The Journey Series

Belle

I woke up with my cellphone's unique alarm tune that I've set into. Well if you're curious about it, it is just my Kpop crush singing one of my favorite English songs.

My name is Isabella  Francisco, I am known as Fipa's best friend and cousin. I am obsessed with everything Korean that leads me to choose to be a flight attendant and speaking of that. it is our first day of college in the University and I really need to hurry or else I wouldn't be able to go into Nana's house. I spent an all-nighter with the series that I've been watching, I just told myself only one more episode, and damn! I almost finished the entire drama.

I was just about in time to go out and hop on Fipa's most cherished car! Fipa remained focused on the street as I rant about how excited dI am for this day and how I end up spending all night watching, which explains my dark circles for today and me ending up wearing these nerdy look glasses to cover it all up.

 "Thanks for the ride cuz! I'll see you later at lunch!", I told her as I got out of her car to go to my building. We may be the best of friends but we chose a different career path. Here' me chasing my dream to be a flight attendant and hoping to meet my Mr. right along the way.

People might find it shallow how I love Kpop culture but that is what saved me during my parents' annulment. Watching Kdramas, listening to their music keeps me away from falling and giving up. I really took hard my parent's separation and here's me hoping that I wouldn't end up like them in the future.

If there's one thing that keeps me solid is also my nana's love. Nana never fails to show me how much she loved me, I mean Fipa and me. She's like a one-winged angel sent to us.

I reached the second floor of our building and just a few minutes later our professor entered and little did I know, it's lunchtime. I grabbed my stuff and shot a message to Fipa so that we could have our lunch together. I mean, that girl just came back from the US so I have to keep an eye for her until she's well adjusted here. 

I really admire my cousin for being brave to find her long-lost childhood crush.

I managed to secure a spot in the cafeteria and well I just yelled to Fipa. I know that is quite impressive but well just that's how I am. I love making a little bit of fun for my "a bit boyish but oh so pretty" cousin/BFF! 

We had a sumptuous and somewhat interesting lunch together.

A week has passed and it's just the same way for me compared to my cousin but not until the acquaintance party that we have attended.

“Annyeonghaseyo!, I’m Belle, it was a pleasure to meet you!”. I said to Henry.

"Oh Hi!?", he said in a thick Korean accent.  I kind of find it cute but then I don’t put my hopes up on this. I’m fine with my own world. You know, for a person like me I would rather just stay in my own world. It’s quite comfortable and I don’t wanna burst that bubble world of mine yet.

We came home really late and Nana’s still waiting for us. I mean if there’s one person that I owe for who I am today, that would be Nana. My parents were both busts in their own world and hang-ups in life and Nana is always my comfort zone. Her warm hands and comforting words whenever I run at her house crying until I fall asleep in her arms are the best memory I will always cherish and I don’t want to think of the day that one day, I won’t be able to hear her voice and feel her warm hugs.

The entire week had passed-by after the party and I was walking down the hallway to go to my Humanities class. I heard someone called my name and saw Henry rushing over me. 

"Hey, stranger! So it's really you!. I thought I'm mistaken". he greeted with a smile.

"Oh! Hi! How have you been!", I asked him.

"Well, just so-so," he answered. "Hmmm, Belle is it okay if I get your number?"  

He passed over his phone to me so that I could type in my number which I did but I think he will have a hard time finding my name in his contacts.

Lunchtime came in and I received a text message from an unknown number and it turned out it was Henry. Wow! That guy is smart and he totally gets me. I’m quite impressed. 

+639484477765

“안녕, 친구 “ 

I hurriedly copy and paste it to my Google Translate app to know what he just sent me and well it means “ahn-nyeong, chin-gu” or Hello, friend. I find it really cute.

I replied by saying.

 “Hey, Henry, I just saved your number. So What’s up?”

Have you eaten your lunch, chin-gu? Wanna join me?

I am actually on my way to the cafeteria, Fips is not around so I think I would really grab that offer of yours! =)

I really had an interesting conversation with Henry and I didn’t really track the time that we are talking for more than 2 hours already.  He’s smart and we have a lot of things in common. We also talked about our plan to go to Tagaytay with Fipa and Keith.

Fipa never stopped teasing me with how early I got up for our trip today. Little did she know that I never really sleep at all since I finished this series and well, I had a long video chat with Henry as well.

We arrived in Tagaytay early, it is my happy place. I love cold weather, it keeps me numb and well of course, I get to wear my Korean-inspired OTDs! Duh?! I promised to take a lot of Instagrammable pictures today!

After our brunch at Sonya’s Secret Garden, we arrived at our hotel. Fipa and I shared a room while the other two were just across ours. I had a quick nap as soon as we arrived and now we’re preparing for our lunch. This is our first ever getaway since Fipa came back and I planned to make it as memorable as possible. I have high hopes for Fipa and Keith. I prayed that eventually, Fipa would be able to express her feelings with Keith. I am such a sucker for childhood/BFF romance! 

Since we had brunch a while ago we decided to go to Starbucks in the afternoon, you might be wondering why Starbucks! Well, here in Tagaytay they have the best view!!

“Hey! Fips! Let’s go out. Henry just sent me a message that they are in the lobby already.” 

“Fipa!!!! What the hell are you wearing?! Seriously?? A t-shirt?? How the hell are you going to impress Keith with that?!”

“Belle, what’s wrong with my outfit? This is comfortable,” she explained.

“Well, not today my dearest! Good thing I came prepared. I bought you a dress! Here! I throw it to her, wear that and I wouldn’t take NO for an answer.” I exaggeratedly told her.

“You are far worse than Mom and Nana!” Fipa teasingly told me.

“But you love me girl and deep inside I know you appreciate my effort!”

We went back to our room after our shenanigans and we decided to go to Buon Giorno for our dinner. It’s an Italian restaurant with great reviews from Klook users so we gotta try ‘em.

After dinner, Keith and Fipa decided to go for a walk which leaves me with Henry.

“Belle, I know this is too early to tell but I have this strong feeling about you and i can’t really deny that i like you”  he muttered.

“ I was wondering if you would like to try this...hmmm you and me…” he sounded so unsure about what he was saying.

There go my expectations versus reality! Alert! Alert Kdrama addicts. This Korean here is far too different from your oppas in dramas!

“That’s it, Henry?? Seriously, you could’ve asked a little more formally if you want to date me.” I just hide my disappointment with a slight joke but well why not? I want to try it but I promise myself I will always put myself first. I don’t want to be like my mom in the end.

“This is just a spur of the moment thing, Belle.” I'm so sorry if I sound off base to you but I promised I’ll make it up to you. Can we have dinner tomorrow?” he pleaded.

“Hmm, okay but how about Fipas and Keith?’, I asked him.

“Don’t mind them, Belle. Keith has planned so don’t worry.”

‘Okay, so we need to go back a bit early from our activities tomorrow.” 

The song At My Worst started playing in the background and I can’t help but think that maybe this is a sign for me to at least give him or should I say myself more chance to find happiness. Anyways, I’m still too young to be so serious enough to think about marriage and all that. I just don’t want to fail on this part.

We went back to our hotel and freshen ourselves up but tomorrow we will go further so I made sure that we will wear something more fitting with the agenda. Knowing Fipa, she will just wear her usual jeans and shirt! So what a good cousin s***h BFF s***h fashion adviser would do, look for something that will at least make her stand out even more to his childhood love.

We spent the entire afternoon roaming around the park. It was my first time to try horseback riding and well I am not a fan at all and I feel bad for the horse as well.

As we lay in bed, I looked at Fipa and told her, “ Fips, Henry asked me out tomorrow for dinner and he wants to try if you know, if we could click and be a couple.”

“Wow! Why don’t you try it, Belles?”. Anyways, let’s sleep. I have to go for a quick run tomorrow!