Why She Left

Chapter 1

The first thing that greeted me was the heat.

Nakasimangot kong hinubad ang sweater ko before I took out my phone to text Ate Pam. My flight was delayed at ngayon palang kinakabahan na ako because I have a scheduled meeting at 1pm pero maga-alas onse na at kabababa ko palang ng plane. 

Kali, my son, was sick, so I had to reschedule my flight to take care of him. Good thing that his fever subsided yesterday before my flight kaya kahit papano'y nabawasan ako ng isipin. Iyon nga lang, another source of stress would be the possibility of being late for this important meeting. 

I thought I already gave myself some allowance when I rebooked my flight but we experienced some turbulence when we took off from Boston. The 21-hour flight became a 24-hr flight and it took a toll on my body. Ngayon palang gusto ko nang humiga sa kama but I still have stuff to do.

Napakunot ang noo ko when I received a text from an unknown number, saying hi and asking if I was in the Philippines na. There was even a dove emoji sent after, making it seem like a death threat kaya kaagad kong blinock and called Ate Pam.

I should get a new number na.

"Hello?"

"Oh my God, Sol, nasaan ka na?"

"I'm near the exit Ate, where are you?" mabagal na sabi ko while looking around, trying to spot Ate Pam though I wasn't sure what she looked like since we hadn't even met. Through video calls palang.

But my feet stopped when I saw a familiar face flashing on the TV screen. It was a shoe commercial for an international brand and saw who was the endorser. I froze for a moment and my heart skipped a beat when it zoomed on his face.

Ilang segundo pa ang lumipas before I can take it all in.

He looks... different now. He looks more mature. But his smile stayed the same. It still has the same goofiness that can lift anyone's mood. For some reason, it also made me smile as well.

He looks exactly like Kali, that's why.

"Soleil?"

Kaagad kong pinilig ang ulo ko at ibinalik ang atensyon sa kausap ko. "Sorry Ate Pam, I'm still here. Nasaan po--"

Before I could even finish my sentence, I saw someone waving from the van. She looked familiar and I immediately knew that it was Ate Pam. Mabilis akong naglakad papunta sa kaniya as a man closes in para kuhanin ang bagahe ko.

"I know you're tired Sol, but we have to hurry!" aninya bago ako marahang hilahin papasok sa van.

Pagkapasok namin sa loob ay isinarado niya ang curtain to block the driver's view dito sa likod at iniabot sakin ang isang suit. It was a beige terno suit and I immediately changed into those.

Ate Pam already asked what I was wearing kanina and we both knew that my maong shorts and white tank top was too informal kaya ipinaghanda na niya ako ng pamalit. Ate Pam rummaged her bag for make-up while I struggled sa pagbibihis.

"Can you do your make-up?"

Tumango ako after wearing the blazer. The inner was a white tube top and I silently thanked Zia for her at-home workouts because I still have my almost-flat tummy. Iyon nga lang, I still feel na mas lumaki nang bahagya ang balakang ko after having Kali. 

I went for a darker eye shadow and darker nude lipstick to match my beige outfit. Hindi na ako naglagay ng eyeliner pero I used mascara and contoured my cheeks. I add a little bit of blush at nang matapos ako ay nasa Ortigas na kami.

But damn it, it's already past 12! 1 pm ang meeting! 

I feel so guilty hearing Ate Pam beside me while repeating her apologies because we are running late.