hawak sa braso niya, like dramatic bida sa teleserye. “Ba’t ka nag-eempake? Sa isang linggo pa ‘yung alis natin! Wala pa ngang pre-departure checklist!”
I looked at him
